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!

You mean they don't offer to help you? That is just wrong...I feel for you so much. I've been in an unsupportive nursing environment before and it is so not worth it. I hope you have good family/friend support although I've found people don't get it (the stress of it all) unless they are nurses themselves working in a hospital setting. Just remember what this is like for you and when you are the seasoned nurse and the newbie starts on your floor you can be the one who sets the example on how to support a fellow nurse, especially the babies. I really believe the nursing shortage is partially due to the fact that nurses can be downright mean to new nurses. It is a strange phenomenon unique to hospital nursing. I don't get it...

Sounds like he was transferring blame when it was really his error in the first place! Pt should have been getting something for BP control with her HTN history. I don't get how doctors can rant and rave and get away with it. It isn't tolerated where I work and there have been a few docs who were asked to leave because of their rude behavior to staff. You did the right thing -- the patient always comes first and the house supervisor should have backed you up!

I hope you are kidding...please no more drama.

Geez...what ever happened to direct communication? Just talk to him and then if he continues to bug you go through your chain of command. I can see why it bothered you but come on with all this weird advice . He is -- as has already been stated -- probably just a dumbazz. He'll most likely turn red when you talk to him and hang his head and say he's sorry... Don't wreck the guy's career -- just set him straight so he can get back on the path.

Sounds like you followed your heart...good for you and congratulations!

That sucks...I don't know what it is about nursing, but I have also found it to be (particularly in the hospital setting) not always a friendly environment. I am fortunate to now be in a situation where I'm working with a wonderful team of nurses who are very supportive and are not gossips. However, I know it is an environment that took effort to develop and was initiated by the nurse manager. Bullying and/or not treating your co-workers with respect is not tolerated. All I can advise is really the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", and even though you may not get that in return, at least you know YOU are the one who is behaving in a professional, supportive manner. If it is truly unbearable, can you talk with your nurse manager? Maybe come prepared with suggestions on how to change the unfriendly culture on your floor. I don't understand that culture -- it reminds me of grade school. Take care of yourself!

I think it depends on where you are in the country. In the area I live there is a shortage of nurses and not difficult to find work no matter how many previous positions a person has had! I think you ("you" being the person who started this thread) need to listen to your heart. Someone suggested writing down the positives and negatives of your current position. Although I know there are negatives to any job, if the negatives outweigh the positives then you really need to decide if this is right for you. There are many nurses who have left positions because it just was not a good fit. If you decide you really can't adjust to night shift and you like where you are working, can you talk to your nurse manager and see if you can get on a different shift? Good luck!

I couldn't disagree more -- there are many shifts in many hospitals available to new grads other than night shift. I know some people who have tried to work night shift and end up getting sick all the time. Some people just physically cannot work night shift and as far as paying dues - in my opionion - working day or evening shift you are paying double dues!

Hello, I feel for you -- it can be very stressful. You may already be doing this, but I have another sheet of paper I use (typed form) besides my "brain". On this paper I have the hours of the shift at the top of the form, on the left side I have spaces for my patient's name and room numbers. As soon as I get on the floor I check the MARs on each patient and put in the times meds are due on this form. In addition, on the far right on each row I have typed in on the form all the routine tasks that need to be done for all patients, e.g., assessment charting, I&O's, Care Plan, MARS (end of shift I check the MARS to make sure all is initialed), etc. As I accomplish those things I cross them off. Also on the back of this form I divide it into quarters and list my patients names. On this side, I list additional things that need to be done for the patient, i.e. start a new IV, dressing change, etc. Hope this helps. It has saved me so many times, I can't count. Good luck to you!

I agree that moving on to a different hospital would be the best for you -- you don't need others tearing down your confidence when you are just starting out as a nurse. Just another piece of advice -- don't share anything personal with your coworkers you want kept confidential -- be kind to your coworkers BUT keep your friends outside your place of work and you won't be the topic of gossip!