Nurses talk to Nurses, Doctors talk to Doctors

Nurses talk to Nurses and Doctors talk to Doctors, is this a general understanding of the circle of life within your health care facility? Or is it true to think that Doctors can express their discontent of a nurse but it is not considered acceptable for this to be reciprocated.

Unbelievable within the 21st century America that nurses are unable to talk to doctors about the way they behave or their attitude. Is this because we are a female dominated profession or because we are considered the second class citizens of health care professionals? Read More

INDIAN HEALTH CAREERS - An uncommon path for uncommon people

Some careers in nursing are simply more rewarding than others. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an innovative, dynamic, nationwide organization of dedicated public health professionals who are considerate in their care, creative in their approach and enthusiastic about their work. IHS nurses are eligible to apply for the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP), which repays qualified health profession educational loans - up to $40,000 (plus up to $8,000 in tax allocations) - in exchange for an initial two-year service commitment at an eligible site. Contact ihsrecruiters@ihs.gov or visit ihs.gov/loanrepayment

Should hospital provide and launder scrubs?

I'm looking for feedback re: Does your ED mandate a particular color uniform? Who launders your scrubs? Who pays for your scrubs? ED staff is exposed to more blood and body fluids than any other dept. My dept. currently requires black scrubs, that we are to purchase, and launder. Thus, we are transporting biohazardous materials home in our cars, whether we wear them home or change at work. Then, some of us stop at the grocery or drycleaners in our biohazards. Then, we place the biohazards in our regular Kenmore, with our family's laundry. Just curious if anyone else is dealing with this. Read More

Share your Job Fair experience...

Have you been to any job fairs lately? Have a story to share? What worked and what didn't? Read More

Why are MD's preceptors?

I was just wondering why MD's are preceptors in the NP program? At my hospital, there are always NP students following around the MDs. I'm not saying I'm unhappy about it - there are some doctors I know I could learn a LOT from, it just surprises me. You'd think NP's would be preceptors for NP's? Read More

Is getting an MSN worth it?

I have a BSN and have been working as a critical care RN for 6 years. I applied to get my MSN online and waiting for my acceptance letter. As I wait for it, I'm wondering if I'm getting my MSN for the right reason. I don't really know what my goal is. All I know is that getting an MSN helps me advance my career, but I am not even sure exactly what I want to do. All I know is I want to work in public health with refugees/immigrants or the elderly population. Read More

Medical Volunteer @ a Marathon

Given the recent tragic events at the Boston Marathon yesterday, I have been motivated to volunteer as a medical personnel at upcoming marathons near me. Has anyone done this? Please share your experience, thank you! Read More

Salary and pay question for new NP

I'm currently an RN/BSN working on med/ surg floor my pay as PRN if I work fulltime meaning 3 days a week I would take home after taxes roughly 35k. I'm cutting the hour and going back to school BSN-DNP. My pay now is nearly to nothing. My husband doesn't want me to work while going to school. He wants me to focus and not fail. I want to keep working maybe little bit not entirely quitting. Now my initial thought were darn if I can work the same amount of hours now and get pay twice as much with NP I would be happy. Now I don't know what the project pay is for FNP with DNP. Can anybody give me some number? Read More

Is there any truth to this?

I sometimes have people insist they are feverish when they aren't based on what they state their baseline temp is. "Well, I usually am 96.5 so YOU may not think 98.6 is a fever but for me it is". I have only ever had females make this type of statement and to be honest it has always been a patient who is difficult to care for in other ways. I do not want to dismiss it out off hand but my gut reaction is pretty much an inward eye roll. Is there any basis for this claim that anyone knows of? Read More!

Quo Vadis?

Life, as my grandmother used to say is a very odd little duck......you live through five or six decades, fashioning an existence that (hopefully) reflects your values, and learning to be at peace with who you are and where you're going. Then suddenly "stuff" gets real, and you find yourself standing at a crossroads where you're given a list of choices as to where you want to go next; the only option you don't have is staying where you are.

I just arrived at that intersection yesterday. And I already hate it here.

For some time now, I've been battling a personal issue that I've realized---too late---really does affect my work, no matter how much I wish it weren't so or how often I've denied it. Now it's developed a new wrinkle that is likely going to cost me my job in the short run, and perhaps my career as well: I've developed work-related anxiety attacks. Read More...

I'm new, will they be mad if I go full to part time right away?

I just started a new job and I'm almost done with orientation about to be on my own next week, I haven't had the best experience at this new job because my supervisor told me she can tell I don't like my job that much. I tried to smile at her and not say anything but she is proably right, I've set my eyes on premed which will mean I need to go part time for now. Do you think they will be mad since I'm fairly new if I go to part time even though they hired me full time? I hope they will be understanding why I'm doing it. Read More

What quotations help you get through the day?

I'm starting my first hospital job and am in the training program right now. Since I started nursing school I've found myself collecting quotations that help me get through the day. For all you veteran (and new) nurses, I'm wondering what quotes help you focus, vent, relax, or whatever. Not necessarily looking for quotes specifically mentioning nursing, but instead about life in general. Here are some I've collected so far... Read More