/r/nursing

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/r/nursing

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11

Family member filed a complaint against be because I brought clothes for a different patient

Im a nursing student and I work in LTC.

One of my pts (82F) barely has any clothes. She doesn’t have any family left so no one can really shop for her.

The problem is that she usually runs out of clothes before they return from the cleaners. We had to borrow clothes from different patients before.

She is roughly the same size as me. So I cleaned out my closet and brought a bag of stuff I no longer wear. I figured I could let her pick out what she liked and then donate the rest.

She was absolutely thrilled! She wanted to try on everything and proudly showed off her “new clothes” in the shared living room.

Now a different patients family is accusing me of favoritism and they even went to management about it.

Thankfully management has my back but damn. I really hate people sometimes

2 Comments
2025/01/14
16:27 UTC

1

Scrubs

Anyone have scrub recommendations that are similar material to the basic Cherokee scrubs but more slim and modern fitting like figs? I wear a medium and with figs the top is always too tight in the shoulder chest area but too long in the torso. Looking forward to your recommendations!

0 Comments
2025/01/14
16:06 UTC

12

Coworker falsely charted my name

A nurse coworker of mine wrote in her patient notes that I (insert my name) collaborated with her in caring for her patients when I did not. I did not speak to her the entire shift. I knew nothing about the patients assigned to her. I was not involved whatsoever.

What should I do?

14 Comments
2025/01/14
15:51 UTC

4

Failed my semester

Failed my semester and now I just feel so down that I’m not graduating the time I thought I would be. I am a 25 year old female who lives alone and work as a CNA. I am exhausted of the CNA life and now trying to find different ways to make money while I’ll wait for the next semester to come around for me to retake it. I’m thinking of going to a new nursing program. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I have no friends and me and my boyfriend just broke up and he said that me failing my semester is karma for me having an abortion because I wanted to focus on pursuing my career. I’m just so down now.. I’m trying to be optimistic but it’s hard.

6 Comments
2025/01/14
15:40 UTC

2

Frustrated figuring out my place in nursing

I’m a new grad nurse and I have a physical disability. I have so many skills but I feel constantly pushed behind a desk. Then when I talk about wanting to do more hands on skills I get a lecture on the impact nurses make… and how it’s never about the physical stuff but the way they made them feel. Which is true! Maybe I’m in the wrong for still craving those skills. I’m considering looking for a per diem position to give me some of that. I just don’t want to give up on this place and these people. Am I crazy for seeking that? I used to work ED as a student and super miss it. I know I’m making an impact where I am but I feel like a could make a bigger one with more face to face contact. Stuck 😔

0 Comments
2025/01/14
15:24 UTC

1

Meeting with HR over call outs.

I’ve been at my nursing job for almost 3 years. I went on leave twice last year, first on FMLA to take care of my grandmother when her health took a serious decline, went back to work for a few months, then found out I was having surgery so I used my remaining FMLA time and the rest was considered unpaid medical leave. Right before going back to work after surgery (2 months ago), my grandmother was unexpectedly discharged from the nursing home she was in. In the last month, her health has started to decline again, and I’ve called out 3 separate times now because of being up all night caring for her. I can’t drive or work without sleep, when I’m sleep deprived I lose my balance, have nasty brain fog, etc. I have tried every single time to find someone to cover my shift or swap with me, and given my boss as much notice as possible. I also pick up extra shifts after calling out, which I know doesn’t erase the call out but it’s my way of “making up for it.” My boss wants me to meet with HR, and I’m scared and not sure what to expect. I’m in the process of hiring a caregiver that can be available for my grandmother overnight when she does have issues, to prevent future call outs, but it’s taking a bit longer than I expected. She has someone besides myself available M-F during the day, just not at night as of right now, but I am trying. Has anyone had to meet with HR over call outs? What questions should I expect them to ask if any? Am I going to get fired?

0 Comments
2025/01/14
15:07 UTC

2

My illness is ruining my career

I’m a new grad RN on a medsurg unit and I’m really enjoying it right now. I worked super hard to get where I am but I feel like my illness is ruining it.

I’m currently ruling out the diagnosis of POTS as I’ve had symptoms for years but now it is really starting to affect my career. I have called out so many times now just in the span of 3 months because my symptoms are getting really bad and I’m too afraid to risk working and making a mistake. I feel like everyone at my work thinks I’m unreliable or unwilling to work because of this but that’s so far from the truth. I want to work and I love it but when I’m having these severe symptoms my mind and body are not working the way they need to in order to practice safety and I don’t want to take chances of making errors. Now I have crippling anxiety about the fact that my coworkers probably think I’m unreliable and incompetent.

