rnsheri

It's terrible, but true. In school, we had research groups of six, and two of us did everything. Not saying others didn't contribute, but the two of us liked getting things done early. Other group members had children and that complicated things, schedule-wise. In fact, there were a million schedule conflicts, be it kids, jobs, family, school, etc. All I can day is that the madness ends! I love my work team, but BSN group projects are not missed. I would get the good grade, vent, and move on. It's not fair or right, but thank God it's behind me!

You are absolutely right. Thank you for the insight and the article.

OK, OK. OP, you're right. Not your job. The benefit to the patient's well-being is supported scientifically. One tidbit: "An interesting bit of science attached to this ethnocentric and geocentric evolution of prayer comes out of Duke University Medical Center, where a study found that, within a group of 150 cardiac patients who received alternative post-operative therapy treatment, the sub-group who also received intercessory prayer (they were prayed for) had the highest success rate within the entire cohort." https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/enlightened-living/201007/the-science-psychology-and-metaphysics-prayer "The Science, Psychology, and Metaphysics of Prayer." Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications Many more studies support this. But if you believe your ethical principles trump a possible improvement of patient well-being, you must have some very good reasons that I have no way of comprehending. I like science, and I am an atheist, but I want to do what is in my power to (possibly) improve outcomes. In the end--nope, not your job. Carry on. Shh... I don't pray either. I Kind of just support in silence. (Bonus: When a family member faints from emotional exhaustion, I'm there to help.) I wonder if they'll fire me.

I heard there's good money in welding. You shouldn't be a mortician. Live families and all, and contempt for the dead. Maybe a bounty hunter. Or mathematician.

My name is Unnamed-Respiratory-Therapist. I happened upon a tribe of healthcare providers in a peculiar state. I am documenting this to document it later on a supercool computer program that is completely inefficient and outdated. I don't know when it happened. I'm calling it the Fever. The symptoms are hysteria, depression, feelings of worthlessness, delusions, gastric disturbances, and the inability to get anything done. The hospital has tricked us into thinking the new grads did it. I know better. I'm on Generic Hospital Floor. In the HR office, someone is suffering from the Fever. I hear the sniffles and nose-blowing. Ah, yes. Classic. Shh. I hear talking. I know that voice—New Grad. Well, Christy said I'm slow and stupid, and then Cathy laughed. And that sneaky old nurse keeps telling me I have to accept different personalities even if they differ from mine! She never said or did anything to me, ever, but when that [hot word] tech said, 'You're welcome', the tone was kind of insulting." Sobbing. I feel a surge of empathy for New Grad. I wonder how it must feel? To always think people are out to get you? Common delusions, textbook. Another voice, Not-Manager-Material—Very good, get it out, poor baby. It's OK.” Quick pause. Sweetheart, I need names. Lots of names. Tell me everyone who has wronged you or might someday hurt your feelings.” It goes like that. The Fever-ridden encourage one another, but will turn on each other later. It's only a matter of time. Slowly, the hospital unit will fail apart because all the Fever-ridden will destroy each other. The COB's will be the last to fall, but they too must succumb to the raw emotion characteristic of the fever. Curse you, young whipper-snappers!” is their final battle cry. The patients were saved, thanks to the fact that no nurse or tech could be in their rooms at the time since they were fighting each other in the halls. All managerial positions are mysteriously vacant. Their absences are being investigated half-heartedly. Nurses from another unit are being pulled to cover the shifts of the fallen. The Fever is very contagious. I need to get out of here. As I go, I hear the common cry of the Fever—I mean, this is just med-surg. Does night shift just sit on their butts all night?” It's an epidemic.

Be polite. Be professional. People have a lot of feelings. Most don't make sense to me. However strange those feelings may be, we live in a society that encourages people to report those feelings. I don't know why feeling-sharing is a thing, but so many places love hearing how a person feels upset because of some perceived slight. Whatever slight (imagined or real) the tech felt that you committed, say you're sorry, and don't do it again if you like your job.

