Nurse POV Forums

Peer Review Journal arlicle written by Nurses

Brittany Fahncke — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:39:11 GMT

I need to find Peer Review journal articles for one of my nursing classes. They must be written by an RN and research based. Can anyone tell me where to find such articles. I have searched without much success. Only found one article.

mandatory ot

linda dohn — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:34:53 GMT

my facility states exempt from new law re: mandatory ot.please help.

What do you think about working for a facility that is not JACHO accredited?

Emmaline Sennett — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:36:33 GMT

I interviewed at a facility that is not JACHO accredited. What does this mean to you? Does this mean they have lower standards than other facilities? Or does it just mean that they havent been accredited yet? This company is less than 10 years old, it is a fairly new company. Is it not in our best interest to work for a company that is not accredited?

More importantly, what does it mean to the employee and how does it affect their performance, career image, experience and skills to work for a company that is not JACHO accredited?

New Grad with no employement options

Chrissy — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:17:33 GMT

Seven years ago, I found myself out of a job. I spent 6 months looking and finally decided to seek an education. I choose Nursing. I spent 5 years in school. Three preparing for my Nursing education and two in actual Nursing. I recieved my degree in May 08. I passed boards in July 08 on my first try with only 75 questions. I choose to take some time off for personal and family reasons before persuing my career. However, In Jan, six months after being licensed, I began to search for employement in earnest. I am a mom. My Husband works extreme and irratic hours at his two jobs. THis has put me in a position of not being able to work the traditional 12 hr shifts offered by hospitals. When I applied to the program, I went and discussed this with the counselors, instructors and head of dept. I was assured of the numerous and varied options for new grads. Now in May, despite appling to many many jobs, I am still jobless. My Licence is due for renewal in Sept. I am frustrated beyond beleif. I want to work. But no one other than hospitals seem to be willing to hire new grads. And they only offer 12 hr shifts with weekends. I can not leave my child to fend for himself. I am facing the realization that something I have worked so hard for and achieved the education and license for is still out of my reach. To make matters worse, I will soon have to take a job other than nursing due to finacial difficulties in this plumeting economy. I feel as if I wased 5 years of my life. And everytime I hear "we are in a Nursing shortage", well I want to scream. I understand the economy has hit us all.....but why perpetuate the cycle of nursing shortages by forcing new grads out before they can even begin. At this time, I can't tell you if I will even be a nurse for much longer. No one seems to want me. ANd I am beyond understanding why! I had good grades. I excelled in clinic. Why run off what this nation is in sore need of.....?

If anyone has any advice on what to do....please help! Or there will soon be one more Nurse out of the system that is growing smaller everyday. I am begining to see why.

Telling Nurse Manager about interview

Heather Coldren — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:55:58 GMT

So, I work in a medical-surgical field at the moment, and have been for a little over a year now. Since starting nursing, I knew I wanted to work in maternal-child health, but when I applied at the hospital (where, I wanted to work...), there was no positions open in maternity.

Hence.. there is now a position open, I am eligible to transfer, and I've gotten an interview (well I still need to schedule it). The problem now becomes, we have a policy that when you get an interview in the hospital, you have to tell your current nurse manager. Which is where I need the help...

I'm not quite sure what to tell her. We've had a few nurses leave already, and I just switched shifts to better suit my needs... and now I am *hoping* for another position. Some nurses have problems with our floor, which I do not at alll, it's just where I want has opened up, where I want to go in my life is RIGHT NOW avaible. I also am in a newly formed commitee and was elected and agreed to be chair person...

I'm worried my nurse manager will take it as an "against her", and my biggest fear is not, not getting the position, because if I don't... I do plan on sticking it out in my current floor longer and not looking again for a year (because, there are some other changes in life I want to make as well) but, I am worried I will get all the crap and be put on the bottom of the totem pole if I do not get the position.

Can I tell my nurse manager that... "this isn't where I want to be, a few weeks ago I applied where I truly want to be, and they called for an interview. If I don't get the position, I do not plan on looking again for a while, but this was open at my year mark, and I really wanted to go for it. I'm also afraid if I do not get the position, our relationship will not be the same, and I will not be treated as a valued nurse on this floor anymore" something along that lines??

What do you think?

Thanks

LPN-RN program

nursedeach — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:16:55 GMT

Do anybody out there know of an accelerated LPN-RN program with no prereq's(prereq's are included in the program).The program is usually 12-18 months long. I have heard that there are some out there but where I do not know.Hope that someone can help me. Also please do not tell me about the Excelsior program or college network. Thank You

What nursing shortage?!

