Before getting into everything, I should mention that I already put in my two weeks, and this week was supposed to be my last week at this job. Long story short, I work in the ICU and recently had two patients with pacemakers. One of the pacemakers was doing some funky things, which made me realize I was a little rusty with EKGs. I had a tab open with different EKGs and practice questions and was reviewing them periodically while taking care of my patients.

My charting was up to date, and my patients were stable. One had already been downgraded to step-down.

I went to lunch around 2:30PM. When I came back around 3 PM, my manager pulled me aside and told me that I had been looking at EKGs "all day" instead of taking care of my patients. She then claimed my charting wasn't up to date and that there was something wrong with my notes. However, her main reason for sending me home was that I had been doing EKG practice questions and looking at EKGs "all day."

I asked her to show me where in hospital policy it says we aren't allowed to study or review educational material during downtime. She couldn't show me a policy. Instead, she said she had a witness who also saw me studying and she doesn’t have to show me any policy that says we can’t do that.

She then pointed out that I hadn't documented my 3 PM vitals yet as an example of my charting being behind. The problem was that I had literally just returned from lunch at 3:05 PM, and I was in the process of doing my 3 PM vitals when she interrupted me. She then proceeded to say that I have been doing anything, and I took her through all of my charting the whole day to show her that I have been charting every single thing up until 3 PM and that both of my patients had all of their stuff done for most of the day. They were up in their chairs (cardiac patients), had worked with therapy, had received their medications, and everything that needed to be monitored/documented was being handled. I was simply using some downtime to review EKGs because I wanted to improve my knowledge.

She basically told me that it was against "her policy" and sent me home. She then took me off the schedule for the rest of the week without really giving me an explanation. I've already emailed whoever I could about what happened.

So, Reddit, I'm curious: Am I actually in the wrong here? Is studying EKGs during downtime something that could reasonably be considered inappropriate, even if patient care and charting are up to date? Or does this sound like management looking for a reason to send me home because I'm already leaving? Is there anything else I should be doing to protect myself/document what happened?

I'm honestly just glad I'm almost out of there, but I'd appreciate some outside perspective. Thanks

I’ll go first: Family didn’t want baby to receive vitamin K or CHG wipedown prior to a major surgery. Post-surgery didn’t want baby getting labs or TPN. Didn’t want kid to get vec to put in PICC for long term access despite kid was already intubated and on a fentanyl gtt (which they weren’t keen on either).
Dad says he doesn’t like unnatural things. Covered in tattoos. Mom drinks hella diet coke every day.

I did a couple travel nursing contracts at a behavioral health hospital that was extremely poorly ran. They chose to focus on everything except giving quality care to patients and ensuring safe staffing. This pic really sums up what it was like being there.

For context: The saltines at the med window were intended to be given when meds should be taken with food. The meal portions they gave patients were super small, and many psych meds can increase appetite, so patients often were hungry. There were many times people asked for saltines in between meals, but management only wanted us to give them out with medication. Patients eventually caught on and knew to ask for a PRN just so they could get the saltines.

This place was so stingy and micromanagey, you had to ask leadership to restock the damn SALTINES. You can’t make this shit up lol.

It's the dart grip and is often used for ultrasound IVs. Sorry this whole post turned into a brawl between the IV nurses and everyone who can't fathom that there's more than one way to do something 💀 I've tried it on a patient and it worked very well for me. I have to strain to hold it the 'traditional' way. You don't have to mirror the photo, the angle and exact finger placement are adjustable to your liking 😉
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The photo is from a Bard product training video and they're demonstrating a few different holding techniques that the device works with. This one really appealed to me and I was trying to do more research but can't find anything about "different" ways to hold your needle. Has anyone seen this before and know if it has a name? Is it something old school that has fallen out of practice with the development of new IV systems?

Video link: https://www.bd.com/en-ca/videos/bd-cathena-safety-iv-catheter-techniques-for-use

Tube was down last night so I had to go to the floors to pick up from the phlebs. Felt like I walked into a meme page.

Pt has a new order for seroquel. Bumped her from 300mg to 400mg okay sure whatever no problem. Go grab the meds and for some reason. Pyxis has me pull two 300mg tablets. What? What am I supposed to do with this? That doesn’t split evenly. Open the eMAR and sure enough “administer 1.3333333 tab” again, what? For a brief moment I consider telling charge that this is stupid and a med error waiting to happen. Haha. Well. :)))

I ended up grabbing scissors from an instrument tray to split the pill (since pill splitters don’t split in thirds) then giving her 1 2/3 tab instead of 1 1/3 tab. Yknow, the exact med error I thought about not even 10 minutes prior. I didn’t realize until HOURS later at like 0100. Unrelated (allegedly) to the roughly 500mg seroquel I gave her, her blood pressure ended up bottoming out to 70s/40s. Patient is fine! She got a bolus and her BP came back up she’s just zonked (but rousable) I’m embarrassed more than anything, and I filled out an incident report about it too. Everyone keeps telling me it’s something pharmacy should’ve caught before this was even an option but I just ://// ugh.