Of all the problems with my crazy job, I never once thought, "You know what would enhance my patient's safety... yellow gowns." This knowledge is beyond my comprehension. I would've stupidly asked for more nurses and support staff, better equipment, competent management, or less mandatory overtime.

I agree, you build up a tolerance!

I am in a world of shame. I must've been in the accelerated COB class. I've been here three years, which is no kind of street cred! You guys left me with THEM, the new ones with big ol hearts and feelings. I feel like the King of the Cuckoos.

Yes. I started IV's on fellow nursing students, too. I mean, in class the instructors emphasized empathy and understanding what a patient is going through during a procedure. We were given kits and IV NS and were told that IV skills are important for our future careers as nurses. Then they tell us not to practice on each other. How crazy is that? In all seriousness it was very messy.

I have fun with it. In my sweetest Southern drawl, "Oh hon, you don't want to hug me. I just treated my neighbor for head lice." That fixes it forever. Bonus: you get to watch the person itch all day. I mean, there's respectfully asserting your feelings in a calm, rational way too.

I had the meanest nurse ever for my trainer at my first job. I mean, she didn't even care if I was nervous about calling the doctor at 2 a.m.-- "Just call the **** doctor, girl!" She never sugar-coated anything! If I did something incorrectly, that COB would tell me I did something incorrectly. She wouldn't sweeten her criticism with "honey" or "sweetheart". She never even cared when I told her, "The textbook says..." She rolled her eyes when I told her I didn't want to disturb a patient because he was sleeping. ROLLED HER EYES, can you believe it? Unbelievable. She actually made me LEARN things. Horrible woman. COB!

I clock in, I am "X", RN. Problems at home? Shut it off. Angry at a coworker? Shut it off. My personal feelings about religion? NOT RELEVANT, SHUT IT OFF.

You have choices. You can either confront him with "OK, you seem pissed at me, and I don't know why, but I'm tired of this so let me know and we'll go from there." Or use those therapeutic communication techniques if you need to, but those never worked for me in a situation like yours. Or you can pretend to ignore him, though that might compromise patient care. You could talk to the charge about it, but I would address him first. Whatever you do don't sound condescending. The great therapeutic communication techniques you learned in nursing school may irritate coworkers. I always go for direct. And unless he is threatening you, talking down to you, or ignoring you to the detriment of your patient, he's more of a aggravation than a terrorist. I would be careful with those kind of words. But that's just me and honestly I don't know what he's said or done to you. Some people perceive a slight that isn't there or isn't what was intended. Best of luck to you!

From working as a floor nurse, I heard that about psych nursing... From all the people who said they would never go into psych nursing. Every kind of specialty has it's own good and bad qualities. Of course, I have heard the same about floor nurses from ICU, ICU from floor nurses, etc. I loved my psych rotations, I loved the patients, but the nurses looked kind of like they hated it. Patients banged at the plexiglass at the nurses' station, demanding this med or that privilege. They sang, cursed, threw chairs, and were just mean at times. This was expected but wasn't something I wanted to do for a career. I hated the closed off station, the annoyed nurses, and the whole set-up. I wouldn't be able to be a hands on help to those people. Not behind a glass! Facilities vary, and in my state mental health is very wanting. If you love psych, do psych! Just remember that nursing isn't all about skills. Skills are easy. I learned most of mine when I got a job and not in school. You can't teach patience, or kindness, or that rare ability to not cry after your patient calls you a c***. It's a skill! You will be fine!

