momofm1998

Urbanhealthrn, would have been nice for you to have offered some more positive input to this poster. She obviously put a lot of thought into a topic that should’ve on a lot of our minds. I can’t quote exactly how very very many supposedly respected medical journals research has been proven invalid, fraudulent and false. Too much “all about the money” too much pharmaceutical influence. As for me, common sense tops all the “papers” written by the so-called “experts”. Covid has laid own a plethora of false “science gods” .. scary!

CreamCheese Rangoons, I applaud you for responding to lovinglife123 as you did. Very professional, articulate and absolutely the truth! LL123 is obviously an example of some of the bully nurses in our profession. I have worked with people like LL123(notice I did not refer to her as a nurse; nurses care about people) A foreign nurse who weighed about 90 pounds soaking had a bariatric patient who fell out of bed. Staffing was short, night shift, she and I were trying to help this patient. The LL123 example stuck her head in the door, said "Your patient, your responsibility! You came over here to work on your on decision, now deal with it!" But, in LL123 defense, LL123 could have worked with a bunch of snowflakes who simply were not prepared to do the real work in medicine and thought it would be like on ER or a media presentation. Or would not accept responsibility for their work/role. You experienced an awful deal! Everyone around Nashville knows HCA and how they treat their nurses, also recently being sued for reckless actions during covid. And NO, it does not cost $100k + to orient/train a new nurse. NSI report stated $24-$51K. Most of the problem is the hospitals will not staff sufficiently to allow thorough training. Then the new nurse becomes anxious, loses confidence in skills and is put in dangerous positions. As a supervisor I was asked to put pediatric nurses in ICU "just to keep numbers up". The CEO or manager doesn't risk their license nor risk their name being splattered all over the nursing board newsletter as "disciplined", or pay money they don't have to defend some ridiculous and false charge that must go to court to prove their innocence. One other factor that truly irritates me is that nursing schools insist on teaching crap like theory, and other fluff classes but don't bother to teach a basic business class to teach new nurses how to negotiate contracts, what to look for in a contract, how to deal with the first 2-3 years after graduation. If you can prove the hospital breached the contract you can get out of it. Can you obtain documentation of your repeated pleas for help? The sexual harassment charge could be documented and sent to the HCA office in Nashville. You could even bring your case to the local media. They would love a good story of how you signed on expecting one thing and getting something completely different. This is an ongoing problem with new nurses and a TV station could do an investigative report about it. I have seen many posts on this forum about the same thing.You could seek legal counsel especially since this occurred during covid. I do not recommend new grads sign any type of contract with hospitals. Not worth it. The sign on bonus gets eat up in taxes and you don't have the freedom to go if finding the environment isn't conducive to either mental or physical health.

You guys are awesome!! Some really great hints and methods!! I have seen everyone of these methods done over my years in nursing and they all work. I so agree with doing whatever it takes to keep that ng tube clear. I HATED coming on my shift , breezing down to do my NG feedings and BAP! a clogged tube! Just ruins the whole shift and throws you behind all shift. PS the carbonation works!

First, 6 exams a day is way too many. The exam plus searching the records will take at least 90 minutes if it is a thorough exam. Then the documentation takes another hour+ if LHI is still using the same software they were last year. Salary? No less than $45/hour. you will need to consider you will get many many emails re: the exam results documentation to respond to. Now, you just might get into a routine and ace this thing...I was just frustrated with the whole process. I would approach with a back up plan to escape to if getting into a routine takes longer than 2 weeks.

To tell you truthfully, I would make absolutely certain up front about time allotments for the exam. The exams require you to know a lot about doing a good physical exam, all aspects. I didn't mind doing the exams, it was just doing documentation of the findings that took forever. Their software isn't the best and it took a loooong time for the software to page to page....wasting your valuable time and extending the time to document. The company allows a certain amount of time for the visit and documentation- isn't enough. The experience is definitely good for learning how to do a good exam, but unless the money is good, I wouldn't do it again. As my grandma used to say "too much sugar for a dime" On the other hand, its a good baseline starting job, not long term though. But make sure the money is enough to compensate for the extra time to document.

Hi Kenya and Mima, I want to answer each post thoroughly but am pressed for time at this moment. Just happened to see an email stating my post had responses. Kenya, yes, I have taught both through medical centers and through community colleges. At this time I prefer teaching privately one on one if possible. Or small groups. Mima, I want to answer you about this procedure and will do so in next post..don't have time to do so right now. The procedure you described isn't quite accurate per INS guidelines, close but not there. Plz forgive, will respond after work.

