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...

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 ...

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 pos...

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 re...

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...

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 ...

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 s...

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, ...

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...

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. I...

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.

I typically work Thursday/Friday/Saturday on a pretty tame floor, 2-3 nurses, 0-1 aide, nights. Thursday morning, I found out that my grandma had a massive stroke the night before and was in a hospital about 4 1/2 hours from my home. My husband works...

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...

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 nurs...

So glad to come on to this thread in time to hear the update! I work on a Mom/Baby floor that is entirely women, but the OBs are all men (except one). Interesting, isn't it? I think the single most important thing for a postpartum nurse to possess is...

If you're getting bored in a progressive care unit, I think you're going to be bored out of your mind in the OR! I would take the ER position. It sounds like you're up to a challenge and I would guess that you'll pick up on the pace pretty quickly. I...

My personal opinion is to go for the med/surg unit. I think an ED job straight out of school is dangerous on many levels. What I've seen in the ED is that you have to have a lot of knowledge PLUS experience to really be able to think critically. My e...

Great quiz! I'm just 6 months out of nursing school and just now figuring out what my strengths and weaknesses are in nursing. I've been trying to figure out where I wanted to land and this definitely helped me look into some options. Funny enough, i...

The first thing I do, after getting report, is to check on my patients, introduce myself, and update the information on their boards. I ask them if they need anything and promise to come back shortly to do their assessment. Once their needs are met, ...

I would hide my nervousness with explanations like, "I'm new to this unit" or "She's helping me learn how to use this equipment", etc.

I had a day shift nurse that treated me the exact same way and I found it incredibly intimidating!! She was really good at turning the tables, too, and "getting me". One morning, we were swamped and got an admission 30 minutes before day shift showed...

Graduated in May, hired in June, started in July. I was really fortunate to get hired into a small hospital, onto a floor that has a wide variety of patients and a team approach to nursing. I absolutely loved my job - at first - until I came off of o...

I was coming home every morning and having to lay on my back with my feet in the air, massaging lotion into my lower legs to make them stop aching. I bought some compression socks from a vendor at a Christmas show a couple weeks ago and it's made a h...