admorn03

I work every weekend at my current job. We call it the weekender program but Baylor program is the ususal term. I do have to work every weekend. I get 2 weekends off per year, two paid and two unpaid. PTO accurs very slowly. I am allowed sick pay as well. It is really nice for me at this time, because I work nights Friday and Saturday 12 hour shifts, full benefits, with weekend and night differential, as well as getting paid for 36 hours. I spend time with my kids on Sunday. Yes I miss out on the get togethers on Saturday but I would rather be with my kids any way. So far I have been doing it for a year and a half, and it has worked out great. I work as needed at my former job at a clinic, but other wise if my kids have field trips or other things going on at their schools I can be home if they or the school needs me. So far so good. Working during the week I missed out on field trips and other things at their schools, because as we all know schools give parents almost zero notice when a trip is coming up or something else is going on at the school that the kids would like for me to come to. this way I don't have to ask to leave work early, go in late or ask for the whole day off at the last minute.

Attended College of St. Catherine-Mpls campus 1999-2001. Minneapolis, MN Really great school with a really good rep. The instructors were very good at helping each student and answering questions.

I love working 12 hours. I work at a hospital 45 minuites from home for this very reason, not only becaue of the 12 hour shifts but also because I work weekends only. Friday and Saturday 7p-7a. I love it. I have the whole week off with my kids to help with school, volunteer, and take better care of myself 9ie. massages/spa day/me day). Some of my co-workers ask me how come I don't work at one of the 4 hospitals 15 minutes from my home, especially with the Wisconsin winters. It is simply at this time, because I only work 24 hours a week but get paid for 36 hours. Sweet. the other hospitals near me have only 8 hours as far as I could see, and to tkae care of two kids 8 and 13 on a single income, I would have no choice but to work fulltime. Could you imagine working 10days 8 hour nights out of a 2 week period. I could not, I would loose my mind. Because I love night shift. Days are way to disorganized and hectic. There is plenty going on to keep one busy on nights believe me.

Has anyone attended Viterbo University BSN completion program? Is the program any good? Is it very expensive? I am trying to decide where to apply to obtain my BSN. I attended College of St. Catherine-MPLS graduating with my ADN December 2002. So I have been a burse for about 7 years, and I am so ready to move up, because I would really love to be a wound/ostomy nurse specialist. I love wounds, and educating patients. From the research I have done so far the certification program that I would want requires a BSN, to obtain. Thanks for any and all input.

Hands down for me are the detox patients. Keeping them drugged up so they can sleep off their hang over, makes me scared. You have to spend a lot of time in my opinion worried about over sedation. And I always feels as if my assessments of these people is not on point, but all has been well so far. Also confused patient's that will not stay in bed concern for their safety, since restraints, chemical or physical are frowned upon. But again all has been well.

NURSINGAGAINSTDAODDS, those are good one's and really funny. Advice taken. thanks for the reply.

Never pull out your NG tube and state " don't need that any more" and proceed to state "this is the worse doctors office I have ever been in" when you have been told several times that you are in a hospital and why you have the NG in the first place. Never tell your nurse that you are not having any SOB, chest pain or numbness and tingling, the whole 12 hour shift, then proceed to tell the doctor when he rounds in the morning that this occurred twice lasting for 40 minutes each during the shift, eventhough the nurse rounds honestly ever hour as protocal. Never tell your nurse that you have taken lorazepam before in the past and proceed to pull out your PICC line, strip naked, and then pull out your foley, while standing at the side of your bed, with your roomate watching, after only having 0.25mg lorazepam IVP. Filling out an incident report is no fun. Don't bend over to pick up an item off the floor at the waist when you have been admitted for hypotension, lightheadness and dizziness, and been told by staff to not do this. You might end up kissing floor. Again incident reports are no fun to fill out. Don't be on vaction in Florida and call you doctors office in the other state 2,000 miles away because you have been having slurred speech with receptive aphasia and numbness and tingling with facial droop for 3 days because you did not want to ruin your holiday vacation with the family. Don't call your doctors office 5 minutes before closing, after you have been having SOB and chest pain all day and thought it would go away or because you don't want to get admitted again. PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY. Never leave a tampon in and have sex over a 2 month period and wonder why you have a raging lady partsl infection. Never call your doctor's office with complaint of severe asthma exacerbation several times over the last 3 weeks, not use your inhalers, and proceed to tell the triage nurse that you wantt to wait until the following week to see your doctor because you have a project due for work that you have to finish over the weekend. Clinics cna be just as interesting as any ER, especially when patient's call you for advise and don;t want to follow thru. Can't make the patient go to the ER.

