SillyLilly

The Surgical museum in Chicago had/has an exhibit on the history of nursing. But I would agree that there could be a lot more out in the public to understand nurses and the history of nursing.

Did you call back and ask about the status of your resume? That worked for me.

Truman college has a night/weekend ADN program- I believe it works along with UIC. I am not to familiar with how the program works, though.

I have attended the CCC for several years and graduated with an ADN from Truman. The ADN program had its moments of disorganization and inconsistency, but over all felt the instructors were mostly dedicated to what they do. Mind you, this is not what I have heard about the other ADN programs at other CCC colleges. I took my pre reqs at Wright, and I felt I had a good education. Many of my teachers were wonderful. I know other people who have gone to Wright college and have succeeded in other programs as well, such as med school and pharmacy school in recognized Universities. Those are my experiences.

650/hour....

Hello, I am looking to get my RN-BSN completion. I want to attend a school that meets only 1-2x a week or has internet classes. I want to attend a program that others would recommend. Preferably a school that has interesting, challenging, interactive coursework and good clinical experiences. I am currently looking into Loyola, North Park University, and West Suburban. I also will look into Rush and Lewis. If anyone has any experience, opinions, please share. I would appreciate any responses!

This is a quote from the end of the article. "Katherine is a role model for many women, especially in the healthcare industry. It's only natural for them to want to emulate her style." What has she done for the health care industry that I would look at her as a role model? She is an actress on a show that does not even portray the medical field realisticly, especially the nurses for which the scrubs will be mostly marketed towards. Anyways, Im not going to get upset about it. Its nice to have options out there for scrubs, but that quote annoyed me.

WOW.... That is ALOT to handle. How many vent patients were there one the floor? Were they evenly divided? Plus a person in bilat restraints who sounds like he may have needed a one to one.... That is way to much to handle. You said that you are trying soo hard, and it is evident that you did! Its not you, it was the assignment. I would not stay at that hospital if this is a usualy, even somewhat occaisional occurence. I just started (well.... 9months ago) on a tele/ortho/medsurg floor. We are a smaller unit -20 beds, but will never have more than 2 vents per floor, much less per person. We would be on the phone with the nursing supervisor, manager, everyone- every 5 minutes- if any of our nurses had a situation like yours. I appreciate that I work with nurses who stick up for each other!

3/10 for many of the same reasons critter lover stated.

I do not get my period unless I am on BC. Blood tests show up ok. My gyno said that I should be on BC because its good to have my period to decrease my risk of cervical cancer. As far as I know, Im not at an increase risk for cervical or ovarian cancer. I have heard that its safe to not have periods, I have heard it unsafe too...

Well I feel like the odd one out. I am a nurse, 3months off of orientation. My shift ends 730pm, I get out around 830pm, sometimes later. Why? Because my floor is so hectic, and I am still practicing time managment skills, and I am still new to alot of stuff. I am slower. I sometimes feel that I am cursed with so many things going on at once. I also think I put patient care as a top priority, and charting last. We still do paper charting. I also will not depend on the assistance to get things done (not all-just some, and its alot to get into) Today, I got out at 830. I start again at 7am. We will see how it goes tomorrow.

Thanks for the links, Pumpkin! I will look at those. I know there are worse things than crying. It is just that crying impedes me from doing my work. And sometimes, it takes me a while to get back into multitasking. I have been struggling lately with critically thinking, and have been making a few big mistakes...... I am learning, but at what cost? When I come across an issue, I talk to other nurses, but they sometimes do not have the time to give me the best anwer. I talk to the residents, and I realize I cannot depend on them, because they are learning too. Then, Ill go and do my own thing, and it ends up being wrong. I am trying to figure that out now. Ive been off of orientation now for 4 months, and recently, every day is more nerve wrecking than the next. Im so tense for most of my 12 hour shift, that I can barely chat or relax with patients or coworkers. And I do deep breath, Ill take the stairs up-6 flights, to releive stress, I eat well, exercise, all of that..... Oh, and I cry in LOTR as well, even just when they are playing the theme music, if I am feeling especially emotional.

1. why did you enter the nursing profession?always felt i would be in a career that helped people and/or animals. was looking into social work, came across nursing and never looked back. 2. what do you like about being a nurse? i like making someones day a bit better when they are at their worst. i like talking to people from different backgrounds, educating and reinforcing education, advocating. learning pathologies of certain diseases. 3. what do you not like about being a nurse? the angry frustrated over worked co-workers, doctors, techs, etc. (sometimes understandably) watching patients who are stuck or lost in the system. 4. do you think you get paid what you deserve? for now, i think its fair, considering i am a new grad. though i see some nurses who should be getting paid more. 5. do you think that nurses are respected by the doctors you work with? some of them, yes. it depends on the nurse and depends on the doctor. 6. what do you wish you would have learned in school to help you in the real world? they were straigh forward with us in school. but you cannot really be prepared until you practice having 5 patients and no clinical instructor. 7. what is the worst situation you have ever been in? it was just last week, it was something i should have noticed sooner but did not act as fast as i should of. it ended up ok, but i was nervous, unsure of what i was doing, and did not think ask for help. ask for help!! 8. what is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse? when you can fix a problem and see its result (not always possible). when someone is better off in a small or big way, physically or emotionally, because of the time you spent with them. 9. do you think new-grads should start in the er? for the most part, no, but it is up to the individual and their past experience. 10. are you thinking about leaving nursing? yes, everyday. it passes my mind. i would like to do something less stressful, and something that involves nature and/or children. i keep saying i will be a camp nurse. but i have alot to learn still, and would like more experience before i change anything about my career. 24, f adn tele/ortho/ms floor.

