IndymamaNrn

Hi, Im hoping that you all will have some valuable insight here. I currently work with post-op patients in an ortho/neuro unit. I have only been there for 6 months. I love the hospital that I work for. Unfortunately, it is a smaller hospital with a tiny peds unit. All critical cases are sent to one of the areas bigger hospital nearby. I want to get experience with neonates and eventually work in the NICU. The hospital that I work for does not offer that opportunity, but it is part of a network that I could potentially transfer within. However, it is not easy getting into these units without experience. One of the other networks is large and offers many opportunities for new nurses. However, this one has a large turn around of nurses and a very bad reputation of how it treats it's employees. So, here is my question... Do I stay within my current hospital network and hope that I can eventually get into the NICU or even get some experience with newborns? Or, apply to work in a hospital that I would have a better chance of working in my dream area, but know that I may not be treated as well as the other hospital? Has anyone ever had a similar situation? What sacrifices have you made to get to where you want to be?

Thank you. That is what has been going on. With the more experienced techs, this seems to work out. Unfortunately, there are newer techs that are still learning. Since I am still learning how to best manage my day and time, this combination can become frustrating. No one complains, but I feel that together we can handle our day more effectively if we are working together. Instead of feeling as though we are both spinning our wheels.

Thank you. I am certainly trying to learn how to balance it all. As a former tech, I do know how it feels to work with a nurse who either expected you to do everything and more no matter the patient load or would jump in and help. I know which ones I liked working with. And, I always told myself that I would remember how that felt and promised that I would be not be the first.

Hi Everyone; I am a new nurse and I am still learning the ropes. I could use some advice. I am on an ortho/neuro unit. We typically have 4 patients and I have a preceptor and patient care tech on the "team". I am almost done with orientation, so my preceptor is there if I have questions or need help, but for the most part I work on caring for the patients. The tech may have my patients and a few for another nurse. I have noticed that there is not much consistency in when the blood sugars are checked, vital signs are taken, safety checks are done and documentation of a patient's input and output. I realize that we are understaffed and at times may have only one tech for the entire unit. With that said, there are times that I can not pull a patient's insulin while pulling other meds, because the patient has not been checked yet. Or, I have to find the tech and ask if the patient has voided at all that day. Or, I am having to check blood pressure before medication administration because the tech has not entered the vital signs yet. I feel as though as a team we could run smoother. Please understand that I am in no way bad mouthing our techs. They have a tough job. I was a tech before becoming a nurse, so I sympathize for them when they are handling the entire unit by themselves. They are truly hardworking and a blessing. So, here is my question, is it uncommon or typical to have a team meeting after report? What I am thinking is that after we receive report, I could have a little meeting with my tech. I could go over the game plan for the day. For instance, I like to pass morning pain meds to the patient that I know will see therapy first and then work my way through the list. Also, this patient may need to be cleaned up, have breakfast and their insulin injection before therapy as well. So, in my meeting, go over this information. To just set the expectations for the day. If I did this, would it be conceived as beneficial or that I am being selfish and putting my patients first? I would love to know what other nurses do. I know that this is long, but I am really wanting to find an easier and smoother way of getting through the day.

I can totally relate. I am in my 4th week of orientation. Last week, my preceptor and I were floated to a med surg unit. It was a totally different feel. I was starting to feel comfortable on my own unit, but to be thrown into a new one with my own patients was quite overwhelming. Unfortunately, it broke me and I lost it later with my preceptor. At that moment, she told me to put my stuff down and follow her. She led me to a room on our unit that is no longer used for anything. She explained to me that this is where she comes when she is upset and needs to cry, cuss, scream or curl up in a ball. For me, that was the best. To not only know that I am not the only one who loses it, but nurses that I work with and admire have their moments too. Hang in there. We are all learning and will eventually become those awesome nurses that the newbies look to for guidance and support.

So, I took the NCLEX on Thursday. I had 265 questions with so many SATA that I lost count. I came home and checked the nursing board website and I was still pending. About 24 hours later, my name disappeared. Talk about a premature celebration. I was devastated! Anyways, I took the weekend to cry, eat chocolate and feel as though all of my hopes and dreams have been pissed on. Now, I am trying to put a plan together. Our school used ATI. I had the live review, and online review and an enormous amount of questions. My problem with that is that these are the same questions that we have had for all of nursing school. It is hard when to know whether you just know the answer to the question or the real content. To try and combat this, as I answered each question, I would go through all of the possible answers and state why they were not correct. I have not received my summary to know what areas I need to work on. So, here is my question for all of those that have had to retake the NCLEX. Did you stay with the same program (ATI, Kaplan, Hurst, etc)? Or, completely start from scratch with something new? I have made the decision that I will be purchasing the LaCharity Prioritization book. I am trying to decide what to do. With school, we were told that ATI has a remediation program. I am not sure if I should do this or just go with Kaplan? Also, has anyone done the ATI remediation? Is it worth it?