shenanigans_RN

I had both my tragus and my daith pierced. Originally I had a ring in my tragus and it did interfere with my stethoscope, but it was fine with a flat-backed stud. I never had any issues with the curved barbell in my daith. I took my tragus piercing ...

I always pack my lunch box the night before. I bring either yogurt/granola or a protein shake for morning snack, fruit, veggies, and a sandwich for lunch (either homemade with coldcuts or uncrustables PB&J), and some sort of packaged cracker or s...

I have 9 tattoos, 7 of which are covered by scrubs/shoes. The remaining two are small; one on my wrist, hidden by my watch, and one on the back of my neck. Only 1 other nurse in my unit has visible ink, but it's a full sleeve so he covers it with an ...

My bf is an EMT/FF, former military. We met working transport EMS. I always thought I would end up with a cop. I'm a bit of a "badge bunny". *sorry, not sorry*

I'm not sure where I heard it, or if it even applies in this case, but I was told that children with medical traumas tend to go into healthcare. When I was an infant, I was a near-miss SIDS baby. Blue, CPR, on a heart monitor for a year after. The wh...

My biggest pet peeve is how (almost) everyone puts the stethoscope into their ears backwards. I've only seen it don't correctly on Royal Pains. The doctor even explained the rational to someone once! I was so impressed.

I am a not-so-new nurse but I am new to 12 hour shifts where I am on my feet most of the shift. I wear comfortable running shoes with custom made (running) insoles. Although my feet don't actually hurt after a shift, my legs are exhausted. I plan on ...

- even though I've been working as a nurse for over 3 years, since it wasn't in "acute care" I'm still a new grad - the "10 week orientation" I was promised will now be ending after 6 weeks - paper charting is the worst

I left one case simply because I felt I could not provide adequate care for the child whose illness was getting worse. I was honest with my agency, and they were very understanding. I didn't tell the parents, but it wasn't on purpose. The next months...

When I was in school, I would joke with my family that I was a "nur" since I wasn't a "nurse" yet. I would never say that I was a nurse when I wasn't. That requires a license. Also, being in nursing school was a valid/easy excuse for getting out of f...

As sad as it was to actually play on the team anymore, managing was still awesome. I was more of a "bullpen catcher" than sitting and doing the books. Ask the coach if being an active but backseat player would be possible. That way you still get the ...

I played D3 softball while in college/nursing school. It was doable my first two years, but once clinicals started it was almost impossible. Since all of my lectures were only offered once a semester, my schedule was not flexible like most of my team...

I have been working private duty for 3 years, and my dream has always been to work ER/trauma. A few weeks ago I was offered and accepted a job at a rehab hospital. I am scheduled to start mid-May. Today I was called for and completed a phone intervie...

Thanks! I'm waiting to find out my orientation schedule so I can call and set up the interview. I just don't want to make myself look bad so early in my career.

Not sure if it's the same course load, but when I completed my bsn at Rutgers-Newark (not the accelerated program) we had to take organic biochem.

I've been an EMT since 2006. I rode voli in high school and then worked for a paid transport company while working on my bsn. I no longer ride (politics on the squad forced me out) but I keep my cert. One day I would like to ride again, and I can alw...

I also had my tragus pierced during clinicals and no one cared. I considered myself the badass in my clinical group.

During my last clinical rotation, I asked my professor what she thought of tattoos because I was planning on a very visible one. She advised against it. So I would really consider that in the long run would I be willing to lose job opportunities due ...

I had a curved barbell in my daith when I went on an interview. While talking with the nurse manager, she looked at me and said "That thing in your ear comes out, right?" So I took it out for my second interview and was offered the job. I'm willing t...

Thanks. I was offered a job in a rehab hospital a few weeks ago. Starting mid-May. And yes, apply for anything and everything. I used to joke with my friends whenever I got a rejection email. "What do you mean I'm not qualified for the icu?!" Haha

I never heard back from 2 of them, and got the standard "thanks but no thanks" email from the third. Most of the applications I filled out ask about med/surg experience, and when I put "none" I think it immediately put me into the reject pile. It's j...

Not doing an externship was definitely a bad move on my part. I live in NJ, and all of my classmates (who did externships) immediately got jobs in either NJ or NY.

Here's my story/experience as a new grad who didn't do an externship. Right after graduation I worked as a nursing assistant at a summer camp for special needs kids. At the end of the summer I passed the NCLEX and started applying for hospital jobs. ...

I've been working PDN for 3 years, and honestly I'm burnt out. I have a potential new job in a LTC facility. Is this a stupid move? I'm still trying to get into a hospital, and I don't want to do anything to hurt my chances of getting an interview th...

Thanks. PDN = private duty nursing, home care with fewer pts and longer shifts. My LTC opportunity fell through, since they were only looking for part time. Thanks for the help though!