Valhalla_RN

I'm going to go ahead and advocate for the night shift here. Yes, some nights are bonkers (worked one myself last night), but I vastly prefer nights because I can't stand the hustle and bustle of a million and one people on day shift. Doctors, PT, OT, consult physicians, managers, etc. just create a hectic environment. I love working with patients and don't mind collaborating with these providers at all - it's the crazy environment that we are all thrown into that makes it stressful. I'm also introverted, so this might play into my preference. However, you still work with other nursing staff, as well as CNAs, so if THAT aspect turns you off, then perhaps another type of nursing position as mentioned by others might be more suited to you.

Do you have the option to work casual (or per diem, as many of you call it on here)? This usually allows you to dictate your schedule and you could work your schedule around your daughter's. I know many parents who do this. I also know many parents who work part-time lines are pick up when they need a bit of extra cash. M-F jobs can be a bit harder to come by, but they are out there. Are you a single mom or do you have support from a partner or other family members? If you do 12 hour shifts, you will work less shifts overall, giving you more full days off with your daughter. You might finds you enjoy nights once she goes to school because you can take her to school when you get home from the hospital, sleep, then pick up up when its over. It may take some planning and trying some different types of scheduling, but I'm sure you can make something work :)

I am sure you were given "conscious sedation". I had this done during my wisdom tooth removal at my oral surgeon's office. It was done with propofol. You are given it IV push (in my case, by an anesthesiologist, not an RN) and you remember NOTHING. Next thing I knew I was done, and I asked them "are you guys ready to start?". The nurse laughed and said we were already done. It produces amnesia. You do need to be NPO for propofol. I was also give local anesthesia for pain control. I felt nothing and remembered nothing. So can RNs administer anesthesia? Not in this office, but I'm not sure about other office settings. As others pointed out, office settings allow RNs to do more and more under the MD's directive. I'm in Canada and I haven't heard of RNs doing this here.

We can list a preference to work either Christmas or New Year's at our work place, and the staffing clerk assigns you a shift. I think she tries to make everyone's preference work - people are usually pretty happy. You have to work one or the other, but not both. Unless you want to, of course. The only surefire way to guarantee this shift off is to book vacation. And unless you have tons of seniority, that is not going to happen. We are not given options about working other holidays. It depends on where they fall with your schedule. I worked all of the summer holidays this year because it was just the way my schedule fell.

I used this text during nursing school, which I attended in BC. Elsevier: Medical-Surgical Nursing - Two Volume Set, 8th Edition: Black & Hawks I found it to be quite useful. Also try: Elsevier: Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques, 8th Edition: Perry, Potter & Ostendorf I used this book in school extensively, and I have seen both books on the units have worked on, especially Perry and Potter.

I think it depends. Nurse practitioner programs in the US appear to be different from Canada. And NPs seem to be a lot more utilized, whereas in Canada they are still trying to make their way into the healthcare system. I rememeber at one time the University of British Columbia would only accept applications from nurses with 5 years acute care experience. This was just to be considered! I think the level of acute care experience has decreased since then, but I think it would still be tough to head to NP school with just a year under your belt. The NP program is a Master's and takes two years of full-time study to complete at UBC. I have 3.5 years experience, but don't feel ready quite yet. I switched my practice area to BMT after a year and a half of practice in medicine, and like others indicated, I felt like a new grad all over again. But everyone's life position is unique - so deciding when to go back to school is highly individualized. I know of two people from my graduating class who went on to become NPs - but whether or not they are WORKING as NPs after completing the program is the real question.

I can never resist an opportunity to state my love of the night shift, as so many people hate it! I'm like janfrn though - I work in Canada and my schedule is a forward rotating mix of 12 hour days and nights. I work two 12 hour days, then two 12 hour nights, followed by 4-5 days off (although that is going to change soon for us in British Columbia as a result of the new increase in work hours). I suffer on each and every one of my days shifts. Up at 0530, 45 min commute on public transit, 12 hour shift, don't get home until 2000. Eat dinner and then try desperately to stay awake to at least spend a small amount of time with my husband, a member of the 9-5 set. I usually fall asleep before 2130. What kind of life is that? Weekend days are typically better, but not always. Enter night shift. I sleep well after nights (typically at least 6 hours) and nap on my breaks on shift. The pace is typically slower, allowing me to get to know my patients better and do a thorough review of their charts. No administration around. Good sense of camaraderie. I have had my share of awful nights, but I'd still prefer this shift over the mess that is often day shift. Like another member commented, I wouldn't want to do SOLELY nights, but a schedule in which I had the majority of shifts as nights would be fine by me. I'm famous for being the go to gal for trades to work people's night shifts :)

BAHAHAHA I watched it last night and I thought the exact same thing!!! I was like "you just cleaned it, don't BLOW ON IT!". Last weeks ETT insertion without the stylet or laryngoscope was far more infuriating though, lol!

I'd also like to add the following resource for my Canadian Oncology Nursing colleagues: CANO-ACIO: Home (Website for Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology - Association Canadienne des Infirmieres en Oncologie)

I definitely notice a difference, specifically post 12-hour day shift (0700-1900). Even with stockings, my legs feel heavier (stockings only got rid of the achy feeling), my middle more distended, and I am absolutely dehydrated. I never drink enough water at work, as our staff washroom is a fair trek away from the unit. Plus there is only one toilet for everyone, so when you finally do make the trek over, you are usually waiting in line! Ironically, I never feel this way after a night shift. Perhaps this is why my body prefers nights.

Our lipids are typically hung at 1600/1700 and infuse for 12 hours overnight. TPN itself is usually started at the same time as lipids. Our hospital has a special TPN pharmacy, and new orders must be received by 11 am or they are really unhappy. I think its a pharmacy staffing issue. I have seen lipids started as late as 2000 when they are trying to do a TPN wean. TPN/lipids not running at all during the day, only overnight, to try and stimulate appetite for daytime meals.

I'm really glad you brought this up. Our lab phones in critical values or reports of positive blood cultures, and takes the initials of the nurse receiving the results. I always passed this information on immediately to the nurse caring for the patient, or if the doctor is right next to me, I would let them know as well. Our unit has really excellent teamwork, so I had never considered that my colleague would ignore (or forget) to report a critical result to a physician. It never really occurred to me that I could be liable if the other nurse doesn't report the information to the physician, as my initial's are attached to the lab's phone call. Good suggestion to grab the nurse caring for the patient directly to receive the results. Or if your colleague is really busy and you are able, take the result and phone the physician yourself.

I just wanted to post some support for Alberta nurses - things are sounding really rough there right now. You are all in my thoughts!