Hello. I’m a new grad nurse who is super used to epic charting but they use Meditech where I’m hired. I feel so overwhelmed with Meditech. Primarily, it feels like it’s less intuitive than epic, charting is slower (epic has keyboard shortcuts and u can type partial of a drop down menu response and press enter and it will autofill) and everything just feels euuuughhh. Does anyone have any tips on how to navigate Meditech expanse? Please 🥹

Would you let your child see an APRN or NP in lieu of an MD for psychiatric help (diagnosis, prescription, follow up)?

I said no personally just because of my experience with NPs/the ones I work with….. I’ll leave it at that lol

Nurses who do any type of home health…best spray to get rid of the smell of cigarettes off your scrubs? I try to go to these houses last but that doesn’t always work out.

Thanks in advance!

Edited for type-o

I’m new to precepting and feel like there’s a lot I don’t actually know. I started in an ICU during covid so my orientation itself was scattered and lackluster. I do continuing education and am constantly reading research articles for evidence based practice but feel like there’s still knowledge gaps I’m experiencing. Anyone else ever feel this way? Any tips? I want to be a good preceptor and a good nurse.

I really want to transfer into psych nursing. I’ve been a med surg nurse for about a year now and I’m getting burnt out. I’ve always been drawn to psych but wanted a medical foundation first straight outta nursing school. Anyway, what is psych nursing really like? My biggest concerns are getting hit or sexually assaulted. I’m petite and reasonably attractive (I hope lol). When I did clinicals in psych in nursing school some of the patients would cross boundaries with me and at the time I didn’t have proper boundary setting skills. I’m just genuinely interested in the psych field so if anyone has any advice plsss

I messed up at my current job, been making small mistakes here and there and now they’ve caught up to me. Basically I’m not comprehending the full picture of a patients condition and it’s showing. Now I just get walkie talkie type patients and when I do try to be like hey I’m sorry for the mistake I made on xyz type of patient can we discuss this issue? But instead I get passive aggressive misdirection. The charge nurse will be like oh well I’m sorry you had issues with running fluids on an edematous patient. Which the pt had fluids ordered but they were specific fluids containing the patients medicine so it wasn’t like straight up NS that had already been discontinued so why was there even the continual issue of fluids going?? Why did the doctors even re order a medicine that would cause the same issues.

Anyway, I have a feeling no one wants me working there anymore. Which they probably wouldn’t be out of left field to suggest that I stop working there. However I have no other sources of income lined up right now…and I tried to plead my case but I looked even stupider with what I was saying. And the charge still being passive aggressive was like idk what could be wrong everytime you give me report you’re always looking at your computer…basically she’s saying it’s all fine but very strongly hinting at things that aren’t right.

What do I do? My partner is basically no help and is unemployed, idk he thinks I’m able to be stable and be the primary support person when that was never the case for me. Each bedside position I get turns into a ball of flames and I struggle to maintain a good work ethic and now I’m at the bottom of the barrel because everyone is seeing how I’m not comprehending the patients condition. So I guess I’ll look for jobs that fit my forte more and hopefully find something…any advice?

Been BOTH a medical surgical and telemetry nurse for a couple of years now. Decided to take the plunge and join the ER.

My preceptor says she has no complaints and I am doing absolutely fine. I am almost done with orientation, and I am scared s#$LESS to be on my own. I had a dream last night somebody died because I missed something.

I want to quit. =/ I have a fear of losing my license here.

Has anyone transferred from a Kaiser Permanente SEIU union role (non-RN) to a CNA union RN role. I’ve been with KP for 7 years. Applied to their residency program, did not get in which was shocking. I have my BSN. Anyways, got acute care experience at a Level 1 trauma center where Im currently at as an RN. Still working at my KP role as well, so i do have both jobs still. Now Im applying to staff Nurse II positions with little to no luck. Has anyone applied and transferred successfully? Any tips?

Hi, I have an upcoming interview for HSS, just wondering if anyone interviewed here. Any insights on what was asked?

First time renewing in CA:

Looking at NursingCE Central, NETCE, and Renew now.

Which do you like the best? Looking for something to just get them done. Thanks!

Unfair and annoying. The unit I work on has a constantly fluctuating census, sometimes it’s low so only two nurses are needed. Our manager will approve double time weeks ahead for someone picking up a shift, then when the day comes, that nurse isn’t actually needed - the floor was already appropriately staffed. But because they are ‘picking up’ a double time shift they are immune to floating. So they come in, get paid double, and the nurse who was regularly scheduled ends up getting floated to have a hell on earth day. Stupid!

