Sweetheart2005

I don’t know how my current employer does it. I’m new, but my last employer allowed us to access from home or come in on our time off to use computers. We would log our time in a book documenting the hours for education. As long as they are paying time worked, no problem. If it’s mandatory they should pay you for it.

Don’t quote me, I’d have to look it up, but I think I read somewhere (maybe a state site? I’m fairly confident I got from a reliable source) they can mandate to work up to 16 hours max but must give 10 hours between shifts greater than 12 hours unless the person who stays volunteered less time between shifts. Cannot be mandated.

We have passcodes for our patients that are supposed to be given in the ER or at admission. Patients rarely know what to do with the passcode or understand.. our secretaries often will ask if we can talk or a common busy timeframe (8-10 am for am med pass) they take message. If they are in contact list I call back. Otherwise sorry.

I know a couple people who moved on that weren’t really friends and others had said they loved it. I did have a friend that left med surg for home Health and she’s back on new surg because it wasn’t for her.

I’m feeling completely exhausted, probably even burnt out at my current med surg job and despite attempts cannot get a vacation. I need something new. Just looking for direction in how to decide what to look for. I’ve done family practice for about 7 years (started as a medical assistant, then LPN then RN) and almost at 6 years of med surg. I’m currently thinking something home health. I still want face to face patient interaction and I enjoy educating patients and families.

I’ve never heard of a regular schedule like that. My current job (hospital med surg) has PRN and “part time” positions that must work 8 hours per pay period. They can pick up any days as they want and generally not required any weekend or holiday hours but can choose to work those if they want. Generally speaking there’s usually holes that work for people to get what they’re looking for. All hours worked must be in 4 hour increments, so you can work 4, 8, 12 or 16 hour shifts. If we are low census though they are the first to be called off. There are times we are well staffed on days and nights are staffed terribly and vise versa.

It sounds like you want dayshift but concerned because you are new you won’t get it? If that is the primary hesitation, I would apply for it. If you don’t apply you for sure won’t get it. My facility hires nights only but when dayshift is available they email the unit to see if any current employees want to switch. It’s often the newer nurses who get it because the longer term nurses are happy on nights. If you don’t get it, I would think it would just let them know of your interest on moving to days. Some facilities have a list of interest and when a position becomes available they offer those people first.

I’m a day shifter currently 7a-7p, but I’ve done 3a-3p a full test a couple years back and I have picked up a couple nights shifts. The two shifts are very different. Dayshift there are more people around giving you information, asking questions (therapies, social workers, imaging departments) as well as patient family phone calls, visitors (depending on covid regulations and your hospital’s policy... we have a limited visitor approach for now). Sleep schedule is more traditional and I could see an improved work life balance related to that. I personally prefer dayshift. I have night shift coworkers that would never dream of doing days because of too many people. Would you have opportunity to shadow a large portion of a day? What is your reason for considering days and what is your hesitation?

I cant recall a time that I’ve actually called out when I wasn’t ill, but I have thought about it. I see nothing wrong with taking a sick day for mental health, burn out, overly stressed on a rare occasion. I feel bad calling out even when I’m sick knowing I’m leaving my coworkers short, but in those times, I know I need to take care of myself, and either I’d be sharing whatever I got with everyone or wouldn’t be much quality anyway.

My unit doesn’t do on call. If we have a call off that makes us short, we’ll pull from float pool first if a reasonable option (there’s only one or max of two per shift in the hospital if that—small hospital) they go to where it’s needed most. Then We pull from another area if they have extra staff. Then will call people who are off but will sometimes come in to see if available. We have a free charge nurse so sometimes she’ll take an assignment depending on meetings she is required to attend and how short we are. Otherwise we just do a higher nurse:patient ratio. I would see no issue using on call for any staff call out, however If I was on call, I wouldn’t mind covering Suzie Sick-girl, but the lazy “I don’t feel like working” I wouldn’t be happy with. Management needs to let her know that she can’t just choose to call out because she doesn’t feel like working.

It sounds to me you did the right thing. The doctor was just upset because he didn’t want to be bothered and due to his lack of timeliness you went to another doctor. He didn’t like that you went around him when he didn’t respond in a timely manner. Your steps were completely appropriate, even so, when you weren’t sure, you went to your charge nurse who seems supportive of your assessment, and when you didn’t get a timely response you and your charge nurse went to the supervisor appropriately.

For 8 hour shifts, I prefer days 7-15. I don’t love getting up early, but I do better when I get up and get moving. my job requires full time people to do 12 hour shifts. Either 7a-7p or 7p-7a. I do days. I dong think my body could function well on nights consistently but I will pick up the occasional night shift. I used to work 3a-3p when that was an option. I liked it because I could have more together when doctors and families were asking about patients early morning, and I had evenings free. I could easily switch to a normal sleep/wake cycle on days off. One I went to 7am start time I realized how much sleep I was lacking, but I would go back if given the opportunity.

I always let the pump and EHR calculate it. Either way, our pumps only program to the tenths spot. So programming at 10.25 wouldn’t be an option. You would have to round, so either way 10.3 would be correct.

Agreed precepting is a skill. I’ve been told multiple times I’m a good preceptor and a good teacher. I’m sure there are things I could work on. I’m usually pretty laid back and and allow my orienteers to do their thing and hang back unless there are questions or something that truly needs intervention This one an unusually difficult trainee. I saw multiple safety issues when I would give her leeway, so then I became more vigilant.

Yes, we do have a precepting class. I’ve been through it several years ago but they’ve revamped our orientation process since. We have a Book that has all skills and sign off on competency as it’s achieved. The new employee puts some of their feelings in and preceptor will sign off on competent areas. I do an as you go type redirection/education mostly. I had suggested a couple times something similar to a new grad “intensive period” which is a two week pop up skills thing with some skills lab and lecture/discussion education. They discussed and decided today that she’s going to be a part of this. She was not included at first since she’s not a new grad