4 Comments
2025/01/14
14:53 UTC

62

Male nurse certification

I'm a guy nurse. I find it funny when folks refer to me as a "male nurse" as if this is a distinctively different thing than a "nurse". I jokingly respond that "I'm a certified male nurse get it right"

So I had a thought. What if I made a joke organization/website where any nurse can become a "certified male nurse". You know, like those online churches where you can become an ordained minister. Maybe you can buy a little "CMN" pin for your badge. The joke being that even female nurses could be certified male nurses.

Obviously the designation would have no purpose other than another comical thing to add to the end of your RN ADN BSN MSN CEN CCRN

39 Comments
2025/01/14
14:52 UTC

1

Medical terminology

Hello!

I’m going to be an LPN and I have a chance to opt out of anatomy with medical terminology my director of the program said I would have to take a test for medical terminology, is there any website or pdf file that shows the whole entire list for medical terminology?

I have a chance of finishing the program faster if I pass this test so please any link which be much help 🙏🏻

2 Comments
2025/01/14
14:45 UTC

3

Accepted into a NP program

I was accepted into a NP program and on my acceptance letter it states “Keep in mind that semester credit hours older than six years, at time of graduation, including accepted transfer credits, cannot apply toward any master's degree."

I just want to clarify, but does this mean that my college courses such as anatomy, physiology, college algebra etc will not be accepted due to being older than 6 years old and that I must retake these courses prior to receiving a master's degree?

I’ve already emailed the school and I am waiting on a response.

4 Comments
2025/01/14
14:22 UTC

55

Best comebacks to asshole surgeons

Particularly for when they are refusing to listen and screaming that everyone is incompetent during a rapid response (so you can’t just walk away)

61 Comments
2025/01/14
14:07 UTC

52

Pushback from day shift

I'm so tired of working hard all night only to get so much attitude from day shift coming in. It's not even a report. It's an interrogation. It's interrupting me to rattle off question after question. Nothing I do is ever good enough task wise. If anything needs to get done during their shift, they lose their minds. I'm so tired of it. I bust my ass trying to get patients as settled as possible but it doesn't work. Patients don't stop being sick at night. Codes happen. Rapids happen, a lot of times during my 8 pm med pass. It's so much psych at night. Stop acting like all night shift does is just pass one protonix and park at the nurse's station on our phones. To day shift nurses - what's the issue?

27 Comments
2025/01/14
13:48 UTC

2

Nursing as a second, midlife, career?

Hi friends, I’m sure this type of question comes through here often, but I didn’t see anything recent in my search, so please bear with me.

I will be 40 this year, I am in Michigan, a single mother of two teens. I have been a clinical massage therapist for 18 years, and also hold a Master’s degree in a completely unrelated field, and have worked in non profits for over a decade.

I have been spinning for years about what I want to be when I grow up, because what I am currently doing is not it.

I have had my run ins with poor medical care for my own health in the last few years and started to really think more about the fact that maybe the medical field IS the place for me- ya know, one of those “be the change you want to see” type of things. Plus, I can’t think of any choice that would get me started in a financial place where I wouldn’t have to take a pay cut from where I am now. I do believe a purpose in my life is to be in service to others. Also, I think I probably would be good at it!

One of my massage patients is a nurse, a manager, at a big hospital here in MI, and we got to talking about all of the positive aspects of nursing. Job security, decent pay, helping others. He did mention some of the cons too. Primarily abuse from patients and their families, which does sound unappealing but 🤷‍♀️ there are assholes everywhere. That conversation started my deep dive into what it would actually take for me to step onto a new path.

Anyway, I was just sharing some context- what I really want to know is if I’m being crazy, to do a 180 and pursue a different career entirely? At my age?

Those of you who are in Michigan- what schools and programs do you recommend? I’m currently looking at a few of the SE MI community colleges, but also the Madonna University accelerated program keeps popping up, since I already hold degrees.

Ultimately, if I do this, I’d like to go through the schooling with as little additional debt as possible, as I already have a ton from my prior education. Are there any scholarship programs that you all are aware of for people like me?

Also last question- do any of you work as nurses for places like a department of natural resources, national park service, U.S. forestry? If so, what are your jobs like, and what did it take to get there?

Thanks for reading this- I am really looking forward to reading what you all suggest. ✌️

5 Comments
2025/01/14
12:59 UTC

0

Does anyone else experience this?

Feel free to tell me I’m overreacting, but I need to vent -

So I’m a freshman nursing student. Obviously I love it, but sometimes people say stuff that bother me, especially when it’s other nursing students.

  1. I was eating breakfast with people first thing in the morning and someone told a story about somebody throwing up like an ungodly amount. I was like “oh god okay-“ and someone immediately went “DUDE YOU’RE GONNA BE A NURSE?!” Like yes, I am. Am I not allowed to react to something, especially when I’m eating breakfast? Do I need to be perfect and unbothered by everything all of the time?