I either have a scrub top on or a lab coat--either way, I must have 2 pockets. I have a little pocket organizer which is not too organized. I have 2 pens, a highlighter (lost the combo), alcohol wipes, pen light, scissors, bandaids and tape. Also, my tele pager, PDA, and yes, my cell phone (the only thing in my pant pocket. We have to still draw up our own flushes, so i carry around a blunt needle, lil saline bottle, and syringe, just in case I need one while in a room. Other random things end up in my pocket by the end of the day-like stips/lancets, labels, iv tubing because i thought this one room needed tubing change and IVF dc'd last minute, several half empty lil saline bottles, straws/spoons (wrapped of course). Steth goes around the neck that has a mini stop watch attached. I have a multi pocket folder from target that has my flow sheets for each room. My own report sheet is taped to the front, with a second sheet underneath to write down what I need to do (document this specific thing, check intake, call this doctor at this time, etc). If I do not write everything down, I will remember 2 days later!

Thank you all for your posts! My unit manager did want to talk to me and review what could have been done differently (regardless of me crying). She seemed very supportive. We did talk for a minute here and there but we both were so busy we didnt have time to talk about it in length. And the rubber band thing, yeah, I used something similar to that in the past, and it did work. I will wear a regular rubber band around my wrist. I dont wear much makeup, but I think I will bring some just in case! I remember I was looking at the IVPBs in the refrigerator and how great they would be over my eyes. Maybe I will just take some juices next time... heh. I do not mind crying on my way home from work. Sometimes it feels good, and by time I am home, I feel less tense that I do on a 'regular' day. Crying is a big way I release my emotions. I used to be ashamed of it, but it is better than bottling it up and taking it out in other ways...... Also I realized if I cry and/or have a panicky episode at work, the next time I have a situation similar to that, I handle it much more calmly. So I do have hope. Again, thanks for the responses and understanding!

Since I was a child, I have been a cryer. I cry when I am stressed, or overwhelemd with thoughts. It has brought me alot negative remarks over the years, but eventually I realized that this is a way that I releive my stress. I am a new nurse. I have been off orientation since January. Occaisionally I will be so overwhelmed at work that I just need to cry for a while. The hard part is I look like I did cry for the rest of the shift. The other day, my patient needed a RR. It was a big ordeal for me, especially since I felt guilty that I could have intervened earlier. She is doing ok, but not sure what her prognosis is. I cried though, and in front of many many people. I tried to hold it back, but so many people were asking me questions and the doctor was yelling at me (my great manager talked to her later in the hall about it). And I had to transfer the patient to ICU with teary eyes. It was humiliating. I came back to the unit and cried some more. Luckily (I am really thankful), the rest of my patients were ok, another nurse peaked in on them for me, and we had students who were taking care of the meds for some of the patients as well. Everyone saw me with red tearry eyes, and I was puffy for the rest of the shift (10 more hours). After having some time for myself and some deep breaths, I was slowly able to get back out on the floor. I know what happened last shift was a learning experience. I will know better (hopefully) next time and it will process in my brain much better. I am a perfectionist in a sense, and I am hard on myself, which adds to the emotions, and adds to how much I will cry. I do eat healthy, at least try to... I excercise (almost daily) and I do yoga (2-3 times a month). Is anyone else the type of person who cries in stressfull situations? Does anyone have panic issues with new stressful situations? I wish at times I could be a stronger person. A good cry is good for me at times, but other people look down at you-thinking you are weak. At work, it is hard to cry without anyone noticing. Thanks for reading.

We had a patient's wife ask the unit secretary to go down in the elevator with her because she was claustraphobic....

I understand what you are saying. I am off of orientation since January 1st. It will come with time. You have sooooooo much learning to do in the next weeks. The big picture will come with time. Listen to your co-workers in work, and when they talk to doctors, case managers, etc. You still will need time after orientation though too.... Maybe alot of time. But it has been promised that it will eventually come together. Good luck!

Seriously think that ER nurses should give them your feedback! I received a PG after going to an ER for a broken ankle, requiring surgery. Before I was a nurse. I was shocked that they asked about the temperature in the room! I was cold, but did not want the ER to be held that responsible for it.... It baffled me.... Of course I was cold, I was in pain, shaking, and had morphine being pumped into me.

