Stalirris

I'm so sorry the OP is going through this. I, too, feel that marriage vows are forever, especially with children involved, but you only get one life and it's short. In any situation in my 16 years of marriage, with 3 kids, my main priorities have always been my children and what's best for them. How can I best be an example for them and provide for them? Children > Spouse/SO every time and anytime. They don't need to grow up seeing/feeling all that drama everyday. Believe me I was aware when my mother was on one of her severe (unmedicated) bipolar tears and Dad said to leave her alone, took us out of the house to be away from her or sent us to his mom's. It deeply affected my sister and I as we grew up. Unfortunately, nurses and co-dependent relationships are abundantly common. Spouses who drink, are controlling, sabotaging, unwilling to help in the house or with the kids, can't keep a job, are happy with a crappy job and won't look for another, etc. etc. Sure there are these types of couples in all walks of life, but I've worked with tons of nurses in 25 years and find these stories over and over. I think being a co-dependent personality draws many of us to nursing and plays a large role in the way we allow ourselves to be treated by employers. I'm not putting myself outside the whole co-dependent thing and realize I have to examine what drives my decision and behaviors when it comes to how I'm allowing myself to be treated; whether it's personal/family relationship or professional. Best of luck to the OP. Being a nurse allows for a wonderful life and a stable job. It's an awesome career that helps the "greater good" of your community and family. It will make you stronger in ways you never knew you could be.

If you're thinking of making a huge career choice like this than you need to shadow people. Shadow a CRNA a few days. If it's NP than shadow an NP. You'll learn so much just doing that a couple days. It's worth it to find out first hand instead of relying on others on their opinion. I've only spoken to 1 CRNA who said they hated their career choice, among over the half dozen I asked. When I mentioned the one person who hated their job the others were shocked. I shadowed for 2 days in the OR and it was awesome. I've been an ICU nurse for 19 years. I'm ready for a change and nurse anesthesia involves everything that I love about being a critical care RN. It includes hands on patient contact, critical thinking, critical care skills and patient advocacy. At this point, it's not about the money for me, but about keeping nursing interesting and maintaining my passion.

This same thing happened to my sister. I wonder if you're going to the same college? The PD and the Dean were best friends. The PD was the one of the main instructors, too. Lawsuits were filed for multiple years in a row against this school from students who would not allow themselves to be treated this way and withdrew. Huge sums of money were wasted by the students. The PD was verbally abusive to the students in class to the point of screaming at students, like a maniac, in front of the whole class. Arbitrary grades were assigned to students projects based on whether the PD liked you or not. It was insane. It was beyond abuse. It was unprofessional. My sister could tell you more, but I was flabbergasted at her stories. My sister, who worked CTICU for many, many years, would not put up with the insane treatment. She's no wilting flower and attempted to speak to the Dean and got no where, just like the OP. She was told she had to finish the semester and would not be able to withdrawal. They basically owned her. She had too many semesters to go and she was not willing to trust the PD and the Dean with her future. She wasted her time and money. At the time, my sister was working in a Catholic run hospital and she had chosen this school based on the ties the college had with the hospital. One of the nuns in administration, at the hospital, was also on the Board of this college. Something to do with money. My sister, and a few other nurses at the hospital that were in the same program, met with this nun and explained what was happening. She was horrified. She ended up going to the Dean of the Nursing Program and the President of the College. She warned them that the continuation of these practices, especially in light of the lawsuits, would have severe repercussions to the future of the program as a whole. My sister was able to withdrawal from the program and enter another, after intervention from the nun. Half of her class were able to leave as well. It was a poopstorm. I don't believe those who say "suck it up" are giving the OP full credit for the hell she's going through. I don't believe she's being overly dramatic. This abusive behavior towards students, even graduate students, is happening all across the country. Wolford College of Nurse Anesthesia was one, as well as, West Virgina School of Anesthesia. Good luck OP. This is your future and I agree you need to tread carefully.

There are too many niches to let this get you down. You could keep struggling or go down another path. Why not try dialysis? or an urgent care center? or hospice? or work outside of the clinical setting, altogether, and try insurance or telephonic nursing. The whole world is open to you and you've had some acute care experience now. That experience is enough to qualify you to move on in most cases. Move on for your sanity, your back and long term term employment. Good luck!!

Our system just went through it's 3rd Magnet survey. We are still waiting to hear if we passed. Magnet means nothing to the patients. They don't know what it is even though we've been designated for such a long time. At this point, I barely know what it means anymore because it has never become what it was touted to be. Here are some things that stick out: Increased documentation on patients. Increased work for yearly competencies done on our own time. Unit Council is supposed to be run by the staff but it's always been a group who are delegated to by the manager. It's like she's the queen and they are the sycophants. Major pressure to obtain the BSN: no matter how close to retirement the staff are or how long they have been employed. Threats they will lose their jobs if they don't matriculate. Despite some posters minimizing this issue, it is a deal breaker for any new hires or moving within the system. This is a huge deal and administration specifically cites Magnet as the driving force. Major pressure to become certified. No increase in staffing or even staffing by acuity. Minor bump in tuition reimbursement before the 1st Magnet survey and none since. Nausea inducing amount of talk about EBP but only when it benefits the system. Not working towards the BSN, or certification, will directly affect the yearly review which controls raises even though some of the staff, that have neither, are precepting and the go-to for patient problems and questions. Don't get me wrong. I work for one of the best systems in my area. I am disappointed that Magnet is nothing more than a money generator for the ANCC, who, by the way, is the major supplier of certifications in nursing. Being certified before Magnet was a feather in your cap, now it's a requirement for all areas of nursing in the hospital. We are an oppressed population and Magnet was touted as being an empowering force for bedside nursing. It's just another yoke we have to haul. I did end up getting my BSN but only as a means of escape.

