Emcat87

The majority of people do not know the difference between an allergy and an adverse reaction or side effect.

You poor thing! LOL! I've been in your shoes and I know exactly how you feel...but honestly, those are the kind of dumb mistakes that a new nurse makes and your higher ups know this. I did some of those very things. But, when I forgot to turn on the pump after I hung the piggy back, I got a med error on me because my DON happened to see it and it was like two hrs overdue...A girl stuck a fent patch in the one of those little cubbies and got fired for it. It is really scary because nursing is a heck of a learning process and you don't learn hardly anything you need in nursing school. Wait until this time next year after you've worked for a full year and you will be a completely different nurse. You will know how to think better and you'll have a routine established. But like I said, some of those things you mentioned above are considered med errors and the blood sugars not getting checked are some kind of infraction as well and honestly, the healthcare field has such a big turn over because facilities will fire nurses for mistakes like that, even though theyre so stupid and were all human....im speaking from experience. I got screwed really bad and fired for accidentally signing off a neb tx and then forgot to turn the machine on. And just the week before I was in for my evaluation with my DON and administrator, and HR rep and they bragged and bragged on what a wonderful nurse I was and how they wished the other employees would take notes and they went on and on and made me feel so good then i got canned over albuterol the next week...that was devastating...now granted, they fired 15 other people on the same day they fired me because we had a really bad state survey and corporate decided to just wipe out the whole staff. They escorted the DON to the time clock and woouldnt let her get her stuff and she had worked there for 37 years!! Anyways thats way off the subject but the best advice I can give u is even though it takes that one extra second to double check or to ask someone, it is worth it. I had to start double checking myself for a while when I was a new nurse because like you said, my hands would be full of meds so i'd ha-15mg the iv fluids and meds on the pole first then give the PO's etc and then id totally forget to turn them on so I had to start making two trips or if I was absolutely swamped, id set the alarm on my phone with a reminder that said "go check IV poles" it would go off about 10-15 mins after my meds were passed and there were several times I went in and found them. If I would have got caught without one running and got another med error write up, in that facility, it was grounds for dismissal so I had to do whatever it took to make sure I had everything done and administered correctly and on time. You'll be fine!! Just know, the mistakes you spoke of in your post, you'll never make them again!!! haha

I know that the laws vary by state but here in WV, you do not touch an IV in nursing school at all. You learn how to spike and hang bags and work the pumps etc but yeah, we are trained on the job or our employers send us to a 3 day class and we get certified in IV's PICC's Midlines for two yrs. I actually learned IV's as an LPN working on a Med Surg floor.

I've done that before and got busted! I got wrote up for false documentation because I didn't look at the site. My DON was really cool about it and It was seriously my second day working as a nurse so I was very much on the clueless side of things but she taught me two very important lessons that I have carried and kept in high regard ever since. 1) False documentation is a big no no and they can yank your license from you in a heartbeat for it. 2) Luckily, it was normal saline. If it would have been say a K rider or Vanc or if I would have pushed the Phenergan she had ordered, those meds can and will cause tissue necrosis which could have led to major infection and damage. When your new you think something as silly as glancing at someone's iv site is no big deal but one thing about nursing, it is always the little, fundamental things that were drilled into our heads since the first day of nursing school that can cause lots of damage including losing your job and/or being reported to the board. I'll tell ya though, I haven't made that error since and ill never forget it. :)

