Differences in practice: Experts and Novices. Are you learning from one another?

There are two NPs in my practice, myself and a woman I'll call Zelda. I am a FNP, and have been in practice for 3 years. Zelda is an ANP and has been in practice for 9 years. All of her experience is in internal medicine.

Zelda, by nature, has a somewhat closed mind. This applies to all things, not just the practice of our art/science. She does not consider points of view contrary to her own and in my experience does not change her mind when confronted with new evidence. She is very competent. It happens from time to time, that I have occasion to see a patient of hers if she is out of the office for some reason. Zelda does a number of things I would not do.

So, if you are a novice NP like me, how do you navigate these types of issues? And if you are a more experienced NP and see it a bit from the other point of view, what advice do you have for me? Or what are your thoughts in general about how colleagues with varying experience and backgrounds learn from one another? Read

What can nurses do to be more happy in their career?

Nursing can be stressful at times. Every often we get a patient that pushes our buttons. We just want to scream and tell them a thing or two. Other days we are overwhelmed with the number of patients we have. Running up and down the halls to do the tasks that we were given. It can be upsetting. These are the times we need to sit back, relax, and breath. We need to take care of ourselves.

Give yourself a night out with your friends, exercise for an hour, eat a great meal, or just give yourself 10 minutes of pure relaxation in complete silence. These are just a few things that can help you relax. What do you do to help you relax? Read

Wearing Black Scrubs in Pediatric Hospital

So I have these scrubs that are black with blue/green flowers, blue bubbles, and yellow spongebob on them. The other one I'm interested in is a black and grey scrub top with tweety bird on them. I got the spongebob ones because I found them pretty and was showing my mom but she stated that black might be inappropriate a color for a pediatrics hospital as it can be associated with death and dying and that parents might not want me around their children in the color? I didn't find anything wrong with the scrubs. What say you guys? Read

When a patent states "something isnt right..."

And try just cannot put their finger on it, what do you do? I have encountered patients like this and was told to never ignore it, because usually when patients think they are going to die, they do. Thankfully nothing has happened with these encounters. I try to get an idea of "what is wrong" but the patient doesn't know. Usually VS are WNL, might be a little tachy from anxiety or something. Upon assessment, everything just seems benign. So what do you do? Read

My New-Found Love For Nursing

Five years ago, I never dreamed of becoming a nurse. I wanted nothing to do with the medical world. Partly because my dad wanted me to be a Doctor and I didn't want to. Well, I did attend LPN school somewhat grudgingly because of the job prospects. A few months working in the nursing home and I totally hated the politics, impossible expectations and just plain victimization and lack of support. I thought, "this was such a huge mistake". When people asked, "when are you going back for your RN?", my answer was an emphatic "Never!". Read More...

A no good, very bad day: a vent, a rant, a plea for laughter.

Crash over emergent heart--dissected like hell during cannulation. Died on the table. No amount of blood product made so much as a dent. We worked so hard--I can't even put to words what the room was like--blood all over the floor, all over me, anesthesia--looked like a slaughter house--felt like a slaughter house. How hot the room was--so unbearably hot-- in order to help with clotting, bleeding, survival. I slipped on plege, tripped over the bypass tubing. Broke my left foot. Read

Ethical question...give their alcohol back or not?

Your patient is in your hospital department because they are either drunk (ER) or admitted for DT's (floor). You or a co-worker find a bottle of alcohol in your patients belongings. Do you... Read

Why is staff turnover considered bad?

I've read a lot of threads on this board. The collective wisdom of nurses here is amazing. However, there seems to be a common theme that I have been trying to figure out. Every time there is a job/career/management/interview related thread, people mention asking about staff turnover, implying that it is across-the-board bad. Read

Patient Preference Doesn't Affect Chemo in Advanced CRC

For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), most patients are treated with chemotherapy, even if they express negative or marginal preferences, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Cancer. Read

Not sure what to do. Licensed RN working as tech.

I'm losing skills and knowledge. I got a job as a tech at a hospital during nursing school for the sole purpose of working there as an RN once I graduated. Well I got written up earlier this year which prevented me from doing the new RN grad program. I had to wait six months before I could transfer or do anything. Well fast forward to this month, I get my RN license and my six month "probation" is up. I figure I'd start orienting as an RN but apparently that's not the case. I was told I would still have to work as an aide and wait for a position that I qualify for to show up. Thing is that the GN positions only pop up once a year. Read

8 or 12hr shifts?

I will be graduating soon from the ADN program and was thinking about jobs. If I get the option, what shift is better 8 or 12 hour shifts? Twelve hours might be nice to get it all over and have more days off, but it sounds like you would get burned out fast. Any ideas or personal experiences? Read