Cricket183

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for but couldn't find!

I have a question. I'm in the process of renewing my RN license with the state of Texas. I've been on SSDI since July 2020, having had Covid with respiratory failure and severe cytokine storm. More than likely I'm permanently disabled but I do hold out hope I'll be able to use my license one day maybe for technical writing or perhaps to return to work in some non-clinical role. (I did it once before after 11 years of disability for CRPS so nothing is impossible!) Anyway, one of the questions is: Have you practiced nursing by using your nursing knowledge, skills and abilities within the past four (4) years? Indicate the month and year that you last practiced as a Registered Nurse. How do I answer this? Can I legally answer yes? I have not been compensated or signed my RN after my name since July 2020. However, I technically use my skills all the time-I access/de-acess my port monthly for infusions. I give myself biologic injections weekly. I set up my husband, my dad, and my medications bi-monthly. I help my dad with his disbetic care. I do my dad's wound care from his recent big toe amputation. I help take him to his appointments and do his advocating. (Not to mention my own advocating.) I am currently helping provide hospice care for my husband's uncle who has metastatic pancreatic cancer including administering Morphine & Ativan through subcutaneous ports. So, yes I am using my nursing knowledge. But I'm not being compensated or signing anything as RN. So thoughts on this? I definitely don't want to end up in trouble with the BON down the road but I also don't want to inactivate my license. (I did that last time and it was a huge pain to reactivate it.)

I looked at transferring programs after the first year of nursing school, not because I was unhappy but because we were moving due to my husband's job. There was a nursing school where we were moving but their program was set up very differently and I would have had to go part-time for 3 semesters losing my scholarships in the process. Instead, I transferred campuses of TWU from Houston to Dallas, even though it meant a crazy 2 hour commute and staying some nights away from my family for my remaining two semesters to get my BSN. Best thing to do is check with the school you want to transfer to. But don't be surprised if it isn't easy to transfer. I know it might seem like an insurmountable obstacle right know to finish where you are because you aren't happy. I remember thinking I would never make it through 8-9 months commuting and being away from my family so much. But really it went by so incredibly fast and it was so worth it in the end. It required sacrifices and hard work but no regrets.

I've worked in two small, rural critical access hospitals. One with a 20 bed acute care M/S unit and one with a 30 bed acute care M/S unit. There is absolutely no way I would be comfortable with situation! Critical access hospitals are stretched thin as is and nurses are often asked to wear many hats. I don't about where you are but on any given day at our 20 bed unit we might serve as an overflow for postpartum if our L&D unit was full; and if outpatient was closed for the weekend, holiday or sickness/emergency of staff-we did all the wound care, IV antibiotics and blood products as well. We also had an adjacent 4-bed special care unit we opened when needed for higher level patients not needing to be transferred out (DKA on insulin drip, some cardiac drips, chest tubes, etc). It wasn't opened all the time, but once every few months on average and if you were trained you worked there. (Also floated to ER & PACU). My guess is most critical access hospitals are similar. (Can't really compare the 30 bed hospital as I only worked there during Covid). My point is, we are already stretched thin & asked to do so much. And while I enjoyed the challenge and variety, sometimes it was also scary and unnerving and at times it felt very close to the line of putting my license at risk. The added responsibility they are asking of you-definitely feels like it crosses over the line to me.

I went into nursing with the specific intent and focus of being a NICU nurse. It was my desire from the time I was very little. I was a NICU baby, weighing 2lbs 14oz at birth-which by today's standards isn't that surprising of a survival story but 57 years-it was! My mom use to tell me stories of the NICU nurses who cared for me-one in particular affectionately called "Granny" that was remarkable and I wanted to be just like her! I even spent my senior practicum in NICU. The problem arose when I graduated because where we lived the hospital did not have a NICU, just a level 2 nursery. I had commuted 2 years for nursing school (and had planned to after graduation) but with a husband and 2 boys in late elementary school/Jr high who were becoming very active in extracurricular activities-I just was not willing to do it any longer. There weren't any openings in the Level 2 Nursery so I took an opening on an inpatient medical oncology unit thinking I would get a year's experience and then transfer when there was an opening in the nursery (and eventually start commuting again to work high level NICU once my boys were out of school). I ended up falling in love with oncology; it quickly became my passion and I never looked back! I obtained my chemo certification and obtained my OCN. I spent most of my career there-until we moved to a small rural town with only a critical access hospital where you become jack of all trades (working anywhere & everywhere from M/S to ER to "ICU" (although true ICU patients are transferred out) to L&D/PP overflow to outpatient on holidays/weekends or any other time they can't be available, LOL, to pre/post op to anywhere & everywhere else they might cross train you!). That was actually a really cool experience! Once in the same day I had a patient who was 2 hours old and one who was 102 years old! Unfortunately, I am no longer able to work do to medical disability. Nursing is a broad field and there are so many different areas you can pursue. You will find your niche!