This is one of those super tricky yet super common nurse to nurses aid "issues." I completely understand what you meant when you told her "but you're the aide," but that is always going to offend an aide no matter what. I never worked as a CNA, I went straight to nursing school and I give all props to anyone who makes a living working as hard as they do. But, someone made a great point in a previous post that went something like "the nurse can help the CNA with their work, but the CNA cannot help us with ours." and that is the truth and it is how it is. CNA's and nurses both are swamped and at the end of the day, you being the nurse, are ultimately responsible for the care that you give as well as the care your aids give. I also get highly frustrated when a CNA questions a nurse's practice like when she said "you hadn't administered the patient's medication to her yet." She shouldn't be taking notes and observing what you are doing because if she was doing her work which we all know is never ending, she wouldn't have time to know whether that patient had received their medication yet or not and frankly, that is nothing she is to be concerned with. When it comes down to it, you have to pick and choose your battles with your CNA's very carefully because I know how many times that I have done scatter brained things like that, too. And I am in no way trying to offend any of the CNA's out there because God, we couldn't function without you but from my nursing experience, they do resent nurses in general but it is because of the way the majority of nurses treat them. I know nurses that will leave a patients room and go find an aid to hand them their water pitcher because they need a drink. That is unacceptable!! You really have to work hard to earn respect from your aids just as you have to prove to them that you've got their backs and are there to help them. I'm not saying that you do this but i see nurses everyday acting like they are better than their aids and treating them like servants and I don't understand it. I've also seen RN's treat LPN's like they're stupid as well. That is always going to exist in this field but like I said before, you have to choose your battles wisely. Everybody needs to cut eachother a tiny bit of slack in the healthcare field because there isnt one member of the healthcare team that isn't physically and emotionally exhausted. Another good tip is to never talk down to or condescend anyone that you are in charge of. Also, never confront them or have any kind of conversation about their job performance in front of any other employee. Always take the person somewhere where you can be alone to discuss whatever the issue maybe. It is unprofessional and it is embarassing someone infront of their "friends." I'm not saying you did that either but its just something good to keep in mind. If I were you, next time you work together I would give her one compliment about something you saw her do. Don't go overboard and appear to be kissing her butt, but that will let her know that you have some faith in her and she will come around. I hope that helped some.

What type of setting do you work in and what state are you practicing in? I've been an LPN for going on 5 years now and im in RN school and i've worked Med/Surg and as charge nurse at two skilled nursing facilities and I have never once been treated like a CNA or given an assignment similar to theirs....that is terrible that they're doing that to you And I assume when u say being "given CNA work" you mean beds, baths etc?? LPN's generally are giving meds all day...You'll have to go into a bit more detail for me to give you a more thorough answer but that is very strange and I would be frustrated as well. You didn't go to CNA school, you went to nursing school therefore you want do do nursing! I get what your saying 100 percent but the biggest majority of nurses forget that true, real nursing care is beds, baths, bedpans, etc. That is basic nursing so its not to say your not doing "nursing" but your not getting to utilize the skills you just worked your butt off to learn and you want to use them!! But yes, fill me in a little bit more on why the nurses are doing only CNA work..

Of course you shouldn't give up!! Maybe your instructor was the one who was wrong if you and two other students got the same number of beats and it was 20 beats off according to your instructor. I was taught to close your eyes, tap your foot with the beats and count for a full minute. You can even count it twice if you are unsure. It takes some practice to count a fib accurately. Have another student count with you with a double eared stethoscope if you have access to one. Practice makes perfect!! Something so simple is no reason to quit nursing school and its unfortunate that your instructor did not educate you when you got the count wrong...some instructors are more focused on weeding students out that teaching them and it really does take its toll. You're only as good as your teacher but, in nursing you must be proactive about learning the profession. Get as much clinical experience as you can. When you have some downtime in clinicals, which is rare but sometimes happen. Go take several patient's pulses apically and just practice counting. It will come to you. Don't give up!!

I wouldn't necessarily say you "have" to get your CNA before going to nursing school but, it will certaintly be beneficial. I got my LPN and worked four years before going for my RN and from my experience, I was sooooo thankful that I had previous experience. You do not get adequate training in nursing school to be fully competent to come out of school and be given such huge responsibility. That is my opinion. When I began working as an LPN, I started on a Med-Surg unit at a somewhat small hospital. I went in confidant that I knew what I was doing and I got one hell of a rude awakening...It takes time and "work" experience to develop the critical thinking skills that you are required to have as a licensed nurse. I am not downing anyone that had no previous experience...maybe I wasn't as strong as some people but I was a very good student in LPN school, I won several clinical skill challenges at the state level and at the end of the year, was voted by the instructors to have the best clinical notebook and demonstrated the best clinical skills in class. I also was very proactive during clinicals and was competitive about getting as much experience I could and I was stunned at what I didnt know when I went to work. It was very scary for me. I have also worked with many new grad RN's that had no previous experience and they were in the same situation I was in when I was new. One of them came to me as my supervisor flipping out because she didn't know how to set up O2 tubing for her new admit...She was a new grad RN, BSN. The most nursing practice you receive in clinicals tends to be in fundamentals..beds, baths etc. They don't call nursing students "glorified aid's" for nothing. You get your basic's in school and learn how to pass boards and perform things like injections and foley's, but the thinking and decision making can only come with experience. That is my opinion. If anyone has the opportunity to get some experience before nursing school, my advice is to pursue it and make sure it is even the right field for you. Nursing truly isn't for everyone!! And we definitely are not paid nearly what we deserve for the services we render and the **** we have to go through and deal with. :)

