FLO4Life

You would think, right? While not the case in every instance, the battle of sick time vs. attendance control policies vs. federal, state, and institutional infection control polices is a common example of how a healthcare employer will talk out of both sides of their mouth. "Oh, your rapid flu is positive for influenza A, and you've got a temp of 103?" "Yes." "Well, you're right; you can't work tomorrow. Per page 10, paragraph 2 of hospital policy IC 101, and the OSHA online annual competency that you completed last month. Yeah, you're not allowed to work until you've been fever-free without any antipyretics for 24 hours. You know, for the safety of our patients and colleagues. Feel better." "Thank you." "By the way, this is your third occurrence in the last 12 months which'll put you into a verbal warning.... Get well soon!" Six months later during a JC reaccreditation visit: "Joint Commission, see-this facility is 100% compliant with all state and federal regulations; nor do any of our practices or policies punish, deter, or interfere with employee compliance."

I have flat feet and am a overpronater. I used to be a heavy runner, and never could wear "normal" running shoes. Saucony motion control tennis shoes seemed to work best for my duck feet. Sanita's been the best clog for me, too.

Just finished booking the conference, hotel, airfare, and transportation! Super excited!

To build off of brownbook's comment, when I've encountered UAP that either never got the memo on delegation or just can't play nicely in the sandbox, basically I let them dig their own hole. If I delegate a task to an MA or CNA, unless there's a legitimate reason why the task can't be completed, I couldn't care less what self-entitled, misinformed interpretation of how the whole delegation thing worked before or works presently; I will repeat the tasks that I've delegated. If the light bulb still doesn't turn on, I will repeat myself with, "I've asked you several times to complete X, Y, and Z. Are you refusing to accept a delegated assignment?" That usually helps the light bulb turn on; refusal to accept an appropriately delegated assignment is an actionable, if not terminable, offense anywhere I've ever worked.

Thank you all for your suggestions and input. I hope that I'm able to embrace the position for what it is and what it's becoming. I've volunteered to help staff athletic events and sports physical sessions on a day that I'm not working, and am considering picking up a few PRN IV therapy shifts.

If I were Jane, I'd be more concerned about that continuous bladder irrigation set-up behind her more so than the IV she's about to get

I accepted a phone triage nurse position earlier this year with a large family medicine practice. It was a new position that sounded like an awesome opportunity to put my ED triage skills to good use. I wasn't replacing anyone, so I was looking forward to starting from scratch. From day one I was encouraged to "make" the position my own; to create workflows and protocols that would not only streamline phone triage, but also emergencies in the clinic. The providers and the MAs were thrilled to have an RN in the office finally, and I was definitely welcomed with open arms. The honeymoon lasted for about a month, but slowly but surely I'm finding that my duties are becoming less to do with triage and more to do with managing patient care; something about which I don't know jack and frankly don't have much interest in pursuing. First it was following up with patients discharged from the hospital. Next, reaching out to patients that've been to the ED more than 10 times in the last year. I have no desire to spend my day reaching out to "high-utilizers" to find out why they've presented to multiple EDs 115 times over the last year drunk. Or to the poorly controlled diabetic with an A1C of 14 who's been admitted to multiple hospitals in the last year in DKA. There's definitely a need for this role, but I ain't it. I don't (nor do I want to) bring much to the table in the way of case management/care coordination. Right or wrong, I lack the empathy and patience needed to "really reach" these people. Don't get me wrong, I try to care, but I can't care if the patients themselves don't care. This isn't what I signed up for! Any suggestions about how I can convey this to my supervisors without sounding like a cold-hearted, Nurse Ratchet? I know that I'll be setting myself up for failure and won't last long in this position if I don't speak up, but I'm worried that voicing my concerns will have me labeled as not being a "team player."