  2. I’m afraid of needles. I personally pass out whenever I get my blood drawn, and also keep in mind I’ve had like no practice with injections or anything yet. People make fun of me for it and immediately when I tell them their answer is “How are you gonna be a nurse?”

  3. Someone asked if I wanted to see a pic of an injury. I was like “no not really” and they went “YOU’RE A NURSE?!” Yes, I know. But I didn’t really care to see it at the time and don’t really need to see gore 24/7.

It’s just really frustrating, and it makes me feel like I have to be invincible all of the time and be completely unbothered, when that’s not really who I am. Obviously I know once I actually start working I’ll probably be the one talking about gore and stuff normally, but it’s just frustrating right now and makes me feel like I chose the wrong path.

11 Comments
2025/01/14
12:42 UTC

2

Bedside to sales?

Any nurses here working in sales?

0 Comments
2025/01/14
12:25 UTC

191

Anyone else’s facility bursting at the seams?

I’m a house supervisor and this weekend our census has been insane. We’re a smaller-midsize county hospital licensed for ~300 beds. Census on the weekends is usually 150-180, we’ve been at 200+ all weekend. Tonight I filled every med surg floor to physical capacity and had to overflow med surg into ICU. Census is 242. It’s absolutely wild. I’m taking PTO on the next full moon.

Highlight of the night was when ED charge called to tell me they had their FIFTH SI patient and needed a third observer. I threatened to be her 6th SI patient. I’m ready for some wine.

67 Comments
2025/01/14
12:22 UTC

1

Case report over phone

Im still on my shift right now, im watching an SI patient but. I got a report for showing the patient the menu on my phone. For some more context she's very well behaved. I understand she does still need monitoring but she still has access to a lot of other items in her room. This is also my second shift working alone here, and my first overnight if that holds any value. Anyways, she was hungry and asked me if I could look up the menu here and what she can have since she's on a finger food diet. So I did, I didn't feel comfortable giving her my phone but she did take it out of my hands. I did make sure to watch, basically right over her shoulder. Head nurse comes in an immediately asks what's going on. The kid tried to explain but did so very poorly and I chose to just shut up. It was a poor decision, and I didn't even know this but the cafeteria was already closed so I'm sure that didn't help my case. Anyways just wondering how much trouble I could/will get in for this. I already got a text from my supervisor to meet before my shift tomorrow. I don't really know what to write in the report either, I don't want to shift the blame but I didn't hand her my phone. So I'm just gonna say that I let her see it, I don't see the need to blame a kid for something I was responsible for. I'm pretty nervous I'm not often in trouble at any of the jobs I've had. Especially at a hospital. It's still my second day and I don't want my managers to already grow a distaste towards me. Albeit my supervisor didn't seem upset at all through messages I'm still worried. Also for reference I did find myself a bit more empathetic towards this patient. I'm 18 and have been in similar situations as she was venting to me about. So I can assume I stepped out of line getting too caring. Not excited to have to work with that nurse anymore either.

2 Comments
2025/01/14
11:29 UTC

2

Anyone get NHSC, Nurse Corps, or HPSP for school? What are your experiences?

I am thinking of applying to these programs but wanted to see what others’ experiences were first. Was it hard to find work? Did you get to pick your speciality or state? Anyone regret doing this? Any insight would be appreciated!

0 Comments
2025/01/14
11:19 UTC

0

St. Lukes Quezon City

Hello, hiring pa po ba ang SLMC? Pwede din po ba walk-in ka mag-apply? Thank you po sa sasagot.

0 Comments
2025/01/14
10:54 UTC

29

Incorrect documentation could lead to arrest?

A resident had a fall. He threw up fell over landed in the garbage. Originally, told the primary nurse he was in pain 10/10. I wrote that in. When I went to double check on his vitals he said "oh no. Not much pain maybe 4/10." I striked out and wrote 4/10 instead of 10/10 and clicked "incorrect documentation" I sent him transferred to hospital because he said he lost consciousness. I told the DON and she started panicking after she saw I wrote 10/10 and it was stricken and then 4/10. It said incorrect documentation was the reason. She starts telling me that if anyone finds out they're going to arrest me for incorrect documentation. Is this possible?

42 Comments
2025/01/14
10:51 UTC

1

Moving to Oregon in the summer

Hi, I'm moving to Oregon in the summer (around July/Aug) and I'm asking for advice on how early should I apply for a nursing job. I'm an experienced NICU nurse and I prefer larger units. Based on my research Portland is most likely to have openings. I don't want to start too early, but it makes me nervous that the hiring process may take too long.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

0 Comments
2025/01/14
03:29 UTC

1

TNCC instructor training

Can anyone give any guidance for what to expect on the instructor training course, what things are worthwhile reviewing, practicing or reading beforehand etc?