To NIGHTMARE, I hope I did not offend you with the seasoned nurse thing or any other nurse for that matter. I am referring ONLY to the seasoned nurses at the hospital I currently work at. My mother has been a nurse for 30 years and is now 55 years old, and she is very strong and could probably lift a patient by herself. Also another really good lifting technique I have learned is to use trendelenberg when lifting really heavy patients unless it is contraindicated. thanks for the comments.

I am just curious, about what other nurses see or do concerning good body mechanics. I have done agency nursing at 3 hospitals where I live and I currently work at one of the hospitals that recruited me. Well here is what I have noticed. 1) I have had to remind other nurses and staff to raise the bed to mid level before lifting or repositioning, and then if they follow my advise they forget to let the bed down. 2) There are some seasoned nurses that really need to retire, because their lifting skills are very much lacking and has caused some muscle aches for me when it comes to my back. No serious injuries thank GOD. But if there is another nurse on the unit I will ask them to help instead. No we don't always have CNA's, we primary a lot at the hospital I work at. So what do you other nurses think am I being to anal? I am never rude when I mention this, I just simplly state, while they are bending over with the draw sheet in hand ready to lift "hold on let's raise the bed first". Also the nurses that are doing IV starts, completing an EKG, or just doing vitals, don't raise the bed. It is bad enough that the person is on their feet while doing this for however long it takes, but to be bending over at the same time OUCH! Any way, not very interesting discussion I know but just curious.

Here in Madison, Wisconsin starting pay just went up to $29.75/hr. This is pretty good, especially for the cost of living here. Housing is very expensive and the taxes are high. But the schools are good, so ya get what ya pay for. But the funny thing is that the hospitals here do peer interviews, so if it is not a "good fit" then no matter how short the staffing is there, they will not hire you. But I guess that is not a bad thing, because ya got to get a long with your peers.

I travel 45 minutes each way about 35 miles. I work only weekends 12 hour nights, I get paid for 36 hours though. And unfortunately I drive an SUV, Nissan Xterra. But with my pay I make up the gas after about The road is all rural, I am talking cows, and horse smelling manure galore at times. So the winter travel can be dangerous, but I can sleep in one of the oncall doctor rooms if I need to. And dad is with the kids. I do two on call shifts every 6 weeks. I took this job so that I could go back to school fulltime to get my BSN-MSN and not have to lose to much time with my kids, and also not spend 10 years getting my degree taking 1 class a semester. My goal is to be an educator. But ultimately the decision is up to you.

As we were taught in nursing school, if it's not documented then it wasn't done. Document, Document, Document. :typing

Head Photo Specialist at Walgreens:yeah:

I have been doing per diem nursing assigments with Intelistaf and they have been bought by Medical Staffing Network. Does any traveler or nurses in genral have any opinion of Medical Staffing Network. So far the per diem work with intelistaf has been low. The pickings in Madison are vey limited, and I have to travel at times 45 minutes to one hour away for one day of work. I can not complain really because I made the decision to do this thinking it would be a good finacial move with more flexibilty but I did not do my homework well. :trout: My recuirter though is very good and she does her best to find me work. But one can not help it when the assignment can call you one hour before your shift and cancel, and believe me they do it. Anywho does any one work for Medical Staffing Network/Intelistaf in chicago and would the choices be better. My acute care background is mainly med-surg. Hope everyone has a great weekend. :balloons:

