blaaveispiken

I was a floor nurse too and had to leave. Initially went into Home Health and for the past 4 years have been in Hospice -- and I have loved both! Good luck to you. I doubt you will be going home crying any longer.

I do primarily admissions for the company I work for so what I carry in my car would be somewhat different than the case managers. Following is how I organize my car: Behind the back seat: I use a long narrow see-through storage bin for all my catheter supplies and keep that just behind the back seat as I don't have to use it very often. Two other small see-through bins for other supplies - one carries wound care supplies and the other carries misc. items like paper measuring tapes, alcohol wipes, extra hand sanitizer, etc. A small fishing tackle box with all my lab supplies. I keep a few basins together and the top one has lotions, soap, oral sponges, extra sublingual syringes. I keep these supplies covered with a clear plastic bag. I carry enough diapers, blue chux, gloves, dry wipes, wet wipes for that day's admissions (2) - the rest are stored in a closet at home. Back seat: One side is my "dirty" side (sharps). I keep a small fabric waste receptacle hanging from the back of my passenger seat for all my Starbuck's coffee cups. :) It is easy to keep clean and I don't end up with garbage on the floor at the end of the day. The seat on the other side has my plastic storage file organizer which carry admit packets, extra forms, lab forms. Behind my seat I keep my nursing bag (on wheels) which was supplied by my company. It is a really nice bag with plenty of storage areas. One area I keep wound care supplies, another area my stethoscope, BP cuff, extra gloves, another area PPE. Side pocket - hand sanitizer, soap and baggy with paper towels. Front zippered pocket - extra pens, phone and car keys when I leave my car. I also carry my lunch in the back seat. Front passenger seat: I have an organizer hanging from the headrest that includes pens, hand sanitizer, personal items, Kleenex. On the seat laptop, business phone and a small clipboard with an area to store completed admit paperwork. My Nuvee GPS (can't live without it) sits on my dashboard. That's about it - I work really long days so the car is only used for work. On my days off (I have several off in a row), I take everything out of my car and store in my home office. I love my job. :loveya:

P.S. Just reread your post and didn't realize when I wrote the first post that you are a new grad. I highly recommend doing AT LEAST one year at a hospital in med surg. You will be much better prepared to work in the home health setting.

I think that is terrible pay, unless they are repeat visits. If that is the pay you are getting to do admissions on patients....run away now!!! I get paid hourly, see 5 repeat patients a day, or 3 repeats and 1 admit. Got benefits after working 1 month with the company and only work 1 weekend a month. Overtime is paid for as well. I am blessed! Love my job! My advise to you is to keep looking -- you can do better than that!

I would do more research on the facility you will be working at. You could post questions you have about the place here (under "Region" then choose the state you will be working in. I can't help but wonder about the place that is offering you a position as to why they are not offering you money up front to move. If they haven't offered you money to make the move, why not approach them about it? Let us know what you decide -- I think it sounds exciting BUT -- only if it is a good place to work! You don't want to end up in a place that you absolutely hate and be away from your current support system.

You only live once and you know your own heart. It sounds like you already know you need to resign from your current position, take your dream job and don't look back! When you resign you don't need to tell them you are accepting another position -- you are being honest in just informing them it is not a good fit for you. There is a lot of good advice here given to you, but I don't agree you need to stick out this current job out of obligation. I think you already know there are issues any where you go (e.g. gossip, overtime, bad hours, etc.), but some places are worse than others and it sounds like in your current position you may be in a toxic environment. Personally, I believe that if there is a lot of gossip at the workplace it's a red flag and the majority of the employees are not happy with themselves or their jobs. I'm working on a unit where gossip is rare and for the most part there's great teamwork and support among the nurses and support staff. Healthy nursing environments do exist! Let us know what you decide to do! You go girl!

Honestly this sounds like age discrimination -- talk to a lawyer.

I Glad you like it -- you are one of the few who do. It used to be a great place to work, but no longer.

Think again about St. Pete's too -- it is total care (no CNA's), you carry a phone programmed to your patients rooms so call lights go off on your phone. It is a nightmare and I would not send my loved one there.

You can purchase blackout curtain material at Joanne's or any place where they sell material. When I worked night shift I bought blackout material and just tacked it around my window every morning and it kept out all the light. Not pretty, but there were no "leaks" of light.

[WIKI] This floor is just plain brutal. I cry everytime I have to go to that floor. [/WIKI] Just curious how this floor differs from other floors where you work. Do you have a favorite unit in the hospital?

Doesn't sound to me like the job is not a good fit, but rather your coworkers appear to be non-supportive, which can double the stress. On the other hand, I've learned that sometimes what appears to be rudeness is just the fact the other person is stressed out too and can't stretch any farther...you know what I mean? I feel for you. Can you choose a preceptor you like and just keep her or are you on your own now? If you are on your own, is there a resource nurse you can go to with questions? Only you know how much you can handle -- listen to your heart.

Wow -- this sounds like a very scary place to work. Can't you find something else? You will never feel like you are a good nurse working in an impossible situation like you've described. I agree -- I'd rather work at McDonald's! I feel sorry for you and for the residents, but I would get the heck out of there, move on and consider reporting them. They sound negligent and I think you are putting your license at risk working there. You ARE a good nurse -- you just need to find a sane environment where you will realize that fact. Keep us posted. I wish you the best.

Run...and don't look back!

You've already received some good advice but take into consideration (which it sounds like you are) you never get those years back with your children and it sounds like you already feel like you are missing out. If your husband found a job closer to where you are working would you move? Can you survive if you cut back on your hours or worked maybe 2 12 hour shifts a week? Explore your options and have something lined up if you decide to leave your current job. I wish you the best, but your family is more important than nursing...just my opinion. Good luck and keep us posted!