Why did you come to allnurses? What made you stay?

[tnbutterfly - Mary]

There is a current thread entitled Things that annoy me on allnurses. Members have been pretty vocal on that thread. We really are interested in your feedback. You are why we are here. You are what has helped to make the site what it is today.

We are always striving to find out more about our membership.......who you are, how you got here, why you stayed, what you want, what you like. We want to provide features and opportunities that are of interest to you. With such a large membership, we know we can't please everyone all the time But we want to provide a place that has something for most of you....and that takes a lot of different types of things.

We hope that even though you may not like some of the things we offer, some of the new things we have tried or will be trying, you will be supportive. Let us know what you like and what you don't like. But please be respectful in your communications.

To help us as we consider things in the future, please take a few minutes to answer a few questions.

1. Why did you come to allnurses?

2. Why did you stay at allnurses?

3. How long have you been a member?

4. What do you enjoy the most about allnurses? Features etc

5. What would you like for us to change or add to allnurses?

We want to continue to be the voice of the nurses as we all strive to raise the level of our profession. We thank you for your input!

[sparkeepoo]

1. Why did you come to allnurses?

I needed some input when I took NCLEX

2. Why did you stay at allnurses?

positive and negative feedback from other users. I got to read experiences, q&a that will guide me in the future.

3. How long have you been a member?

recent since July 2016

4. What do you enjoy the most about allnurses? Features etc

forums

5. What would you like for us to change or add to allnurses?

none so far.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

I came out of curiosity...

i stayed as I can help new nurses

and recovery....

Love this site

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

I came out of curiosity...

i stayed as I can help new nurses

and recovery....

Love this site

ps: member since 2009

[moldyoldyrn]

In my 43 years of practice I always relied on my TEAM members. We never worked alone, never were without an extra set of eyes. When some one came and told me "He needs you now', they said it in such a way that I always knew to beat feet and just lock my cart because I would be "involved". We stepped in to give meds when some one was overloaded or had gotten bogged down, we gave meds to a patient who would not take them for another RN. We always did that for each other, new people to our shift sometimes did not work out because they could/would not do that. Others jumped right in and stepped up to the plate. I always enjoyed that team work and feel that this website offers some of that. If we do not help and support each other who will? Contrary to popular opinion not all newer nurses are bereft of the concept of teamwork. Some have a lot to learn about it but most of them that we took under our wings ran with us and did well. We encouraged them and they developed into awesome practitioners. All of my older team, including myself, have retired. We turned the wheel over to the newer folks. It's funny because we always knew who would join us and be successful and turn into a hard working, competent RN. They always had that wide eyed wonder about procedures and techniques. On the other side we always knew who would dump on other staff and leave things for others to do. I get a kick out of some of the solutions to problems that I read in some of the posts. I am heartened that so many males write in. I was a military nurse and worked in a heavy male environment, not just patients, nurses too. I loved working with those guys, they were strong, competent nurses who never took any guff off anyone. When they wanted someone with a softer side I was readily available. Patients knew they were well cared for without a doubt. They were a joy because they all had a big squishy soft side that many people never knew about. I always knew about it but then we all talked a lot and shared emotional stuff. Again, it was the TEAM. We laughed and cried together. We could always rely on someone coming up and saying, "take a break, I'll watch the patient for you". When my husband was killed all of them were the first to step up and hold my hand and offer to help. The support was unshakable and I feel it to this day. We do not work in a vacuum, we work in a stressful profession, we need each other. It's more than a paycheck, it is a calling. Bonding together and helping each other however we can is something we should do. It does not mean we live in each other's teacups, so to speak. These posts are just part of that. I keep thinking about the RN who was fired over PXYIS something or other and cannot get help of information. There was such an outpouring of help and support to that person. While I wish I could help that RN more directly I know I can only do so much. But learning what happened in that case makes me want to scream. I pray for that person and all those who suffer the same injustice. If I had not been reading the posts I would not have known. Maybe my comments are superfluous to them or others but maybe I write something that helps them. I hope it helps.

[Cheyenne RN,BSHS]

We want to continue to be the voice of the nurses as we all strive to raise the level of our profession. We thank you for your input!

Wow, first off I want to thank you for asking.

1. Why did you come to allnurses?

I purchased my very first computer in 2001. My mother had recently died and my daughter had married and moved off so I had quite a bit of time on my hands. I found AOL's nursing message board and really enjoyed it until people started getting really snarky with each other. A good friend of mine, anni, sent me a link to AN and here I am 15 years later. I do not know any other site that has the consistency and reputation of AN.

