BoyNamedSue

When I started out on skilled, I would pick up every now and then on another skilled unit in the facility. I would go around doing my assessments, and the patients would look at me all crazy (even though they weren't crazy). One patient asked me what I was doing, so I told her. "We do one every day." She said that no one else ever did any assessment, and wanted me to go. Very skilled to be able to do 7 assessments a day whilst never leaving the computer desk.

Thanks, everyone. When I wrote the op, I was kind of feeling down on myself. Lately, I've been reading the charts when I don't have to, studying info on my iPad. It really gets me thinking again, and that's the one thing I really felt bad about. I felt like I was not doing anything. Now, I feel involved in the care, staying mentally fresh, and subsequently, I don't feel nearly as bad as I use to.

My spark of energy is very dim right now. I started working LTC a couple months ago, and I was feeling a little down recently. I feel like I don't have the time to dive into a resident's history, their meds, or do much assessments. The other nurses there are lifers, and, being a new nurse, I feel like I need more passion from my mentors. I've got 30 residents, and they're all more-or-less stable. Everything is very stable, requiring no real judgment. I use a lot of time management skills, but that's about it.... Is there anyway to shock the life into my pessimistic outlook, or should I look for another area of nursing? Not to run scared, but find something that I look forward to doing every day. Maybe I just need an SSRI?

Yeah, I've shadowed my preceptor during my final year of nursing school in the PACU where I'm applying. They do mostly routine surgeries, but when I was shadowing, we did get the occasional shock patient/emergency patient.

I have 10 months experience in a sub-acute rehab facility. I like it, but it's starting to feel too predictable. A PACU position opened up. I really want to apply, but I keep psyching myself out before I open the application because I wonder if I can handle it. When I first got out of school, I was going to apply to the PACU, but my instructor gave me a real-talk (she had been in PACU for years, and ER). She talked me out of applying since I had no experience as an RN. I had completed my senior capstone in the PACU and thought that this was experience enough:banghead: While I really like the PACU, and working with people who might be rapidly deteriorating, I'm also a realist. I don't want to get in over my head. My question is, do you think it would be a sound decision to try the PACU, or do you think I should try for a MED-SURG position.

It becomes necessary at times to break away from the bureaucratic structure of the nursing facility in which you work in order to fully exercise your duties as a nurse; duties which transcend the the physical workplace, but, reside instead in the shared understanding of nursing ethics, specifically beneficence and autonomy. Cheers.

I'm sorry, but I started laughing after I read your post. I've dealt with similar situations and just have to laugh it off. What you really want to say is, "crocheting, I'm sure, is difficult; but, it's not rocket science. I'm sure you can figure it." Then, walk off.

I've been in sub-acute for over six months. It's not for everyone, and it seems a common thread for nurses to leave simply because of issues with the facility itself. This is my first nursing position, but I get the feeling that nurses in other fields of nursing don't leave because of staffing issues, or horrible management.... I could be wrong. The issues already discussed on this page do push many nurses away, so don't feel like you're doing something wrong. Just know that if you're having a lot of issues with the facility itself, these problems probably won't get better any time soon.... Kind regards, luck.

Generally, there is a protocol in place for emergent vs. non-emergent issues. Generally at night, when you are more than likely going to get the on-call doc., you have to ask yourself: what is the doc. Going to do? Ask yourself, is the patient symptomatic or asymptomatic? Would monitoring be a better option rather than calling? Keep in mind, calling a doc. Is not wrong, but eventually you want to come to a point where you can weed out the 'should I call' vs. the 'I should call now' situations. Second, medication administration is important, especially considering the type of med, and the patient'a acuity level. Jantoven is prescribed to thin the blood, keeping in mind the concern is for clots, you can kind of put two-and-two together on its importance. The key that I will stress is that nursing is a learning experience. You will not be perfect, but, with time you will notice a general trend towards trusting your gut and knowing the right decision.

I've got my own troubles and worries, just as anybody else. I struggle with anxiety and depression. I'm afraid of making a wrong decision, or not doing a good job. My goals: be of value to my team, and stand up for what is right. I'm not perfect. I'm no hero.

Honestly, after a few months of working as a nurse, being a "male" nurse does not even enter into my mind. It's similar to asking a woman physician, "what's it like being a female Dr.?" Or, a woman firefighter, "what's it like being a fire-woman?" It just doesn't matter. Then again, why would you listen to the opinion of someone who's basing their views on 40 year old stereotypes? As far as what career to choose, choose something that you honestly want, not based off of what someone is saying would be good for you. I myself love nursing, but it is drastically different from being a physician, PA, or NP.

