jennycRN

Nurses on my unit are being asked (told?) to participate in a study of a medical device manufactured by a for- profit corporation. Non invasive medical device will be applied to our patients. The company reps are being compensated to be on hand to "i...

Fair enough. But whose employment am I in when I am doing this work? Am I working for them for free? Is my hospital asking me to perform work for another corporation in addition to my regular responsibilities?

As was mentioned already, being a team player is really important in this type of environment. The frequent travels to CT and MRI necessitate a lot of teamwork and you should be comfortable asking for help and being willing to help out. Likewise, att...

Often professional development seems to be driven by a concern for regulatory and compliance issues where in the academic setting we focus on teaching the fundamentals- assessment skills, pathophysiology, etc. An MSN focused on nursing education will...

As a student, I hate 'death by PowerPoint' as much as the next person. I also desire to be challenged and engaged in the classroom. But now on the flip side as an adjunct instructor I also understand more of how the nursing education world works. Rea...

Adjunct positions vary quite a bit in terms of pay and expectations for the instructor. It would be good to get a ballpark idea of how much time you would need to spend per week in terms of grading and student interaction to determine if it is worth...

I have tried to develop a thick skin. If the student won't address me directly with their comments, then I don't have cause to respond. Be prepared for some negative reviews at the end of the semester! Some people will grumble and undermine wherever ...

I have worked night shift most of my career and do not "just have an understanding" with any provider. Who will have your back if you take an action outside your scope of practice and there is an adverse outcome?

This is just an example from a neuro ICU, but we don't hesitate to give a float nurse a "stable" patient with a "brain drain," knowing that there is more experienced staff to answer questions if needed. But we wouldn't give the float nurse a patient ...

What incentives or support are offered apart from "encouragement"? Attaining the CCRN credential represents an investment of time and money to study for the exam, purchase study materials and register for the test itself.

Also working at the bedside with an MSN like a number of my coworkers and teaching on the side. There is no hiring "prejudice" against nurses with higher degrees because we don't get paid more for having the MSN.

Agree with PP. Doctors Without Borders is not a good 'volunteer experience' for a new nurse. But if you have the skills and experience it is a good organization to work for. They paid all my travel and living expenses (except for those of the initial...

First of all, I think it is a sign of maturity to be able to self-reflect and identify the factors which caused you to be let go from the ICU. And you are right that this process is necessary to help explain your termination to future employers. It s...

You did the right thing--- you had no answer and did not pretend to. I took a class in palliative care which helped me a lot with communication with families. So I definitely do (gently) let families know that their loved one could pass while they ar...

It is normal to feel all of those things--- self-doubt, anxiety, being overwhelmed-- especially at the point of coming off orientation. It takes time, much more than four months, to grow in confidence, build relationships with your team, and learn th...

You have a goal (being a nurse) and that's great! That puts you ahead of many 18 year olds who have no clue what they want to do. Now breathe.... And take it step by step. As you mentioned, you still have a few things to do- readjusting to life in ...

Dear Ruby Vee-- Did you really mean it when you said that you can't think of anything more stressful than home health? Given that every job has its own stressors of course.

Hahaha.... Congratulations! Sounds like you have a lot of exciting times ahead of you. Start to think about your priorities (nursing is ALL about prioritizing, lol). Remember that weddings don't HAVE to be expensive or elaborate. It is an important d...

I think that the questions you need to be asking relate to what is important to you in your career-- is it pay, benefits, training in a new area, job security, opportunities for advancement? Is the job with an established company that you can researc...

Your question is a bit vague... Have you been thinking about leaving your current job or were you blind-sided with an offer that sounds too good to be true?

To the PPs, I think the OP's dialogue was a mixture of what she was thinking and what she actually said... But maybe I am wrong. No matter how thick your skin is, there is always that one patient or family member who really pushes your buttons. But I...

I tend to be overly cautious about these things, because even if your motives are good and you are not in violation of your code of conduct, it is important to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. That being said--- it was she and not you who ha...

ICU has it's exciting moments, but much of the nursing care involves attention to detail-- skin surveillance and hygiene, positioning, meticulous documentation of titratable drips, etc.

In contrast to your story, one patient whose memory still haunts me ten years later is an alert gentleman with end stage COPD. He was DNR/dni and I was told in shift report that he wasn't expected to last the night. His doctor had left orders for IV ...

Hmmmm.... Your US nursing experience was brief, under a year... You might have success with jobs that welcome new graduate nurses to apply. You are in that awkward window where you are no longer a new grad yet don't have the magic '1-2 years' experie...