Ironically in my experience, these types of nurses, who want their reports spoon fed to them, are the ones that need the most help on the unit to get things done, never get their charting done on time and are nurses I wouldn't want taking care of me or mine. I see them on the units taking advantage of the techs and transport, while they do god knows what, and delaying care for pts in an effort to make others do their work. Sometimes they are so wrapped up in their heads you have to repeat important information you already included in report but they were too worried about writing down what diet the patient was on. Everyone knows these nurses in the units and avoids trying to give them report. I have rearranged patient assignments due to nurses like these because I wanted the sickest patients to get proper care. I appreciate the rationale for them being terrified that some have posted, and that may be true. Mostly I think they are lazy, have poor time management skills, cannot triage what is most important in a pt's case, and probably shouldn't be working in acute care in any role.

Why don't you try the NA meetings? Get involved in setting up or cleaning up. Become the treasurer of your home group as a service. Go to coffee afterwards instead of going home right away. Force yourself to at least read one of the openers. Making connections and friends in the meetings is the best way to stay clean. My husband has 30 years clean and I have 27. We have decades long friendships from people we've met in the rooms. We met at a meeting. AA is different now than when I first started going to meetings. I didn't like it back then. Too much talk about the substance and blaming the substance. I found NA to be more on point in terms of how my disease would mess with me. There was less talk about the substance and more talk about why we did the things we did/do. Like I said, though, I understand AA is different now but all my friends go to NA so I stick with that.

You should go on ASAP. Look into RN-BSN programs that you are interested in. Take the core courses or CLEP out of whatever you can. CLEP is a money saver! Don't stop now. Before you know it 20 years will have passed and you're stuck. You can't take another step without that BSN. If your job will pay for classes at least take the amount of classes they will pay for. The RN-BSN was easy. Lots of APA papers and power points. It's a time sink. All learning is good, but I never went back to work the next day in the ICU and used any of the knowledge I gained. It's a lot of theory and interesting. I suppose it's perfect for those going into education. As a nurse who took 23 years to finally finish her BSN I can tell you that you can't take another step without that BSN and you may feel trapped at the bedside. That's how I felt. Now I have the freedom to go try drug research or go for any NP program I want to. I chose to go for CRNA since I've been doing ICU for 17 years.

My LPN school had an arraingment with the community college nearby. I entered ADN school as soon as the paperwork cleared, before I had even sat for my LPN test, back when it was the bubble test on paper. I'm glad I did. I worked while I was going to school to finish my ADN so it took me a wee bit longer than if I'd gone full bore ahead. I am just now about to graduate from my RN-BSN program 23 years after LPN school. I've applied to CRNA schools and have 2 interviews lined up. I'm getting kind of old for CRNA school but the hospital, not the patients, are burning me out from bedside nursing. I love the patients and the clinical critical care, not so much the never ending additions to charting and suffocating maltreatment of nurses. Don't stop learning. Don't be afraid because you can do it. Picture yourself working where you want to work and you'll do it. Don't let fear cause you to regret what you never tried to do even though you really wished for it.

This is so true. I agree. Too many judgey people here with bad information. The other problem is that Dilaudid is effective for 3-4 hours and Benadryl for 5-6 hours. So you're just not going to ever give them both meds because you feels it's unsafe? Don't you think the MD knows this person is a frequent flyer and is aware of what they ordered? I think any MD would laugh if someone asked them if it was "safe" to give them both at the same time. It is seriously not a problem giving these drugs together, at the same time. You do not need to wait anytime in between giving them. I'm sorry the OP got fired from that patient, but maybe she should have asked around. The patient was a jerk for reacting the way he did, no doubt, so it's just as well she didn't have to take care of him anymore. There is no possibility of her losing her license because she gave these 2 drugs together, either. I wouldn't mix them in the same syringe... obviously. Zofran is not in anyway a sedative, either. It's not going to add to their "high."

I'm confused as to why a school would "force out" students in their 40s. I also do not understand the "hazing." I don't think continuous grilling of students to ensure safe practice is hazing. I think it's appropriate. CRNA schools have their pick of students and the interview process should further facilitate their picks. Schools would like all their picks to graduate and pass the certification, and chose those they think will do well. Students success reflects on the school.

