serenity now

I agree 100% with Tacomaboy3, especially about a BSN increasing your earning potential and job opportunities. Where I work, a BSN is becoming mandatory. I've been at the bedside for many years and, yes, the problem of aging nurses leaving the bedside is a reality, but the real issue, as I see it, is that the majority of young people going into nursing have no intention of staying at the bedside. Many of them are planning their escape six months to a year after orientation is finished. Going back to school in droves to become NP's, clinical educators, administrators, etc. I guess there will always be a fresh crop of new RN's to fill the void, but I agree with all the posters who say that the unreasonable workload and the expectations that are placed on the bedside nurse are driving people away from this profession.

Wow! This is a tough crowd! I understand wanting nurses or staff who are unhappy with their jobs to keep their negativity to themselves - especially the chronic complainers. It's a drain on everyone who comes in contact. But geez, we are human beings, not machines. (For those who don't like "whining", it's about to get personal, so you might want to scroll to the next topic) I've had the most soul crushing 5 years of my life - including the loss of a parent and a grandchild - and those aren't even the worst things, they are just the things I can say without possibly exposing myself. Most of my co-workers didn't even know anything was going on, but for those who did, their "how are you doing?" meant everything to me. I don't talk endlessly about my personal life or get into the specifics of my problems or expect people to pick up the slack if I'm having a bad day, but I guess I'm lucky to have co-workers who don't consider me a burden and aren't afraid to reach out and ask how it's going. And I wouldn't hesitate to do the same for them.

I've learned that I can work my buns off for 12 hrs and take care of 400 things, but someone, somewhere, at the end of my shift, will find the one thing I didn't get to and it will obliterate whatever good feeling I had about the day.

Instructor, where art thou? I've looked high and low Your student nurse is looking lost and is not sure where to go. I'm really very busy with the job I'm paid to do Instructor, dear instructor, I can't do your job too. Back in the day, during my clinicals, I was assigned to one or two patients and was responsible for vs, bathing, toileting and meds. I had to have the patients' meds written out on index cards and had to know how these meds were related to their diagnosis or PMH and why they were taking them. I was literally ignored by the regular staff and, if I needed help, was told to find my instructor. I know it's a different world from my days in nursing school, but the nursing students that we get on my unit are assigned to a nurse, not a patient, and are told to "shadow" that nurse for their clinical time. The SN can do assessments and give meds "with me". Most times, I end up explaining the med and coaching the student through the administration process. How did this happen? I'm not saying nursing students should be ignored like when I was in school and I don't mind answering questions or sharing information about the patient with the student, but it completely throws me off my day to have to stop and explain everything I'm doing to the student. There must be a middle ground somewhere. I feel like student supervision should ultimately be the instructor's responsibility, not mine. Can anyone else relate to this?

Hi everyone, I've purchased multiple lunch bags over the years and have yet to find one that fits lunch, snacks and beverages without having to carry my lunch bag and a second bag for extras. I'm just looking for something that doesn't look as if I'm carrying a suitcase but fits what I need for a 12hr shift. Any suggestions?

To clarify: I carry a hospital issued phone, not my personal cell. I can get a call transferred to me no matter what I'm doing - gowned up in an isolation room, bent over a patient doing wound care, while I'm in the restroom, etc.

I have been a bedside nurse for almost 20 yrs. and, for the immediate future, will continue to work as a nurse. I love the way nursing fits into my life. I love the hours and have no complaints with my pay. But most days, I struggle with the job itself. I find myself frustrated with the constant interruptions - my cell phone ringing, the call bells going off, the PT, SW, CM, NP, lab, ancillary departments, patients' family members - all needing my attention. As I've gotten older, it's just become more difficult to concentrate while being pulled in so many directions. Every year, the job just feels so much more demanding on every level. Finding another job is not an option at this point, and I will need to work at least 5 more years before I can think of retiring. I don't want to become that person who is constantly complaining and that no one enjoys working with, but some days I feel the negativity right under the surface and it's all I can do to squash it down during my shift. If anyone has any ideas or strategies that they use to get back on track when they're just not feeling it, I would really appreciate hearing them. Thanks.