pendragon1980

Yes, I have to pay back that bonus, and they are holding my final paycheck for it. I don't think I'll have problem finding another job within the next couple of weeks, nurses are needed everywhere. I'm going to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family first though. I do worry what to say when my prospective employer asks why I left my previous job.

An update...they canned me today. In a way, I'm glad I'm out of there, but on the other hand, I wonder why they couldn't at least give me the digintiy of giving notice, not to mention it'll be that much harder finding another job now. So I'm sitting there, making a list of hospitals and nursing homes to call and drowning my sorrow in coffee and chai tea. Pendragon

First of all, Thanks everyone for their advice and support. Second of all, I've been a new nurse for about six months so I feel I should be beyond mistakes like this. But I was off orientation 5 weeks after getting hired. 2 days after getting my license. I asked to be put back on orientation as I did feel ready yet, but was told they could not afford it. 9/10 times I deliver great nursing care, but my management never sees those 9 good, only the 1 bad. I'm asked also before about time management help but was told that I should know what I need to know by now. I really fear for my license on this floor. I'm going to own up to the mistake on Monday, no worries about that. That was my fault and I'll fall on the sword for it. But I also think they are creating a minefield for the nurses here to blow themselves up on. I'm also looking into other hospitals. I cannot see myself staying here another year. PD

Last night I had one of those "night from hell" busy nights. 2 Admissions, 2 discharged, never less than 6 patients, a paracentesis drain and tube feeding running... I forgot to give a Lasix IV. Then saw it later and forgot I hadn't given it and charted it. And in my hurry forgot to wipe a patient's skin with a prep before giving an insulin injection. I feel like this hospital is creating overwhelming situations for me then smacking my hand when I make mistakes because I'm rushed and I'm new. Our average pt load in 6-7 on evening for a general med-surg unit. I would quit but there is a complication. If I would I would owe back the 4k bonus I took. But quite frankly I feel like I will be fired before then anyway. I'm starting to think it'll be worth paying back to go to a different hospital. I talk to my superviser on Monday about all this and I know it's not going to be good. I'm scared for my job and maybe even for my license. :bluecry1: Pendragon

Just a couple of days ago I had a patient with an NG tube that I had to given liquids meds, including tylenol solution. I drew up the med but noticed there was alot of air in the syringe and I didn't want to put that much air into a very little lady's stomach, so I pushed on it a a little like I would a normal IV syringe. Well the power of that push not only got air out but it squirted most of the tylenol out as well. Fortunatly, it was facing away from me, the patient and my preceptor. Hard to explain the tylenol on the ceiling though to the oncoming nurse. :rotfl: :rotfl: Pendragon

I just got my results back and.... I PASSED. :balloons: :biggringi :balloons:

Oh, don't get me wrong. I get panicky everything I think of it, esp since I found out this morning PA doesn't participate in quick results so now I don't know when to start looking for my results on the BON website.

First of all, since everyone always asks. I got a 94% on my HESI and a 82% on Mosby CAT. I did roughly 3000 questions between now and the end of nursing school, not including all the ones I did during nursing school. I used Kaplan, Saunders, Drexel and a local test-taking progam from STAT nursing called "Good thinking". I not afraid to admit I was tied in a knot all of last last and most of this morning. The woman at the front desk, god bless her, had a big smile and a infectious laugh so I got to relax a little. In fact, everyone at the testing center was very nice. At first the questions seemed straightforward, then I hit 75...100...125. And my confidence started to plummet. Alot of priority, alot of infection control, 3 math, 1 select all that apply, alot of peds. Then it stopped in the 150's. I was going to take a break at 200. That has me a little nervous. But all I could think of at the time was "Thank GOD its over". Thats basically the feeling I've kept with since then. I treated myself to a pastry and $5 cup of coffee at Panera bread and stopped at my favorite bookstore. I aim on relaxing today and trying not to worry about it. It is true you walk out of there not knowing how you did. But I did my best so now its just the waiting game. Pendragon

I am also taking the exam on Tues. I feel the panic starting to rise. I've been studying since I graduated in May, well WELL over 3000 questions. Usually going through the books (Kaplan and Saunders) I would get 75-80% of the questions right. My HESI score was 94%, my Mosby CAT was 82%. I think beyond some last minute lab value and med review, I'm just at the point of concentrating on NOT freaking out on Tues. Good luck to you. Pendragon

Actually my honeymoon ended just last night and I thought of this post. I justed my new job on a med-surg floor about 2 weeks ago and I've been slowing trying to increase my patience load. Last night I was ready to prove I could take care of 4 patients with min. help from my preceptor. I failed miserby, by the end of the shift I had 2. One patient desatted on me so quickly that in the space of two hours he went from stable to an ICU bed. Luckily, my preceptor stayed with him while I got the meds for the rest of the patients taken care of. I feel like I should have found a way to do both. Another patient, who was quite young (in his 20s), was OK until his family showed up. I got called into the med room by the unit manager and was told they no longer wanted me to take care of him. Apparently they wanted a nurse with more experience. That was humilating. I was almost...heck no almost, I was in tears. In front of my unit manager. Which didn't help. She gave me a few moments to pull myself together and everyone else on the unit was really supportive but I felt imcompetnent the rest of the shift. On a good note, the wife of the man we sent to ICU brought us chocolates later that night, telling us he was impressed by our nursing care and how quickly we responded. But then, since I was passing meds, I felt she wasn't talking about me. But maybe I'm being too hard on myself. I keep thinking however, if this happeans with 4 patients, how am I going to handle 5-6?

I just took the HESI today and I'll share my stats. We did not have to pass HESI to graduate but it was mandatory we take it. I got 1009 and took it cold (not studying), which converted to a 93%, I assume this is the estimated chance I will pass boards on the first try. There is a 2nd number, 85.something, which my instructor tells me is my standing in the nation? As in I did better than 85% and worse than 15%. I'm still going to study like mad for boards, though. I have a test taking skills lab tommorrow and a online content review course lined up. But it was nice to know today that I will probably pass NCLEX. 7 more days! Pendragon

I've been looking for local live NCLEX review courses but I haven't been having much luck. The closest one to me is 3 hours away. I'm starting to look at online review courses. Those who have done these? Did you have much success? Would you recommend this? In specific, I'm looking into the Drexel Univeristy program. Thank you. Carrie

Hello. I am a nursing student and have a favor to ask. I am doing a project on computerized documentation and am very interested in hearing from nurses about this issue. If you take a few moments and answer these questions I would be very grateful. 1)In your opinion, what are some advanatages of computerized documentation? 2)In your opinion, what are some disadvanages of computerized documentation? 3)How do you feel computerized charting can be improved or implemented better? 4)Do you feel going completely "paperless" is a sound idea for hospital charting? Thanks for your time. Carrie K.