sharkbacon

So, a little background here, just so you know where I'm coming from-- I became an LPN in 2012, worked for awhile in LTC, went back to school and became an RN in 2017, worked for just under 1 year on med-surg (with occasional cross training to ED) then was offered my dream job in ED in the rural hospital near my home, which I accepted without hesitation. So I've been in ED less than a year, maybe 6 months or so. I'm comfortable with the smaller things-- sore throats, rashes, even the chest pains and abdominal pains-- but when something critical rolls in, I just feel so lost. Even if I know what to do, and I act on that, theres always this nagging in the back of my head saying "oh, I should have done this, I should have seen that coming, etc." A quick example-- just this morning, I was alone with a patient in the ED (which is not unusual, it's a small hospital and the ED operates with one RN, the RN supervisor-who has duties on med-surg also, and the provider), a waiting lab results, when he went into a tonic clonic seizure. I immediately ran to the room, hit my staff emergency button, and got him positioned on his side because there was quite a bit of foamy sputum coming from his mouth. The other nurses arrived very quickly, one grabbed a non-rebreather and one got an IV started, and another basically took charge. I'm not saying what I did was wrong, but I just felt like I should have done more. I should have had the non-rebreather. I should be able to take charge on my own patient. I'm embarrassed that the whole experience left me shaking, and it honestly went fairly well. I'm just not that comfortable with any of it yet. When is this going to get easier? I wish I could just read a book and feel okay about everything. Anyone have any tips for this newbie?

I hate to be a real whiner, but I was disappointed with our nurses week, as well. It was lumped in with "hospital week" and the activities and goodies (there was a sandwich day and root beer float day, if I recall) were strictly 11am-1pm --day shift only. Night shift wasn't even given the sad leftovers like usual. No gifts, no administration telling us thank you, just a few posters up in the break room inviting us to "hospital week." I know it's not a make it or break it deal, but a "thank you, we appreciate all your hard work," really goes a long way.

Honestly, I have no clue. Illinois doesn't even send out paper copies anymore, just the link to print your own. I'm just past the point of arguing anymore, I just want my license and will do whatever they want to get it...

Hi, all~ just needing some opinions, or reassurances, or any sort of input, really. I took my NCLEX-RN June 27th (for Illinois), paid for quick results, got a pass (Yaaaaaay). The following week, I received a paper from Continental Testing confirming the pass and wanting $50 for licensure. This was unexpected, but sure. I sent the $50 check the next day. The letter said it could take up to 4 weeks for my license to be available. This Thursday (8/10) will be 4 weeks since they cashed my check. I tried calling the Illinois board of nursing today, but they were closed. Are they even the ones I call? Or is it Continental? Surely it's not Pearsonvue. Im just so frustrated, and I'm working as an LPN at a hospital and I'm sure they're frustrated with me, needing to call on them for all my IV push meds, co-signing admission stuff, etc. Not to mention the lower wage I'm making... anyone have some timelines or suggestions?

A lot. But generally what puts me in a bad mood right at the starting gates is when the person leaving fails to clean up a huge literal mess (papers, garbage, whatever, everywhere, etc.) or leaves me a ton of stuff to do that they could have easily done. I totally get a hard day, but there are those people that consistently leave you a heap of **** every time, you know?

I went to community college aimlessly for a year and a half because college was what I was supposed to do. Then I sort of figured I needed to make a decision, so I went into the front office and asked what programs they offered there on that particular campus. There was cosmetology, some kind of car mechanic stuff, and nursing. So I signed up for the CNA classes. And im an LPN now, finished in 2012. I'm about to start my RN year. I sort of deeply regret this decision, but I'm going to keep trudging forward. I think this feeling will pass.

Orientate, for sure. Also, completely incorrect, but I see it entirely more than I should when scanning ER charts-- "***** drainage" instead of "purulent drainage." Like, please no. Also. Stomach flu.

I work in a rural hospital ER (2 RN's, 1 doctor, and me-- registration LPN). Since I'm the one registering, and I can see all this information, I would go as far as to say that 98% of our patients are Medicaid. Illinois Medicaid ER copay is $3.90, but very rarely will anyone pay it, and the hospital doesn't bill for anything under $10, because of the cost of printing it up, sending it out, etc. (I guess, that's what I'm told). And on top of that, Illinois just isn't paying hospitals these days the money they're owed for Medicaid patients. So it's quite a pickle. But that's off topic. Mostly, the reason I see is that the hospital won't bill them, whereas the clinic will require payment up front before being seen. So, basically, they can get out of paying for it entirely by coming to the ER. But, to be fair, we have only one after hours clinic, three days a week, and no urgent care. But I still think all twenty sore throats/runny noses (not exaggerating) I checked in on Saturday could have waited until Monday morning.

Rural Illinois, 15.50 in LTC, no experience. Man, I have family in DFW area... sounds like I need to make a move. I was just looking online at jobs down there last weekend...

So, honestly, I get the little sicky side effects (fever, soreness, tiredness, just feeling yuck), but only for a day or two after. And after having a legitimate, diagnosed, flu a few years back, I won't ever skip a flu vaccine again. Being "sick" for 2 days is ten thousand times better than the solid 3 weeks of misery (and the long-lasting cough after). And I've always worked in facilities that required the flu shot or wearing a face mask when the flu become regional, until flu season is over. So it's technically not mandated, but really, do you want to wear that mask for four months? My biggest flu pet peeve is the term "stomach flu." When people get the diarrhea and nausea for two or three days, and then say it was a stomach flu, and actually think that's what the flu is? I feel like that's a huge reason people around this area don't get vaccinated-- because they don't actually realize what the flu is. They think it's not so bad. WRONG.