Janet Landis — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:34:19 GMT

I've been a nurse since 1993, and have my BSN. Unfortunately, I've been out of acute care for several years doing behavioral health nursing, and now find I seem to hopelessly limited in employment options. I keep hearing about the nursing shortage, yet am unable to find anyone willing to give me an extended orientation to refresh my skills and have been told my one nursing educator that there aren't any refresher courses out there to her knowledge because there "isn't a need for one right now." How can this be? I would appreciate any advice about how I can get out of this box where I feel trapped. I loved ICU and telemetry and that's still where the majority of my experience has been. I didn't realize how quickly I'd be seen as unemployable on a medical unit when I started working in Behavioral health. Thanks, and best of luck to all you new grads and old hands like me who are trying to get a fresh start.

What kind of patient are you?

Abigail Scott — Sun, 07 May 2006 02:46:30 GMT

We always tend to talk about different types of patients (the worrier, the stoic, or the know-it-all for example)? What kind of patient are you? As a nurse, how do you handle your own illness or that of a family member?

disturbing sexual behavior of female nurses

kay feld — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:39:44 GMT

Regarding the recent discussion in this forum, we want to take the opportunity to step in and remind posters of our guidelines.

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Our blog community is not monitored and we do not discourage opposing viewpoints. However, entries including ethnic, racial or social slurs, profanity, threatening remarks or personal attacks will not be published, so voice your comments, suggestions and opinions in a respectful manner. Posts containing inappropriate solicitations will also be removed.

Thank you.

Bioethics Discussion Blog

D Evans — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:04:19 GMT

I was surprised that privacy and modesty not given in healthcare (mostly male patients) is such a significant issue and one that is not being adressed by our physicians, techs, nurses nor the administration of facilites providing care. Go to the site: http://bioethicsdiscussion.blogspot.com On the search line you can look up Patient Modesty: A more significant issue, Naked, Patient Modesty Volume 3. There are over 1500 entries on the site of people venting their anger.

Nuturing New Nurses through an Online Support Group

Kelley Strout — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:47:14 GMT

Do you remember what it was like when you first graduated nursing school and starting working as a Registered Nurse? The transition for new nurse graduates is one of tremendous pressure filled with uncontrollable emotions. New nurses have to adjust to thinking critically in the middle of the night when they are used to sleeping. They have to adjust to the physical demands of twelve-hour shifts, mandatory overtime, and heavy patient assignments. They also have to learn to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of watching a patient pass away while they maintain composure and offer support and strength to the family.

Many hospitals have mentor programs for new nurses where they assign a new nurse to an experienced nurse. This relationship is great for the new nurse to learn the policies, procedures, and skills necessary to work independently. However, is it possible for the experienced nurse to provide the new nurse with all the support he or she needs during this transition period? Can the experienced nurse completely relate to what they new nurses is going through? An online-support group for new nurses to share their experiences would greatly benefit the nursing profession. Here is why:

1. The online format would facilitate nurses working all shifts. They could log on at their own convenience.

2. The support group would allow new nurses to share their fears, frustrations, and emotions with others who are going through the same thing at the same time.

3. The new nurses could support each other by sharing stress busters, diet, exercise, and work-life balance tips.

4. The support group could help nurse administrators and educators create more effective orientation programs.

5. The support group could create unity and ignite the profession during a time of tremendous changes and pressures.

6. The support group could potentially prevent new nurses from leaving the profession. We cannot afford to lose a single nurse.

I believe that all nurses could benefit from each other’s support. However, I believe that the new nurses are the most vulnerable, and they need to nurture each other. Now that we have the benefit of online technology, we should use it to our advantage. What do others think about this idea?

Please Help!! I desperately need to be fit!!!

harper godwill — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:24:44 GMT

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I have tried many diets and exercises, but to no avail. I manage to lose a few pounds initially whenever I start something new, but I am back to square one again! I am completely exasperated and feel depressed. I do not know what to do. I will go to any extent to get a fit body.

Please help save our health care system and improve our current system instead!

Mark Hopp — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:27:51 GMT

I've been a PT Assistant for 14 years, have a BS in Accounting and soon to have a Nursing Degree. I'm very concerned about the idea of a blanket universal health care and want to keep the same programs and improve those already in place...which has never happened. Government Run Health Care DOES NOT WORK, ask anyone in Europe and/or Canada! I'm concerned as a practitioner, as a son, as a citizen of this country. I've researched it and realize that Government run health care or even a "Public Option" (which will only lead to a blanket plan) has many undesirable problems and really doesn't give people "effective" access to health care. I am asking people to mail into their senators and congressmen regarding this. I have typed up a letter for you to copy, print, sign, and mail in to them. Here are 2 websites for you to find out their address:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Do YOU value Your JOB as my representative?