Once I was walking to the side of an older gentleman who was being wheeled down a quiet hallway. The resident was wearing a gown with a blanket spread out over his legs. There were a couple people walking towards us, and several other nurses at the nurses station. It was a nice quiet night. However, the tranquility was shattered in a brief moment when he yelled out with a very feeble and bemoaning cry, "Jesus Christ, I'm indecent!" This of course sent everyone within ear shot into a fright. His lower half was exposed. It turned out, as he was being wheeled along, his blanket became caught in the spokes of the wheelchair essentially flashing anyone in sight. Thankfully there were just staff there at the time.

I though that, too.... Then I saw the bell-bottoms in a full length mirror and realized that it wasn't going for a vintage look.

I had to read my own post again. No, sorry, to specify its when I wrote, "when she stands up," meaning when she stands up in her room, apply the cream. Then, take her to supper. :)

Some nights I feel like a ping pong ball bouncing from one patient to the next

Meds usually pop at the same time, so you migh try to "plan" your day around this. For example, meds may pop at 1600 and 1900. That means you've got about an hour before and after each med pass to give your meds. Depending on the treatment, you could work it in when you pass that patient's meds. A "typical" day might go like this: this patient I know needs insulin before dinner. She needs her blood glucose checked, along with her other pills, as well as a treatment to apply barrier cream to her coccyx BID. She'll get insulin, too. It's 30 minutes before dinner. In this example, the patient knows to wait on her insulin, and the CNAs know as we'll, so this puts the patient lower on the priority list. That's 15-20 minutes to work on other tasks. Ideally, I'll check her BG when I get her vital signs. When I come back 20mins later, I'll giver her her insulin and PO meds, as well as some barrier cream in a med cup all at once. I'll then walk her down to dinner - when she stands up, I'll apply the cream. One patient done. This organization is helpful, but don't be afraid to pass on certain treatments, such as dressing changes, to the next shift.

Psalm 59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me. Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

A female coworker asked me this once, about how I feel about being a "male nurse." I replied, "I'm just a simple man trying to make it in a woman's world." She rolled her eyes, and I couldn't stop grinning.

"Nurse Ratchet, the narc counts were off ... we're going to need an oil sample from you."

Male administrator: "I thought replacing the nursing staff with robots would be a good way to stop all the complaints of long hours and outlandish nurse-to-patient ratios, but even they won't accept 100 patients!" Female administrator: "Didn't you also think it was a good idea to pay the RNs with IOUs?" Male administrator: "We'll, at least they haven't learned how to unionize...."

Every time I think about gossiping I have to stop and think about what the other nurses are saying behind my back. Then I feel a little less gossipy.

I once had a family member ask me if her mother was close to dying. 90 years old, frail, yet, full code.... I said, "I'm not in a position to determine if someone is close to death." She said, "I know - it's up to God to decide when someone should die." I responded, "unfortunately, it's the DPOA who decides when a person is ready die."

There have been several situations where I stayed late to help out because it was so crazy. I've helped out with other nurses' patients without second thought. I think this builds teamwork, and hopefully, a reciprocal relationship.

Once we had a patient with dementia somehow get her bed controls, decided to put the bed in the highest position, and then pretend that it was a BASE jump platform.... It was crazy at the time, but, after the fact I couldn't stop laughing. She was fine, but I couldn't stop thinking why the hell would you make it go all the way up, and then decide to fall?

I started working in rehab several months ago, and now notice that I have emotionally been changed. I'm past the honeymoon phase of starting my career, and sincerely believe that once you start hating you're job, that's when you're a real nurse. I've heard that nurses in general have sick senses of humor, but I don't know if it's entirely healthy. Recently, I've noticed that more things get under my skin: things that coworkers do, families do, and a-hole NPs do. Now, I'm not afraid to let my thoughts be known. When I was in nursing school I was quiet and reserved. Now, I curse like a sailor. I notice that I'm more open with my emotions - usually ****** off - and I make light of pretty sick **** that I see at work. I don't know if this is just a coping mechanism, or if this is my new personality. After my new way of coping had become my new personality, I found myself about to speak my mind to a ******-off family member. I held my tongue, and went back to my coworkers to laugh it off. The family was gone by then. Before I made it back to the nurses station I stopped in my tracks. What's wrong with me? I looked in the patient's room and my eyes were open to the family's concerns. The room looked like hell. The bay window was stacked with pillows, the table was cluttered, and the recliner was covered with wheelchair parts. I stood in the darkened doorway of the patient's room, gazing with tearing eyes. Silently I entered, and began to clear the desk, clean the table, make the chair a chair again and not a storage counter, and pick up crumpled paper straw covers from the floor. I looked and saw a tucked-away family photo sitting in the corner. I picked it up and moved it so that the patient could actually see it. At that moment I saw how I had changed. I can't say that I'll ever regain my old sense of humor, my reserved nature, or that I won't curse anymore; but I know that I will always carry with me an ever-present thread of humility. That night, I left the room hoping that I hadn't entirely forgotten what it meant to be a nurse.