B,RN

I work in ICU. In the ICU setting we can only have 2 patients. 2 patients means 2 patients, not 3 or 4 if your buddy is on a break. There needs to be adequate staffing for meal coverage for all of your 10 minute breaks (1 every 4 hours you work) and your 30 minute lunch break. Most places I have worked has 1 or 2 break nurses that come in and cover you for your assigned break time. If there is no break nurse- it means you get paid for your missed breaks, because you cannot legally take a break and put someone else out of ratio.

I studied for nclex while planning a wedding and got married right when I started a new job. There is never perfect timing in life for big changes. My advice: take a deep breath. It doesn't seem like it's a possibility right now, but just breathe and enjoy your wedding. After all the stress from the wedding dies down, and you guys get back from your honeymoon, use the information the board sends you about your weak areas to start prepping again. Don't wait too long to take it again- you don't want to keep building a mental block in your head. This should be the happiest time of your life, you'll pass it on the next go around. Your fiancé will understand. Right before my wedding, my husband also started a new job. There were two of us with less than 2 months of experience in our careers getting married, and he had a certification exam for his job he had to take and failed right before our wedding. It's impossible to fully devote yourself to studying if you're enjoying your wedding week. We got through it and live in a state that is very expensive to live in. If we can do it, you can to. Just remember to keep breathing and enjoy this week!

Also, I didn't realize this post was about 3 years old. I hope school went well for you, if that's what you ended up deciding on and wish you luck!!

Echoing what most others said- it depends on where you live and how many hours a week you work or any shift differentials. I have done well without working overtime, but in other parts of the county this would not be possible. If you're only going into it for the money, well- there are easier careers to make over 100,000 a year.

I hope your interview went well. Based on your latest post, I am quite worried about your situation. Nurses have to stop believing the lie that they are not cut out for work unless they go through a new grad residency program. If they are willing to train you, and willing to let you start right away, then you should go for it. You stated you are on the verge of homelessness and are desperate for a job; however, you did not take a job when it's being offered. There are plenty of amazing nurses that work in LTC who do not have their license in jeopardy, as you state you are worried about. You should at least consider it if the hospital interview did not work out. Getting experience in LTC is better than being homeless with no job. Just my two cents. Good luck to you!!

We have a power huddle in the break room for the oncoming staff from 7-7:03 each day. Quick reminders about issues we are having compliance with are huddled, as well as any reminders for upcoming meetings or trainings. Then we all break and go get report on our patients.

I love your heart for your patients and your coworkers. Please do not forget- nursing is a 24 hour, 7 day a week job. There will ALWAYS be tasks that are not able to be completed. That is part of the job. Do your best to get them all completed in your 12 hours, and then endorse the rest to the next shift. If you continue to stay late to help out the next shift, I guarantee you will eventually burn yourself out. Congratulations on your new job and feeling like you are getting the hang of things!! Good luck to you!

Just because you received a rejection email after they scheduled an interview does not mean you are already out of the job running. This happened to me before. HR told me that when there are multiple positions open, they may have slated someone else to the exact requisition you applied for, but they can always open a position for you or slate you to a different one. Just show up, dressed to impress, with your resume/portfolio in hand, and be ready to knock their socks off! Good luck in your upcoming interviews!!

Thank you for your appreciation for nurses, NPs, MDs, and the whole healthcare team. I wish you all the best in your journey to becoming an RN!!

While I do agree they should have at least asked the other nurse to verify if you wasted together, ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure the waste goes through the machine. There have been times where are machine wasn't "capturing" the waste appropriately. Each time, I had the charge nurse or manager waste with me to show that it was done correctly. Also, you have to waste before you leave the med room. How am I supposed to know that it really is still Valium and not saline or something else? If you do this as you pull it from machine, it will make you waste in same time slot and fingerprints as the removal of the medication. I am not sure why you were fired without at least consulting the other nurse or a drug test. Let this be a lesson to always double check your documentation! Good luck to you!!

In my state, you can work another job as a bedside RN in addition or instead of your role as an APRN. However, it would not be wise to do so in the same facility or healthcare setting since you are held to your highest title. It's a gray area for sure, but have several friends that do so without any troubles.

I worked weekends and holidays as a CNA during nursing school and had no problem with the schedule. The only thing that you need to consider is: if you work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 7p-7a, that is not allowing yourself much time to sleep and study before class on Monday. It's not impossible, just not the easiest schedule to flip back and forth. I used to use my lunch break to study and 15 minute break to eat. If there were difficult concepts I couldn't understand, I always had a nurse around who was willing to help out or break it down easier. I highly recommend trying to work while in school- just be careful working Sunday night shift if you have class on Monday. Good luck to you!

An EKG is a procedure. You need an order for any procedures/tests/meds given. In my unit, we have a standing order for EKGs due to chest pain/sob/arrythmias, etc. However, we still have to release the order so it can be officially interpreted, billed, and put in the chart. Everything you do in the hospital has to have an order- even tele monitoring. It's not just as simple as putting the leads on and pushing the start button.

What about working in an outpatient setting such as a primary medical doctors office or urgent care? I have worked both inpatient and outpatient and loved my experiences in the outpatient world. There is NO shame in not working medsurg/hospital positions. An RN is an RN no matter what type of setting you work in.

Trust me: you need to give two weeks notice. You never know where your current managers will be working 10, 20, 30 years from now and you also never know if this agency will be bought out by a major hospital system in your area that you want to work for in the next several years. It is NEVER worth it to burn a bridge. NEVER. Good luck in your interviews.