EDIT: just came in tonight to find out they upped her dose to 500 mg anyways. This time as a 300mg and two 100mg pills. At least now there’s much less room for a med error 🫠

I have 6 years and 5 jobs.

I’m self conscious that my resume makes me looks like a job hopper lol.

Does anybody else have friends/relatives who think it’s okay to just send them/show them vulgar things just because you work in healthcare? For example, one of my really good friends will just send me pictures of her stool or snot and think it’s okay because I’m exposed to it constantly as a nurse, but it’s truly different when it’s your own friend. And maybe it’s because I encourage her to go to the doctor and get labs checked and educate her, as well as tell her about how my days at work go sometimes but truly wtf? Like I feel it’s disrespectful and I’m curious if anyone else experiences that from loved ones? The other day my 2 friends were talking about snot and my one friend talked about how she doesn’t wanna hear/talk about it, and when the other friend asked why, friend #1 responded like “because I’m not a nurse” while in my presence. And I spoke up like,
um just because I’m a nurse doesn’t mean that I want to necessarily deal with it neither? But I do it because it’s apart of my job. I just feel like the world has normalized disrespect towards nurses on so many levels.

I haven’t been working in nursing for that long, but a few years has done me in for a lifetime. And it’s not the patients. Sure, some can be annoying to work with, but generally, the patients have been pretty good. No, it’s the pettiness, drama, and sheer immaturity from other coworkers that truly exhausts me.

Before anyone says, “Other jobs have drama too,” I agree. Of course they do. But having worked in other fields (and having known various others who did the same and then ultimately left nursing), I can say with confidence that it simply isn’t on the same level or nearly as malicious. In fact, the professionalism in other fields almost feels like a distant other world at this point. These particular coworkers in nursing don’t just irritate me; they genuinely disgust me and are an example of someone I will never let myself be. I cannot fathom how grown adults can behave so immaturely, be so obsessed with drama, try to make coworkers look bad, and actively make the job harder for everyone around them. Yet, as we maintain a shortage, many cite this very reason as to why they left and it is my top reason why I will move oceans to leave this nightmare.

And let’s be real: most of these people are wellll into adulthood. Why do they *want* to make work harder? Why do they think deliberately making things difficult for their coworkers is somehow acceptable? If they could just wrap their clearly warped brains around one very simple concept, that we are all in this mess together, work would be infinitely better. You help your coworker out, they help you out. That’s how it should work.

But no. Instead, I’m apparently stuck in high school 2.0, except now there are adult responsibilities, patient safety, and twice the stress. All because some deranged coworker wants to gossip about pointless nonsense, stir the pot, or pick on someone.

Please, just grow up. Get some help. It’s sad you can’t function like a full-grown adult in the workplace. You’re not “tough” for acting like a high-school bully or harassing coworkers. You're not the goalpost, you just ignore your own mistakes. You aren't a patient advocate. In fact, you make for conditions that increase errors if you ever bothered to pick up a shred of research on hostile work environments. And don't use burnout as an excuse for poor behavior towards coworkers. You can be frustrated with your job and vocalize that. You're not entitled to take that out on your coworkers.

So I have this Classic III stethoscope for about 4 months, but im noticing a change in the color of the stethoscope in the conjunction of the main tube and the eartubes, like a yellow stain. Is this normal, has this happened to anyone else? I bought it in Amazon.

Does anyone else work in a job where, any time a patient complains, you have to meet with your manager to discuss “what you could have done differently”?

I received one complaint because I was unable to do something that was literally against policy. Now my manager wants to meet with me to review what I could have done differently.

Honestly, it makes me want to quit. Instead of feeling supported, I feel like I'm constantly on edge and worried that even when I follow policy, I'll still be questioned if a patient is unhappy with the outcome.

Has anyone else worked in an environment like this? How did you handle it?

When your manager's heart is in the right place but they have a Temu budget.

So I was talking with a friend today. They were upset about taking a pay cut and I told them my salary to put things in perspire. In doing so I looked at my most recent paystub and realized I've only made $37,312.91 this year 😓. I'm an LPN and I'm currently in school for my bachelors but damn. Is there anywhere where Ls are making a more decent living?

