1999nurse

I worked in a rehab 20 years ago, and a few months ago started working in a detox and residential rehab program. Our staff and management are so supportive. Our medical director is an APRN and very involved. It probably helps that we only take private insurance and self pay patient's, none that are "sent to us," but I am also happy to say we follow a structure and agree we are all on the same page. Patients are told what we will do (and not do) on admission. If it isn't time for meds, I say NO. If a patient were to be verbally abusive, they would be asked to leave. It's only been a few months, but I love where I am working and what I am doing. I've been a nurse since 1999. We have a lot of long term skilled nurses, but not all from long term psych or addictions nursing. I care but I can also remained detached. Maybe that isn't the job for you. I don't know if it's the actual detox or the way it's ran. If you are miserable, there are other things to do. I am glad I have changed specialties and tried things until I found somewhere I feel like I fit in. I could make more money, but I don't care anymore. good luck whatever you do. I'll keep focusing on the ones I can help, and hope the others remember something I said someday and get help and get clean. It can be a heartbreaking disease. I expect the lies and manipulation. Our system is set up to not feed into it or let it continue. I am happy that abuse from patients will not be tolerated!! Leadership is everything, and having a ARNP who was also a ---burnt out from working in a hospital, ER and hospitalist---- helps.

I work in a detox. We have already established when I started, that we don't give our personal info to patients on the unit. Some techs we have are in recovery, and I don't know what they do. they may see former clients at meetings, but we as nurses should keep professional boundaries. I don't know about driving him anywhere. I'd rather drive someone than see them get a DWI or hurt someone. An uber or other solution could be reasonable. If I saw a former client out drinking, I would personally try to not get involved. I don't know the whole story, but that's my opinion

I did leave. Thanks for the validation, if nothing else. I'm glad I am at a point that I can take a job paying a whole lot less, that hopefully will be a lot less stress.

I wondered about that as well. In other areas of nursing it can’t be done, it I didn’t know if that was hospital policy, or legal. Years ago I did private duty, and I know we always said it was illegal to work 24 hours straight. I once had the nurse to follow me unable to make it. I remember “timing out” and sleeping 4 hours at my clients house, and then going back on the clock. it can’t be the safest thing for anyone involved.

I started home health case mangement last year, in December. I am so burn out that I am quitting. they want me to stay part time or PRN and say I'm doing great, but I am so tired, stressed, and feel so over worked I think I want nothing more to do with this company. Is this normal? We have no social worker, so I do that stuff. I do my own SOC's, ROC's, recerts, plus routine visits. Also, all the "CM" stuff, phone calls, doctor's (who don't return calls). Med recs are a joke when doctors don't call back, or won't until they see a patient. I drive about 100 miles a day because I cover 3 different territories for our company. I am salary, and when I missed a day lost pay. To keep up I had to chart every night and all weekend. The last weekend I worked on call, I had 3 scheuled SOC's, and a ROC. She moved the evals so I could chart on Sunday. Monday I had 2 more SOC and and eval, and drove 125 miles. I also almost drove into a tornado. No warnings about storms in the area were given out. Our admin said she was "too busy" that day. (if you aren't from the midwest, by the time you hear a siren there is a tornado on the ground). My husband helped redirect where I needed to drive. I could see it from where I was. I am tired of either working 70-80 hours a week, or being totally behind. things get missed or not done because I cannot handle a caseload that was up to 28. No matter how many starts there are, I still have a full visit load daily. If a visit cancels, they want us to call and see someone else's patient, or move another to that day so they can add more later to mine. I'm being taught by another RN who says to just move missed visits so they can't overload you later in the week. Why should we have to do this??? Also, and more seriously, I found orders put in with my name on them. That I did not take. I may report this to the BON. this is more serious. I have a job to do private duty. I did this 20 years ago, and some how the pay is the same. I am sick of hospital work after 22 years. I am frustrated at how nurses are treated and overworked. Other industries don't overload a new employee for over a year until they get better at it. I did 17 years in labor and delivery. I know how to manage time and multi-task, and I've always been good at documentation. I can't work somewhere I don't feel like I can do a good job. I see my clinical manager work every night for a couple hours, and do scheduling every Sunday. I am not working anywhere I need to do nothing but sleep and work. I am too old for this. I lasted 3 months. I had many talks with the manager in the office that I can't work all day (8-6), and then chart every night and every weekend. And take call at least 5 weeknights a month and 2 weekend days every month. And the weekend call is almost guaranteed SOC's. like 2-4. I wish I had started with a different agency. I don't mind some driving and enjoyed my in home visits. The rest of this has been ridiculous. I'm starting to make myself physically ill from all the stress.

I am on the western slope in a smaller town, I have been an RN since 2002, and my base pay is $28/hour. I make an extra $4 for night diff. I am seriously considering travel nursing again at this rate. I miss what I made in MO and TX. But I didn't have these great mountain views..... what a trade off.

So far, State Boards of Nursing still do not allow any positive test for TCH. there is no allowance for a medical mj card. I have uncontrolled migraines and I'm going insane, but I can't even try that option. I value my license too much. I would love to fight it, but how do we even try without jeapordizing our careers? I can get an rx for all kinds of pain killers, thank goodness imitrex works best. I don't take mind altering drugs while at work. If pain is that bad, go home! BUT.... I know nurses that have. I know people with chronic pain that don't seem altered when they take their pain meds. are they? I don't know. You test positive for day, but they could do a blood test to check levels to see if you are actually impaired at work. maybe someday this will make more sense. Out of all the drugs for pain control, anxiety, etc, I don't think MJ is the worst thing!

so far I am on an extended probabltion.... on more strike and i'm out. now i've have write up for several other things that were never brought to my attention before this. I am in trouble for staffing, and the way things were handled when I was not in charge. I feel like there is a target on my back. I have another job offer. My interviewes started a long time before any of this came up. am i safe to take it. try not to use my current diffector. scared. but would love this new job

well, I was on call thursday night, and I worked friday night and saturday night. I guess so far I still have a job. haven't heard anything else yet. it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. thanks for the comments everyone.

thanks. I've been a nurse for 14 years. I've known for a long time it kind of defines who I am, at least to me. This is scary if I do get a final warning, and not reported to the BON, I'll feel like the luckiest girl in the world with the biggest slap in the face wake up call ever. Until I find out I don't want to tell anyone, and I hate not having anyone to talk to. I've been through a lot in life and I'm sure I'll get through this too!

I am an L&D nurse in CO. I had my review and was told someone suspected me of diverting narcotics. I admitted that I did once last year after I had surgery. My manager told me that she would write a final warning, one more and i'm fired and reported to the BON. she said that she still need to talk to admin (CNO), HR, and pharmacy. She asked if I would do a random drug screen, and I said yes, anytime!! I didn't get a call to do one yesterday. I can pass one anytime. I haven't really slept all night. In a way I'm mad I told the truth. I don't want to lose my license. It was a stupid thing to do. Maybe I'm jumping to the worse case scenario, but I'm already wondering if I should talk to an attorney, self report to PAS, or where I can possibly work in my small town if I am suspended. I am trying to stay calm and wait and see, but this really sucks. I'm not sure if the waiting is worse than knowing.... thanks for listening