I am about to graduate from a RN-BSN online program. I was a LPN at the start, and then quickly matriculated into an ASN program at the local community college when I was in my 20s. I am in my mid-40s now, and my RN-BSN has been a slow process due to having children and making my life a priority over work. I have a ton of opinions on the whole BSN controversy, mostly not very positive. I've been an ICU CCRN for over 16 years and, personally, do not think the "softer" courses of additional Community Health, Global Health, and the capstone class has helped me one bit in my practice at the bedside. Sure, some of it is interesting, and I honed my writing skills a whole bunch. I am not a full time employee so I was not able to receive any tuition reimbursement from my employer, but I did get a discount due to some collaboration between my school and work. I still have a bunch of loans to repay. The only reason to get your BSN, if you are a Diploma RN or ASN, is to get away from the bedside. If your employer will totally pay for it, then sure, go for it, but otherwise, it's a loss unless you're using it simply as a step stone to something else. Slow boat it if your employer is Magnet crazy and is enforcing it as part of your employment. The only reason I went for my BSN was to leave the bedside after 23 years. I'm ready for a change, and more of a challenge, and have applied to CRNA School, and have 2 interviews set up. I realize I will have even more loans after school I complete CRNA School, but I can’t stand the direction bedside nursing is going. Employers want you degreed, and certified, but treat you like a delinquent school child. It’s suffocating. I’m confident that I will be able to pay the loans off when I get a full time job as a CRNA, while enjoying a different kind of nursing.

Interesting thread. I've worked in multiple ICU's 16 years (Trauma, CT, General, CCU) and Medical Tele for 6 years prior to that. I don't think finding a uncooperative receiving RN unique to ICU or MS/Tele. We all have 'rhymes with witch' peers. Some have confidence issues and overcompensate by portraying themselves as a know it all. Some are just burnt out, and some are just irate they are getting the next hit because they are lazy. Some are new and scared about what's coming over. As for getting report from the floor, or even the ER, I've learned to bring up the patient in the computer and browse though what I think is important. It's all right there... H&P, Labs, VS trends, radiology, consults. I just want the last few hours of the pt's day and a warning about incoming family dysfunction. It's easier on me because I get the info I need and I know the floor RN is jammed for time. It seriously takes about 5 minutes to get the gist of a crashing patient and start thinking what interventions you will need if you just look the stuff up. On the other hand, I'm always confused when I transfer a patient out and the nurse asks me what diet they are on. It's the tone of voice and how they ask...like I forgot something life or death to tell them. It cracks me up. Sorry the OP feels she is being mistreated. ICU nursing and floor nursing have wildly different focuses, but that's not floor nurses fault. It's staffing!!! Nurse:pt ratio on the floors just does not allow for digging deeper in pt cases, most of the time. It does boil down to forcing floor nurses having to be more task oriented just to get their jobs done. It's not that they aren't good critical thinkers, because they are! It's the hyper-super-multi-tasking they are forced to do for 5-8 pts in a limited amount of time.

Keeping abreast of current literature, in my field of specialty, and going to Critical Care/Trauma conferences is the practice of following/learning best EBP. Why else waste my time doing it? I have done it all my career because I want to provide the best care for my patients and luckily, for me, find the scientific process fascinating. I love to learn and be challenged, which is why I work Critical Care. Learning a new skill, while providing safe, appropriate care is why I love nursing. The BSN classes are too general for much benefit to me at the bedside. Sure I enjoyed Global Health and Issues in Aging, but I enjoy learning and like the instant gratification of carrying a 3.9 GPA.

I personally feel it is morally reprehensible these institutions are strong arming nurses, who have worked for them for 10 to 20 years and are just years away from retiring, to take on more debt. I work at a Magnet hospital, in a Gold Beacon ICU, and I see my co-workers being coerced into obtaining their BSNs. These are ladies in their 50's and 60's. It literally makes me sick to my stomach to talk to them and see the amount of stress they feel at the thinly veiled threats that they will be losing their jobs because they haven't matriculated into a BSN program. It's all about the numbers for my manager. How many certified nurses does she have on staff. How many BSNs does she have on staff. Administration does not care about their long term employees who have a vast wealth of experience. I know 3 RNs who have combined century of experience between them and our manager would love to get rid of them. She could get fresh BSNs for cheap and guess who would have to orient the fresh ones? I'm shocked no one has piped in about Aiken's studies yet. They're great and all... but the ANA needs to DO something about it rather then have institutions run the plan. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. As for me, I've been a LPN, Associate Degree RN and in my last 2 classes for BSN. I've been an ICU RN, CCRN'd for 10, for 18 years. I've always kept up to date on current trends in my specialty. I have always kept up with the literature and attended conferences. I can honestly tell you that none of my BSN classes have helped me at the bedside. I don't care if you think that makes me a bad nurse, as some have commented on before, because I don't think those people really know what I do when I go in for my 12 hour shift at the Trauma ICU. The ONLY reason I'm getting my BSN is because I want to become a CRNA. I've had enough wiping poop up but love the clinical skills. I personally think the OP should slow boat any further education, if she chooses to go that route. Whatever the reimbursement allows for is all she should do. It will keep her manager off her back. She might like some of the classes, too. My favorite was Ancient Western Science and learned a ton about Plato, Ptolemy, etc.