My scrubs look overly baggy on me and I look un put together blahh. I will try urbane, but I wear alllll white and may have to re stock more often due to how dirty/dingy they look over time, especially at the end of the sleeves and bottoms of my pants. I also wish I could wear the colored scrubs, they have beautiful selections.

I work with mainly foreign (of multiple backgrounds) thin/non-obese women. They CONSTANTLY comment on people's weight. Some of them 'like oh my gawd... how can she get that fat?!?' to really blissful comments that I know not where they come from other than they grew up without knowing that it can be embarassing to comment on a person's weight in front of them. I am a size 12, and I am the largest nurse during day shift by far. Some of my coworkers have commented on my weight in front of me. It hasn't bothered me though because I am so shocked that they do not realize that it is not appropriate to say things.. even so nonchanlantly (most women knowww when things are said to be judgemental or mean). I have lost weight and proud that I am losing more! Anyways, I think there are alot of overweight people out there in United States society today, not just nurses. I think the weight of nurses represents what the general population weighs. That is how I have seen it.

I work 12 hour shifts. Granted, Im a new grad and a bit slower and not as organized as my fellow employees, but many days, most of us have not sat down to even chart 5 hours into the shift, and do not have time for a 'lunch' 8 hours into the shift. Then, we get news that we have to take this big admission, or they need to float one of our nurses, and one of the techs are leaving at 330pm with no one coming in to replace them. But they have NO consideration that we have not sat down and eaten or had checked our charts for orders. That may be your opinion. Not needing a lunch break. But I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. I will sooner call my manager down and have them cover while I take a 15 minute break (which is usally alll i take on a 12 hour shift) before skipping it on a regular basis. I have yet to have needed to do that. Most of my fellow day shift nurses will try to accomadate each other to ensure some sort of lunch break. I appreciate that. I do agree that this idea of martyrdom is what is contributing to the working conditions many hospitals have for their RNs. I can understand if I were working in a natural disaster area or out in the very rural areas struck with epidemics of illness, say in Africa-which I would do as a volunteer. But I will not accept that here. Not on a continuous basis.

I understand you in many ways. I work on a tele/medsurg/ortho unit. Its crazy most days. Every 4th shift is 'alright'. The rest are hell. Look into other fields of nursing though before you quit. For instance, I talked to a nurse I know, who I see every few months. She works in a NICU. After I went on and on about how I hate my job for several reasons you named above, she went on to tell me how her job was a struggle because she had nothing to do half her 12 hour shift at times. I know having a job with nothing to do makes the shift longer but puhlease, I would take that over running around like a chicken with its head cut off, 'playing nurse' without a lunch break for 12+ hours. But the grass is always greener..... I guess. Im almost considering NICU. My *dream* job now is camp nursing. Working as a camp counsler with kids and also at times utilizing my nursing skills. Too bad it may only be seasonal and the pay cannot be as good as I would need it to be. I also *should* get more bedside nursing experience before I leave off to camp because I know it would be harder to get back into if I need to (and probably would need to) in the future. For money and stability reasons. Dont give up. There are nurse grads who are out there that were lucky enough to find a position they like. I like some of my co-workers and we just got a new manager. So I want to stick it out to see how it goes over the next few months. And about getting called in? DONT PICK UP. SAY NO. Its not your problem. At everyother job I worked at, even at busy retail places, I would come in to work extra all the time. Thought I would do that as a nurse, and make big money. I wont go in extra at all. AT ALL. You cannot guilt me to come in. I have the power in my finger to say no, thats it, and hang up the phone. JUST SAY NO. It works. I stink at saying no, but I have NO PROBLEM saying no to coming into work for antying but my days.

The pharmacists on our have pointed out, as they are putting in the order for a perscription, that this cant be given for that reason. We have residents on the floor and the pharmacists have definetly been a big part in making sure medications are ordered safely. Also have called several times for questions/advice about medications that I could not get from a book.

I work in a community hosptial, part of a large hospital system in the Chicagoland area. We have 5 on a tele/medsurg/ortho floor. But they do not keep in mind the pt's acuity (many places dont, which is not the way it should be). We d/c and admit before you can blink your eye, and with alllll the new admission and d/c papers relating to medications, it takes up alot of time. Especially for me, since I am a new grad. They NEVER account for the time it takes to admit and discharge, and then receive post-ops, etc. Often we only have 1 tech, so we have to help feed, bath, accu check, etc on 2-3 of our pts. That kills me on a busy day! And it tears me up that my lil old pt has almost no time to be fed, among other basic care they do not receive. I had a pt sit in his mess for much longer than Id hope because he was incontinent, could not feel the urge to move his bowels or urinate, and was a mess like once an hour or more. (on a 12 hour shift, I cleaned him 4-5 times, and he still had to sit in the mess, had a rash, and everything). Even with an aid though, it would have been hard to manage. In Illinois, I know some nurses from the Chicagoland area are fighting for all around nurse pt ratios. Some are even going down to the capital soon, also going to go to a rally for Obama. Im still sorting out my thoughts on law mandated nurse-pt ratios.