Then Say "NO" to:

1) Competing Government Health Care or Public Option !

2) Socialized Medicine!

And Say "YES" to:

1) Medical Tort Reform to stop frivolous lawsuits and maintain our current system!!!

2) Requiring co-pays on all lawsuit patients to reduce the waste & return honesty to the system!!

3) Implement Hospital Pricing Transparency to create competition and reduce costs!

4) Implement programs nationwide to promote health, reduce our Obesity rate (The highest in the world)!!

5) Give Tax Credits to those that purchase insurance as incentive to purchase it!!!

Normal 0

Obesity has skyrocketed in this country and its killing us both physically and financially. Japan has one of the best health results while spending the least. They have one of the highest percentage of daily smokers and one of the lowest percentages of obesity! We are costing ourselves from eating fatty food and not exercising! We must reduce this first before we waste $trillions on our system. Its not our medical system but our society weight that is the big problem!

We already have Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid! lets work within the programs we already have and make some reform there!!!

New job and I have some questions

Leah Scliingo — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:21:40 GMT

I have a question I' m sure there is an NP out there somewhere already doing this. I've been offered a job with 2 different psychiatrists they each have their own practice but I will be working for the both of them and possibly a 3rd medical doc. seeing their nursing home pt's. My question is I already work per diem with another psychiatrist and it is his address I used for my NPI number and to get my DEA number. So for the other physicians do I just call the state BON and add their names to the first physician I' m working with and also what do I do regarding RX's have separate pads with each Doc's name on it or just have each one add my name to what they use at the office. I will not be seeing pt's at the office only nursing homes, assisted living, and sub-acute facilities. The per diem physician I've just started working with and this is my first NP job so I'm not sure what to do. I will have collaborative agreements with all of them. Is there a limit to how many physicians we can work with? Anyway if anyone has the answer let me know. (I work at the hospital as an RN on the psych floor). Thanks Leah

new grad experiencing extreme anxiety...

Nurse_27 — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:25:23 GMT

I'm working in an internship position now and it has been so stressful. I sob just about every day and I'm not a person who normally cries much. I just feel so overwhelmed and rushed into so much responsibility. I saw there is a support group forming here and there I read things that hit it to the T: I'm adjusting to nights, the pace, the long shift, a new location (I moved here to continue my relationship with my boyfriend because we hope to get married next year), new charting, equipment, and on top of that...I'm trying to stay healthy by sleeping and exercising and maintaining a good relationshipwith my boyfriend and family and friends hundreds of miles away. I hold myself to high standards. I want to complete care quickly and timely, but I also wnat to talk to the patients, get to know coworkers, look up meds and diseases, and I just CAN'T do it all! My loan repayment is quickly approaching and that will sap almost all of my income as I have over 50k to repay for private education. I am a Christian and I try to pray about this and see purpose in these tasks and I try to be optimistic about this "growing" experience, but I feel so weak...like I'm swimming against a current. I know starting new jobs is almost always stressful, but the responsibility and pressure is hitting me hard. I'm so worried about giving a wrong med, getting repremanded for not charting right, not noticing trends of a deteriorating patient, and the list goes on...

some nurses have been so impatient with me. And i can see their frustration on their faces and body language, even if they don't voice it. It makes me so nervous and I make mistakes, stutter, and do stupid things like never before. I'm so discouraged, but I have over a year left of my commitment. And the only relief I have is that this job pays alright and it's only 3 days / week. I live for the days off...and that's sad.

I really like the unit that I'm working on now, but because of all of my anxiety and frustration, I know I'm not making an accurate impression. I don't even watn to tell the manager I'm interested in working there, because I don't want to be turned down.

Any advice, encouragement, comments?

HawthorneRNe

Bernice Beja — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:28:13 GMT

While I realize fiction has its privileges. i was disturbed when watching the first show, a nurse administered an unsafe dose of insulin. After checking with the doctor he was told by the MD that the order stood. This type of interaction between nurse and doctor took place 50 years ago. Today the nurse after raising a question about the dosage and still ordered to give it would have taken the next step and gone to nursing administrator. Nurses would not knowingly administer an unsafe dosage. Wonder if anyone else had the same reaction. This episode put both doctors and nurses in a bad light.

