juana15

yes, I do need to do a better job at prioritizing. i'm so glad i'm getting advice from this forum. I was ready to send an email. funny thing our higher up every now and then asks about our job satisfaction and wants to know whats working, whats not. we've all requested more help; more initiative from the charge rn when she's available but it hasn't changed. it's a competitive market and I realize if we don't work out, theres plenty others that'll take our job. yes but its a zoo! changing my thinking and being more positive is a good change. I hate the uneasy feeling of not being able to accomplish my tasks and running out of time.

yes, it definitely is exhausting; I think I may go to a clinic lol

yup, I've read these horror stories before on other sites relating to other states not having ratios. that's crazy; i'm staying afloat I just don't think i'm dotting all my i's and crossing my t's as far as charting goes because of lack of time. it's an uneasy feeling.

I've been working on a very busy med-surg ortho unit. When I was hired, I was told we would have several discharges, admissions and that it is a very busy unit Yesterday, I started with 3 patients and from 12 to 7 I had 3 post-ops, 1 admission and 1 discharge. When we have a discharge, our charge rn immediately starts to continuously ask us when is your discharge leaving because she wants us to receive a new admission/post op etc. I feel this is an unsafe work environment due to the fast pace of the patients coming and going, the charting that we are responsible for along with the tasks associated with each patient while in our care. It becomes difficult to monitor vital signs in each room to see how my post op is doing or even going to see my new post op since i'm still trying to work on my previous post op plus my patients that are already in the unit also need care. Am I being unreasonable? I realize nursing is a multi tasking career on speed and that I need to prioritize however, it is so chaotic no matter how organized you are it's hard to keep it straight. The charge rn does not help with pts as they come, she's too concerned about out with the old, in with the new. My co-workers face is that of misery as I look around the unit and I know everyone hates this particular unit but no one does anything about it. I'm considering complaining to my DA but I think she might say, "we told you" type of response.

hi is it med-surg ortho? if so review post op care for hip arthroplasty, total knee replacement surgeries. laparascopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, these are some surgeries you may encounter. medical side: diabetes (insulin types) review how to insert iv's on you tube, picc line access, IM injections, assessments such as listening to lung sounds, bowel sounds, heart, feeling for radial pulses, checking for edema, skin assessments. fall precautions, general restraints indications, protocols. charting defensively...... I can go on and on. lol good luck you'll be fine. don't be afraid to ask lots of questions!!

Update! My back is better, I was afraid the problem was permanent! Great lesson to take care of my body!!!!!

Dang! What did you do?! This is for the low BP problem

I've had these for so long and never a problem till now.... I just bought some awesome asics, they are so comfy & I'll buy something else to rotate. Thank you!

I've tried different sized danskos at the store. Not sure if it's because I have narrow feet but my feet slide down. Is that how they fit you?

Glad you're good, back pain is horrible. I guess my shoes are good for 8 hrs but not 16hrs, ( I won't be doing doubles anymore)

Hi everyone! I started working on a very busy medsurg floor (aren't they all busy?) 8 months ago. We do 8 hr shifts & I've worn the same tennis shoes all along. On Friday I worked a double, on my feet non- stop for 16 & now my lower back is killing me! I didn't lift any patients which leads me to believe I'm hurting because of the lengthy shift. I'm not overweight however, I DONT exercise & have zero core strength. I've been reading this could be my issue. I'm almost 40 but I never thought this could happen from just being on feet all day! My question, did anyone experience something similar & did the pain go away after a few days? What did you do? I've been staggering Motrin & Tylenol for the past 24hrs with some relief. I plan to start some exercising, such as yoga, core strenghthening, back strengthening soon but I want to get this pain under control if possible.

Hi Anie10, I am considering CSUDH RN-BSN and am wondering, approx how much is the program? I don't live near campus at all. Since it's online, does that matter? I hope it's going well with you and the load is manageable. thanks!

I am a new grad, bedside naive nurse. I use standard precautions, isolation precautions, airborne, droplet when in pts profile however.... I've noticed in hind site for newly admitted patients, (where it could potentially be a problem due to not having a complete medical history I.e., Unknown TB exposure or other droplet/airborne diseases) that I could've been a bit more careful. For example, accucheck, ID band check I'm facing pt & next thing, he/she coughs on me :/. We have occasional homeless pts, IV drug users, etc. I have to remember to not stand so close. It makes it hard due to kind of work we do, caring for others but remembering to protect ourselves too! anyway, what do you do? Have any of you or co-workers picked up something from work? Hope not, but it can make for a good reminder/ learning experience for us all to hear. I see a seasoned nurse wear a mask all day & my guess it's on to protect herself & family.

I was thinking that exact thought today caliotter3. As I think back on stuff I think: I should've slowed down! I am reminded think safety whenever completing a task. Thank you guys for the advice !! I've had better days since then & hoping to continue improving on the floor :)

Thank you all so much for sharing your mistakes, the advice, & words of encouragement, (I got teary eyed). I do & will continue to research unfamiliar tasks when I'm home but I haven't done much in stress/anxiety reduction strategies. I'll have to practice these right away! Thanks again.