lynhardworkingrn

There are Pros and Cons to working both shifts, I have worked both. Day shift - so much busier, you have to deal with everyone!, Family, doctors the whole multi disciplinary team , like radiology, lab, social services, family! You will also need to know how to think fast on your feet and time manage well. But you have all the resources available! Night shift - less hectic as day shift, less people to deal with, however less resources, but also allows you to be more independent and autonomous, make more decisions and be more in tune and aware of your patients. More time to interract with your peers.

DON'T GIVE UP! All that hard work, long study hours, no sleep, away from the family, your life. Nursing can be scary as we are dealing with humans and their illness, their emotions, the family etc. Even if you do not feel confident, project it! Don't be cocky and know it all, but comfortable confident, and learn quick who and where are your resources so if you do not know something you know where to go to find the answer. Don't be afraid to ask for peer help and advice, again know who you should go to, most experienced nurses remember ( I certainly do ) what is like to be the newbie, and want to help! Hang in there, and don't give up!

Awww thanks everyone. I currently work on a busy med surg floor, there are days I come home and say did I do all that in one 12 hr shift? Days my brain is on overload that it is hard to come down. " The coordinating of ever-expanding multidisciplinary teams, specialists, hospitalists, technology, the push to get the patient out the door from the moment they're admitted, and the complexity of today's med/surg patients is astounding." - [COLOR=#003366]Guttercat It definately is, I can get patients that have issues from every body system, that have me running in all different directions, then when it is decided they need surgery, who is in charge to get everything ready? Let's not even talk about post op patients.. I started off as a cardiac nurse and moved over to Med Surg, you definately learn and establish the best nursing foundation. I can pretty much float to any floor in the hospital, ( except L & D ) and I am able to get it done. But other nurses that come from other floors to my floor, they can't hack it. "It's good to finally see it in print after all these years- the ability to juggle so many patients with so many different diagnosis on one team assignment is no easy task. Med/surg nurses had/have to know everything about every disease know to mankind- not to mention all the meds, expected labs, diagnotic tests, preps, and proceedures that went along with those diseases." - [COLOR=#003366]kcmylorn

looking at an xray that shows a toilet brush in the abdominal cavity via the rectum. Patient stated, "I fell on it" ?????? Seriously?

Here are a few: Medical orders and advice: May have lollipops orally. She is to refrain from sexual intercourse until I see her in the office. For his impotence we will discontinue the meds and let his wife handle him. MD order: May shower with nurse She can begin to use the lawn mower, but no lady partsl entrance.