I don't know how it is in every state I can only speak for the state I originally got my nursing license in. Minnesota it is true the big envelope means plain and simply you fialed and there will be info of your performance and info on how soon you can retake boards. If you PASS the envelope is small. I speak from experience. I failed boards the first time nerves and watching the timer to much was my down fall. The second time I took boards I got the small envelope. But I had also checked the board of nursing for my license number 48 hours later. That though was 5 years ago. just as the questions on the boards has changed all things have changed so maybe the envelope thing does not hold true anymore. :welcome:

Working in a hospital is way more money, I was making $30/hour working nights in illinois. Now I work in a clinic office internal medicine and make 22.00 per hour. But not to be judgemental if you work for a clinic for a particular hospital some pay all the nurse the same withou a pay cut, floor nurse or clinic nurse. So you would have to do some research and shop around. I just wanted the job because of the hours, but with two kids, no child support, and being a single mom it does not work for me. Good luck in your research.

As far as I know you can give 1/2 a dose of any medication as long as it is documented that you gave 1/2 a dose.You can get a MD order but I don't believe it is necessary. When a patient wants to take a med at a differnt time within you 1 hour window just put on the MAR "per patient request". Remember the old saying DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. If it ain't documented it wasn't done. Patients have the right to be a part of there care at every angle. PERIOD!!!! THis is why in school now it is taught to refer to them as clients not patients. As long as you put per patient request and the med is for pain there should not be problem. Now if they only want to take say half of there HTN med or Cadiac med then no they have to take the full dose.

I can totally relate to all that has been said at this post. I have been wanting to open such a post for a while. The hospital I work at is very shot staffed. I work 12 hour nights and we usually have 2 RN's and 1CNA down each hall. 10 patients a piece and 20 for the CNA. Even when we have five RN's we end up with 7 each. These patients don't sleep, are elderly, and have restraint belts on if they are confused. Sometimes they manage to get out of the belts and all heck breaks loose. And talk about centinal events. One weekend three patients fell. One broke a hip and went into respiratory distress and had to be transferred to the unit. Very Very Sad. THe supervisors we furious. But we keep telling them we need more help and the nurse/patient ratio is ridicules. My co-worker says I should stay on, but I told her after I have done a year there I am gone. I have been there 6 months and it feels as if i have been there 6 years, I am totally burnt out already so sad. Medication errors are very easy to make and patients have been falling. But since that weekend no one will admit to the falls because no one wants to get in trouble. None of my patients have fallen THANK GOD FOR HIS EVER LOVING GRACE AND PROTECTION with this matter. But I am very fearful for my license that I worked so hard for. I ahev been a nurse for 3 years now and my previous palce of employment is in another state. I worked there for two years prior to relocating here. I attempt to give the best care to my patients that I can each and everyday. I love being a nurse but can no longer place myself or my patients in harms way. What does the code of nurses state, "FIRST DO NO HARM" Well when you give a nurse 10 -13 patients to care for I do not see that not happening. Just had to vent!

I work 12 hour nights and love it. I work three days a week and have 3-4 days off. Right now a I have the next three days off and I will go back to work thur/fri, then off sat/sun/mon. When I first started my job I worked full time 8's and It was terrible (for me) I felt like I was there everyday, basically I was. I was to tired for extra shifts, and I really need the money right now. I just came off working six straight days, only because I picked up two extra 8 hours nightshifts. Now I will have 12 hours OT. Only once month I do this. For the most part 12's I feel are much safer and assist in continuity of care. The patients only have two different nurses in a 24 hour period instead of three.

I personally do not prefer to be called an African-American only because I am not from Africa. I am a Negro/Black-Amercian. My ethinic background is of an African desecnt. But for me personally I am an American plan and simply put, I just happen to have an African ancestry.

