NurseFries

I have worked HH and documentation is very important just like anywhere else. Sounds like this nurse needs someone to help her manage her time better. Maybe cut down on her caseload? Sorry to hear her case manager is not up to par either. I would express my concerns to the manager above the case manager. Sounds like they both need more training, reminding, and so on. I would also include both their names in the complaint or no one will know who needs help or more training.

I recommend you chose the least expensive and flexible program especially if you want to start having kids during it. I wouldn’t worry about school pedigree. That doesn’t seem to matter in what I have seen. What I have seen in my more than a decade of nursing is that higher education is more important than the school chosen. Don’t feel guilty for choosing another program over the one associated with your hospital. You don’t owe them anything and it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things. With that said, having a child is a lot of work, a lot of sleep deprivation, and childcare is expensive. Make sure you have childcare worked out. Make sure you have your schedule worked out so you don’t miss time with your child. You won’t get that time back. Don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s not worth it. School will always be there but the years caring and watching your child grow and learn won’t. Take care and good luck.

Go to your managers boss and express your concerns. If your practice manager (who is probably not clinical) isn't going to support you, then go above her head. Document everything you told you manager and all the issues you see.

Hello, I work at an outpt clinic in a huge medical organization that is VERY understaffed. I work 3 days a week and another nurse works 5 days a week. We are currently looking to hire another part-time nurses like myself and a full-time nurse to take the place off the other full time nurse who got promoted. Us nurses do all the phone triaging, refills, prior auth medications, answer email messages from pt's, prepare orders, preop pt's for procedures, admin sedation in the procedure room, and monitor/post op pts. We do a lot of other things as well. We do not have a call center. We (nurses) take about 40-70 calls a day and have anywhere from 3-6 procedures a day. There are usually 2-3 docs in a day who see anywhere from 12-22 pt's day each, plus procedures. There are 4 - 5 Fellow MD's a day too. The MA's only room pt's and do UDS. They can do a lot more, but are not reliable. We are working on that. So, my questions is this. How does your clinic run and what are the nurses responsibilities? I am looking for examples for our clinic. I am seriously losing my mind due and feeling burned out. I feel like I am doing task after task and working at the bottom of my license. Thanks!

Hi, I started a new job in March (part-time)in pain medicine at a teaching hospital back in March. I worked in pain medicine and orthopedic ambulatory as a preop/postop nurse for 4 years prior. My new job entails triaging calls, medication PA, preop/postop, and administering sedation during procedures. I love the preop/intraop sedation/postop, but the triaging is burning me out!!! The M-F nurse who has been there 8 years hs been out recovering from surgery. Me and another part-time nurse (we work together 1 day a week) have been the only nurse there. We get upto 40-60 calls a day, plus online patient portal messages. I've been working 1.5-2hrs overtime with no additional pay b/c I'm salary and exempt. I know the full-time nurse will be back in a couple of weeks, but I'm seriously losing my mind. My manager says "it's really hard to find coverage, I'm trying". We live in a huge metropolitan city. I don't understand why it's so hard. The pt's calls are burning me out!!! They just don't stop. They call and vent and won't stop talking. As soon I as hang the phone up to write the note, the phone ring again. Constantly!!! The Fellows don't help as much my patient portals either and the practice is growing. Ug! Help!

Yes definitely!

Yeah, it is emotionally exhausting. The nurses I work with are wonderful though but there is no support.

Hi, I just started working as a new pre-op/PACU nurse part-time at a small pain clinic. The first couple of days were crazy!!! I received about 2 hours of training and told I will learn as I go. I have learned a lot, but I do not receive the support I need at times. The medical assistants are rude and act as if I am bothering them when I ask them a simple question. They do not communicate properly. For example, I asked one of them where an instrument was and she waved her hand and said "over there". What does that mean??? I asked her specifically where and she acts like I am asking her to do my laundry or something. Then the CRNA is breathing down my neck and keeps bossing me around like she is my employer. She has been rude to me in front of patients and told me to my face that I need to get my "**** together". I have worked there a total of 5 UNCONSECUTIVE days in 1 month. I am doing my best. I told her never to ever speak to me like that and to stop disrespecting me in front of patients. I do not have a problem standing up for myself. I have spoken to the office manager and both physicians about my concerns. They seem very supportive and said they will talk with the employees causing issues. I consider myself a gentle, compassionate, and kind nurse. I am respectful with everyone I work with. I have noticed that this "group" of co-workers take kindness for weakness. I need some advice on how to handle all these issues and gain my respect as a nurse back. I do not like having to constantly put people in their place. We are a team and we need to help each other out.