Absolutely take the time to be with your littles! Nursing is one of the careers that is very easy to re-enter into without it derailing your whole career. I ended up having to take off 11 years due to disability. I was required to take a refresher course to reactivate my RN license but even after 11 years, I easily re-entered the workforce in 2019. *Just a side note-for your OCN you have to have a certain number of working hours in oncology to qualify for that certification so you will have to wait until you return to work and have worked for awhile before you qualify for that certification (but you certainly can study for test and work on the other requirements).

I'm assuming the Woman's Center patients would include gynecological & breast surgeries. I would anticipate some additional training in those areas and maybe some meetings with the surgeons as far as their postoperative expectations the same as when any new surgical service comes on board a unit. There's a bit of an adjustment period until you get use to each other so to speak. I don't see them (woman's center patients) being any more complex than your standard post-op M/S patient if that's what you are asking? In most small hospitals that don't have a separate Woman's service department, they would be on a standard M/S floor with your other surgical & tele patients. I think asking for additional training regarding the new patient population is absolutely appropriate. Expressing concern about the nurse patient ratio, will unfortunately, likely not get you anywhere with upper management, no matter how appropriate your concerns actually are. Sad but true.

I am on SSDI. It's a bit unusual/complicated. I had previously been on it & approved for CRPS and had returned to work under their trial work period in 2019 as I had begun a new treatment and my condition was very well managed. I was 8 months in to the 9 month trial work period with plans to go full time as of Sept 1, 2020. I had been working PRN (although putting in more than full time hours due to the pandemic). I got Covid July 2020. SSDI had already set it to conduct a full review since I had returned to work and I completed that in September 2020. Given everything they determined me to still be disabled and continued my benefits so I never lost my Medicare benefits and my payments resumed seamlessly. I had another full review about a year later and again, they determined based on all my previous and new diagnosis, that I'm fully disabled and put me on a 7 yr review cycle. Every once in awhile I get a crazy notion that I could do a WFH position-care management, utilization review, etc. and then I end up in a bad flare or with pneumonia and hospitalized and I'm reminded that I would not make a good employee. It's a hard reality to accept. I am exploring the idea of something like free lance writing. Something where others aren't necessarily dependent on me and my ability to be available-if that makes sense.

I miss a lot! But I also did not get to go out on my terms and I think that has a lot to do with it. I was 52 and in July 2020 contracted Covid at work. Wasn't significantly surprised I got it-I had taken care of a patient who tested negative on admission and because of supply shortages and N95s being allotted only to nurses caring for Covid patients, I had cared for the patient using just a standard precautions (surgical mask & gloves). The patient spiked a fever later that night and retested as positive. Two days later, I had Covid. Five days later I was in the ER and in short order in the ICU in respiratory failure fighting for my life. I have never had any breathing issues prior to this but it did a number on my lungs. I required home oxygen for 13 months and periodically thereafter (mostly for exercise and for frequent bouts of pneumonia). I was relatively healthy prior to Covid. I do have CRPS which is well managed and I did have preexisting autoimmune issues (Palindromic Rheumatism, which often a precursor to RA) that we falsely thought was in remission. Thankfully, I survived but the end result has been a significant impact to my health: uncontrolled Rheumatoid Arthritis (even on biologics) with Interstitial Lung Disease & mild Pulmonary Hypertension, POTS/SVT, PACS/Long Covid, Secondary Adrensl Insufficiency, ME/CFS, PEM, Chronic migraines, essential tremors, chronic gastritis/gastric ulcers, and cognitive dysfunction. All of which has meant, I am now medically retired (disabled) much sooner than I had intended to be. What I miss most about nursing though are the things that I continuously hear exist less and less in nursing from former colleagues and on forums such as this-so maybe I got out just in time where I still have a very fond memory of it.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope once you've had time to recover from your surgery you will have the opportunity to reach out to hospital management and share your experience so they can hopefully take steps to improve. I've been hospitalized multiple times this past year for pneumonia. (3). I contracted severe Covid in July 2020 from work and went into respiratory failure (in ICU then required home oxygen for 13 months & periodically thereafter.). It did a number on my lungs and I was left with interstitial lung disease & mild pulmonary hypertension. I have preexisting autoimmune disease (RA) that we thought was in remission but since Covid it has been uncontrolled, even with biologics. The biologics and steroids (initially for my lungs, now for adrenal insufficiency) mean I catch anything & everything (even when careful) and my lungs are most susceptible...all of which equals frequent pneumonia. Anyway, every time I've been hospitalized it amazes me how infrequently nursing assessments are done-like hardly ever. I can see not doing a complete head-to-toe assessment if pressed for time-although you can do one pretty quickly-but to not do even a quick focused assessment specific to my diagnosis? Hardly any one listened to my lung sounds! (But I'm sure they charted they did!). My first admission the only ones who actually listened to my lungs-or even brought a stethoscope in the room-were my PCP and one night-shift nurse. I had hoped bringing it to management's attention might have a positive effect but unfortunately, two subsequent admissions over the next few months didn't have any different results. (I live in a rural area with only one hospital to choose from unless I want to drive over an hour away.). It's really scary. Now, I was awake and alert enough to speak up and tell them had there been a problem but what about patients who aren't? I definitely agree with what others have said, I would not let a loved one be alone in the hospital. And if I were under anesthesia or in anyway incapacitated I would request a family member or someone be with me. It's just too scary out there anymore.