I'm a pretty new nurse, and have always worked in "no-lift" facilities. The weight limit on that has always been 30 pounds. If it's going to be over 30 pounds, we're supposed to use a mechanical lift. But, truth be told, it doesn't always happen that way. I mean, if it's a very heavy patient we're lifting, and it seems unreasonable or dangerous, sure, we'll grab the lift. But things like turning? We regularly have to turn and hold 300+ pound patients over. It definitely has to be more than 30 pounds we're pushing/pulling on. I wouldn't call it discrimination, just that you're not really capable of doing the job they're offering. Sorry

HAHA my pants are already falling down with all the junk in my pockets, the last thing I need is for a heavy gun to add to it. I have terrible aim, so would never CC. And I don't particularly trust my coworkers that much, either, so I'd rather we didn't in the hospital I work in. But some hospitals have bulletproof glass and doors that lock, etc. I'd like to have that where I work (in ER registration). My little registration office is the first thing people see when they walk in, no glass, no locked doors, just little me at the computer (I do have a "panic button" I can hit to call police with no noises or anything). I'd love something a little safer. How about security that carries actual weapons or tasers? We have no security at this hospital, but the last hospital I worked at did, but they didn't have any weapons, not even a billy club or anything.

So I work somewhere new now, and it's wonderful. It's ER patient access, while I'm in school. I register ER patients as they walk in and help the ER nurses as needed, and also learn some really cool stuff while I'm here. But my past employment at a really shady LTC facility still worries me for a variety of reasons. So let's start with HUGE REASON number one. I reported an abuse once, directly to our "Abuse Coordinator," as I was supposed to do. It was a CNA abuse to a resident. I won't say much for future potential legal reasons, but let's just say it was a legitimate report. I reported it, I did the paperwork, I called the doctor, family, etc. because that's what I was instructed to do by my "Abuse Coordinator," who was also our Administrator. The big, in-charge lady of the building. She specifically told me to not put anything in the nurse's notes (paper charting) because if state saw it on a future survey, they would zero in on it. Okay, sure. The CNA was "suspended pending investigation." This was a Friday evening. Monday afternoon, there that CNA is, working on my unit again, like it was no big thing. And a little voice in my head says I bet all that paperwork I filled out reporting everything mysteriously disappeared. I quit within the next two weeks for a variety of reasons, that being a huge one. I was afraid for my license, with an administrator that wouldn't hesitate to throw me under the bus when I'd done nothing wrong. On top of that, I worry about my old residents there. It was such a terrible place. When there were problems, they magically disappeared, whether it was with literally disappearing papers, or newer botched papers to look good. There was no staff to take care of problems, and I can actually think of cases where residents were harmed by staff negligence. There's a lot I could say, and a lot I shouldn't say. But I want to know if people have worked in a nightmarish place like that before? Got any horror stories you can tell? Any advice for this new nurse?

Hi! I'm totally the same as you, except I was first licensed in Illinois, then Iowa. The ED-NUR form comes from the school. To quote: "ED-NUR Form (Certifi cate of Education) indicating graduation from aprofessional nursing education program approved by the Department; orthe granting of a certifi cate of completion of pre-licensure requirementsfrom another U.S. jurisdiction. The ED form must be signed by the directorof the nursing education program with the school seal affi xed,OR offi cial transcripts with school seal affi xed;" from https://www.idfpr.com/renewals/apply/forms/rn-ex.pdf Yes, you'll need fingerprints! But Illinois is very persnickety and won't let you go to the police station like a lot of other states. You'll have to go to a special electronic fingerprint place, and I believe they charge something like $40 or $70 to have it done. You'll need the receipt, also. "f. Proof of fi ngerprint submission in the form of a copy of the fi ngerprint receipt (iffi ngerprinted in Illinois), or a completed OOS-FP form if fi ngerptined outsideof Illinois. See the Notice for additional information." (from the same PDF) I had mine done at a University where they were also fingerprinting people for other professions. I believe there were a lot of teachers there that day. There's also the ATT you'll need, which is authorization to test, but I believe all states do that, and that comes from your school also. Also, Illinois is notoriously slow about everything, and the BON is no different. I want to say I waited something like 4-6 weeks for my license. But they'll want all your money up front. There's also a number you can call to check on your license status, but they're really not much help. When I got an Iowa license by endorsement, I actually had to pay Illinois to verify me, and they took 4 weeks to verify. I called and hounded on them probably twice every week, but it didn't hurry them up at all. It may actually benefit you to get an Iowa license first, since they're so much faster and easier (and cheaper, if you consider the price of the fingerprinting) and you can start working so much sooner. Unless, of course, you plan on actually working in Illinois, then an Iowa license does little good for you

Ah, LTC. When I started, I was a new grad, and had three days orientation, then was let loose with 36 residents and two aides. It was horrifying and I felt absolutely thrown to the wolves. I knew how to be a nurse, but I didn't understand the paperwork, I didn't know the residents, I didn't know where anything was, it was an absolute nightmare. So, it's totally normal for LTC to give you a short orientation. Is it right? I would say no. I felt unsafe and was there probably three hours overtime every single night trying to figure it all out.