Honey, you will for sure 100% get another job! That whole situation is a crock and it sounds like you will be better off not working there! They don't tell you in nursing school how freakin' hard this field is! Don't feel like you failed at all. Shake it off and move forward. Something better is in store for you!! Hang in there!

Forgive me if I just repeat the same thing everyone else has said, I did not read all of the comments. First and foremost, as we all know, under no circumstance do you ever take anything non-narcotic or narcotic from the establishment at which you are employed, and especially never for a patient. Now, I have worked in the hospital and im currently working in long term care. Our meds are kept in a med cart. We have a pyxis for the purpose of if we running out of a med (which shouldn't happen very often) or we get a new order and need a dose before pharmacy can deliver the med and for emergency meds. I have seen nurses give other nurses/employees things like Zofran. It bothered me as well because, like you said, the patient paid for that medication, not to mention, it isnt right. Since you get your meds out of the pyxis, if someone would have gotten her the Zofran, it would have automatically charted that the patient got the medicine and everything. In LTC, we could just pull it out of the box and nobody would ever know, atleast thats the mentality of some of the staff. I agree with some of the others and think maybe she was probably testing you. Really, it would show someone several important things about a person depending on their answer. it would show character and your moral standard, not to mention whether you would take medicine from a patient. Being a new nurse is so hard and unfortunately the majority of seasoned nurses don't have much patience with newbies and they tend to want to "weed them out." Another thing I don't understand is, since she was your preceptor, why couldn't she pull it out of the pyxis. I would assume the Zofran was a PRN so even though maybe she wasn't "giving medication" she could have easily said that the patient asked for it and she just went ahead and got it. Either way, it is messed up and certainly breaking some major rules. Maybe you could pull her to the side the next time you work together and explain to her how you feel. Ask something like "is that normal practice at this facility?" Something that would get her to give you more information without flat out asking her. It also has the potential to be a very touchy situation depending on what you decide to do about it. You don't have any proof that she ever asked you that and you never saw her take anything and you didnt give her anything which makes it a "he said, she said." If I was in your situation and I was going to tell someone, I would choose the DON or a nurse in some such position. I would not speak of this to any other employees either. Don't necessarily go and "tattle", but address it in a way that it is more of an FYI than reporting someone. I'd also keep my eyes open for other nurses that maybe frequently "borrowing" meds and if you see it, then deal with it accordingly. Good luck!!

