cathyish

it's really true - my hubby had a small one removed as an infant. the only problem he has ever had was that in his 30s a cyst develoved in the location and he had to have it drained.

i remember a cough syrup tv commercial from my youth (and perhaps a variation is still being shown?) with a line about "coating" the throat with soothing relief. however, as a student, during pharmacology we we told to (have the patient) force fluids and that the "coating the throat" line was little more than a marketing line...sounds like a potential "evidence-based practice" study to me ;-)

i start off the morning with a cup of hot tea while my coffee is brewing, and i drink brewed iced-tea all day long, so no tummy problems for me. do you get n/v from other warm beverages on an empty stomach?

wow! i'm not one to wear perfume to work, but your story is so powerful. thank you.

I was a stay at home mom for for 14 years before I started nursing school. When I filled out applications for my first job hunt last May, I just wrote a short personal statement about why I decided to become a nurse at this point in my life. It was never even mentioned during my interviews. Personally, I don't think being a volunteer would be much help. I'd concentrate on learning some nursing skills in school that you could bring to a nurse-tech/student nurse position after a semester or two.

you need to know that you can refuse to take any assignment for which you feel unqualified, untrained or unsafe. you are working under your license now, and it's up to you to know your own level of competency. do not allow a short-staffing situation to become your responsibility - it should have been your nm/charge nurse who took responsibility of those patient(s), not you. that being said, i think you did a great job in what must have been a stressful situation for you.:)

I was 42 when I started nursing school and 45 when I passed the NCLEX (June '05). I had multiple job offers.

thanks for the reply. i don't think i've done anything to warrent a "no re-hire", but i wanted to be careful. i haven't yet applied to another hospital - the recruiter at this one is "looking" within the hospital for me.....i am going to spend my days off this week checking out other hospitals, however.....

thanks for the reply. :) i haven't quite decided what to do (or where to apply next). the large mega-hospital corp in this area, does have 12-week preceptorships, but you must stay at the job for 2 years or pay them back $7,000. i'm going to look at some of the medium sized community hospitals, and see what they offer.

. gee, it sounds like you and i were hired by the same hospital...... i was hired as a new grad on a post-partum/ mother/baby unit, and was given only 3 weeks orientation, and had to beg for an additional 3 weeks. i had 4 different preceptors in that time period. i oriented on days, and work evenings, which are always understaffed (i've frequently had 10-12 patients). 3 weeks ago i requested a move to 12 h days, which have a lower pt ratio. (my request was denied) when i had an evening with 13 patients, i threw in the towel and gave 2-weeks' notice. i have no advice for you, except to let you know that you aren't alone in your experience, and to send you a big cyber hug.

i've read that phrase before (here on the forum), but what exactly does it mean? does it mean that the hospital that is giving you the reference wouldn't hire you again? if so, what basis are they using to make that statement? thanks in advance, (a new nurse who just gave 2 weeks' notice after only 5 months on the job).

not a conservative, so no problem there :) .... it's funny, as my co-worker was complaining about nursing schools turning out nurses who expect to only care for 6-8 patients, and bragging about how she'd taken "15 patients on many occasions", and another co-worked bragged about how she's had 17 patients, the term "abused nurse" popped into my head. these women really can't see their work environment for what it is - abusive. thanks for your reply......(now i'm ) "california dreamin'" :rotfl:

thanks for the hug i can sure use one! we are providing couplet care for the most part, but we occasionally have ante-partum patients and gyn surgeries i've checked the awhonn site, but can't seem to locate the staffing ratios you reference. what is considered a safe ratio for postpartum couplet care?

thanks everyone for your replies and your support! i can't begin to tell you how much i appreciate your input. it has truly touched me to know that there are nurses out there who care enough to give advice to a stranger. all of what you've told me i already new in my heart and head, but it gives me strength to have it confirmed by "outside sources" i have a meeting with my pcd before my shift tomorrow. she wants to discuss "the situation that occured on thursday" (me sobbing in the break room). i can't think of anything she will tell me that will prevent me from turning in my resignation.

i've been off orientation for about 7 weeks now....not every shift is so overstaffed - on occasion i've actually had 4 couplets, but probably 75 % of the time we have above that. but the situation worried me enough that i've spoken to both my preceptor and my unit director about my feeling unsafe as a new grad, but to date, nothing has changed. thanks for letting me know that i wasn't a wimpy nurse. (one of my co-workers actually gave me a little lecture about how nursing schools were turning out "spoiled" nurses who think that they'll never have more than 6-8 patients. she told me to "get with it, honey - this is real nursing, not some text-book bs they feed you all...." )