knobby1

I just had the worst night ever at my new job because two of my patients were constantly hitting the call light. Not to mislead, they had genuine concerns but I see a pattern in my own practice that I'd like to learn how to manage better. I have been a nurse for almost three years and I have a what I consider to be an efficient routine. I think what I need now is some tips on how to start off on the right foot with my patients. I want them to trust me and allow me to manage their care instead of them "managing" me with frequent call light use and poor timing if time consuming requests. By that I mean is they seem to bring up major issues/needs right before shift change. I have been getting alot of complaints from my fellow nurses that I seem unprepared for shift change. I have a routine but it is "routinely" interrupted by patients which leads to rushed reports and disgruntled co-workers. Any tips?

Thanks for all of your input. I ended up calling a friend who graduated a year behind me. He was working in an ICU in a trauma 1 facility. I started applying and found a position in his unit. I had a great interview and got the job! I gave notice to my previous job and of course I will have to pay back what I owe but I think it was a good move. This way I can start applying to schools earlier and it seems like this is the best time of year to get the jump on CRNA applications. There happened to be another nurse from the step-down where I used to work that is now on this unit. He was just accepted to CRNA school. I am very excited for this new opportunity. I understand I will still have some learning to do, bridging the gap between the step-down and this new unit. I just get a good feeling from the manager and the staff. They don't mind having people move on from this unit after a year or two. They are progressive that way. It's a great unit too. They have a group of docs who find whatever excuse they can to admit them to this floor. Thanks again for all of your encouragement!

You have a point about the contract obligation. Something to think about... I do have some good references already from my current job, clinicals and other connections. I think I will apply to whatever comes up and just see. I am thinking of cashing out my 401K to pay off my debt, before it disappears. : )

I think about whether I'm ready too. I have heard both - and + feedback. I accept both kinds and work hard to improve, as anyone should. I just talked to two friends who have been hired into ICUs with much less experience than me. I think being "ready" depends on the perspective somewhat. It's impossible to gather totally unbiased information on a nurse. I have tried to set the record strait but it doesn't seem to matter. I havn't done anything grossly negligent but I have made mistakes here and there. Either way, I think it's time to move on from my first nursing job anyway. Time to clear the slate and find people who support me. I was SNA president, student of the year and graduated with honors from nursing school. I know I can do it.

I was hired first thing out of nursing school into an ICU position. I expected there would be some training but the prospect of working in the ICU has been pushed back several times over 16 months with no definite dates to move to ICU. I don't know if word has gotten out about my CRNA aspirations or not. I am a newer nurse but I feel compitent to proficient most of the time. Mangagement is pushing toward retaining as many experienced nurses in the step-down unit I work in now, and has tightened up the ICU transfers to only 4 to 8 per year. I did sign a two year contract with the hospital, so if I left today, I would have to repay $1200 or so. Am I being impatient? Should I be looking elsewhere? Should I look for experience in the ED while waiting my turn to transfer to the ICU in 6, 9, 12 or more months? frustrated

I'm a nursing student and as I learn more about what my job is, I can't help but wonder what our jobs would be like during a pandemic like the one that hit in 1918. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/filmmore/transcript/transcript1.html The more I learn about it, the more I have become sure that it will happen. Not all at once but it will pick up speed and very quickly get out of hand. Once all the possible hosts are either dead or have managed to survive, it will disappear for another 20 years or so. My question is, as a nurse, are we professionally bound to treat patients who are so highly contagious with a disease so distructive that it can kill in 12 hours? A disease with an incubation period of 72 hours with a 50% mortality rate? In 1918 the sick came in at a rate of hundreds, even thousands every day! Is there someone out there that can tell me there is a PPE that, if properly used, at least lowers my chances of infection? Call me a worrier but I have read the history books and I don't want to die like like that. No one does. Thanks, akkdm student nurse