i got into a fight at a mall a year ago and i was just about to enter school for nursing... can i become a nurse now? i got a felony battery (two charges) against an elderly person and it's nolle prosequi after i did pti... is it still possible to become licensed in florida?

Need recommendations! I am a unit educator/NPD practitioner and I am trying to build resources for our nurses to take their CMSRN. Does anyone have recommendations for CMSRN study books? Study apps? Anything? Haha. Our hospital offers e-review courses but some of the staff want more. TIA

I’m in the last semester of my ADN program and for clinicals we have the opportunity to go down to the ED. The ED at this hospital is the only level 1 trauma center for 90 miles, so we get to see some pretty cool stuff. Before this semester, I have only been on med-surg units where there weren’t a lot of opportunities to practice skills besides catheters and med pass. First day in the ED, I put in 2 IVs, an OG, foley, and got to see a couple level 1 traumas.

I’ve been 4 times now and today I messed up a lot. The nurse had to practically guide me into the vein for my only IV insertion. I didn’t push the vial of Zosyn in all the way and when I shook it, it exploded all over my face and in the pts bed. Had to be babysat through an in and out cath. Pushed an (empty) stretcher forcefully through the trauma bay doors because I couldn’t find the button to open the doors.

I feel stupid after today and kind of scared to start my nursing job once I graduate. Are these mistakes and this feeling of stupidity normal for new grads/senior nursing students?

I’m not a nurse, merely a now-former inpatient hospital oncology unit volunteer. Back in February, I overdosed on my own blood pressure pills due to a mental health crisis, then, stupidly, came into my shift — hoping to still have a good day and connect with my coworkers, which I really needed that day. Within minutes into my shift, I felt something was seriously wrong, not just mild side effects as expected, and told my PCT coworker than I was dizzy. They took my blood pressure. My blood pressure had tanked to 55/29.

That was the last time I ever saw most of my coworkers (except the ones who visited me in the ICU), who I loved and who loved me. I was, understandably and unfortunately, fired from the volunteer position after the incident. I regret my actions every day, and there’s nobody to blame but myself. I had worked there for a year and a few months. My coworkers (nurses, PCTs, unit clerks) and bosses (nurse managers) on the unit would frequently tell my volunteer coordinator how much they loved me, even stopping her in the hallway several times to “rave about me” (as per the way my volunteer coordinator described their interactions).

I learned from my mistakes, radically accepted that it happened & I can’t change the past, attended 6 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy (which focused on crisis prevention & management, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, depression, and various other things) & it helped immensely.

I know it’s my fault and nobody else is to blame. I made a stupid decision that day, and now, I may never get to see my former coworkers again. One of them said I should visit them at the hospital, but I’m wondering if that’s allowed or if you can only visit if you’re visiting a patient? Many expressed that they’re really disappointed I won’t be returning as a volunteer on the unit, as they vouched for me and supported my return. The position gave me the purpose and connection I desperately needed after having moved 2,000 miles across the country away from all my family and friends. It breaks my heart to think I’ll never see the people who mean so much to me, even though it’s my fault.

I’d love to thank my coworkers for one of the most meaningful and memorable years of my life, tell them how much they meant to me, and have them see me now that I’m in better condition physically and psychologically.

Is there any way I could visit my former coworkers on the unit? Who should I ask about it? My former volunteer coordinator no longer works there; she quit a few months after this incident. And the new volunteer coordinator is the one who delivered the news to me that I was fired, and they were very stern about it. So I don’t know if I could ask them for anything.

Hi everyone, I’m a university student conducting research on age-tech adoption and home safety for vulnerable adults. I’m hoping to get some frontline clinical perspective from practitioners who see how these devices actually perform in the real world.
Thank you, please get in touch if you’re willing to answer any questions 😁😁

After two years of working as an inpatient wound care nurse, I started in the ICU two weeks ago. Orienting as a new ICU nurse is challenging under the best of circumstances and I certainly didn’t do myself any favors by starting after two years away from traditional bedside nursing. Not only am I learning a bunch of new critical care stuff, I’m also having to remember how to do basic clinical skills, which after two years of disuse are rusty as hell. Here are some fun things that have happened over the last two weeks:

Forgot all about “blue to the shoe” when priming plum pump tubing and went through multiple sets trying to figure out why it kept telling me cassette test failure.