The advice given by Curious 1997, BSN is exactly what you need to do now and for the rest of your nursing career!! I was in exactly your situation at a large teaching medical center. I tried being sugar sweet, polite, ignoring her, anything to have peace, as any southern lady would do. Nothing worked! She followed me around to find anything at all she could identify as a reason to criticize me, was rude, "forgot"to follow up on any requests I made. Did everything she could to undermine me. I was the IV nurse for the floor so I truly depended on colleagues to let me know of any problems. Then a really good hard nosed manager came on board. She saw immediately what was happening. She met with this horrid person and told her exactly what she was observing. Gave her an ultimatum, did not listen to any of her excuses or accusations. Under this excellent leadership, this distasteful and just plain mean nurse was transferred to another floor in another role. Looking back now, I should have confronted her and should have had Curious1997 plan on my clip board and followed it precisely. These people have been used to ruling the roost, they will not stop, they will abuse anyone until they are confronted and given the legal consequences of their actions. As well as the administration also. There is entirely too much of this in nursing and it has been ignored. On the very floor I worked, two new grads of under 6-9 months left nursing for new careers in real estate and law because of this kind of crap. I am now in another role in nursing now and would never in a million years go back to floor nursing or allow anyone I cared about to pursue that path either. My daughter is an RN, had the very same experience with someone exactly as you describe. Everyone in the unit saw the abuse, administration closed their eyes. That person went on to physically attack someone violently and served time in prison. This interpersonal abuse/bullying is prevalent in nursing. When will it be taken seriously???

I have taught many IV therapy classes. I am very thorough and include all aspects of the education needed to have a good understanding of the process. I have been practicing as a family nurse practitioner for many years in a clinical setting. I have a renewed interest in teaching this class. I am a CRNI as well and was very involved in infusion therapy practice as well as education before my grad school and NP education. I am in Georgia. I prefer to teach independently instead of through a school. Very much one on one teaching. With this info, Do you, as infusion nurses, think there is a need for this education? or are there sources available for the nurse to get this education otherwise? I truly value your opinion.

Amen to all of you..it takes as much courage to step away as it does to step up. Especially for nurses who have an innate caring nurturing character. I am right there with you..have years and years of nursing experience in every disease known to man. Disasters, floods, hurricanes...but have little ones and hubby main support. Just am not going to sacrifice my family on the altar of some administrative staff who care nothing for our safety. I have read chilling accounts from healthcare providers asking to be anonymous, about being forced to work in abhorrent unsafe conditions ..I have a few tales of my own about the C suite handing down directives putting nurses and patients in danger all for image and bottom line.

Just wondering, will all of us who have been used like Kleenex and discarded remember how awful some of our administrative staff have treated us after this is all over???

I completely agree with the two posters stating I need more primary care experience if that is the area of my choice to pursue.. I am an FNP. Got s decent education at a respected brick and mortar school . But in agreement with so many on All Nurses, schools teach too too too much fluff and Not enough of the real world stuff.. my first job out of school was retail health and that taught me a lot about common problems but nada about managing diabetes, HTN, arthritis and so many chronic diseases we see in PC. Transferred to this state and Next job was at a Rural federally funded clinic in a saturated area and primarily doing insurance assessments, sports physicals, very little primary care. My experience with the primary care patients I did see over a couple years frustrated me because of my lack of ability to truly help...Very complex patients, non compliant, and me with little oversight. Then the requests for Rxing “pain” medicine started so I left. I just feel stupid! All this experience and nothing specific I can list on a resume. The primary docs expect and rightly so, an NP with my 9 years experience to hit the floor running. I can’t do that. I want to get trained in something and be really good at it. As an RN, I was the go-to for infusion therapy. I love skin care and derm because of all the atopic dermatitis and other skin problems I have seen that I knew needed more than a pill or lotion. I truly enjoy my primary patients and getting a good history and discovering the real etiology of presenting problem. And yes, yes, yes to the suggestions to relocate. Actually planning that now. As I look over my original question, I see that it is one I have to answer myself. If I could tell any new NP or RN grad one thing, it would be to identify an area you love, learn it inside and backwards, join the association, get certified in it, and become an expert in that field. Just generalizing is worthless in the job market today. Know a little about a lot and master of known is equal to not employable! Thank you for all your wise comments..it is gratifying to have this board as a counsel when we hit roadblocks..