I have worked at two different LTC facilities, one which I am currently still employed and 1 privately owned assisted living facility. The LTC"S are pretty good about having supplies. BP cuffs and pulse oximeters are always scarce and were even that way when I worked on Med Surg. I can't live without a black sharpie. It is a recently developed necessity for me since i've been in LTC for several years. As you know, you have to label EVERYTHING in LTC. Bed pans, denture cups, nebulizer masks, all of our "stocked meds" vitamins and such, have to be dated with a sharipe when we open them, also insulin and almost everything else. I had to go buy my own sharpies and I hardly ever loan one out because I know ill never get it back. Now, the PO assisted living facility was the worst place i've ever been in in my life, let alone career. The short time that I worked there, atleast twice a week I had to go around and make a list of the absolute necessities that we were always out of which included :tape, gauze, insulin syringes, A & D ointment, wound wash, and probe covers to name a few. This facility also did not allow wash cloths!!!!!!! There were about four of them in the whole building of 65 residents and they were only used on a resident during their once per week shower. Wet wipes were used for peri care and bed baths in between. The aids would wipe them down with the wet wipes and then cake the cheapest lotion on the market all over them. Needless to say, none of the resident's smelled too good by about day 3. They also always looked greasy. They would have lotion and gunk from the wipes and skin all mixed together and caked under all their folds. I was shocked!!!! They also hired AMAP's to pass meds. There was one LPN per 8 hr shift to 60-65 residents, two AMAP's passing meds, and there was one RN there during weekdays from 8-4 and during evenings and weekends, the RN was on call. If your not familiar with an AMAP, they are people hired in off of the street and they take a 6 week class which is taught in the facility by the one RN that works there. They are hired on to do all med passes and are paid minimum wage. This made me highly uncomfortable for the two weeks in which I worked there. They supposedly learned in 6 weeks what us nurses went to school for 1-4 yrs to learn how to do and we worked our asses off. I don't feel that it is safe for someone to walk in off the street, learn a couple little things and be turned loose with narcotics and medications like Dilantin and Lopresssor and Digoxin etc. As the nurse, I had no idea whether these women posessed the knowledge of things like, for example "always check pulse before administering Digoxin and if it is under 60 it is held." Or if they know that a BP needs to be obtained before giving things like Clonidine and Lopressor etc. Or to even check a temp on residents on ATB tx. The LPN is supervisor on all shifts and all she does is chart, supervise meals,give insulin injections, and do a few pathetic little txs that are no where near accurate for the types of wounds they have there. The housekeeps were cross trained in the facility to check blood sugars and they go around and check them and then give the nurse the readings and she then administers the insulin...For every wound except your major decubs, they wash with wound wash, dry with gauze, put some skin prep or calazine around the edges of the would, and cover c 4 X 4's and/or gauze wrap. That's it. The reason why this happens is because the owner and administrator of the facility's son is the medical director and he is a OBGYN by profession. This does not even pertain to this post but these are just a few major things that went on there and I just cannot believe it! I understand that it is privately owned as well as "assisted Living" and is not a skilled nursing facility. But, they just seemed to break every rule imaginable to me and I felt like they did everything backwards. What do you guys think about this? Also, I live in West Virginia and I know the nursing laws differ per state but I believe that the concern that I had while working there, I had good cause for. Has anyone had any experience with a place like this or know anything about assisted living?

