caffeinatednurse BSN, RN

caffeinatednurse has 5 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

caffeinatednurse's Latest Activity

1. 

   need nightshift sleep/health tips

   caffeinatednurse replied to guineapignurse's topic in Stress 101

   I've worked night shift for 4 years now. Buy a really nice fan. I like those Vornado fans - the medium sized ones that you can fit on a bedside table. Mine cost me about $60. The really nice part is that I can select the lowest setting when I just want some white noise or I can use it for legit room circulation to keep the room cooler, or to block out the noise of my neighbor mowing their lawn. I also have an AC in my room, which helps keep it cool and provides additional white noise. Invest in some blackout curtains. I like navy because it matches my furnishings, but you can also pick brown, black or gray. Just as long as it's dark enough to trick your brain into thinking it's time to go to sleep. For me, that has to be pretty darn dark. I also know several nurses who take sleeping meds - melatonin and trazedone seem to be popular. Be careful with your caffeine intake. I used to drink a TON of caffeine when I first started on nights. Though it may not feel like it when you're binging coffee at 4am to stave off the drowsiness, you can do some serious damage to your sleep. If you're going to drink caffeine, try to limit it to before 3am. Eat when your body tells you to. I usually eat something around 4-5pm before work and then around 11pm-12am and then I have a protein shake around 5am. I eat a small breakfast before bed (8:30ish). Try not to worry about what you "should" be eating and just try to eat a balanced diet with some variety. Avoid the snack/vending machines - chocolate and chips won't carry you far on nights. I switch back to a day shift schedule on my nights off. Usually this means going to bed early after my last shift and getting up early so I can go to bed at a normal-ish time. Most people that I work with who have families seem to do this as well.
2. 

   Answering "Do you have a disability?" on a job application

   caffeinatednurse replied to zephyr9's topic in Disabilities

   For most job applications, there is three options: yes, no, and I choose not to disclose a disability at this time. (At least in my state, there is.) I always go with the last option. So there isn't any surprises when I show up at my employer-sponsored urgent care and we have to talk about my medications or health issues, or when I disclose them for our annual employee wellness screenings. Not that I think any of that info would have anything to do with my answer to that question. I currently do not require any accommodations, so I feel this is the right answer for me right now. Keep in mind that saying "no" to that question right now does not mean that you cannot claim a disability or request accommodations at any point moving forward. Saying "yes" just opens the door for discussions about accommodations that you need right now. Disabilities are often unexpected and can develop at any time. So, answer as honestly as you can right now and try not to worry about it too much.
3. 

   Answering "Do you have a disability?" on a job application

   caffeinatednurse replied to zephyr9's topic in Disabilities

   No, you can't. The ADA protects you from employers firing you for failing to disclose a disability. The OP has no obligation to disclose and neither do you. But, if you require accommodations, then it is in your benefit to do so.
4. 

   Answering "Do you have a disability?" on a job application

   caffeinatednurse replied to zephyr9's topic in Disabilities

   Why would you encourage someone who isn't disabled to identify as disabled on job applications?
5. 

   NCBON COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION

   caffeinatednurse replied to Htall's topic in North Carolina

   I would think that it would depend what the investigation is for, but, I think it would be highly unlikely that your BON would call individual work places to notify them of an investigation. However, it is more likely that your BON has added something akin to "under investigation" to your online license record. That information is public. If you have a compact RN license, then you're listed on NURSY, and employers can and do subscribe to monitor for license status changes on NURSY. They get an email as soon as something changes, from my understanding. Either way, it behooves you to be upfront and honest about the investigation when communicating with current or future employers.
6. 

   Western Carolina University (WCU) FNP_Fall 2020

   caffeinatednurse replied to 828RN's topic in North Carolina

   I was placed on the wait list. As of now, I've yet to hear anything else from them, so I can safely assume that I will not be attending this cycle. Even if they were to offer me admission, at this point, I would have only days to complete requirements that already admitted students have had months to complete. I graduated from their undergraduate traditional BSN program in 2014. My undergrad GPA was 3.4. I have one year of geriatric/LTC/SNF and I have spent the last three years in acute care. I have four years of experience as a charge nurse and nursing preceptor. I submitted a good essay. My recommendations were my director and two former WCU professors (both of whom are FNPs as well). My downfall was the Zoom interview, but it wasn't horrible, just awkward. I didn't click with one of the interviewers, but seemed to click with the other two. I won't be re-applying to this program.
7. 

   Old Grad- can't find a job

   caffeinatednurse replied to oldgrad66's topic in Interview

   So I was in your position almost four years ago. I was an old new grad, worked only 4 months in a new grad program before I realized I hated it, and then remained unemployed for over a year while actively looking for another job. My advice is to expand your interests. Look for volunteer opportunities for nurses at free clinics. You probably have some in your area. This is a good source of references - people who are actively working with you, know who you are and your work ethic. I also second visiting your school/professors in person. This often is much more effective than a random email - they likely get dozens of these every week and can't always reply to them in a timely manner. You could also try adding them on LinkedIn, facebook, etc. (I'm still friends with all of my professors on FB - which is incredibly helpful for tracking them down in case you decide to go to grad school one day, btw.) I would also look at other areas of nursing besides hospital nursing. I ended up getting a job in LTC/SNF which, while not ideal, was still a nursing job. It honestly isn't that bad and it paid more than my prior hospital nursing job. Also look at dialysis and home health. Once you finally do get that job, hold onto it for a least a year before you move on to something else. Best of luck! Don't give up.
8. 

