NurseSpeedy

Oh, he chucked the containers (2 Med cups) in his mouth and swallowed them with only a sip of water! I was like-what the what????

Unless your pharmacy only has dose of methadone available and your patient has a confirmed super high dose that he gets at the methadone clinic when he isn’t in admitted for complications from his alternate drug of choice….questioned the dose THREE TIMES because he got the whole pixis card for his dose! It was correct. No idea how someone could have that high of a tolerance and be lucid.

That’s a lot of sick time but right now everyone is getting sick. Is it by occurrence or by shifts missed. If by occurrence-which is what I normal remember-make sure you are ready to return to avoid a second occurrence if you go back to early and get sicker. I used to get ticked when staff would come in with fevers, flu like symptoms-because then we all got it and got sick- causing more of a staffing problem than if they just stayed home a couple of days.

Interesting stories is a nice way of putting it. So FMLA could be up to 12 weeks in some cases. You were kind enough to bust your butt and then some and got sick….What did she think you had when you signed up to cover her shifts-a magic crystal ball that would know if you would get sick for one occurrence during that time period? Good grief, you had a doctors note. She sounds like a gem. Gotta love the passive-aggressive attitude too-contacts you on your person devices for some things while you are out sick and then magically uses the work email instead for that one?

Oh, that would likely push some of the docs I’ve worked with over the edge! Worked for a hospital that had a large population that was admitted due to complications from injecting their drugs of choice. Call the doc too many times asking for more or different meds, the patient PRN list of meds got shorter and started dwindling down to a few choices that they were really PO’d with the doc over. Some after so many calls I would try to warn them what was coming….and it did….IV morphine got switched to Tordol or oral Norco got switched to tramadol…the doc actually started taking things away. When I first started working there I found it a bit harsh, but then I realized-this doc has had a LONG time getting to know this patient over the years and was quite over being on call when they showed up in the ER and got admitted to them.

The request for Dilaudid was denied by the MD. You gave her what the MD would give her. They asked you to go over the MDs head and find someone who would order it. That definitely would not have gone well later.... This one is sounding drug seeking. Let her complain. Once they drop that they didn't get their request for dilaudid and an MD had been called and denied it admin will likely catch on.

Acute care was the only job I ever worked that “punished” people for calling out sick. I agree, people should not be calling out just because they want to be off for the holiday, but if someone is legitimately sick, they shouldn’t be punished for it. I went in to work sick on Christmas because I didn’t think they would believe me when I was 20. Went to urgent care the next day with a sinus infection, b/l ear infection, and b/l pink eye. Fun. Another Christmas I was gifted the flu. Tested positive. I wasn’t working then, I just had a 4 month old infant at home so I was taking a break from working until she was 2. Then there was the Friday before Easter weekend working in an ALF that I had gone to NY to see my in-laws. Looks like the cough they had at dinner was influenza A the next day. Went home Friday and and was symptomatic-tested positive myself and my child. We always got our vaccines too but they haven’t always helped. I wasn’t about to infect half the ALF population with my flu, nor was a physically able to work with 104 fever. I got a call that Saturday asking me how I was feeling…um, like I had a fever and the flu??? Granted I had a note from my provider with a diagnosis and mandatory tIme out to prevent infecting everyone but still, more proof that viruses don’t look at a calendar and decide what day is convenient to get sick. I can honestly say that I’ve been a nurse for about 20 years. I have never once taken a mental health day or called out when I wasn’t actually sick. These things should be handled on a cases by case basis. Plus if someone came into work to avoid “punishment” I would be livid if I got sick a few days later with the same thing. I’d prefer to work short.

I didn’t get paid for it but my husband has these stupid credentials that each hospital system makes him complete each year to come into the hospital and fix their broken equipment. It’s like completing the orientation for new employees each year but he doesn’t work for them. Since it’s common sense and I used to have to do it all the time when I used to work in these places, I have logged on for him and completed the courses by going straight to the test and taking it and passing. It’s some stupid regulatory bull crap that the hospitals want even their vendors to complete…which is pretty ridiculous when the answers are completely employee based. I don’t think the contractor is going to help evacuate in case of a fire or find the hazardous materials manual, or have any reason to know how to dispose of chemo patient wastes when he works on OR equipment….not only do I not get paid, his employer has to pay the hospitals credentialing provider a hefty fee each year to update the testing they require.

In the end I don’t think it matters. Having the experience prior definitely can bring more appreciation for what your CNAs do because they bust their butts just as hard as nurses do and I do see that nurses who started as CNAs are more likely to jump in and do whatever they can at times. I think it helps with learning how to juggle a patient load a bit and gives more exposure to what nurses do while you work as an aide. Now you are a nurse. Always be appreciative of you co-workers and learn as you go. With experience knowledge is gained and you’ll do fine. It’s normal to be nervous and you never stop learning. Going on 20 years as a nurse and I still learn new things everyday because things are always evolving.