OP, I'm a woman who doesn't hate you. Your question about what professionalism means is kind of philosophical, and means different things to every single person. I know there's a dictionary definition, and I know I could dissect every word you wrote, you poor unfortunate soul. Sadly, I don't care about what the dictionary says. To me professionalism is walking on my floor and forgetting about gender roles, forgetting about the party I went to last night, forgetting that I'm hungry, and, in my case, forgetting I am a young female. Professionalism is also understanding the role of delegation beyond male and female. I think if you can work somewhere that is conducive to females starting most catheters and you reciprocating by starting tricky IV's, your position is great. If it were up to me, I'd pass up all my catheters to my more cath-conscious coworker and volunteer to start IV's because it's what I'm good at. Catheters? I personally think females are harder to cath so if you have female team mates who don't have any "Can't-now-OP-Gotta-Go-Bed 441 is vomiting and possibly aspirating!" and they are willing, sure, I would say probably most women are more comfortable with women nurses and that is considerate of you to help put your patient at ease. I think you come from a different angle on the subject, well, in several ways. Many of us do not have that set-up at our place of employment, and while we try to work as a team, after all is done and the world is crashing down around you, female or male, old or young, your patient is your patient. I am so glad to see a male nurse because even if it means starting all the catheters, it means I won't have to deal with the detoxing 300 lb. patient who shows everything and flirts with all the women. Males, however, only get floated to our floor due to short staffing. Otherwise, it's a group of women stuck with male patients and female patients, fat or thin, COPD or prostatectomy. Males have it very hard in the nursing field and I cannot begin to understand. I think this kind of derailed because it almost sounds like you don't have to do [disgusting or time-consuming task or awkward task] because of your gender. I may be way off base. I didn't read it as sexist. With those kinds of resources of course your situation works. I just know I am completely unaccustomed to that kind of set-up because of the "your patient, your responsibility" mentality that was ground into my impressionable brain at my first job. And if most female nurses hear that, our gut reaction is to say, "Oh yeah? You're too good because you're male? That women should play into our gender roles in this field and have yet more on our plates than our allotted bunch of patients? We are short-staffed already and now so-and-so says "I don't do female caths" so we have to?!" As you can see, people get mad. So...like, don't lead off with that. People get mad and stuff. When you get to know your new crew, see how their unit works and what they do as a team and then ask about limitations to skill performance. Don't assume that it's the same between any two places. Within the US I know most hospitals and most floors do what works for them. And other countries? I don't know. Anyway, professional nurses tend to keep their private lives private (I have to hide my fatty pizza) and perform the tasks expected of someone of his/her skill level in that situation. You know, scope of practice stuff. Just know how to do it and be able to do it should another person not be there to help you. I hope you're able to work somewhere that gives you delegation choices if you're concerned about a patient's reaction to you doing the procedure. Just be able to offer up something equally difficult, time-wise and skill-wise, so that a female nurse wouldn't be put out by helping you. I would be fine with that scenario. I do the caths, you can have my very lewd detox guy. That is pretty awkward, too. Eh... you do what you can with the resources you have. And wherever you go, maybe not mention gender roles or who-caths-who, because as you can see... people have opinions, many of them great, some way off topic, and some I can learn from. Thanks for this, uh, interesting little thread.

I can't do this editing thing well on my phone but I do see you want a pet, not a service animal that goes with you all the times you're out. If you're going to be sad or angry or anxious there's a good chance your critter won't be there because work and school take up 90% of your time in nursing school. You can't rely on emotional support critters if all the times you're stressed, you aren't home with said animal. My bad, OP, I missed that snippet. Good luck!

Where exactly are you going to work with a service... any animal? I think you should try other avenues, like medication and therapy. With a pet, where in the hospital could you have a part- or full-time job as a nurse with a dog, service or no? And on the job, you'll probably be going 90 to nothing, and so will everyone else. You won't be able to provide the dog with the kind of environment he needs and everyone will trip over him and possibly hurt him. The dog cannot go around immunocompromised patient, which knocks Med/Surg, ICU, ED, and pediatrics out. If you plan on going somewhere else, I don't know the rules. The dog can't wash his hands, and isn't that half of nursing school right there (joking). Dogs could inadvertently carry fleas, and since the dog can't wear a mask, gloves, and a gown, I'd say all contact/airborn/droplet precautions are out. Now, I have a psychologist who has a service dog. But she doesn't have direct contact with sick patients, and owns her own practice. I don't mean to discourage you. I can tell you that the BON doesn't discriminate for psychological issues, but most employers won't allow a dog. Go either to a therapist, psychiatrist, or physician and get a better idea of your options. There are medications for all of those things, and prescribed meds (anti-seizure, anti-anxiety, antidepressants) are fine, under a doctor's care. It's highly advised to get professional counseling first, and concurrently with medication. I take medications for depression, anxiety, and Lamictal, which is used for both seizures and mood swings. You CAN do it! (Just maybe not with a dog.)