   Suspended without pay/ Pending Investigation

   caffeinatednurse replied to Sanhect1's topic in Stress 101

   I'm sure the patient appreciates you passion and concern for their well-being, regardless of the outcome. Maybe you were a little tactless, but your heart was in the right place. I would find another job. Your hospital and union should be on your side, but if they're not, it's their loss, not yours.
9. 

   Western Carolina University (WCU) FNP_Fall 2020

   caffeinatednurse replied to 828RN's topic in North Carolina

   I also applied and received an invite for an interview a couple of days ago.
10. 

    Can’t a nurse be fired?

    caffeinatednurse replied to Barbara Fouch Lentz's topic in Nursing

    Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've heard this brought up. Especially when you have nurses or CNAs not rounding on patients (or residents if we're talking LTC)...for example, if your CNA is in charge of rounding during even hours and nurses are assigned odd hours...well, if someone skips their rounding, then one or the other could easily find a deceased patient. Always round on your people. Better to call a rapid response than have to make the decision to initiate CPR or withhold it.
11. 

    Saying No to extra shifts, is it bad if you're new?

    caffeinatednurse replied to AngelaB236's topic in Nursing

    Always feel free to say no. I frequently say no for personal reasons including my own mental and physical wellbeing.
12. 

    Ivy League Schools worth it?

    caffeinatednurse replied to medic1969's topic in General Students

    You make of it what you put into it. Find a quality program that you can afford, that has a good reputation and an excellent NCLEX pass rate. If that's an Ivy League, great. But if it's a state university, that's okay too. I know plenty of excellent nurses, NPs, and CRNAs that graduated from state universities, too.
13. 

    What should I have done differently? Did I endanger my patient?

    caffeinatednurse replied to misha's topic in Nursing

    At my hospital, we have such parameters on hydralazine that it's not even appropriate to give it unless the BP is greater than 170/110. Was your patient prescribed IV solumedrol? Just wondering, since you mentioned they had a drug reaction that landed them there. I've seen solumedrol send my patient's BP sky high, especially in people who have some mild HTN issues at baseline. Sometimes our MDs will prescribe something for it, but most of the time when we start tapering down their steroids, their BP comes down, too. Tbh, the nurse you were reporting to shouldn't have done that. The only thing I would have done differently is ask the MD at what point should we be concerned about a BP. Always document your interactions with MDs. If she/he wants to do something differently, they have 12 hours to approach a new doc. You can't make everyone happy, unfortunately.
14. 

    To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that is the question

    caffeinatednurse replied to Joe V's topic in Disasters

    Please vaccinate your kids and yourself, unless you have a legitimate medical reason for which your physician has advised you to avoid vaccines. Vaccines do not work the way they're intended to if most people refuse to get them. Please do your research and understand that the studies that claimed autism have been disproven several times over. Who do you really trust more...Jenny McCarthy or the CDC and the many physicians and scientists that stand behind them?
15. 

    Relocating to NORTH CAROLINA

    caffeinatednurse replied to Dayzdaym's topic in North Carolina

    It really depends, to be honest. I make $24/hour and get around $3-4/hour shift diff for night shift. Add another dollar to that if I pick up hours as a charge nurse or preceptor. I'm not in Jacksonville, but my city has a high cost of living. I have 2 years of med/surg/tele experience and 1 year of LTC/SNF experience. I've heard of people making more, but for my area, that's pretty good. More experienced nurses can make a lot more. If you pick up agency or travel jobs here, they're paid nearly twice what I make. You might make just a touch more for having your BSN here, but most employers I've encountered seem to value experience more than education when it comes to determining pay.
16. 

    Ever have a patient complain about you?

    caffeinatednurse replied to love lilacs's topic in Relations

    It happens all the time. I've had pts yell at me, fire me, and report me to management for no reason at all. Sometimes it's things outside of my control - i.e. we were running a rapid response or a code next door, sir, which is why I couldn't bring you your melatonin or pain med at exactly ten o'clock. Or the resident is taking their sweet time putting orders in for meds/pharmacy is taking their sweet time verifying orders/etc., and the pt doesn't understand how hospitals or pharmacies work. Sometimes the quality of materials used doesn't match up to a pts expectations, especially if they thought they were checking into the Hilton. It all rolls down hill, and usually lands in the laps of nurses and CNAs to absorb the blame. I always try to be upfront and honest about what pts can expect, but that doesn't always work for every pt. I do my best to take care of the smaller, more manageable complaints. A good manager can and will decipher between minor complaints and big issues that need to be attended to.