2. How long have you been a member?

I officially joined in 2003 as far as money for membership. I had been reading the site about a year prior. I have been a paying member off and on since then depending how crazy things were in my life financially. I don't trust PayPal and Brian would let me pay by check.

3. Why did you stay at allnurses? What do you enjoy the most about allnurses? Features etc

· I love the atmosphere on AN. I have physically met several of the nurses that I knew before only online.

· I love the personal touch with the administrators on the different threads.

· I love the fact that lay people that are not truly involved in healthcare or the medical field and come to AN to ask edgy questions, troll, vent about care they believe was wrong or ask for health information are politely confronted and reminded that they should perhaps search elsewhere.

· I love how AN members help each other out, how AN members provide support and encouragement when needed, and gentle chastisement where needed as well. The latter not always wanted and sometimes painful nevertheless is often helpful.

· I love that the administrators have all levels of expertise and education represented to cover every level of healthcare.

· I love how when someone or a thread does become rude or vicious the administrators end the thread in a professional manner.

· I love the friendliness and respect for each other shown from the various members.

· I love AN diversity.

· I love sharing tips, nursing hacks, and so many little things learned along the way and rarely found in textbooks or the classroom.

· I love how AN helps facilitate educating one another.

· I love the honesty and support of one another.

4. What would you like for us to change or add to allnurses?

· I wish there was a way to answer or respond to a poster and it show up near the original post instead of it going to the end of all the entries which might be 6 pages later.

· I wish there was a way to archive closed” threads to a separate area and not in the middle with the active threads.

· I wish AN would designate a separate area for older threads, maybe threads that are 3 or 4 years old. Some questions truly never die and need to be readily available for those readers that are new or just beginning to read AN.

(Such as a thread from 2003 or 2004 asking who is more professional” for entry level nursing, the BSN or Associate degree nurse etc .) It is frustrating to get into a thread and then want to answer and find out the thread is from 2007.

[ErikaD360]

I been a fan of all nurses for awhile. I've always searched the site reading the posts but never signed up. I've always loved healtcare since I was a kid. I love to help people, it makes me feel good. Now, as a pre-nursing students, I'm able to get feedback from others and share any new experiences I may have as I come into the profession. It's a great, informative site. Keep up the great work guys! 👍. And good luck to all the pre-nursing students, nursing students, & active nurses out there! God bless!

[taivin]

I was laid up due to an accident and joined around 2010 or so. Can't look it up because twice now, I've had to reregister. I was originally tyvin, but somehow the site didn't recognize me anymore (after a few years), so I used taivin. There have always been issues signing on to this site; this site only. As it is it looks like I'm relatively new. Occasionally I come across one of my other posts. At least the posts survived.

anyway... I was surfing the net when I came upon this site. I wanted more info on a question that came up about hospice. While I was thumbing through the site, I came across a post that was the reason I joined. I saw the poster was getting inaccurate info. I joined to give my opinion on the matter and hopefully enlighten what sounded like a very young nurse (young in career). In my opinion the responses were dangerous. After that, I would come and look to see if I could help any others.

I don't stay. I come on and off, also depending on if I can sign in.

There use to be many others who would always post. I don't see them posting anymore. I know what happened to esme, but so many others. The crowd has definitely changed, and that's not a bad thing; change is good. Viva, 56 and Juan are still here, with a lot of other old timers (too many to mention). For that, the new posters should be grateful. The amount of combined knowledge is better then any book or search engine.

I find myself not coming on as often as I use to. My last son in the house, is in his last year of high school, my mother is my patient now as she enters the realm of vascular dementia and physical decline in full blown denial at the age of 85. I wrestle to stop her from driving (had to turn her in), and to pay attention to her physical status. In the interim, I can't go back to work in order to take care of her.

[Farawyn]

I don't know what I originally wrote, but I'm here for my friends, the SN Board, and for the Blue Side.

My answer stands.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I did a google search for school nurse info as I was starting at a school that never had a nurse. I needed LOTS of guidance and the nurses in the school nurse board were all kinds of wise and kind. They made my steep learning curve much easier. They are kind of like my sherpas.

[BeckyESRN]

Another nurse recommended the site to me when I started working at the school.

I stayed because the school nurse group is awesome, supportive, and funny. It's like my nurses' station!