beanhead61

Technically, whoever took the order from the MD should have clarified the order.There are some meds that NEED to be PO because they work buccally or whatever (Meds for thrush come to mind.) or they can't be liquified or crushed. (extended release). OR the patient's tube is a duodenal tube and the meds needs to dissolve in the acid environment of the stomach. Also, it's very hard to swallow with a sump tube in! I generally use the tube unless ther's a reason not too. Once again, clarify the order. Don't be discouraged (if you're the student). This too will pass, and so will you if this is your worse transgression, unless there's more to the story. It's a lesson you won't forget. Hopefully that's what the instructor wants.

What we should learn in nursing school is how to think, that we should look things up, that we should never give a med, participate in a procedure, etc without being fully knowledgable what we're doing. I don't expect nursing education to pour things in my head. Just point me in the right direction, let me know who and what my resources are, and give me the opportunity to learn. Nursing changes so much that training the nursing student to use their own devices to learn things is so much more important than (once again) "pouring information in". That's what we're not taking the time to teach new nurses... How to be responsible for your own learning and use their common sense to problem solve. because it's not an easy concept to instill in someone"s brain. It's easier just to force them to memorize and then make them think it's their fault if they can't figure things out in the real world. Oh, too much negative attitude for a Monday morning!

I do think wearing your work scrubs around town after you get off from work is poor infection control practice. But we all have to make the obligatory stop for milk, etc sometimes. Maybe at least take off your scrub jacket that you wore all shift before you hit Walmart. And if you know you've had Mr. MRSA patient that shift, just go home and change.

Exactly - But in my area of the country, there are many career opportunities available to a BSN that are not available to an ADN. Management and administrative roles are often given to BSNs or MSNs preferentially. Also working for insurance companies, etc. So a BSN doesn't necessarily pay more for the same job, but the marketability aspect of a BSN makes it worth getting. As an experienced (22years) nurse in my 40s, I can tell you that you may not want to stay at bedside full time forever. There are so many varied career choices for an experienced nurse - management, teaching, advanced practice, administration - where you can really make a difference. You can always pick up extra hours at bedside (like I do) when you want that caring for patients fix.

My husband finished his BSN at 43 and he's graduating CRNA school this year at 46. (And he's not the oldest in the class by any means). He LOVES it. I'm just so glad to see him satisfied that I'm willing to do what has to be done for him. It is tremendously hard and has been a sacrifice for us all - he can't work right now so money is tight. But our kids (14 and 16) know the investment will be worth it. So I say GO FOR IT!

sounds like insubordination to me. probably could get her fired for it, at least if she worked at my institution. of course, most of us don't want that. we just want our vital signs without a hassle! please remember that the more you do it yourself and don't ask her, the easier her life is. so she continues to harrass you, knowing you won't ask her to do things if she bullies you. so you ask the cnts that are reasonable to do things for you and you don't ask her. then the cnts that you like (because they're helpful) get burned out and leave because everyone asks then to do things. then you're stuck with you-know-who as your cnt again. it's a vicious cycle - been there before. remember your role as the rn is to provide strong, clear leadership of the nursing team - for the patient"s sake. when she tries to give you a hard time, stop what you're doing and look her straight in the eye and say"let me understand what you're saying. are you refusing to get the vital signs?" if she has any sense, she'll realize where you're going - making a case for getting her fired. if she says yes, then it's insubordination because she's refusing to take care of the patient. if she says no, then tell her to get them and forget about it. she's not worth getting upset over. at least she'll know you can't be messed with, and eventually she may respect you (or at least everyone else will) for standing up to her. i know, it's not as easy as all that. it takes practice.