I don't have any stellar advice just some commiseration. Covid destroyed my nursing career (which I had just gotten back). It's a bit of a long story but I had been on disability for an extended time due to CRPS and autoimmune conditions. With new treatments and lots of hard work through PT/OT I was able to return to nursing in 2019 with my CRPS under good control and my autoimmune conditions in remission. Eight months later in July 2020 I contracted Covid at work and went into respiratory failure. It has been devastating to my health and career. At 56, I'm medically retired. I have discovered, I am not alone and there are very few resources (at least in my state) for healthcare workers affected by Covid.

I think the things you mentioned are OK. But maybe also go with some high protein, low sugar options. Protein & Kind bars, trail mix or nuts in snack size packets, etc. High sugar and salty type snacks csn definitely be more appealing (and often cheaper) but high-protein, low-sugar will keep them full longer without the high carb/sugar crash later.

I realize this is an old thread but thought I'd add my 2 cents. I worked oncology the majority of my career. My absolute favorite patients to work with were leukemia patients. Perhaps because they were with us for such long periods of time and so frequently (induction chemo-4 to 6 weeks, subsequent rounds 2-3 weeks) that we really got to know them and their families. Also because I really found blood cancers fascinating. The chemo regime was intense and they required frequent blood product transfusions (especially during nadir). Mostly had AML or ALL patients but occasionally would get one of the rarer forms (hairy cell, prolymphocytic).

To answer the questions asked (which seem to imply I'm young, inexperienced, and have no clue in the ways of the world): I'm 56. I've worked since I was 16 minus some time on disability. I've been a RN for 21 years next month. In full disclosure, I've not worked since July 2020 due to contracting severe covid from work and suffering permanent lung damage and multiple other complications. I'm not so naive as to think that bullying, NETY, maliciousness, etc does not exist in healthcare. I've not seen it on the large scale with which you imply it exists. Not that it doesn't happen but I did not see anything in this particular scenario that indicated maliciousness, intentional harm or retaliation. The OP fell asleep. She didn't just nod off for a minute while charting-she was asleep for an extended period of time. By her own admission the oncoming charge nurse did not have previous interaction with her or know her. OP was acting out of sorts-possibly due to being startled awake-but impairment is another potential explanation. The charge nurse had a duty to report suspected impairment. In the same way you're asking for benefit of the doubt for OP, you have to extend benefit of the doubt to the charge nurse that she was acting in good conscience. She was put in a difficult situation. When OP was taken to the ER for testing the physician who saw OP was concerned enough to order a CT scan. As I said in a previous post-take out the CNA who fell asleep out of the equation-and the symptoms described by OP herself were enough to warrant further work up. You now have two independent people concerned with OPs actions/reactions/symptoms. I have a hard time believing everyone involved was conspiring to end OP's career. I just don't see it. And you are mistaken in your assumption-I DO see the potential for a ruined career and as I said previously, I feel for the OP. It had to be scary and humiliating. But I have to go with the "but for" argument here. But for the OP falling asleep, none of this would have happened. That's another reason I don't see the maliciousness and evil intentions on behalf of OP's coworkers. (Again, not saying it doesn't exist out there, just that I don't see it in this particular case.) I don't see any where others were targeting OP or trying to set her up and ruin her career. If you see something I missed please point it out to me.

Can someone explain to me what I'm missing? I'm not being facetious; it's an honest question. I don't understand where the advice for the OP to consider legal action, to quit-no call/no show, etc. is coming from. I will be the first to admit I sometimes see the world through rose colored glasses and can be naive and too trusting at times so what am I not seeing that others are?