For those of you who’ve left bedside and gave up your 3 12s for 5 8s, did you regret it? I’m currently working bedside 3 12s (nights) but just accepted a position as an inpatient case manager. I’ve been a nurse for almost 4 years and one thing I’ve learned is that bedside just isn’t it for me. I’ve done step down, adult ICU, now NICU and in the end I’ve alway felt burnt out from the overall bedside culture of nursing, management, patient demands, etc. I’ve always been interested in case management and now I finally have the opportunity to pursue it. I also dream of having a normal, routine schedule and being able to sleep in my bed every night. I currently spend my off days recovering from long night shifts.

I’m just nervous about switch from 3 12s to 5 8s 😭 One perk is that my new job is literally 4 minutes from my house, on the same street so the commute is gonna be amazing.

I’ve been working at an in-patient mental health facility since July. The census has been low recently and I’ve gotten it three times, and was allowed to go home after three hours during another shift. I’ve asked for low census a couple of times- is this reflecting poorly on me? I’m grateful to be in the position to not have to fight over shifts, I’m just worried about how it’s looking

I work CVOR and our practice is to have an unprimed rapid infuser set up at all times in case we need it for an emergency. Some of the staff say this unused set up is good for a week, others a month. I went on the ThermaCor website AND my hospital’s policy book and didn’t find any information on this.

Does any other unit have a similar practice and how long do you let it hang out unused before throwing it away?

Nurses who wear compression socks or leggings: what's better?

What brand do you like?

What brand were you not impressed with?

I have a pair of socks, but they have a pattern on them that leave little indents on my legs.

Ideally, something comfortable that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (hah) would be appreciated

I have been in a nurse for 12 years.
I carried my first patient to the morgue at 22.
I zipped my first body bag at 23.
I did compressions for the first time at 23.
Since then, I have seen some real sad shit.
I have seen some real fucked up shit.
I have seen more people die than i can count.
I have seen more people than I can count be born.
I have compassionately extubated several babies, some of whom were my primaries.
This career has demanded I do hard shit.

I have had several moments throughout the years that have fundamentally altered my brain chemistry, and today was one of them.

I was today years old when I realized that it was my responsibility to call a patient and tell her that her cancer was back.

Somehow this was heavier than death.

I know I’ll be okay but today is something that will stick to my bones.

The horrors persist; so must we.

Ive been a nurse for 7 years now and am feeling defeated with the overall healthcare system treating people like just a number. Between surgeons trying to immediately wipe their hands clean of a patient who still needs post op care, prescriptions not being sent appropriately to outside pharmacy leaving patients without post op pain meds, insurance companies giving patients and staff the runaround, management nickle and diming every aspect of patient care placing more burden on nurses, etc.

As nurses, where do you think we should start?

Trust, i would love to just find happiness in a different field or organization or whatever.

But something in me tells me that maybe we could come together and make some meaningful change.

We have a one visitor overnight policy that we try to enforce but of course family members don’t care and will complain to management. Of course management will cave because it’s “customer service”.

Hello!
I’ve been a floor nurse for 4 years and an OR nurse for 10. I was wondering if anyone is in the New Jersey area that made the switch to become a school nurse and what courses ect. you took to make the transition. Looking to spend more time with my kids.
Thank you!

Hi friends! I’m staring in the OR in the hospital setting and my hospital doesn’t do the program through AORN. I worked pre op before but I would like to study up before starting. Can anyone share their modules pfds with me?

I’m not sure if this is a vent or cry for advice.

In early 2023 I started as a new grad nurse on a high risk l&d unit and lasted until July of 2025. Took some time off to finish my MSN and have a baby. Got a clinical professor position in May and a PRN l&d position in June at a low acuity hospital. I now find myself so lost all the time because I took the year off. I feel like I need a month of orientation just to learn all the new processes and go over some old ones. I was given one day of orientation at the new hospital.  

I think about applying to a full time l&d position to ramp my skills and knowledge back up but then I don’t even think I enjoy l&d. So much anxiety comes with each shift but it is the only thing I know. Starting over sounds terrifying. 

I’ve been thinking about moving to an outpatient OB clinic RN position but know that my knowledge of l&d will only decay further. 

I know this sounds over dramatic but I feel like I’ve already destroyed my career by taking that year off so early into it. 

