Hero Worship of Nurses: Misplaced

Time and time again, I see threads on this site along the lines of, "How could nurses be that way?" It seems many people, the general public, and students especially, believe that nurses are bastions of compassion, love, caring, sugar, spice and everything nice. Nurses are supposed to be infallible care-giving superheroes, called by a higher power to spread goodness, love, fairy dust and medication all over the world, 24/7. Nurses are supposed to be nurse-like when they're at home, at the grocery store, at the library, at dinner parties, driving on the freeway, and even when they're patients themselves. In other words, nurses are supposed to be saints. Read More

Launch of New Mobile Design

To accommodate our growing mobile users, we will be launching a new mobile only (for tablets/smartphones) design this Saturday morning, March 15.

Basically, allnurses.com will adapt to your mobile device viewport width. This means that allnurses.com will look different compared to when viewing via desktop computer. Some features will not be available when visiting allnurses.com via mobile device. For example, the sidebar will no longer be visible. The header/footer will look completely different, etc. Screenshots provided... Read More

[Toon] Wake Up! It's your day off.

Tired. Just tired. Are you getting enough sleep? Many are not. Look around you: the coworker who just walked into the door she's not getting enough sleep. I don't care how many cups of coffee she drinks - she needs sleep. Do you know of anyone who needs sleep? Please share your stories ... I'm sure we will LOL. Read More

Starting Pay Rates: Then and Now

I have been reading about wage rates for new grad nurses on allnurses.com. From what I have seen, it looks like LTC pay rates have gone DOWN, or remained the same since '08. Do you find this to be true? I was just offered a part time job at a (easy, well-staffed) LTC facility in OH paying $18/hr. There are other places that start out around 19-20.5, but they are more of a SNF+LTC pt load. Should I take this job even though it wont pay my bills? Read More

Where should I go if I want to start in the ICU as a new grad?

I will be graduating this May with a BSN in MN and I REALLY want to start off in the ICU. I've shadowed different ICUs and have picked the nurses brains so many times. I really think that it is for me. I know that it is harder to obtain a position in the ICU as a new grad, but I am willing to relocate and start off part time. My only preference would be to limit my search to compact states, but maybe also Cali So my question is: Are there states that are more likely to hire new grads in the ICU? Read More

Racial Refusals In Nursing

'Racial refusal' is a phrase that refers to the practice of patients and / or family members who refuse care from particular nurses, physicians, nursing assistants, techs and other types of healthcare workers due to the caregiver's racial-ethnic background. How does an individual deal with a racial refusal, and at the same time, maintain self-dignity in the face of a powerful race-based rejection?

I currently live in a part of the country where racial refusals take place with regularity. In fact, the specialty hospital where I am employed is presently attempting to accommodate the racially biased preferences of a patient who has requested that no black members of staff provide any care for her. Anyhow, these types of requests are normally accommodated... Read More

Any advice or words of wisdom for precepting new grad ER nurses?

I have precepted/oriented experience nurses before but I mostly served as a resource person and they were pretty much fine on their own without my help. To new grads in the ER, what has helped you? What do you look for in a preceptor? Read More

I got a job!!! Took 3.5 years!

It took almost 4 years. What a strange trip it has been. I can not even begin to describe the depths of despair I suffered over the last 4 years. Self-hatred, depression, suicidal ideation etc. However. . ..through that I have changed.

I am so humbled and grateful for the opportunity that my graduating class would have scoffed at just 4 years ago. Am I nervous?? GOD YES! I have not assessed a pt. in almost 4 years. But, I know I can do it. It will be rough I know. . ..but I can do it. Read More

Nursing Professional Development / Staff Development Coordinators

Nurse staff development coordinators (also known as directors of staff development) are multifaceted leaders who formulate educational tools that promote the proper onboarding, training, education and professional development of new hires and established members of nursing staff. Read More

Are you good at charting in "real time?"

Are you good at charting/documenting in "real time," that is getting your assessments and vitals charted close to the time you actually do them instead of catching up with charting hours later at the nursing station? Any tips for how to do this successfully without delaying the rest of your care? Are you faster at documenting than all your co-workers, and if so, any tips? Read More

Legally Protect the word "Nurse?"

Should the word "nurse" be a legally protected title? I am mixed on it. Personally, the word nurse is vague and could mean many different things. It could mean an LPN and it could mean an RN. It does not signify a credential. However, a lot of people assume nurse = RN. Read More