Q: As a caregiver, do you have an opinion about doctor-assisted suicide? A: This isn’t something I have to deal with at all at work, but it is definitely something I have found myself wondering about. As caregivers, I’m sure we all have an opinion on the topic. I find myself conflicted on the issue: When talking with someone who is for it, I feel like they come up with good evidence and arguments. But then when I talk to someone who is against it,...  Read More »

Q: What do you typically eat before a shift begins to make sure you have energy to last for 12 hours? Are you able to take snack breaks? If so, what do you usually eat? A: Twelve hours—from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—is a really long day and it’s hard to have enough energy throughout, so I just do my best to eat things that won’t make me crash. I try my best to eat before work—like a bowl of cereal at home or a protein bar in the car. The mornings are...  Read More »

Q: What went through your mind the first time you had to call a physician at home regarding a patient? A: It can be pretty intimidating to approach doctors on the floor or on the phone. But we have to place calls out to them pretty much all day. Patients have multiple doctors collaborating on their care so when we need to address an issue, we have to be sure to contact the right doctor. Talking to doctors isn’t as bad as you think it’s going to...  Read More »

As a nurse just entering the workforce, she provided insight on the fears, anxieties, and successes of her transition. Now, with a little experience under her nursing belt, our contributor Chelsea is starting a new column where she’ll be providing weekly insight to help new nurses get a glimpse into their futures and to help experienced RNs and managers learn about their newest generation of colleagues. Q: It seems like a lot of new nurses are asked to...  Read More »

I know this question is very similar to the other debate about family being present in a code, but it is something that really interests me. As nurses, how do we approach the topic of code status? It is something that we have to deal with on a daily basis. When I’m getting report from the night shift, the first thing mentioned is the patient’s code status-whether it is full, limited, or DNR. We deal with family a lot more than the doctors do, so...  Read More »

Being nurses, we have to struggle with so many obstacles such as working long hours, working weekends and holidays, and dealing with the occasional tough patient. But recently, I dealt with what I feel is the hardest part of our job: death. I know it’s a part of our job and I’m going to get used to it, but my first death took a pretty good toll on me. First off, it was on Christmas. Secondly, I was the one that made the call to the family. We all...  Read More »

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has those few nurses that are complete flirts with the doctors. They call them by their first names, touch them, and even sometimes go out with them outside of work. Sometimes it can make me very uncomfortable because I see my relationship with the doctors as strictly professional. Not that long ago, I overheard a doctor asking about me and whether or not I was married. I found that completely inappropriate. I don’t...  Read More »

So the other day I had to go to class to learn about ACLS. Over the course of two days, we learned the drugs and their dosages that we would use in the instance of a code. Thankfully, I did this because according to the nurses on my floor, we have a lot of them! Taking this class really made me comfortable with the idea of a cardiac arrest type situation ( well, as comfortable as one can be). But, it really got me thinking about something though: Should family...  Read More »

So work is going really well! I’m actually starting to feel comfortable taking care of pateints by myself. I still have two more months of orientation which is good but I am already handling a full patient load and trying my best to troubleshoot areas myself before asking for help. A couple of weeks ago a group of Junior nursing students from a near by University started on my floor.  It was really awesome being the person that they came to for questions...  Read More »

It’s been quite some time now that I’ve been working, already more than a month. And at this point, I still can’t get over the fact that I’m not in school! Even though I’m constantly under supervision from my preceptor, it is strangely liberating. For the first time, I don’t have to rely on my professors for feedback. Now, I am the one patients are looking to for information about their diagnosis or prognosis. I know what...  Read More »