$50 for participation in a TYPE 2 Diabetes ONLINE 25 minute Market Research Study--NURSES, NPs, OTHERS, please help spread the word

Lois Drapin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:07:53 GMT

$50 for participation in a Type 2 Diabetes Market Research Study--PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD

We are reaching out specifically to Health Care Professionals who treat Type 2 Diabetes in their patients. We are particularly interested in reaching out to Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Dieticians that are part of the Diabetes Educator Community. Your participation is vital and critical in helping us to develop effective Programs and Tools for patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

This study offers a $50 honorarium upon completion. We appreciate your time and participation in this Market Research Study. To participate in the survey simply email DCSurvey@knology.net and I will provide a link for each individual to participate. These are individual links. At the end of the survey, you will be asked for Name and Address. This information will be used for no other purpose than to send the honorarium for participation and will not be collected nor used in any other way..

Each research study has eligibility requirements and completion quotas. Once you qualify, this specific questionnaire is designed for you to complete in no longer than 25 minutes. When the appropriate study quotas are met, our technology immediately shuts down the survey and notifies you if study participation has been met.

Thank you very much for your interest in this vital area of study and for your participation.

RN to BSN Online

Pat White — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 09:29:51 GMT

Does anyone know of an accredited RN-BSN program that is totally completed online? I've been debating for years to get my BSN online, but the first thing every program wants you to do is to attend an information session at a specified location, NOT ONLINE. I work night shift, but the time morning comes I have no motivation to attend a lenghty information seminar. All replies appreciated.

Creativity in Healthcare blog has moved - check it out.

Marti Hand — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:25:31 GMT

Hi, just want to notify everyone who has visited my blog 'Creativity in Healthcare' of the new URL...it's http://creativityinhealthcare.wordpress.com. To refresh your memories, it focuses on integrating creativity and the arts into healthcare. Oh, it also promotes nurses and the nursing profession. Thanks for visiting...I think you'll find some very interesting information on the blog.

Technology allows us to do what we do best

Drudys Ledbetter — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:34:08 GMT

Is your experience similar to mine? I’m at work and have a critically ill patient surrounded by monitors, a vent, multiple lines and the patient is going downhill. I cannot leave the room, doctors are giving orders, labs are being sent, vital signs are changing as I intervene, and if anything is being written down, I’m usually doing it on a piece of paper, or even a paper towel. Sound familiar?

When I was in nursing school, no one really explained exactly how much of my job as a nurse involves paper pushing. But, if I had to estimate, I'd say I spend about 70% of my shift documenting and tracking patient data. The decisions being made for patient care are based on the data collected, and it's up to me to chart and record this information throughout my shifts and do so accurately. Yet manually recording patient data leaves so much room for error. Yet, no one wants inaccurate documentation. Not me, nor my patient.

This is where I’ve found that my experience with technology that automates patient data delivery and eliminates unnecessary paperwork not only allows me to do what I love best, which is one-on-one patient care, but also decreases the risk of human error, unnecessary transcription errors, and inaccurate reading of patient data.

As a self described "nurse nomad,” I work at multiple hospitals in the Boston area. At each of the hospitals I work with I find them implementing varying levels of technology for patient care. At my more "tech-oriented" hospital, they have device connectivity, comprehensive EMRs (electronic medical records), and rolling laptops. I can scan a patient's ID band and then scan their meds to be sure that they're getting the treatment they need. In the critical care unit, if there's a code, I don't need to be running around tripping over wires trying to document every device readout; device connectivity technology makes sure that the patient's vitals are automatically saved and sent to the EMR for me to validate when I go to chart. I can quickly get a clearer, more accurate picture of what's going on with the patient, and more time to spend with them, talking to them, evaluating and treating them, which is so necessary for improved patient outcomes and a better patient/family experience.

So why are some nurses still wary of technology? Probably because they don’t feel they have the time to learn new systems, or for that matter truly understand them or the subsequent benefits. But let’s face it, manually recording patient data has many drawbacks. My personal experience tells me that it’s becoming necessary to embrace technologies that will help us improve care. However, I also realize that technology companies could do more to help us and make adoption easier. This is why I recently decided to become an advisor to healthcare companies. One company I am currently working with is Capsule Tech, Inc., a provider of medical device connectivity. I am helping them with the design of their new solution that will soon feature positive patient association and auto-sensing; features that will further simplify our workflow, give us even more time with our patients and truly improve care and safety. I would encourage nurses to reach out to companies like Capsule and provide your feedback. After all, if we aren’t telling them what they should do, aren’t we partly to blame for technologies that are difficult to implement and only make our jobs harder?

From my perspective, using technology such as device connectivity means more job satisfaction and more accountability. Our job becomes more than just chasing paper, it becomes about providing the best nursing care for our patients. Ultimately, the patient is the winner as there is less chance for medical errors, and they receive better care as he or she gets most of my attention. The patient is happy, and my job is more meaningful as I get to do what I love best, and isn’t that really what we all want as a nurse?