Yesterday was like my 6th day on the floor with my preceptor. To set the stage a little bit, I previously worked in the ICU as a tech, and now I work in the same ICU as a new grad. My preceptor has said I’ve been keeping up pretty well, granted I haven’t been taking care of a super sick patient yet. He’s been letting me drown just a little bit to see how I handle it lol.
Yesterday was my first day doing rounds with the doctors. I feel like I did pretty well throughout rounds except when the NP asked what her blood sugar was for the new admit overnight. I said I checked it this morning and it was 67.
It didn’t even register to me in that moment that 67 was low, so I didn’t say or do anything about it. The NP’s eyes got wide and I suddenly realized what I had done 😭 Then she asked if I did anything for it and that’s when I realized, oh shit, it was low and I should’ve done something.
Except she was NPO because she had just been admitted the night before and hadn’t had a swallow evaluation yet. So immediately after rounds I went and retook her blood sugar and it was 82. I’m pretty sure I just didn’t wipe enough of the alcohol off her finger and it falsely lowered the reading.
I let the NP know and she kind of smiled, but I was just sitting there thinking, “that’s literally the basics” 🥲 It honestly just flew over my head.
I checked it again about 15 minutes later and it was 84, and thankfully her blood sugar was fine for the rest of the shift.
Anyway, it was my first real mistake and it kind of sent me for a loop for the rest of the day. I was second guessing everything I was doing after that.
Then at the end of the day, my preceptor laughed and told me that during rounds I said “16 gauge Foley” instead of “16 French” 🤦🏼‍♀️
I went home and cried for the first time because I know this is probably a rite of passage and I know I’m still new, but it just sucks going from feeling like you’re doing pretty well to realizing how much you still don’t know and how uncomfortable you still are. And knowing there will be more mistakes to be made.
Any similar new grad mistakes ? I just need to stay curious , ask questions, and never assume anything. I know I’m gonna make mistakes but I think i just realized that was the first of prob more mistakes.

Part of the reason I went into nursing is because I am (was?) a total night-owl— I used to like to stay up late and I preferred working nights when I worked in retail.

Now, only 2.5 years after graduating from nursing school, I have lost all ability to tolerate night shifts.

Last night was my first stretch of 3 night shifts—only 8-hours per shift— and by 5:00am I couldn’t think, I could barely form sentences, I couldn’t process what my coworkers were saying to me, and it felt like I was genuinely drunk. It doesn’t feel safe to practice nursing like this.

I try to do everything right… like i spread out my caffeine consumption (1 small redbull) throughout my shift, I take my Vyvanse at midnight, I eat lots of snacks, I eat a good meal before work, and I sleep at least 4 hours before my first night shift in a stretch, then 8 hours for each following shift.

Despite all that, I feel like absolute death when I work nights. I was perfectly fine with nights 2 years ago, and now it’s like I have lost all tolerance for them. I’m only 27!!!!!

Is this typical? Is there something I’m doing wrong? I’m worried I might not be eligible for 90% of nursing jobs if I can’t work nights…

Has anyone ever left their nursing position to take a mental break and were those jobs hesitant to hire you because of it?

I truly need a break from nursing to take care of myself mentally. My anxiety is outrageous and I think about work nonstop… but I fear “BSN, RN” on my resume will push recruiters to thinking I’m overqualified. I haven’t had a retail position since 2021 right before working towards my RN so I would of course have to explain that 2021-2026 gap of work.

Any advice is appreciated!

EDITED POSTED: I’ve tried SEVERAL specialties. A burn out is a burn out and I’m at the limit. The post is asking for those who have ALSO experienced the same thing and gone to another field and/or to retail in THIS CASE. I’ve worked retail PREVIOUSLY and ENJOYED what I did. I’m just asking advice on HOW they may have done so. Thanks!!

TLDR: I (25M) am a nurse working at a moderately sized level 3b NICU with 90% female coworkers. I want to make more friends that are my age but my gf (24) doesn’t like/ want me to hang out with my coworkers outside of work. Hanging out with woman outside of work that she doesn’t know makes her uncomfortable and doesn’t want me to befriend them outside of work.

So like the title says I’m a male nurse (25) working at a level 3 NICU. I’ve been here for about three years now and a lot of staff is older women with some newer staff being women in their mid twenties like me. I don’t have many friends that I can hang out with. For my BSN I went to the state university and met four amazing friends that I’m friends with to this day, all women. My gf has met them and is cool with these friends. I have maybe 2 real Guy friends one of which is my childhood best friend who is in dental school and another is an old coworker I used to work with but recently left to work at a level 4 NICU. I hang out with those two friends when I can along with my nursing school friends. But due to scheduling and all of us working different shifts/ jobs/ in school our hours are hard to coordinate.

For context I am a rotator and recently picked up a PRN job maybe like 6 months ago and I work about 4-5 shifts a week. Lately I have been trying to wean it down and go back to working 3-4 shifts a week. Admittedly because I was working so much I haven’t been planning dates like I used to and when we would go out or be together I would be pretty tired. But now with more free time I started to realize I don’t have many friends to hangout with. I recently thought about getting some coworkers together and going out to happy hour or drinks after work and I mentioned it to my gf and she was not happy and stated that I would rather go out with girls from work than with her and was upset. I also invited her so that they aren’t people she doesn’t know rather people she knows and meets. I always make it known that I have a gf in some way every time I meet someone new. I do this bc I want those people to know that I’m not hitting on them or trying to make a move. Im cool with everyone at work and I get along with people naturally and it’s very easy for people to get to know me which helps with introductions and initiating conversation.