0 Comments
2025/01/14
10:32 UTC

0

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Hi everyone, currently in my final year of nursing school and have been learning about artificial intelligence. I'm wondering if there are any other nurses here since it's very hard to find nurses interested in the same on LinkedIn. I would love to hear from people already in the field and even connect with them.

0 Comments
2025/01/14
09:43 UTC

9

Patient and family attitude towards nurses?

I'm a nurse on a surgical ward in Australia, and I recently cared for a male patient in his early 30s, whose diagnosis wasn't life-threatening and he was only admitted for a couple of days for IV antibiotics. I was his nurse the day he was being discharged and he was to go home on oral antis, but he had a dose of IV antis due when his wife arrived to take him home. I said to them that I'd just check with the surgeon if they wanted him to have that dose of IV antis before he left or if they could just go. The wife, also in her early 30s, said to me: "you get paid to give him medical care so you might as well just do it".

I was really taken aback by this and I still think about it weeks later. Why does it bother me so much? What she said wasn't untrue but it felt so, I don't know, disrespectful? I know others have had worse experiences with patients and their family members while on the job so this probably seems trivial in comparison, but it really irked me. Thanks for letting me vent.

11 Comments
2025/01/14
09:31 UTC

1

Night shift nurses- what do you do at night when you're not working?

I just started nursing and I am on a 6-week-days/6-week-nights rotating schedule. When my sister used to work night shift, there were a lot of stores open 24/7, but that's changed since COVID. This is only my first night not working, and I've baked and cleaned, but I live with my partner and a lot of chores are too noisy. I've got a book and an Anytime Fitness membership, but I was just wondering what y'all do at nights when you're off. Thanks!

6 Comments
2025/01/14
09:24 UTC

11

Final year nursing student vent

Okay so I’m about to start my final year of nursing and it’s just starting to hit me now. I’m no where a near ready to be an actual nurse. I feel like I know absolutely nothing at all and I mean it, how am I supposed to become a registered nurse if I genuinely know nothing. There are so many things circling my mind. Firstly, I’m scared of being a terrible nurse. I’m scared that during my grad year the nurses orientating me will think that i shouldn’t be a nurse cause I know nothing. I know that every new grad feels like they know nothing, but I feel like i actually know NOTHING. I’m also terrified of making a mistake and going to jail, i feel like as a new grad I could easily make a mistake as I my mind goes cloudy when I’m under stress. I also really do not want to go into bedside, i absolutely dreaded my medsurg placement and it ruined my mental health so much. However, a lot of people say that new grads should go straight bedside to build their skills. I know I sound weak for saying this but I truly believe working bedside, even if it’s just for a year would completely destroy my mental health as I already struggle with anxiety. I’m not really sure what options i have as a new grad for non bedside positions. Overall, I’m terrified and I’m not prepared in the slightest. I also wanna ask what is new grad year like? People say that you learn everything when you’re actually working but I find it hard to believe that the nurses have time to teach you when they’re doing their own job.

9 Comments
2025/01/14
07:55 UTC

0

What can a nurse with little experience do other than nursing?

I’m a newer nurse in Canada with under a year of experience and I really hate my medsurg job. To be honest, I have suicidal ideations because of nursing school and this job and how utterly incompetent I am at it. I tried to find cushier nursing jobs but experience is a problem and I really doubt my manager would be able to provide a positive reference for me. I’m very likely not cut out for this career but I don’t know what else I can do. Is there anyone that is/has been in the same situation as me?

9 Comments
2025/01/14
07:24 UTC

1

Good sources for relearning patho and pharm?

I’ve been out of school for 4 years and I feel like there is sooo much pathopysiology and pharmacology that I have lost. So much in nursing school was memorization. Obviously I understand the big picture of a lot of complex disease processes but I feel like I’m losing or have lost the finer details. Do any of y’all study still? How do you remember things you learned years ago but forgot? Any good sources you recommend for re-learning things like cellular level pathophysiology, organic chemistry, and advanced pharmacology.

0 Comments
2025/01/14
07:22 UTC

1

Any tips for skilled facility/LTC nursing?

I'm a new grad nurse and I accepted an offer at this rehab/memory/hospice care center. My shift is 3pm-11:30pm (in case that's relevant to any advice I may receive). I'm going to be honest with you. I'm scared shitless, and I'm feeling major imposter syndrome right now. I haven't even gone to orientation yet. Anyone have tips or tricks for being a good nurse/team member, med pass, or not burning out too quickly?

P.S. (I'm guesstimating that I'll be here for two years minimum)

2 Comments
2025/01/14
06:08 UTC

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