First med error

I got my first med error today, and while the patient was ok. I'm terrified. I'm worried for when the DON sees it. I just don't know what to do. I'll own up to what I did and hope it doesn't affect me too badly. But at the same time it just worries me so much. Read

Comparing a nurses' salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment among Registered Nurses will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. They also report that large metropolitan cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, etc will be hiring the most nursing jobs.

According to PayScale, new Registered Nurses (RNs) earn between $30,233 - $63,540 per year (2012). That's not bad compared to other professions.

How do you feel about your salary compared to other professions? Read

A Place for Mom: Staffing Concepts and the Role of the Nurse in Assisted Living

Second of a multi-part series on assisted living facilities and how they serve the elderly who are too frail to live at home safely, yet not ill enough for placement in custodial care. Here we examine staffing models and the different roles nurses have to play in community-based care. Read

Patients who "cheat" and drive home

I work at an endoscopy center (and a freestanding surgery center). A few times, we've had patients lie to us about how they are getting home, and they've ended up returning to their cars, and driving home. Of course we find this out too late to get a license number. I am responsible for my patients' safety, and ultimately that of the general public, as I mostly work in recovery/PACU. Any ideas on how we can combat this problem? Read

The 'De-Skilling' Of Nursing

The reality of technicians and other professionals taking over aspects of the nurse's role is a valid threat that should not be handled lightly. If there's even one jobless nurse in society who desperately wants to secure employment, then the 'de-skilling' of nursing is certainly a problem. The nursing profession must stop giving up skills to other members of the healthcare team. This article attempts to explain how the nursing profession is being 'de-skilled.' Read

Tired of Hearing the One Year Experience Required Line!!

So like many of you on here I am a new graduate seeking that ever so hard to get 1st job!! But if I hear the You need one year of experience line again I just might lose my mind!! LOL I mean one guy from an agency even sympathized with me saying he feels bad because he knows how hard it is but told me that alot of home health agencies have to obtain nurses with one year minimum experience in order to comply with guidelines to run the agency. So state regulations are even making it Hard for new grads to get jobs. If everyone requires one year how do they expect new nurses to get that year? Read

How do you make new hires feel welcome on your unit?

We are re-vamping our preceptor/orientation program and I want to focus on making newly hired nurses feel welcome on our unit. So...

Do you do anything special to make your new hires feel welcome? Do they get welcome gifts? Do you have any tips for creating a positive environment and socializing new hires? Read

Just started new job and then finds out it's downsizing?

Ok new job after a few hard months of searching. Just finished orientation and have heard alot of buzz about being called off. I have always been fulltime but took this part time job because it was in my specialty and was told that I would be able to pick up shifts to make up the differance. But it wasn't true. I am now off orientation and just got called off 24 hours. The hospital is holding a meeting next week to tell us what they will be doing with our unit. I don't think it will be good... Read

Updated Recommendations for Sleep Apnea in Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is revising its recommendations for the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children and adolescents, according to a clinical practice guideline published online Aug. 27 in Pediatrics. Read

What is the nurse-patient ratio where you work?

I recently learned on allnurses.com that California is the only state that has mandated nurse-patient ratios. I was honestly shocked and found it educational how hard fought a battle that was and how many other states are trying to pass similar laws. But it sparked my curiosity as to the average nurse-patient ratios in other states? What are the ranges of patients an RN sees on the unit/floor? Read

The education requirement for nursing is changing

It used to be that nurses did not have to go to college; we were instead trained by hospitals. Then the education requirement changed and community college replaced hospitals. And now, it is changing to that some hospitals will only hire nurses with college degrees. Undoubtedly, the education requirement will continue to increase in the future. The downside to this is... Read