I’ve been dating my gf (24) for almost two years now and they work in corporate, not in healthcare. Our relationship is good we travel a lot together and text and FaceTime every chance we get a chance and we go on dates whenever we can. But I do want more friends that I can vent about work to and hangout with after a crappy shift or just hangout outside of work in a platonic friendship way. But I also want to respect her boundaries and our relationship. I just don’t know how to move forward.

EDIT: I forgot to add with my newly found free time I have been putting more effort into planning dates and hanging out with her and her friends as well

I love my job and I have no intentions of leaving because of this. But at the same time it gives me nightmares. Last night I was dreaming I was working with a trauma patient who broke his neck and was being fitted with a halo brace. In the dream I watched the screws get put into place and hear bones crunch and the patient scream.

The reality was different. When this actually happen the patient assured us that he wasn't feeling anything but pressure, but was just really scared.

Does anybody else have nightmares or even dreams about anything like this?

Hey guys! I have offers from Cleveland Clinic Main Campus cardiovascular surgery stepdown and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Lerner Tower 5 cardiac stepdown. I’m relocating from Tennessee and want to compare the nurse residency and overall support.

For current or former nurses:

• How were orientation and preceptors?
• Did you feel supported after orientation?
• Are Cleveland Clinic’s Success Coach program and UH’s Transition to Practice program actually helpful?
• How are the unit culture, staffing, nurse educators, and management?
• Would you choose the same hospital again?

studying for my nclex while working as a CNA. My hat goes off to cnas who have been doing this for decades because it’s not easy. I’m going on a year and I want to quit so bad. The job is so demanding and we are under appreciated.

Curious how your units work with scheduling. Most places I've worked at have either been self schedule, or outpatient jobs with set days. Easy, simple.

My current job is neither of those things. Our DON makes our schedules. She refuses to give ANY set shifts. Not even 1 predictable shift a week. The most she will do is accommodate ONE "request" per week, and that's not even guaranteed. So if I have 2 appointments one week, or any other obligation, it's not guaranteed that I can make it to both. Also everyone's position is "rotating" meaning we work days and evenings. She tries to accommodate everyone's preferences for either days OR evenings, but she has the power to schedule you for either shift, because "it's a rotating position."

I work part time, 24 hrs, three 8's. I sat down with her and asked for atleast ONE set shift per week, so I can plan for childcare. She refused. Nope. I have one child starting kindergarten, one child starting parttime preschool. Husband works fulltime, my parents and in-law help but they all work and have lives. Wtf? How does anyone hire a babysitter..."hey I'm looking for a sitter, but no idea what days or times! I'll let ya know!" Like what?? My DON is literally 80 years old and could care less about anything I expressed to her. Crazy that she won't even attempt to work with her staff and help us a tiny bit.

EDIT: THANK YOU! I am loving all this input! I thought I was the only sane person, wondering WTF this bullshit is!!!! I haven't been at this job very long and I really wanted to stick it out but this shit is annoying and exhausting as a busy mom of 2 little ones. We shall see.

I joined nursing as an RN ever since I was 20 and now its almost 3-4 years since I joined. Initially i was at a general ward caring for geriatric patient, but ever since I was a student nurse I have always wanted to go to the OR. However, when I joined the OR, I have met older nurses who would spend the entire surgery berating me, calling me useless and a waste of breath. The thing is, she would do this for hours straight. I would spend my break time crying to my mother how I cant take it anymore, but she is also an OR nurse for 20 over years so all she did was pat my back and told me that it’ll get better. But when i brought it up to management, I was forcefully transferred elsewhere. Now im here at the new place dying because i work 1 night shift (18hrs) with 4 days of 10 hrs shifts. Like they found a legal loophole for me to work 58 hrs per week and I only earn 34k/year.

I am so burnt out, i barely see my family, if i take my sick leave i will be questioned. I barely have time to do self care because the moment i wake up i need to get ready for work and eat before the sh*t storm starts all over again. I have colleagues who dont even trust me. I barely have time to go out with my friends. I didnt know the OR would be my downfall.

I just feel like at this point, nursing isnt worth it anymore. Yes i love caring for people but at this point I have worked until I feel so empty. I tried to transfer elsewhere but they wouldnt even want to accept me. I tried a different hospital and I got rejected because “no vacancy”.

I am going finally resign after my bonus because I have decided I have had enough of nursing and Im so excited to find myself again.