Many employers use key word searches to even look at your resume. It is possible to be ‘over qualified’ or thought to be too expensive so they will not even look at an RN application if they can fill the job with an LPN for less money. It is rather cheap to maintain both licenses. Sometimes money isn’t everything and a different job may be a better fit. It just depends on the circumstances at the time. I had an employer that said they really weren’t looking at RN applicants because they didn’t think they could afford them. At the time, they were paying about $3 more per hour for The position than hospitals were paying for new RNs. There were some that would happily take that M-F desk job. It just depends on where someone is at in their career and where the want to go over time.

Yes, in most cases I think there is. however you are still in school for your RN and not too far from graduating by the time you qualify. So you have to get your school records to apply, pay for the application, wearing fir approval, pay for the exam, and then wait for your test date, prep for your test and then have your license and get a job. Most states you know if you passed within days. However by then you are usually very close to graduating your RN program so is the added stress and money worth it while you still need to do well and pass your RN boards? IDK. To each is own. I bridged so many years later and the original intent was to get the LPN and immediately begin the bridge to ADN program. At that time there were wait lists for programs based on time on the list, not GPA. The wait list was 3 years after pre-reps for the general program or immediately after pre-reqs for the bridge. I thought I was getting done faster. I was also 18 and not well experienced in LIFE. LIFE happened. Found out starting a new job as a new nurse was hard for 40 hours a week plus going to school for the pre-requisites. I didn’t have time to take on a full course load and ended up dropping some classes because it was too much with the new job. Then I met my husband, was told there may not be be an online option for theory if there were t enough students signed up (online was very ‘new’ back then), and didn’t want to have to cut my income to go to class instead of work on some days (I couldn’t do nights-bless those who can). So I declined signing up after accepted. Fast forward about 15 years-I was finally finishing the program. If you want the RN, I would recommend just getting it. If you are okay with possibly slowly (and more cost) then consider a bridge later. The type of license will offer dictate the type of work you can do, and some are now wanting higher level degrees on top of the ADN to hire as an RN.

I’d be more focused on what your employment opportunities are after graduation. LPNs that their own exam. RNs take theirs. The RN program will be a higher level of education. I got my LPN then bridged over to my RN almost 15 years later….so I thought my full time LPN program with a test almost every other day was more intense, but I had a lot of experience under my belt before I bridged over. Then I took a full time RN bridge program but I did my prerequisites all ahead of time so all I had was nursing courses. I was in a fast paced program (12 months) but I found the transition easier because I had the initial foundation. Even with a family and nursing job at the same time. I did what I had to do to get the job I wanted at the time. I still hold both licenses. Talk to a college advisor. Also, make sure the program is accredited so if you want to advance later on-you can do so and not have to start over.

I'm pretty sure there never was an actual religious reason. She probably didn't want to pay for the test....or knew how uncomfortable it can be....and was trying to find some exemption from getting either. Lately I have had a lot of NEW patients looking for our doctors to exempt them from their employer's mandatory vaccinations. Many had not had their first appt yet. Our recommendations are pretty clear- get vaccinated. We won't force you, but there's no reason in our specialty not to get it, so we will not sign off on an exemption....people will argue with the messenger for 30+ minutes. Um, take it up with your employer-we cannot exempt you when the facts state the opposite. Ugh.

I think it really depends on what area you work-since COVID, when I was in the office with patients before going remote, I had done the same thing I did when in the hospital with a bunch of sick people. Shoes off outside, entered my house stating to family “don’t touch me, I’m gross” went straight to bathroom and stopped of scrubs, washed my hands, got towel around me and threw the scrubs into the washer and turned it on immediately. I then jumped in showered, scrubbed and cleaned, used different towel to dry (the other one I used on the floor” and got into clothes. I always meal prepped the days before my shifts and everything was plated out. Someone got hungry, pick a plate and heat it up. Yes, I’m a germaphobe. However, my own whacked out immune system is too busy attacking itself to help me so I’m prone to catching whatever is possible. I don’t want whatever I was playing with that day and I really don’t want to share it with anyone I care about. So I may be a bit over the top, but I’m in, it’s cleaned and I’m showered in under 15 minutes-the washer may take closer to thirty, not sure. It gets high heat dried to top it off.

I think the only time I saw jello anymore before I left in 2018 was with clear liquid trays….these homeless crack heads thought they were staying at the Hyatt ordering room service….little did they know it was a fluffed up version of frozen nutrisystem gone hospital gourmet style. There’s no chef downstairs hon, just your average lunch lady. I missed mystery meat #1 or #2. It was easy. Choice A or B…no damn flan, polenta (I at least knew that one-but it was from the day before frozen meal pack and the other homeless chick was hellbent on getting it a day late because the night before she got jipped)…..I wish I could of said, the last time I ate anything was 12+ hours ago-eat what you got and be happy-I’m hungry!….nope, had to chase after the kitchen for their requests to help our “satisfaction surveys”…..eye roll.

