greysage

I really become quite nervous around new grads who will NOT ask for help until a situation escalates into an emergency. I spend a lot of time watching certain grads because they have way too much confidence in themselves and not enough knowledge to back up their actions. I also have no patience with tears and tantrums. One of our new grads got 2 weeks off because she was stressed out. She pitched a fit at the DON and got that time off because " we don't want the grads to leave because they are stressed"...well alrighty then. Does that apply to any of the more seasoned nurses who have become stressed because the grads told them " you had better watch yourself, I was told I could write you up if I don't like your attitude "...my days of precepting are over...I have always tried to teach the new nurses what they need,with patience, kindness and understanding that we are not born with the knowledge or skills necessary to be a nurse. This latest crowd has cremated whatever iota of excitement to teach them I ever had. Patence and a sincere desire to help them learn is not enough anymore...I will not pucker to anyone's behind. I shall continue to be helpful to anyone but I WILL NOT PUCKER UP TO THE NEW RUMPS IN TOWN !!!

Bless your heart...I remember my first night shifts and had a difficult time sleeping. Benadryl OTC was not available back then so I was in a real pickle. However,my biggest problem at the time was adjusting to what to eat,when. I remember smelling spaghetti at 0200 and feeling like I was gonna barf, but now, nothing bothers me. I still take the occasional Benadryl but have taken Valerian also, the only problem with it is its odor...shew-eeeee. Ca-ca in a capsule !!!! Benadryl gives me "med head" but there are some mornings when I am too tired or still wound up tighter than a tick to sleep, thus I resort to Benadryl or valerian...I hope you can adjust to the change in sleep/wake cycle.

As a charge nurse, it is MY responsibilty to make sure that anyone who rotates to the floor or is new there is welcomed and informed of any unit specific charting,duties,the location of supplies,etc. A CN can get in some intense orientation information just by walking the person around while introducing self, other staff members. I have no excuses for her thoughtlessness, nor do I understand why no one was wearing their ID badges. Perhaps your next assignment there will be much better for you.

are any of your patients experiencing "sleep med" weirdness?? such as ,walking the halls and "flashing" the staff and they are unable to remember any of this behavior the next day???? or they yell out and are confused as a bed bug ??? any specific meds you have a problem with? i have a feeling of impending doom after giving Ambien to anyone over the age of 40... from what i have read in it's literature, it should only be taken when 8-10 hours of un-interrupted sleep can be had...hmmmm....q 4 hour vital signs,pre-proceedure baths,med rounds in the middle of the night because someone decided BID colace should be given at 0400 and 1600 (???????) {this was done by a day shift nurse who has said on more than one occassion that night shift nurses don't give their "fair share" of meds}, serial labs that must be drawn...i always include "sleep deprivation" - observe for s/s prn, in my care plan... any thoughts on this subject from my new peer group???? any luck in getting the MD's to change sleep med orders???

would depend on where in NC you are...have heard of as many as 11:1 in one facility (hospital) on a med/surg/tele unit...the facilty, where I am working has maximum of 6:1...but that doesn't mean anythng when one takes into consideration " acuity "