passinthru

Doesn't sound like a very nurse friendly employer to me. :monkeydance:

Happiness has nothing to do with circumstances, happiness is the joy found in ones spirit.

I'm sorry, I had to giggle again at this one. It has been around for awhile. I saw some humor to it, but at the same time having been a nurse for decades, I don't see myself like the "experienced" nurse either.

Hi, I've lived most of my life in Illinois, but have been to Chicago area only 2-3 times many years ago. Springfield is "up North". Did y'all know we can pick a Chicagoan any time? You don't talk like we do down here. Is there no one else on here South of Springfield?

Many the times that I have lamented that I can not stop in the local grocery for a gallon of milk without meeting someone who wants to share with me about their grandma's latest setback or newest diagnosis. This is fine, I want to be a good listener and show compassion, but it does not facilitate quick trips as my family will tell you. There have been times when I've driven to the next town just to avoid some of these encounters. Today I recognized the flip side of being known in a small town. A woman who I know from the local pharmacy and chat with on a first name basis met me in the local food store and consoled ME on a recent loss in our family. The woman had tears in her eyes and gave me a big hug before I left. I was touched, I had not been looking for consolation but some how the encounter left me with a new respect for small town life. I was wondering if anyone else has any feelings about nursing in their small town...or what about the big city nursing.

Years ago I had a nursing supervisor speak to all of us then young nurses about what a privilege we had to be allowed to enter the lives of so many people from all walks of life. Being the skeptic at the time I thought "yeah, great, Uh, huh". I guess the thought stuck with me though. In what other work would you meet people like the homeless old alcoholic providing him physical, emotional, spiritual and end of life care? In other circumstances we can care for societies most elite, care for the same needs and be for a time part of their lives. She was right it is a privilege. Does anyone agree? Any comments?

:zzzzz Hmmm, maybe things have changed over time since I worked as a nurse's aide over 30 years ago when I was in my teens and during nursing school. I loved my jobs both in a nursing home and as a student nurse's aide on a surgical unit. As I remember it the work was hard, but I did not have the responsibility the RN does. If there was a problem I hollered "NURSE!!!" Perhaps my outlook is warped by time.

" lots of people like her/him" which is usually a true statement.

This makes me think of the young oriental college student I took care of in ER many years ago. She presented with a nose bleed. As I took her back to her cubicle for exam she asked me with such a concerned expression if she could be "getting her menstrual period from her nose." I reassured her most definitely that this was not the case.

The people that work in my dentist's office making apts even wear scrubs. I'm sure they don't change clothes before they go grab lunch at Subway. I don't see a real infection control issue with this. When there is an infectious person at our facility they require extra contact precautions in an attempt to contain the MRSA or whatever. Wearing scrubs out in the community shouldn't expose the world to any greater risk of infection that any other garb. Personally I prefer to get out of my work clothes as soon as possible after I get off work, just because I feel like I'm not clean.

Yes, I do get tired of the review. It seems like those two years go by awfully fast. Truthfully it is probably a good review, but I resent spending the long hours, usually on a weekend doing it. Does anyone do it on line? How does that work?

I had to think awhile on this one. Mostly I would have to agree with other posts. After working in nursing for over 34 years....YES, I would do it over. The negatives have been the shift work, working holidays, unpleasant people (co workers, patients, and doctors), hard physical labor, and loss of sleep. The positives have been that wherever I have gone there has been a job that pays relatively well, as a mother of a young child I was able to cut back my hours and sculpt a schedule that fit my family.

In my opinion...no, you are not too old. In fact you have the maturity and now the fresh nursing knowledge to make an excellent nurse. Nothing against the younger nurses, I know lots of wonderful 20something nurses, but as a nursing manager I really appreciate the older graduates. As far as a career, you probably have another 25 years to work and go anywhere you want to go. You go!

Ahh, yes, thanks for the first hand report of your experience. I have been thinking about future possibility of stasis ulcers (Ooooh, yuk!!) I wouldn't like that. My question for you, bluehair, is...who did this for you? A general surgeon, vascular surgeon? We live in a very rural area so I am wondering where to look for a doctor. I am encouraged that there may be hope for what ails me. Thanks.

What if you dropped one (or two) of your first names? Most people have two names and a last name and may or may not use both of the two names. Or perhaps you could just use initials for some of the names.

So my leg is throbbing after a long hard shift on my feet. The veins are very tortuous and UGLY. The problem is only in one leg but the vein is like a rope up my leg. I don't remember a time in the last 20 years when I didn't have a problem here, it has only gotten worse. I blame many long shifts on my feet. I am thinking of looking into surgical options at this point. Just wondering if anyone else has personally dealt with varicose veins and their treatment or has any insight into the pros and cons of surgical treatment. I've got another 10-15 years to work and wondering how I am going to make it.

Is it not still true that abdominal pain is always triaged as a top priority? No matter how often the same patient presents with the same problem...abdominal pain as chest pain, eye injuries, or anything else that threatens loss of life, sight, or limbs is a true emergency. I know ER can be hectic, but it seems the triage person was taking a lot on her shoulders when she let this one by. I would hate to be in his/her shoes.

Exactly! Feelings have nothing to do with the facts. The facts on the chart are all that will matter.

All good thoughts...thank you all for your input. You offered some things I haven't thought of. You are a great group. I will follow up on these.

No way. I am amazed that anyone would think this is feasible. It seems to me that there is way too much happening in a shift. I would never even try to keep my own journal. My feelings, too, are...put it on the chart...that is all I would choose to remember anyway. If I am asked years down the road what happened....I can say "just like the chart says, that's all I know."

Hello, all. Perhaps I am too close to this situation to see the obvious. A family member who is 68 has no energy at all compared to say 5 years ago. He is active and does exercise. He may take a two mile walk, but then seems to be totally exhausted and nap/rest most of the day. He is under a doctor's care for diabetes and is well controlled with insulin. Recent lab work was normal except for elevated triglycerides and slight (hb 12.6) anemia. Is this part of a normal aging process? I am concerned because I feel that there is some other problem. Anyone out there have any thoughts on this? Perhaps I am just a worrier, hmmm? Thanks

:) Okay, who can tell me...? What sort of a gyne exam does one need post hysterectomy? I would really hate to have undiagnosed ovarian ca, that would be so unpleasant. I have tried to get an answer from the surgeon post op, but got the "I'm done with you now" feeling. My hysterectomy was about a year and a half ago and I went in for an "exam" one year post op as instructed. The exam was a pap smear (lady partsl ca seems like a very remote possibility but I am willing to go along with it) and a breast exam. Is it not routine to have a pelvic exam to check ovary size...? I know I probably should have specifically asked this last visit, but the whole visit was over, done, and I was down the road before it came to me. The surgery was done for fibroids and I have no reason to suspect a problem now. I just don't want any problems! :stone