Drudys Ledbetter, RN, BSN is a nurse in the Boston area and also a clinical advisor for healthcare companies.

GREAT FIND

Danielle Fasse — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:19:32 GMT

My CPR/AED certification expired the end of April so I needed to re-new it. I googled to find a class and found out that you can now take the class online. I went to www.cpraedcourse.com. I found lots of different companies but the main reason that I chose this one is because alot of the other companies did not have a phone number that they could be easily reached out and be sure that I did my research before just taking a course online. They did inform me that some hospitals may not accept so heads up you may want to check with your hospital or place of work before taking the course, but its a great alternative to a classroom setting especially if its just for re-cert.

Nurse Appreciation Week extends through May with first Nurse Writing Contest

Barbara Whitlock — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:03:06 GMT

Come write about issues relevant to those considering nursing careers, or for those considering nurse specialties.

Your articles can enhane your resume, and affirm your areas of expertise. No cost to join, and earnings to collect.

Top earning in this Nurse Writing Contest wins $60: http://writing-contests.helium.com/marketingcontest/leaderboard/755?cms=helium-nursing-contest

For more information about networking with other nurses who enjoy writing and want to earn supplemental income by publishing articles, write to me at bwhitlock@helium.com.

Struggles of Being New

New Nurse — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:16:58 GMT

I am a new grad working in my first nursing job. It has been an extremely difficult experience, with things just now (six months later) STARTING to calm down. I wouldn't say that nurses "eat their young" in my unit, but cliques certainly exist and I have felt lost and alienated several times. To all the experienced nurses out there, I would just like to say that being a new nurse is difficult as it is. Working in a professional setting where situations are often a matter of life and death inherently add stress to the job. Not knowing your co-workers or the culture of the floor is another innate stressor. However, having co-workers exclude us, judge us, and not take the time to get to know us is the most unnecessary stressor of the job, especially if it is a preceptor doing those things (which I have experienced). I do not know the reason for this hostility towards new nurses, but it is unfortunate and unacceptable. Someone once suggested that experienced nurses may feel threatened by a new nurse. If this is the case, then all I have to say is that new nurses are not a threat. We admire experienced nurses in every way, from their knowledge to their ease with family members. To those nurses who take the time to say "hello" and "how are you" to a new nurse - thank you. It is much appreciated.

Is it safe and fair for RN's to attend hospital committees during their shift?

M.J. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:19:07 GMT

My hospital is implementing more nurse involvement throughout different levels and RN's are being asked to participate on committees and attend meetings during their shift. This year I will have to attend three different committees each month and I am concerned that this will put an unfair burden on the other nurses who have to cover for my patients while I'm at meetings. Most are one hour but one is asking for 2 hours (we have 12-hr shifts). I also worry about patient safety being compromised. Any other nurses dealing with this issue? Does your hospital make special arrangements? Your suggestions and comments are appreciated.

New Grad unsure about continuing to be a RN

Xue Yang — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:51:48 GMT

I graduated from nursing school in 2007 and I did not start working as a nurse until summer of 2008 because of personal reasons. However, my first job as a New Grad in the OB department did not go too well, there were days when I find myself not happy and not enjoying what I was doing because I felt the pressure to complete my tasks on time and ensure my patients well being and safety at the same time. At first, all I ever wanted to do in nursing was to go into Maternal/Child health, now I'm not sure about it anymore because the one thing I fear the most is having to resuscitate a newborn. I feel so lost because I don't know if I should try a different area of nursing. I didn't enjoy med-surg in nursing school, and my overall experience in nursing school was horrible, there were so many days that I've cried during and after coming home from clinical days due to the pressure and hectic demands that comes with being bedside nurses. I've wanted to quit nursing school so many times and sometimes I feel that I should have never went to nursing school because when I was in high school, I've told myself that I will never be a nurse after seeing how stressful nurses were, but when I went to college, my mother was sick often and she had some misunderstanding during her last birth experience and that is what change my mind to go into nursing because I wanted to be more knowledgeable about health care so I can help my mom. However, I'm not sure if I can handle the stress and criticism anymore. I don't know if I want to be a nurse anymore, but then I don't know what else I would enjoy doing because I do like helping people to become healthy and recover from their illnesses and it makes me feel good at the end of the day when my patients give me smiles and thank me for the care I've given them. Then again, I keep finding myself to be unsure of continuing to be a nurse due to too many tears I've shed from the stressful work environment I'm in. Well, if anyone has any feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.