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I'm a relatively new nurse myself and I haven't run into this, but, if this happened to me during orientation, I'd just chalk it up to experience and view the extra time as beneficial to me and my education as a nurse. I feel like orientation is very expensive to the hospital and want to earn my keep any way I can. That said, if this "rounding" happened after orientation, I'd be at HR in a heartbeat.

Thanks!

Hey All, Thanks for the replies. Quick update. I did apply and they interviewed me for a nurse job which hadn't yet been posted, and...I got it. This is my dream job at my dream hospital so I'm absolutely thrilled.

Thank you. I did apply; just waiting to hear back.

Hello All, I'm a fairly recent grad working at a small psychiatric facility. I've been here less than a year. My passion is all things brain-related and I came across an opening for a PCT at a world-class facility here in my hometown. This organization is cutting-edge and I would be more than willing to accept the pay cut just to get a foot in the door and to be at the gold-standard for neuro care. My question is, do any of you think they would consider me for hire? Also, is this a path to a nursing job, or would I forever be seen as "just a tech." IMHO, the techs are the ones who keep everything running, but I have encountered some negative attitudes from nurses and docs.

When I was in school preparing for NCLEX, I just scoffed at the people who said it was the longest 48 hours of their lives. I was thinking that if I finished after 75 questions, no problem. Hah! I let my mind wander to all of the far-off possibilities and it was, in fact, the longest 48 hours of my life. It's probably no comfort, but I'm sure you passed. Enjoy that big sigh of relief that's headed your way.

Thanks!

Thanks all. Interestingly, I never did mention it, but the medical doc has been ordering b.i.d checks for some of the patients. Haven't had any need for insulin yet.

Thanks. Does this include patients on metformin? And, I'd agree, A1c more appropriate if only done @ three month mark and annually.

Told discharging patient he had script for abx d/t syphillis. Pt: "What's that?" Me: "A sexually transmitted disease." Pt: "How do you get it? Do you get it from a girl, because..." (Pt stares off into space clearly trying to calculate last time he was with a girl.) Me: (Trying to be tactful) "You can get it from any sexual contact." Pt: "How do they even know I have it? Do they have to look at my hoo-hoo? I don't remember anyone looking at my hoo-hoo.

I would also add that it may seem like people are miserable because this is where we come to "vent." This site is kind of like a safety valve. I think fewer people post when things are going really well.

And setting up GoFundMe accounts.

And poppers and lube.

Many years ago, I had a friend and coworker who called in sick at the drop of a hat (I was in the securities industry at the time.) When admonished by management for it, she complained to the rest of us that "it isn't my fault that I'm the kind of person who gets sick easily" (actually, given her lifestyle, it probably was her fault, but that's beside the point.) I explained to her that when she was hired, it was because there was a set of tasks that needed to be done. These tasks still need to be done whether or not it is her fault she's sick. If she isn't there, it falls to her coworkers to get these things done. This is not fair to the rest of the team. If you're truly that chronically ill, you should be on disability. She didn't get it. Continued to call in sick, we continued to pick up the slack.

Sat on it by accident.

Before doing acid in an unfamiliar place, take a moment to familiarize yourself with your surroundings in order to avoid walking through a plate glass window. -or- Don't do acid.

Hello all, I'm back with another question. I very much appreciate all of your input as I navigate the waters of neophyte psych nursing. I've been doing some research into atypical antipsychotics and have learned about glucose dysregulation as a side effect. In addition, it's my understanding that schizophrenia in itself increases risk of type II diabetes (maybe due to concomitant lifestyle characteristics.) I'm noticing that some of my patients are prescribed metformin, but the majority are not. Here is the question: Do your patients have regularly scheduled accuchecks for your patients on atypicals? If so, how often? I know that I can't order them, but wondering if I should find a diplomatic way to bring it up with the docs. Thanks in advance.

"Probably an insurance thing - I think Clonidine is cheaper!" Ha! Should have figured!

Thanks hppygr8ful! We have many more patients on Tenex than clonidine, but seems like clonidine orders are on the rise.

I keep my tiny scissors in a zippered pocket in case I need to open a packet during med pass (usually nicotine patches.) Pen light definitely needed for mouth checks. It sounds a little degrading to the patients, but many, many of them cheek their meds. It may sound strange because they are entitled to refuse meds if they so choose. If they are engaging in this behavior, they are often diverting to another patient or hoarding the meds. Both big problems.

Thanks. We don't get parameters. Ever. I'm on my own in this regard.

Thanks!

I work in a small psychiatric hospital serving children and adolescents. Recently, we've had a lot of kids prescribed clonidine (catapress) for ADHD and aggression. None of these prescriptions contain a hold order for low BP. At what level would you hold the meds and call the doc?

A million and a half times....yes! I went into nursing school with no medical experience and saw the huge advantage that the CMAs and EMTs had, especially in clinicals. I really wish I had gone that route and it's the one piece of advice I give to anyone considering nursing school.

Yeah, I actually have a lot of nice clothes that I'd love to be able to wear, but I don't want to ruin them. Think I'll have to invest in a few things as you describe above.