holliewood

I used to work on a unit that had pods A-I. Would usually answer "Pod B, this is XXX." One time I was charge, so I was making rounds. The phone was ringing when I walked in, and I was the closest person to it. Cue "Pod....Ummm...Oh hell, I don't know...E, maybe?" I'll never forget the neurologist laughing hysterically on the other end!

I had a similar situation in the neonatal ICU. I worked overnight, and had to "sleep" in the hospital that day due to a hurricane. I might have slept 3 hours. The first night I took care of a baby who was deaf, blind, and very irritable due to both the sensory issues, and other underlying neuro issues. I. Couldn't. Do. It. Again. I respectfully asked the charge nurse for a different assignment, and explained that I was exhausted, and would not be about to provide this baby with the attention that he required and deserved (there were other nurses making their way in that hadn't been required to stay at the hospital, so I suggested assigning a "fresh" nurse to this baby). I also got treated like I had 3 heads. Several other nurses asked what was wrong with me, and why I couldn't handle it. The baby's primary RN took it very personally, and cornered me in the bathroom asking why I didn't "like her baby." Nobody understood that I was simply tired! Now when I do charge I try to be sensitive to the number of shifts that nurses have worked, and try to spread out the "needy" patients. I hate that nursing has a culture where asking for help is viewed as a sign of weakness.

My first nursing job was in a children's hospital. Prints reigned supreme! I was always more of a solids fan, but I was always impressed by the nurses who could pull off professional in a Dora the Explorer scrub top. I found that when you are wearing a "fun" or printed top; you have to be extra careful about how the rest of the outfit works. A too baggy top will look like pajamas. A wrinkled top, disheveled hair, or poorly done make up will make you look sloppy.

My hospital counts any hours worked towards your 40 hours. So, 72 hours would get me 32 hours of overtime that week in addition to any incentives they offered. I'd be exhausted and rich :) I'd be willing to bet that their crappy OT policy has a little something to do with why they are desperate! I usually hold out for call back pay and movie tickets before I go in.

Disclaimer: This is a rant I work in a medium-volume labor and delivery unit. I came on shift to a patient who had delivered about 90 minutes before I got there. Mom hadn't been out of bed yet, and was still breastfeeding, holding baby skin-to-skin, and marveling with her husband about how awesome their new little dude was. I checked in on them, and headed down the hall to grab mom an extra pillow. This brought me past the family waiting room. As I was walking past, a lady stuck her head out and said "Excuse me, do you know who has X patient in room 427?" I responded that I did. She then said she wanted to speak to the charge nurse. I said "I'm the charge nurse. What can I help you with?" Then. She. Flipped. Out. Demanded to know what the hold up was, demanded to know when they would be able to see her grandson, yelled about how everyone had driven 6 hours and we had "just stuck them in a back room like extra parts", wanted to know if the baby had even been born yet, said she would be talking to my boss, and demanded to know when she would be allowed in the room. Everyone else was just standing there glaring at me. I managed to keep my wits about me enough to say "I haven't finished my assessment, I actually just left the room to get a pillow. Let me finish what I'm doing, and I'll get back to you with a time-frame" Back in the mom's room I asked about the family in the waiting room, and when they wanted visitors. Mom said "Well, it was so important to us to have the first 2 hours alone with the baby to hold skin-to-skin and establish breastfeeding. My mom wouldn't have even known I was here if my water hadn't broken on the phone. I told them it was hospital policy to only have the dad in the room for labor and the first few hours after birth. Sorry to make you the bad guy." Lady, I don't mind being the bad guy! I'll gladly kick out grandparents that think they should be the first to hold the new baby. What I DO mind is not being given a heads up. Tell me what my lines are so I don't have to improv! She let the family back about 45 minutes later, and thankfully the excitement of the new baby made the grandma forget that she was going to complain to my boss. End Rant

Just found this thread. I'm in too. :) Yay Kentucky in February! :)

This. Use it appropriately.

Yep, another day of obsessive inbox checking. :)

I had surgery recently at a different hospital from where I work. My plan was to not mention being a nurse unless I was directly asked what I did for a living or where I work. Not 10 minutes after I got back to pre-op I was recognized by a surgical resident (not on my case) who called me by my first name, asked what I was doing there (really? I'm on a stretcher and wearing nothing but a hospital gown...I'll give you three guesses), and loudly in the presence of my nurse told the resident on my case "take good care of her, she's my favorite charge nurse". He's a super sweet guy, and great doctor so I didn't get too annoyed at him for outting me. :)

I am trying to gather opinions about an interview etiquette question. I am an RN with a BSN and 8 years experience in critical care. I am trying to change jobs, and for many personal and professional reasons, I have decided that I should also change hospitals. I am employed, so there really isn't a rush to get a new job, I'm just ready for a change. There are 2 large hospital/healthcare systems in my area, and I have applied for jobs with both of them. I have also been in contact with the main HR reps for both systems. This has all been almost a month ago. All of the positions are still open, I just haven't heard anything regarding an interview. A former colleague works in one of the units where I am trying to get an interview, and has given me the email address of the unit manager. Is it appropriate to email the manager directly? I don't want to beg for an interview, but I could also offer to forward her a digital copy of my portfolio (or something less desperate sounding).

My mother does not respect nurses at all. She has chronic health problems and is grossly non-compliant with everything, so she's a "frequent flier" at her local ED and urgent care. I stop listening when her stories start with "And then the stupid nurse said....." She HATES nurse practioners! Will refuse to see them, demand "someone real", and ask for her bill to be reduced when a NP enters her room. I haven't told her that I'm applying to a DNP program, because I don't want to deal with the fall out.

I give my email address to primaries when they are discharged, but I let the family set the tone for tha amount of contact we will have. I've gone to the occasional birthday party. I am friends on Facebook with 2 parents, but their "babies" are 4 & 5. My biggest challenge right now is one of my real world friends just had a 27 weeker. I don't take care of him, and the only time I have anything to do with his care is when I'm charge. She insists on tagging me in all of her Facebook pictures. Ugh.

I wasn't, but I'm thinking about it.

I'm applying to the MSN+DNP program. I'm within the 10 years for my stats class, just wasn't sure if it was a high enough level class. I've emailed the admissions people, but I'm freaking myself out while I wait for a response :)

Thanks for the quick response! Do you know what they consider an "upper level" stats class? 200 or 300 level?