Hello!! I had a similar issue but it was more along the lines of the "patient care" aspect of nursing. Until I went to nursing school, I had never even changed a baby's diaper. I was terrified of how I was going to react when I actually had to wipe someones butt and clean up vomit and diarrhea. I was kind of petrified that I would gag or do something inappropriate and embarass the patient and upset my instructors. Well, my first day of clinicals my instructor assigned me a patient that was post bowel resection with only 6 feet of colon left and no ostomy. The pt didnt have enough bowel to digest food so food came out half way digested which is absolutely horrid. It is wet diarrhea with a terrible smell. I went in that room and began speaking with the patient and got to know her some. When it was time for me to clean her bedside commode, I emptied and cleaned it like it was nothing. Yes, it stunk and was gross, but I realized some things. I tried to imagine how embarassed I would be if I was in her shoes and had her bowel problems. Pooping for me is private and embarassing and I don't like to discuss it. I would die if I had to poop in a plastic commode in my room and then have someone go empty it for me. I came to realize that she is a person just like me and she can't help it. It is true that you do get used to things while in school. I've continued to have that same realization over and over again with patients. When they have necrotic wounds that have a foul odor, or chronic diarrhea,or have to poop in a hat so we can get a stool sample, or have to be cathed everyday, and all of the other embarassing bodily functions that all humans share, I have sympathize with them. How would I feel if I was in their shoes? I would be so embarassed so I know they are. I just treat them with dignity and respect and you have to view them as humans with feelings. It will not be as bad as you think it is. As for what your issue is...the first thing you need to know before you go to nursing school, or into the health care field period is that you have to touch people!!! That is the first thing my LPN instructor told us on our first day. She said "I'm going to let you all know now...you have to touch people in this field, lots of people. You have to deal with blood and snot and poop and pee and puke and would seepage and all kinds of other things. There is no way to get out of touching people in this field. If you don't like to touch people, then this is not the field for you." Now...nursing students are nothing more than glorified nursing assistants. The whole time your in nursing school clinicals, you will be doing aid work. That includes, beds, baths, oral care, peri care (lady partsl/anal care), putting lotion on, washing hair, cleaning and clipping nails, serving meals and feeding patients who need assistance and much more. That is nothing but "touching." It's also nursing. Nurses care for people in every aspect of their lives which includes eating, bathing, dressing, therapies, medications, psychosocial care etc etc. We care for the sick, weak, debilitated, and desperate. The majority of everyone you see in your nursing career, will be at their absolute worst and it is the nurses job to "nurse" them back to health. It is not for everyone I will tell you that right now. I knew nothing about nursing before I went to school and I had absolutely no idea how much it entailed and how much responsibility you have. You can literally kill someone in a second if your not paying attention. I wish the public had a clue what nurses have to learn, know, and do everyday. Ok, im going off topic, sorry :) I just wanted to say that not just to you, but to anyone who reads this. Nursing is not for everyone but if it is for you, you will love it. It is highly rewarding and you get to meet all kinds of different people, wonderful people and you learn a lot about life, yourself, and many other things. Since you said you were currently working on your pre-req's and haven't started nursing school yet, I wanted to give you some personal insight on what you mentioned in your post about fainting in certain situations etc. One very cool thing about nursing is, there are about a million different kinds of nursing specialties you can choose from and a million different environments you can work in. Npw, when you are a student you will be required to get a little bit of exposure to all aspects of the nursing field. Meaning, you will spend time in hospitals, operating rooms, nursing homes, clinics, mental institutions, day cares, wound clinics, dialysis centers, cath labs, OB-which is pregnant women and babies, pediatrics, etc. When I was in school, and most schools in the US all have just about the same requirements for nursing students regarding clinical experience. We did a little bit of everything. Personally, I love blood, guts, and gore!!! The nastier, the better! I've always been that way. Wounds and surgeries and burns and countless other gross things excite and interest me. All nurses are not like me. During our surgery rotation, we had a couple students pass out in the OR. Some said they hadnt eaten and got too hot, and some said it was just simply very difficult to watch. Thats ok. You don't fail or anything if u pass out or faint during a clinical. You do however, have to attend everything they assign for you. Meaning, when its your time to go to surgery, you can't say "Omg I have such a weak stomach and I can't go because I'll faint." (example) They will tell you at that point, that you either go to your rotation, or go home and take a failing grade for that day and that is something you cannot afford to do. Plus, every clinical experience you attend, such as surgery, would clinic etc, you are most likely going to be required to write a report on explaining what you saw, what did they do, why did they do it etc. so it is crucial that you attend. Another cool thing is, these experiences are usually one, maybe two days and they pack so much into nursing school that you dont have time to go places more than once usually...So if you know ur gonna get sick, just prepare yourself...eat breakfast, watch a surgery on youtube the night before, do breathing exercises, whatever will calm you down to get you through it. Plus, the things you learn and get to see during those experiences are so awesome and exciting and interesting and its something that not everyone gets to see, so take it as a learning experience. Since you got to see the things with the animals that you mentioned above, you atleast have had some sxposure to it and it wont be such a shock. I also just read the last part of your post, I somehow missed it and I saw that you said your going to get your pre-req's then get your CNA and then i didn't understand if you were then going to pursue a nursing degree or what. My advice...Being a CNA before you go to nursing school is awesome!! More power to you! It will give you your fundamental nursing skills that you learn at the very beginning like how to make an occupied bed and how to do peri care and how to do I & O's and how to take vital signs etc, but...getting a CNA cert is only like 6-8 weeks here in WV. Thats the minimum amount of hours you have to have to get your certificate. It is not a point in your career where you can stop. Being a CNA is the hardest, exhausting, frustrating, underrated and underpaid job other than being a waitress that exists. You are literally an "ass wiper". Now with that said, CNA's are wonderful wonderful people. There is not one part in the health field that could function without CNA's and their job is critical to the health and wellbeing of the resident. I am not downing anyone that is a CNA because it is a damn hard job and they really have a heavy load on their backs. My point was, don't stop at CNA. CNA is just the beginning of nursing. Like I said, I didnt understand if you meant you were going to get your CNA then go to nursing school or what which I assume you are going to get your CNA then go to nursing school but I wanted to tell you just in case. Being a CNA requires no pre-req's. The other thing I wanted to say that pertains to the fainting etc is that the things you do in nursing school are not what you do once youve passed boards and earned your nursing license. You get a broad knowledge of the whole field in nursing school and you do a lot of dirty work, as well. Once you start working, you can choose the avenue that suits you. If you find that you get through nursing school and certain things still make you queesy and you just cannot handle it, you can find a nursing job that doesn't deal with that at all. There are nursing positions that require you to sit at a desk in an office and talk on the phone all day. No patient care what so ever. You can work at a mental hospital which has very little blood and guts and very little touching people. You can work at a methadone clinic and sit at a desk and answer the phone and do vitals and write scripts all day. So, don;t let being nervous about fainting or being grossed out or anything be what makes you decide against going. Most likely, you will go to school and you'll get used to it really fast and you wont have any problems at all. Just follow your dreams and go as far with nursing as you can. By 2020 RN"S will be required to have Bachelors degrees if not Masters' so go all the way if you want! I hope this was somewhat helpful and gave you some insight on the nursing profession and I apologize for it being so long. I really get into nursing. BTW I've been a nurse for 5 years and i've worked on a Med-Surg/telemetry unit in a hospital and have been charge nurse at two different nursing homes. I love it and I couldnt see myself doing anything else.