Was mixing effervescent potassium in a sample cup and for some stupid reason I put the lid on and shook it and it exploded and sprayed potassium water all over me and the floor.

Was spiking a saline bag to prime the Belmont infuser and sprayed saline all over myself and the floor (this was in a learning environment so fortunately no one was bleeding out while I took a saline shower)

Got blood return doing my first IV start in two years then promptly blew the vein.

Pushed RSI meds and got yelled at by the intensivist who was convinced I was pushing the meds wrong (I wasn’t- the patient was large and required a large dose of etomidate which had been drawn up into two 10 ml syringes. So with the roc I had a total of three syringes and he was expecting two. Can’t really hold this against him🤷‍♀️)

Patient was crashing and I spiked a bag of saline to put in a pressure bag for a bolus. While priming the tubing I somehow managed to get it tangled up in a ridiculous knot which I had to rapidly untangle so we could get the fluids in the patient. (patient got the fluids and ended up stabilizing)

I’m sure there’s more lol. Bless my preceptor, he’s been so incredibly patient and supportive. Literally everyone on the unit has been so welcoming and supportive and has sought me out whenever there’s a procedure or intubation so I can help out and learn. I feel so grateful to have been hired into a place with good people and a good culture. Yeah I’ve made some dumb mistakes which fortunately haven’t hurt anyone (ok maybe they hurt my pride a little) but not a single person has said or done anything to make me feel stupid (or stupider than I already feel on my own). I knew this was going to be a challenge and I knew there would be a long chunk of time where I felt dumb and like I know nothing. But I also know I won’t always feel this way. I knew my last job just wasn’t right for me. I was craving more stimulation and critical thinking and god knows I’m getting it. I know two weeks in is early to say this, but I strongly feel I made the right choice and that this is where I belong. All this is to say, if you’ve been feeling stuck and considering a career change I think you should go for it. One of the great things about this profession is the fact that there are so many different paths to choose from. You’re never as stuck as you think you are.

Will I get fired over this?
I’m a new grad RN and have been working on a Med-Surg/Telemetry floor for about 6 months.
Two nights ago, I had a patient with cancer. During report, the day shift nurse didn’t mention that the patient had a fentanyl patch. I completed my assessment, including changing the patient’s diaper when she had a bm, but I never noticed a fentanyl patch on the patient’s back. Since it wasn’t mentioned in report, I also wasn’t specifically looking for one.
The next morning, after I got home, my manager messaged me asking if I had seen a fentanyl patch on that patient. I told her I hadn’t. She then asked who I got report from and whether they had told me about the patch. I explained that they hadn’t mentioned it, and I never saw it during my shift.
I’m friends with the CNA I worked with that night, so I asked her if she had seen a patch. She told me she remembered seeing one on the patient’s lower left back, covered with a Tegaderm dressing. I relayed that information, along with the approximate time she had seen it, to my manager.
My manager responded that the patient probably scratched it off and thanked me for helping.
Even though she didn’t seem upset, I can’t stop worrying. I feel like I should have caught it by reviewing the MAR more carefully, and now I’m questioning whether my skin assessment was thorough enough. I honestly don’t know when the patch went missing, it could have come off during my shift, or it may have happened after I left since my manager didn’t contact me until around 4 p.m.
This was actually my first patient with a fentanyl patch, so I’m not very familiar with the documentation and monitoring involved.
Do you think this is something I could get fired over, or is it more likely that they’ll just use it as a learning opportunity and maybe review the expectations with me? Should I personally approach my manager to talk about it or wait till they approach me?