I have anxiety and yes, it can be done. But yes, it will be uncomfortable at times. This is only my experience but the following really made me question my ability to be a good nurse: skills testing, talking to patients, asking a particularly irritated clinical instructor questions (she looked at me with those EYES that said, "How is it possible you don't know this?"), actually taking patients, certain exams (especially HESI) and NCLEX. Is it possible to be a great, confident nurse with anxiety? Yes. There are even cerain aspects of fear and anxiety can help you--you're hyperaware, intuitive, and probably push yourself very hard. It was not easy. It was not easy even when I took medications to control my anxiety under the care of physician, but it slowed my racing thoughts enough to learn how to do the skills, the tests, the talking, etc. Many nurses take prescribed medications for anxiety and depression. If it's not for you, it's not for you. Until I got a smidge of confidence, I needed the medication. And counseling. And supportive family and friends. I am an extreme case, and if want PM me and I can elaborate. Just know: It can be done.

Welcome to the frantic, funny, fantastic world of a soon-to-be-a-nurse! I specialized in ortho for several years. But be careful committing to a specialty until you have some clinical experience. I only say that because I loved ortho, but it wasn't my first choice. I thought I wanted to do ED, CVICU, MICU--the last thing I thought I would like is ortho. At my previous place of employment ortho was for scheduled patients (generally hips, knees, shoulders) and unscheduled patients (broke a hip, tibia/fibula, shoulder, wrist, etc.) So of course you'll want to be familiar with pre-op and post-op care in general. I worked in a relatively small facility, and about half of our patients were ortho/urology and half were non-infectious Med/Surg. And during school, pay special attention to how you need to transition and patient from the bed to standing in the case of shoulders, legs, hip, back, foot, wrist, etc. See, I didn't pay close attention because I was sure I'd be in critical care and sure we'd always have a CNA specializing in ortho. Well, in the beginning, I'd get a load of training from our CNA. She'd been there over 15 years and man, she knew her stuff. But the hospital ran into "funding issues" which meant that, on night shift, we often worked without a CNA and even if we had one, ortho's require a lot of assistance going to the bathroom, walking, transitioning from bed to sitting to standing. Good body mechanics are a must. And all the Med/Surg stuff... yep, you'll need to learn all that too. 95% of what I did daily, I learned after I was hired. Before that I waited tables. If you'd like to know more, I'd be glad to talk with you via private message.

It's going to be OK... I just wrote an article on my experiences as a student/new grad nurse. I was ridiculous. You care enough to worry, and that's worth a lot.

LOVE this. I am from the South, and yep, a lot of people just double speak automatically. For Southerners, it's like saying "Bless you" after someone sneezes. I think that patients usually know when we're crazy-busy, because we run in sweating and SOB and those patients can (usually) sense that "I have the time" is a lie. So Now I have established my place--not as a professional, but a liar. No, not everyone feels this way. Yes, I understand why they have scripting. But I never did it because I wanted to sound transparent and truthful. For that fantastic line, I'd redo it as: "As soon as I take care of some issues with unstable patients, I will get you water, or have a coworker bring you some. If I'm not back in 'x' minutes, please call again to make sure I remember." It's not perfect, but most times patients would rather have a truthful, sometimes-forgets-refreshments nurse than a disingenuous one. And, of course, if a patient has big issues, I would care for them immediately or, if we had one for that night, ask the CNA or my charge nurse for assistance. When you do it all, CNA and nurse with 8 patients and electrician and water-bringer, I have to prioritize a little. I understand why scripting is done, but as long as my patients are content, stable, and safe I avoided scripting. I know some people can't avoid it, and I am truly sorry.

"Mr. Smith... I know you said you don't get confused... Problem is, you replaced your old light bulb with a boiled egg."

This wasn't meant to offend! I understand how my humor may fall flat for some people. Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors.

"Glasses, Tom... Glasses are the difference between a UFO and a lamp. You're going to have to call the National Inquirer back now."