Keep trying!! I don't know what test you're sitting for but keep working at it. I know several very intelligent and talented nurses who are really bad test takers and failed their boards 2-4 times before finally passing. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are not competent, your nerves may just be getting the best of you. There are numerous books, websites, webinars, you tube videos etc, that are very helpful at helping study for the NCLEX. The first thing I would advise you to do is, whatever study method you have used to prepare for the last three exams, don't use those anymore! They are obviously not what you need. Your nursing instructors tend to be very knowledgable and resourceful so I would suggest seeking some advice and assistance from them. Remember that the questions you are given on your state boards test are very very specific. You must make sure that you know exactly what the question is asking before you answer it. There will usually be 3 answers that are similar to eachother and similar to the correct answer but vary slightly. Remember your ABC's (Airway, breathing, circulation) when being asked questions that have to do with "triage." Also, patient safety is one of the number 1, if not the number 1 most important thing to practice when giving care. I had several patient safety questions and always choose the answer that most accurately and follows safety procedures you were taught in school. If a healthcare facility catches fire and you're asked what do you do first? The answer is always "rescue patients in the most imminent danger." If you witness a patient being abused, the first thing you do is "rescue the patient, remove them from the situation first and foremost." Also, when testing, always be thinking of infection control. The first thing you do always, before any patient care, is "wash your hands." There are lots of little basic, fundamental things that you will be questioned on, and lots of random ones as i'm sure you've noticed. Anyways, back to study resources. There are several sites online that offer free NCLEX prep questions as well as test taking tips. You'll have to google it because I don't have them on hand. The internet helped me a lot with my LPN boards as well as the RN boards. I also went to bookstores and purchased several NCLEX prep books and they were definitely the most helpful for me. They offer NCLEX practice webinars online, and you tube has lots of videos about nursing procedures and lectures and test prep. I agree with everyone else in saying to take a couple weeks off. If you go in to test again as stressed out as I assume you are right now, you're going to most likely have the same result. Like I said, whatever you were using to study with before, don't use it anymore. Make a study schedule. Set aside an hr or two every day or evening that you can dedicate solely to studying. Don't cram and don't over think the questions or second guess yourself. Start doing a certain amount of practice questions each day and then grade them and see how you are doing. Areas in which you are weak in, go back and study the fundamentals of that subject. For example, if you tend to do poorly on psych questions...Use the reviews that are specifically for the NCLEX (which can be found online of you can buy books) they usually present the different subjects in an outline type format which highlights the areas of importance that you need to know. And, remember the little, basic things that you learned in fundamentals during the beginning of nursing school. Patient safety, the nursing process, the five rights of medication administration, infection control, and safety are of high importance and many questions will be geared towards these areas. I hope this helped some, I realize that I have rambled and probably appear crazy but I was trying to cover the most important bases and I hate to hear when fellow nurses/students have trouble with boards. It really is not as bad or as stressful as we believe it to be. Good luck, calm your nerves, and you will make it!!!