That's is exactly what I was thinking. Some of my friends and family members keep telling me to just quit because they think a 6 month job on my resume would not matter. I have a gut feeling it would matter and would help me more than hurt me. I would not be the first or last nurse to quit a job in less than a year because it was a bad fit. I will have my school as a good excuse as well. I would love to work at a facility that would pay for my education. That was my goal when I graduated with a ADN, but I moved to a new city that was over saturated with new nurse grads who had their BSN. That goal seems to be shot to hell, but I will continue to try. Anyways, thanks for the advice :).

Hi all, Ok so I recently relocated to a new city and I got a home health private duty job since I have home health experience. The private duty agency I work for specializes in pediatrics. I have come to the conclusion that pediatric home health is not a good fit for me. I actually cannot stand it. I thought I would like it because I love kids. I went from 30-40 hrs a week to per-diem 3-4 days a month because I thought decreasing my hours would help. It hasn't! It is really depressing me and the families are frustrating me. My past home health population was with geriatric patients. My 6 month mark is coming up and I have decided to quit. I am going to go to school full-time to obtain my BSN but I want to find a job that I can work 1-2 days a week so I can keep my skills up and not lose my sanity due to school work. Will putting a 6 month RN job on my resume hurt my career? I was going to quit sooner but thought it would be better to wait until the 6 month mark so it shows I worked somewhere and there is not a huge gap on my resume. Or does it even matter and I should quit now? Thanks!

Great tips, thanks! :). Unfortunately I did not find a OR class in my area. I am in the same boat as you Rabid. I have an ADN and no hospital will hire me either. I am working towards my BSN online and will hopefully be finished by the end of the year. It s so frustrating!

Hi, I just got a job part-time position as a pre-op and recovery nurse at a small pain center. I LOVE IT!!!! My past nursing experience has been mostly home health (visits & private duty) and pediatric/adolescent care in a foster group setting. I have realized that I really like the OR setting since starting my new position. When I was in nursing school I had a clinical observation rotation in the OR and loved it. Unfortunately I do not have any hospital experience. I would like to work at a same day surgery center because the hours are usually better. How can I get into this specialty? Will working as a pre-op and recovery nurse help my chances of becoming a OR nurse? Are there other avenues I could take to expedite my chances of becoming an OR nurse? I have finally found my niche in nursing. :) Thanks!

Thanks, I will try :/

Hi, I have posted about my anxiety and depression before on this site. I am taking medication and seeing a counselor but I still wake up crying and anxious every morning. I was offered a great job as a home health hospice nurse with 6 weeks orientation but passed on it because my gut instinct was no and I felt I was not ready to work alone yet in that specialty yet. It has been 2 months since I passed on the opportunity and I am full of regret and sorrow. No other nursing job has ever offered me 6 weeks orientation. I have only been in a nurse for over 2 years but have over 10 years experience in the medical field (medical assistant). Most of my nursing experience has been as a private duty home health nurse with geriatric patients and as a clinical nurse in a foster care group home setting. I currently work as per-diem as a home health pediatric nurse and I do not like it at all. The kids are cute, the agency is great, and the families are very nice but it is not a good fit for me. Working with medically fragile children in the home health setting is completely different than in the hospital and I now know that I do not want to specialize in pediatrics. Seeing the kids with trachs and on ventilators makes me sad and anxious. All my anxiety and depression increased since I relocated to a new city with my husband. I feel like I have lost all my confidence as a nurse. All my patient's and supervisor's say I am a great nurse and competent in what I do, but I do not feel that way. I feel lost. I also feel like I will never get a nursing job that I will like and be passionate about. When I graduated school I had to move to another city b/c of my husband's new job and I couldn't get into a residency program to save my life. Luckily I got a job in home health but that it not what I want to do. My passion is cardiology and nephrology. I have applied to 100's job postings in the city I live in now but keep getting rejection emails stating "you will not be considered a candidate". I am losing my mind. What is wrong with me??? I am also afraid of the 6 month gap on my resume from relocating. I am going to quit the pediatric home health job I started 4 months ago soon but I am also afraid of how it will look on my resume as well. This job is the only short-term job on my resume. I am very scared and anxious that I will not get a nurse job that is a good fit for me. I feel like an idiot passing on the home health hospice position. I feel like I will never be offered a nursing position with adequate training and friendly co-workers. I feel like my career is over. I feel hopeless.

I am sorry . I felt the same way during my clinical rotations at the LTC's. I learned from it and do not apply to them. I hope you feel better soon.