My favorite THOUGHT was “I’m here to save your dumb ***, not kiss it”. Then there was the patient that was ranting about her “flan” being missing from her meal tray….I had to duck into the Med room And pull out my phone to Google what the heck flan was….she was homeless…I was well employed….I guess she was busy shooting up or eating up whatever money she had because I sure as heck never had that before. What ever happened to hospital jello?

Many Telehealth positions are starting to require it too. I had a patient that had to get the vaccine and she’s remote. Was given a deadline. Not sure if they feel the legislation will go through so start now or what but we have had many that were refusing before informing us they are now vaccinated.

You would be surprised how many republicans are triple vaccinated because they believe in the science. The numbers are still evolving but there have been several studies that those vaccinated are a hell of a lot less likely to get hospitalized or die. Drowning in our own secretions wasn’t on any of my conservative families bucket list. Leave politics out of it please.

I had my first RN interview in 2016. Had my LPN since 2002. The interview instructions were to come in dressed in scrubs and be prepared for 4 hours shadowing on the floor (aka-let the staff decide if they want to work with you after your formal interview). I had that interview and then two more interviews that week with hospitals in the same large company. Had 2 offers but not one that hade spend half a shift there. Granted, it was my first real “interview” I’m so many years and I will say I was nervous. Good news-the other two had the exact same questions, so I knew how to answer them better than I did the first time around because I was more prepared. The interview sounds positive. I would still attend the other interview to weigh out options. Some hospitals or even units within hospitals can have bad things to say about the other one, especially if they want you to work for them-otherwise they would not speak negatively about them when they hear you have an interview. My offers thought my drive might be much (only if rush hour- 7a-7p-not rush hour-got there in 30-45 minutes everyday). I told them the drive could be therapeutic-time to decompress before getting home and it was 12 hour shifts so not a M-F five day in a row thing-plus I never worked close to home with hospitals-I didn’t want to have patients who may recognize me outside of work or know me-I have my boundaries. They respected that and I got the jobs I wanted. My time with hospitals I think is over. While I enjoyed the career-it is not what it was when I started. Too much time in front of a computer and not enough time with the patients. Also, way too much focus on meal time satisfaction in regards to the surveys….seriously, if you have that kind of appetite you are ready for discharge. This isn’t the Hyatt and the food is not gourmet-it’s frozen.

Legally I have no idea how it could be something legal unless you sign something under penalty of legal consequences. However , the new employer may find out about it with a background check, and then disqualify you for the job. I’m pretty sure it would show up on W2s. Not sure if we sign something where they can pull them and then…..there’s that brief gap explained. This can be done after getting the job too, but usually only if they really want someone out.

This is true. Nursing is a small world. Systems are constantly being taken over by larger systems, and some employers are CRAZY with the background checks, having a third party call all you past jobs 7-10 years back and references. It may be hard to burry that time there.

Caller ID and voicemail are your friend. Obligations outside work when asked to stay later when you just can’t do any more…I’m not saying don’t help out here and there-you may need a favor some day too, but never feel guilted to stay or do more- it will burn you out and quick

My grandmother went to her 50th high school reunion a loooong time ago (she died in 2016 at 95 years of ago). She said all the previously fat kids were skinny and the ones that were skinny were fat. Karma comes back around. Most middle schoolers could possibly pass as being inhuman with their behavior. High schoolers who are catty are usually hiding from some of their own demons. Now, some of the teachers I’ve actually seen participate in bullying a student-now that should be criminal.

I stopped feeling bad about it the day they called begging me to come in on my day off that I caved only to find out that they cancelled the agency nurse and left us with super crappy staffing….so they guilted me into coming in on my day off, I finally said yes, and then I find out that they cancelled the nurse they were paying more than they were paying me (I worked for the agency so I knew what they were paying. I was PRN and still made $10 less/hour-I just could work agency for a hospital if I worked for them or had worked staff for them within the past year- because the organization that owned the agency also owned the hospital system) only to completely stiff me when I came into a complete crap show assignment. From then on the calls went to voicemail. I was mad. They had extra help available that we needed-and cancelled them.

Heck I know my car wasn’t fancy. I had to spend 15 minutes preheating then engine on cold mornings-which I wouldn’t call my are cold-ever….or the engine would stall. Then in the heat I would have to start using the heat to cool the engine. I bought myself the car from hell. Then it’s transmission decided to crap out on the highway. No cell phone back then. Luckily I found a pay phone not far away. The thing never went over 50 mph. Then it was dead. Cost $200 a month for insurance back then. And that was just for liability. Then I bought a new, cheaper gas efficient car of that time when I turned 18. Since I was working two jobs in high school to beat the labor laws I had a down payment and my dad saw I could definitely hold a job so he co-signed for the loan. I needed a reliable vehicle for college and the only way I was getting there was by car so I needed it because public transport here is practically nonexistent. It kept my interest rate low rather than be crucified by it just because I was too young to have a credit history. I wasn’t going with another junker after the last one. That think was the worst.