be a better nurse

I think since my last entry in May I have learned to be a better nurse through getting better time management. There are still somedays I could do no where enough. Tomorrow is my last day on Med/Surg. I’m starting in the ICU on the 1st and hoping this is more up my alley!

I no longer feel bad. I work on a 30 bed busy Post-Operative Med/Surg, Uro, Neruo floor. In Arkansas, I’m not sure about the rest of the country, the state practice is very clear that LPN’s function under the direction of RN’s. Before I am flamed, I’m very appreciative of LPNs, and will often refer to them for advice in certian situations. Nursing Adminstration was to staff our floor with 2 RN’s, 2 LPN’s and go from 24 to 30 patients. Ultimately having each RN admitt 3 patients, and be responisble for a total of 15 each. When questioned about this the staffing manager tranfered to the CNO, who stated that “RNs and LPNs are the exact same thing. RN’s are not responsible at all for LPNs patients”. Despite the Nurse Practice Act and hospital policy evidently. We are a liscened 638 bed hospital, with an average census of 190. They are building a 40 million dollar expanision, and believe they are spending too much money on RN’s. This town is freaking insane.

I think I kept my cool towards my patients today. It was just so bad I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK!!! I’m wore out!

I would like to thank people for responding to my last entry.

Our patient census dropped = Almost enough staff. I’ve had recently between 5-6 patients. Although on occasion I still take 7-8.

I have had more better days recently than bad with a very, very good Easter Sunday. I know I still have a lot of areas I need to work on with my nursing. I need to keep working on my time management skills and my anxiety/patient levels. Sometimes, I just feel very frustrated,i.e when I get really rushed or recently with some personal problems, and I believe more of it shows than what I would like to. I marvel at the nurses that always seem perfectly calm, cool, and collecteded. I only have moments where I feel like that.

I’m trying to help this by exercising, taking some scheudled personal days off just to relax (not even mess with school stuff), and focusing more on the here-and-now than the future.

I’m a new RN on a busy post-operative floor. I’m feeling really stressed out. I normally have 7-8 patients, follow 2-3 LPN patients.

I feel like the stress is really getting to me. The other nurses don’t seem time to offer help because they are all busy with situations too. I’ve talked to my manager, but she says I’m doing fine and everyone is saying good things. I never get to spend time with my patients, it just seems like I’m working all my shift (and past the end of my shift) just trying to get things caught up and answering “requests” of my patients all night. At the rate it’s going I don’t know what I’m going to end up doing. I’m already beganning to dread going into work sometimes. Does any one have any adivce?