Weighing my options for another job and I wanted to see if anyone had experience with Shiftmed? What does their onboarding process look like? Do you have a recruiter? Just somewhat confused by the process and looking for some insight

So I work at a hospital as a PNA ( psychiatric nurse assistant. I was on direct observation with a client . The patient was unscrewing a screw from the door and I did my best to verbally de escalate her into giving me the screw . I honestly didn’t know that in this case I could grab her hand / initiate contact to get the screw from the patient . I hit my badge but my badge was in my pocket and I found out later that’s why it didn’t go off . I called for help and the nurse came over to assist , she still refused to give up the screw . Other staff also came to assist me with getting the screw from her When security came and asked for the screw that’s when she swallowed it unfortunately . I had an interview with APS & patient relations about my mistake , I explained truthfully what happened. I also explained that I didn’t call for help when a staff walked by because I didn’t want to escalate her further , I wrote everything that happened on the investigation form as it happened

I made a huge mistake , I honestly didn’t mean to neglect a patient . I’ve been there for 10 months and I’ve never had any type of interaction or complaint . I explained that I didn’t call my best to talk her into giving me the screw.

This is my fault %100

They also stated that the final decision is made by the CEO

I just hope I get another chance but I’m probably fired aren’t I ?

I’ve been a nurse for less than 6 months and i really hate my current nursing job. I was so excited to become a nurse, after my preceptorship I just hate going to work now. I feel inadequate as a nurse, i don’t feel supported as a new nurse and going to work makes me feel anxious and sad because I don’t feel like I know what i’m doing, and when I ask for help from more experienced nurses they treat me as if i’m a bother, or if i should know all of these things even though i’ve been a nurse for a couple of months. My last day of preceptorship, i asked my preceptor to go in the patients room with me just to make sure i was performing a skill correctly and she refused and stated i need to be more independent. I just feel stressed and find myself wanting to escape whenever i’m not at work. Is there easier during jobs than being bedside for new nurses?

for those who have already taken the exam, did you feel the questions reflected situations you actually encounter in clinical practice or were there certain topics that seemed much more heavily emphasized than they are in day to day patient care?

looking back, were there areas you wish you'd spent more time studying because they appeared more often than expected or topics you thought would be a major focus that barely showed up at all?

TIA and excited to read any answers !! <3

I just got an offer for a job I genuinely think I’ll be a great fit for and it sounds really good but it’s night shift 7p-7a. I currently work days and I’m a morning person I love the sun and the daytime.

Is it possible to switch and enjoy days off? How do you make time to see your loved ones who work 9-5 shifts?

Okay so I’m working for a company of which I will not name. I have been getting paid 75% of my per visit rate because that is their training policy. Plus it’s being paid hourly until the “training period” is over. Okay, FINE. However, this training doesn’t feel like training. I’ve been seeing patients alone for about 3 weeks now. It started off mild about 2-4 patients a day. Now I have a full patient load BY MYSELF. Im managing my own patients and charting independently. How does this mean I’m still training? Of course I still have questions every now and then, but that’s nursing. Is this normal?

I was putting in an IV on someone's hand and there was a mole right on top of the vein further up the path. When I got to the mole part I met a little resistance so I pushed a little harder and I got through, IV flushed and good blood return. Did I just bust through the mole and put potentially cancerous cells into this ladies body? Did I just doom them?

EDIT: They made it out of the procedure and are ok... FOR NOW. I'll give an update if they ever come back.

Hi Seattle Nurses!

I’m curious if there are any Fred Hutch nurses here, especially in outpatient infusion or oncology.

I actually love my current job, but I’m exploring my options and would love to hear what it’s like to work at Fred Hutch. The good, the bad, anything you’d be willing to share about the culture, management, workload, scheduling, or benefits.

Thanks!

I’ve been a nurse now for about year and a half - over a year on a med surg floor and now a few months working a per diem outpatient PACU job. I left my full time position because the ratios were killing me - 7 patients on day shifts- and I was ready to try something, anything else. While my OP PACU job has been a welcome change, I am getting called in once, maybe twice, a week. I knew I’d be working less hours, but I didn’t think I’d be working only 6-10 hours a week either. For the last few months, I have applied to every position I can find that’s per diem- from inpatient, to home health, outpatient clinics, SNFs, etc. and I can’t even get one interview.