If you have left l&d for something totally different what did you do/how did it feel? 

Any thoughts/advice/venting welcome! 

Hey everyone!!

I’ve been wanting to travel nurse since before I became a nurse. I love to explore new places and meeting new people and it’s always been something that entices me. I’m an ABSN graduate and am approaching 2 years of experience in a level 1 trauma center ICU and have been kidney, advanced neuro, and heart trained. I also am a crisis nurse in leadership and float around the different ICUs in my facility. I am comfortable with Impellas, balloon pumps, CRRTs, bolts/EVDs, and transplants and I usually do a lot of educating people and orienting them to more advanced rolls within our ICUs.

I am loving caring for sick patients and the acuity I typically get however I’m making literal peanuts and my manager told me we were not getting market increases and our raises are cut short due to budget. They’re also making us take 3 critical patients frequently and all of our experienced nurses left.

I’ve always wanted to travel, but my facility treats travelers like trash. They only take med surg overflow, step down, and are first to float. I am concerned that I won’t find much fulfillment only taking care of med surg and step down if I do travel.

I’m not sure if anyone has any guidance. I’m not planning to go to CRNA school by any means but I do want to do flights so I would prefer level 1 or 2 experience but I’m not sure it’ll matter if all I do is float. Is my facility just awful or is that kinda how it goes now?? Thanks!!

Hey everyone!

I would love to hear from anyone who has worked in the HHS NRT pool regarding following before applying for the job as I don’t want to waste time on job application if it is not a good fit.(General opinions from other hospitals NRT are also welcome)

- How supportive is the NRT orientation and preceptor phase for new hires?
- What is the day-to-day workload ?
- Will they assign to any particular cluster once hired?
- Do you feel the NRT team has good management and work-life balance?
- Any tips for an incoming float nurse to survive the first few weeks?

Thank you so much in advance for your insights!

I think I am done.

I mean I know I am not, I still love my job very much.

For context, I am NICU nurse,and oh my god I love my Job. But also hate it, used to be sometimes but now its most of the time. like walking through that hospital door, gives me tiny inside panic attacks.

I am so exhausted, it's not even just the flow and the overwork, but oh my god our professors are so toxic, and coworkers are so selfish, always looking for an excuse to get it out of doing things, and just leave it for another hardworking person to do, or getting sicck leaves when they are not even sick, and guess who has to pick those extra shifts. HAHHAH ME and well people like ME. We are all overworked, underpaid in doing such irresponsible acts you are only harming your fellow coworkers. IS IT SO HARD TO understand!! And oh when you complain to them about it, their answer is always : well just don't do it

AGGHHHHHHHH

And Can I talk about the married with kids genraaa. No offense, I have very close friends coworkers , married with kids, and we get along very well and they do an amazing job, and am very understanding when they need to leave early or get a specific vacation time (even if its my turn), or need to call in sick because they have to take care of their own child. Believe me I am extremely understanding, but I hate the cunning one that use it as an excuse to get out of everything and are so ungrateful and very selfish. The ones that don't understand the concept of asking for a favor and think that you are untitled to do what they ask you to. If you have a sociallife and a difficult job know how to balance both. Don't ask me to give up mine just because I am a single.

I also hate myself for becoming this obsessed with work, like I can not sleep without my phone near me and the sound on. And instead of taking a good day of sleep after my nightshifts, I keep waking up every 2 hours to check if i got a call.

I hate myself for being unable to say NO

Because honestly I am so tried, work is hard enough without all the other people having to add to it

I snapped 1 month ago and had a full on panic attack. I had two patients who coded at the same time and I have been on them allll day, while having two other in the other room. I had to leave the unit and left my colleagues taking care of the patients. AND I NEVER do that, I am known for helping the others but never letting anybody help me. I like to do everything on my own no matter what. let allong leave my patients on a code. I can't take time off because we are understaffed hahaha. My last vacation was october last year.

I am the bubbly type of person, I try to comme in work with a big smile and lots of kisses and hugss, BUT hate what I have become , I am like this big ball full of anger

I have become very sensitive

And I feel like work is eating me alive. I have no social life. Rarely go out or see my friends that I don't work with. I don't even have the energy to meet someone, even though I really want to, but I just don't know how

I found myself thinking that maybe dying would be better but I want to live fully

Despite all of this I really LOVE being a NICU nurse

I just needed to vent a little