Sour Lemon

I usually skip mandatory meetings and haven't been fired from any job yet ...but once, my DON caught me walking out the door and walked me to a meeting. Damn. I have never been so infuriated in my life (exaggeration). The first 30 minutes of the meeting were things someone could have told me in five minutes. The last HOUR of the meeting was a presentation on death and dying by NURSING STUDENTS. I had to be back to work that night. Maybe it was the universe's way of paying me back for missing every single meeting- ever. Still, I think the punishment was excessive.

Diet teaching is fine if it's based on well-established guidelines. I don't think it's appropriate to teach something that hasn't been well-established for the patient's specific needs, though ...evidence based practice, and whatnot. I can't think of any medical condition where a vegetarian diet is specifically called for.

It was normal in my program about 9-10 years ago.

They're not all that way ...but the ones you hear from frequently may be.

I think it would depend on what they were asking or what their specific issue(s) are ...but in general, dietary consult is the way to go.

I've heard it takes two years to feel OK and seven years to feel competent to handle most things. I've found that to be true for myself.

People always ask, "Is it worth it?" without defining what "it" actually is ...and while providing no clue to what their actual, long-term goals are. I wouldn't spend time and money furthering my education without a specific goal in mind. And what I'd have to give up to accomplish the goal might be very different than what you would have to give up.

I'd take it a step further and say that many of the patients in these facilities shouldn't exist, either. Seeing these patients come to acute care to be "saved" over and over again is the absolute most depressing part of my job. Very few have any decent quality of life. Most would be better off if they were able and allowed to wander off into the woods.

Serious question ...is there any reason why you don't go lay bricks?

None months can be a very short amount of time or a very long amount of time. It's relative to the amount of experience you already have, IMO. Any time off for medical reasons should be explained as a past and resolved circumstance if it comes up, at all.

There are millions of employers out there, each with their own rules. I suppose it may be an offense for some of them.

I am a combo. I would never vent to a patient about horrible staffing or encourage them to complain, but I do try to set realistic expectations. The "B" scenario reminds me of a requirement for my 1:8 ratio (with an extra 8 assigned to "cover") acute care othro job. We were instructed to sit next to the patient at eye level and have a "caring moment". We were supposed to encourage them to talk about anything and ask for anything while assuring them that we "had time" to listen and provide. I never did it. Not even once. It would have been more realistic to tell them that I could fly or that I was the queen of England.

I can imagine a good lawyer spinning it in her favor ...if she did well in the new position, had no disciplinary actions, etc.

I like that this is an anonymous site, but it does get a bit annoying when people use obviously fake credentials.