I'm just an NP with the limited skills you see above

All I can say is what I have experienced as an NP with tons of RN experience and I do know how to do a pap smear. the salaries offered to NPs new or experienced in middle TN are 20% less than being offered in some other states. Job openings are rare to non existent, My current salary as an NP is the same as I made as a travel RN in 2003. "Fullglass BSN, MSN" is obviously in a prime state for midlevels. Please share that location, I will move tomorrow!! I see ads here everyday and have actually received offers( same as I made as an ICU RN in 2000) for positions that make me just regret ever going through the pain and expense of going back for my NP. I was much more marketable as an RN. I will never pay my student loan off and it has hampered any hope of mortgage approval. For what?? A salary I could make as a manufacturing plant worker with a high school diploma??? Yes, I love my work, but I have to feed my family also. And yes, our schools have betrayed us with their greed by diluting the market. "Here $25K tuition, ok here is your NP certificate". When do we stop them and how???

Need some expert advise from all you employed, certified, and specialized NPs. If you could speak to new grads, what advice would you give them about getting enhanced skills/experience/certs in areas of our scope? I am seeing that every ad for NPs is asking for special certs, skills, education. Not many for just an average NP. I know midlevels have to bring something to the table to benefit the employer and earn their salary. What skills/specialization have you found are valuable to have, almost assures employability, and seems to have a future to it??? My experience as an NP has consisted of retail health, VA disability exams, sports physicals and some primary care. I have a CRNI certification in infusion therapy from my RN work. Kept it, was too hard to get. I am planning to relocate and need some advice please. Tons of experience as an RN-ICU, dialysis, management, infusion therapy, acute care, ER, home health, cardiac, floor nursing, travel nursing.. I dont know how to suture, read x-rays, or do joint injections. Dont know how to do Botox or fillers. Couldn't really manage HTN or diabetes without lots of help from a more experienced provider. I'm just a NP with the limited skills you see above. I do have excellent diagnostic(gut feeling) skills, assessment skills, and communication skills. Love my patients! I completed the level one AADE course for diabetic educators before realizing I would need years of working with DM before I could even consider taking the AADE exam. I completed the 24-hour Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Waiver training and then found my state will not allow midlevels to Rx this treatment. I have completed the DOT/CMV course to sit for the FMCSA CME exam and am studying for that now. As you can see, I have been searching for something that would make me more employable. The state I live in could literally ask for a "33 year old blonde, green eyed, 126 #, childless, NP with her DNP, with a certification in "whatever plus additional certifications as a first assist, living 3.5 miles from the facility in a brownstone with a tin roof" and 45 NPs would apply. That is how saturated this area is with midlevels. One reason for my relocation. I have thought about Botox training, not necessarily for wrinkles but migraines, CP in peds for spasticity treatment, incontinence treatment. I have thought about going further with my infusion certification for infusion clinics, teaching IV skills (I taught peripheral IV skills as an RN). I have considered learning how to suture, read x-rays and pursue Urgent Care. I even thought about going for my DNP and opening my own small clinic offering very limited services (that would entail more schooling, more student loans) My needs are to be able to work part-time (disabled child)and still make enough to supplement the household. My thinking is if I develop my skills in an area of need, I could be more "hirable" and be able to work part time. Any input would be greatly appreciated. My ideal job?? If I were skilled in procedures, teaching new grad NPs, at a reasonable price, all those skills, from glucometer to EKG reading to suturing like a pro, they are going to need out there. But gotta have an income til then.. Thank you for any and all suggestions.

This post/topic and every posting has immensely valuable/pertinent information, yet I have seen one line from any nursing manager, administrator, recruiter challenging the dialogue. This tells me they have absolutely no defense of the unscrupulous methods used by the mega health systems to obtain labor. These systems pay ridiculously low wages compared to other professions that have nowhere near the education requirements and nowhere near the liability that nursing requires. Why isn't someone from that arena on this forum giving any feedback??? They are bought and paid for by the very system they represent. And you are so right about bringing in international nurses who need the job so badly, are willing to tolerate unspeakable conditions..Where are the organizations we pay dues to, supposedly representing us and making conditions better for us??? They are in their ivory towers writing some theory, in their bubbles with no clue to what the real world of nursing is about. I say bring the unions back. But then they will simply "certify" a tech type to do all we do as healthcare has done in many many areas(Maine has been using "med techs" for eons) and the public will be as unaware as they are now.