Everyone has made very professional, compassionate and valide points. I greatly appreciate all of your inputs and feel very proud to be a nurse among you guys. I just want to add and point out that when I mention peaceful passing via euthanzie, I speak of those that are very terminally ill. (ie. cancer, AIDS and so forth) But yes as humans and caregivers I do agree and uphold appling the best quality of life for all my patients to to very last breath. When I did med/surg oncology I had a patient that i begun caring for on friday. Patient came in with pnemonia and SOB. On a 100% non-rebreather, continous pulse ox, and usual tons of home meds. Famliy was in the room the whole time (private rooms, very nice). Mask would come off and SAT'S would drop to 65-70'%. Patient gasping for breath (DNR of course). Family was cared for as well. By saturday she was decling. Same scenerio mask off SAT's were 60-65%. Family standing right there rushing to put maske back on which made the patient panic more, which inturn her SAT's dropped more and quicker. One of the best oncology MD's was caring for the patient and told me it was not pneumonia but lung ca, the patient had that many nodules in the lungs bilaterally. By sunday SAT's were dropping to 40-50%, patient on continous bipap. I phoned the MD and told him it was not improving and thank GOD the family was ready to accept the end. Placed patient on a morphine drip til MD arrived and could speak with the family. Then the mask was removed and the IVP morphine was administered for comfort as the patient slipped away. It was painful to observe but I stayed professional and as calm as possible. This was the most compassionate way to let the patient pass and we made her as comfrotable as possible. The patient was greatful for every tiny thing I did and the patient touched my heart deeply over three days. After tieing up the end, family care, and paperwork I lost it and all of my co-workers were supportive and told me I did the right thing for my patient. I always wonder if more could have been done for the patient. All I did was update the MD on condition and allow the MD and the family to come to their own terms. Nursing and the whole medical field is very demanding and rewarding. I only want those that are A&OX3 to make decisions to die. I know that I would not want to live my life as a vegetable FOR ME ONLY that is no quality of life for me. But cudos to those that help us care for their family members and keep them comfortable. It is not easy. To be honest I do not know what I would do if it were my own mother. There is no one to help me with the decision for I am a only child and my own children are only 10 and 5. Once again thanks for the input and I aplogize if I offend anyone, this is not my intention at all. ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE THIS IS THE WAY OF GOD.

Thanks undediced7 good point. I have found in my three years that family is allowed to override the living will wishes of a patient. This really disturbed me. My thought that I brought to my charge nurse is why even have a living will if family is allowed to override it? Thank you for your input.

My mom has been a nurse for thirty years and I just loved science and how the body works as a kid. I use to read all of her medical nursing books and as all of us as nurses are I am a very caring individual and give 150% to my patients. When I did retail my customers were so excited that I was going to be a nurse and felt sad to lose me as photo specialist but loved the fact that I was to be a nurse. a good career choice they would tell me. I love being a nurse, at times it can be frustrating and thankless but for the 2% that don't appreciate the other 98% make up for them.

I have been a nurse for three years and spent the first year and a half on a med-surg/oncology unit. All life is precious and valuable. When there is an anminal suffering, in agonizing pain, nothing can be done, and the medications does not allow for comfort, why are pet owners given the opposition and made to feel bad if they allow there animal to suffer. Why are we allowed to end the suffering of our beloved animal but not a beloved family member. Why are the humans that want to end their suffering not allowed and the doctors that want to help persecuted for helping. YES I KNOW IT IS A MORTAL SIN IN GOD'S EYES, so no I do not need or require a bible lesson. But I am just curious what others think on this issue from a medical stand point. Am I totally wrong for feeling as I do. The first thing a vet says to a pet owner is "Is it right to allow him/her to suffer" QUESTION: Why is it humane to euthanize a very sick animal but not allow the same choice for an A&Ox3 individual with a living will?

I started the nursing program when my youngest was 6 weeks old and my oldest was 5 years old. Talk about the greastest guilt of all times. My baby was place in to a really great childcare center luckily right up the road from the college. After class ended and prior to going to work I went to the daycare center breastfeed, sang and rocked my baby to sleep. luckily this was around 1130/Noon nap time at the center. So for me this worked out great. Last and true word of advise just do the best you can and spend as much time with them as you can no matter how small the time is. I cannot say don't feel guilty, because we are mothers that is waht we do. But really don't because remember what you are doing is going to benefit not only you but them as well. GOOD LUCK> PM ME ANYTIME