crj96

As a relatively new nurse, I would suggest that it's how we treat new nurses that truly makes them great or awful. If a new nurse is treated like a person who is about to embark on the greatest roller coaster ride of their lives, who is encouraged to ask questions/fail/learn/grow, then they're going to soar. If they're initiated into the eat or be eaten world of close-minded "seasoned" vets, they will grow bitter and jaded very quickly. So thankful that I left the job that would have turned me bitter and have found the better place!

You misunderstand me. I think it's trite to say that someone was just letting off steam or indulging on the weekends (with marijuana) and that it's not a big deal. If it's illegal, you're breaking the law. If you're subject to a drug test and you're caught, double whammy. That's kind of a big deal, don't you think? A nurse is a person who is supposed to be able to exercise critical thinking to help their patients. If they can't make those same judgments for themselves, I question that. I actually believe that marijuana should be legal for medical purposes, but that was not the context of this "argument". We're not talking about a societal problem, or about the "just say no" to drugs mentality. What we're talking about is ONE nurse testing positive and how that's an issue for that one nurse. One of the replies just blew it off as if it's not a big deal. But it is. It's a very big deal. Just as a nurse being charged with DUI would be a big deal.

Ah yes, I guess a "just say no" to illegal activity would be antiquated for a professional nurse? You're a nurse, don't do drugs. Duh.

Alcohol is metabolized much faster than marijuana, which is why mj will show up on a drug screen up to 30 days after a person smokes it. So a person who occasionally partakes still has the drug in their system. Legality aside, if you're screening positive, you are STILL under the influence, regardless of the drug. Just don't do it - simple.

I disagree that this isn't a big deal. Poster didn't "smoke some weed" but was smoking for three months. I used to be a regular smoker and there's no way that nurse wasn't practicing impaired in some way, shape, or form. It's a big deal for a good reason.

You will learn who is trustworthy and who isn't. I make it a point to have the reputation as a nurse who owns up to mistakes and gets stuff done. Having said that, I can't do it all and sometimes I'm letting things go to the next shift because I have to. But I always give an accurate report, even if the report is, "I wasn't able to complete this task..." I agree with the replies that suggested you get there early, go over your patients, and find tasks that are either due on your shift or haven't been completed yet. You'll also learn, with experience, what questions to ask during report. Do walking rounds. Make statements like, "You'll take care of that before you leave?" when things are noticed during report. Lay eyes on the patient and see what their pump reads. And if she doesn't know how to program it - show her! We are all teachable, or we have no place in healthcare. As a final note, don't ever take any report as gospel. We all make mistakes. When you find one, correct it.

Hmmm... Not true. I took 2 years of prereqs and then 5 semesters of just nursing to get my ADN. Now I've got one prereq and another 5 semesters to get my BSN. That's 4 years of nursing classes ALONE to get my 4 year degree, not counting prereqs. But to answer the original post - yes, I've been an ADN for almost 2 years and I don't regret for one minute the path I took to get here.

I'm leaving a job that pays me weekend premium to go to a new position that pays straight day shift pay. Some things are more important than money.

That doesn't make sense. If this is legit, it's up to your current school to get this cleared up. First of all, your current school accepted the transfer credits so they've already acknowledged that you've earned them. Secondly, if they're "sister schools", your current school can contact the other one and have those charges expunged.

I have a very thin skin as well, but time and experience has helped me to not get too wrapped up in my patients. I have absolutely had patients that will stick with me forever, and some that I wish I could get a do-over with. But, for the most part, I've learned that I can only care so much before they have to pick it up and run with it. I can help them to make the right choices, but I can't make them for them. My job is to give them the best care that I know how, in the time I'm with them. Now where I have really struggled is with my interaction with other nurses. When I came out of nursing school, I was very idealistic and sensitive to criticism from other people. What I've learned in the very short time I've been a nurse is that idealism is a good thing, but it's best to keep it to yourself. My patients know that I want the best for them, but other nurses can perceive this as weakness and they're not all very nice about it. I will not, however, allow anyone to take the sensitive out of me. It may make me vulnerable, but it's also what allows me to connect with my patients.

My story isn't the same, but I have had that same feeling in the pit of my stomach that you described. I've driven home from work and wondered why I didn't just decide to work at the local grocery store. After all, their employees seem SO happy and I'm crying my eyes out some mornings! When I decided it was time to move on, I put in applications everywhere that a job caught my eye. I knew what I didn't want to do, but really had no idea what I DID want to do. I'll be starting a new job in a week at a much better hospital for less pay, but I'm okay with that. Once I knew it was time to make a change, I just started looking.

I had a couple nurses that would pull this with me and I would get really flustered when I knew I had to give them report. Eventually, I learned to be really, really prepared for report by having the answers for them and responding with confidence. It took some practice, but I was able to "stare them down" so to speak and it honestly made me a better nurse.

I can't imagine giving sliding scale, fast-acting insulin without knowing a current blood sugar, or giving many heart/BP medicines without knowing a current HR/BP. Yes, it takes longer but it's time well spent if you can bypass a major medical issue.

Thank you for the encouragement and advice! Just as soon as I posted the original post, I felt peace about what I had to do. When my boss came in the following morning, she asked if I had found a replacement and I told her no. She then asked if I was going to call out, and I told her yes. I drove home, showered, and hopped in the car (hubby was driving!) to go see my grandma. I slept for several hours, woke up, and called the nursing supervisor from another state. Told her that there was an illness in the family and I had to leave town. It all worked out in the end and I didn't end up getting written up. But it was one of the final items that made me very aware of how unhappy I am in this job. The final straw was yesterday when I started my shift being called into a meeting where I was spoken to like an idiot child. Thank you for helping confirm that I'm not where I'm supposed to be! :)

I could have written your post, almost word for word! I have complained, cried, screamed, and prayed over this situation and I finally made the decision this morning to put in for a transfer. Like you, I'm not an adrenaline junkie at all. I love nursing, but it's the patient care I love. I do NOT love feeling sick to my stomach when it looks like something's going south. I do not love the dread I feel when I see my director on the floor and I just KNOW she's going to call me into the office. I definitely do not love being chewed out and talked down to like a child by that same director. I'm too old for this and I'm ready to move on. I decided on a transfer because the nurses and staff in this hospital already know me. I think I'm more likely to be able to transfer within this hospital than I am to be hired out of it until I have more experience. Plus, I want to make sure my most recent experience will give me a good recommendation! Good luck in whatever you decide to do. :)