I know I don’t qualify for critical care or inpatient PACU until I at least have a year in my current job, but rn I can’t even land a per diem med surg job. I’ve even considered working outside of the nursing field, but all my work experience has been within healthcare (phlebotomy, CNA). I knew I took a risk leaving my stable full time job, but honestly I didn’t think I would be working 6 hours a week on average either, and I also didn’t know it would be this difficult to get another per diem job. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

When you get home when do you wake up when do you eat I feel like what I really need to improve my schedule. what is your routine when you get home from your shift. Trying to do back to back night shifts absolutely drain me

Is anyone else having trouble with the Maryland BON? I am trying to get my license to DC but Nursys doesn't have their updated data. Has anyone had success getting licensed for DC from Maryland?

I work in addiction and it’s an admission PA who works with a LPN who also does admissions.

He is always involved with drama. Whenever the admissions nurse doesn't like anyone he gives them hell. It’ll be an email chain and I will apply to it, she’ll go in and repeat after me and then he’ll chime in and says as “admission nurse stated.” He was caught screaming and talking about another nurse and she heard him. He told the director it was him or the other nurse. They fired her. He was on my LinkedIn account twice looking at my profile. They keep certain things away so we can’t do our jobs and nothing is done about it. When he’s on call he doesn’t answer. Only for her. When you ask for an order he has slick remarks. I try to avoid them both but it’s really sickening and becoming toxic. He acts like a teenager girl.

Any Maine nurses here?? Travelers and staff! A few questions…

How do you like working in Maine? What kind of practice do you work in? What is the starting pay for new grad rn? Considering my options for staying in Maine or not.

Hello everyone,

Im looking for some advice and guidance please. I am a newer nurse (4+ years experience) but definitely not a new graduate. I’ve recently moved to NYC from south NJ and I’m struggling to find a job. I’m not particular about the unit although I do prefer psych or medsurg as my experience is in that area. I also have experience in med-psych. As of now, I have been applying for well over two months and have gotten rejected from fourteen jobs and was only granted one interview. I’m looking for any advice. I recently redid my resume, updated my LinkedIn, I’m in grad school…does anyone have any insight as to what I can do to boost chances? Thank you all!

I typically don't do things like this, and I don't know what I was thinking. I am very sorry for what I’ve done. Please be gentle. I am pretty shaken up by this whole experience.

A few weeks ago, I accessed my deceased relatives chart. They have been gone for 6 years. After one particularly bad shift, I stayed after work (still clocked in) and was finishing up some leftover charting. Basically, (maybe due to unresolved grief and stupidity), I went into my deceased relatives chart. And printed out progress notes to keep, but I discarded it.

A few weeks later, I get notified by two compliance officers, the HR director, and my nursing director that there will be a meeting. I attend the meeting. I told the truth (mostly) about what I did. I did not tell the truth about what I did with the papers. There was a second meeting the next day, and they told me they couldn’t find the papers. I came clean and let them know I ripped them up and threw them away in the trash cans near the nursing desk (bad move, I know).

The HR director is throwing the book at me. They want me to write a statement for the CNO. I am suspended to work until they are done investigating. They let me know I need to come back in later and talk to the CNO, where they most likely will report me to my state’s nursing board.

I have been a nurse for 7 years and have never gotten in trouble to this extent before in my life. I’ve never hurt a patient. I’ve never messed with any patient’s scheduled or controlled meds. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to deal with this hospital any longer. Not because of this incident, because they’ve been treating us nurses like garbage lately unless you’re one of the director’s favorites.

I understand what I’ve done wrong and I have been honest with the investigating administrators. I will never do this again. I have been placed on suspension, and they want a statement from me to go to the CNO and another meeting. I haven’t gotten to that point yet.I am considering contacting an attorney before I go any further.

Please help me. Should I quit? Should I cooperate? Should I get an attorney? I don’t know what to do. I am terrified. Please send advice. I am using a throwaway account, and I am typing on my phone. So apologies for the grammatical errors.

TLDR Got caught accessing my deceased family members chart. Violated HIPPA and need advice.

Hi! I was just wondering if anybody here has worked as a patient observation technician. If you have, what can I expect and how difficult or stressful is it from what I have seen it doesn’t seem like a difficult or stressful job. Obviously, you need to be keeping an eye on the patients, but I would appreciate more information, please! Especially if there’s any particular difference with working a day or an evening shift.

Pros? Cons? How’s your schedule? Weekends? On call? I’m intrigued!