NightNerd BSN, RN

NightNerd has 7 years experience as a BSN, RN and specializes in Med-surg/tele.

NightNerd's Latest Activity

1. 

   Nurse Managers: Do you answer your phone on your days off even when not on call?

   NightNerd replied to SilverBells's topic in Nursing

   Who are they supposed to call on evenings and weekends? Kindly refer them to that person, ONCE, then stop answering. When you find yourself dealing with another manager's stuff, refer the nurses on that unit to her. Don't take that on. Unless it is a true, code blue or green type of emergency, you really do not need to make yourself responsible for someone else's unit. You need, for the sake of your own sanity and PHYSICAL wellbeing, to stop caring so much what people think. You are stretching yourself way too thin in a way that is not sustainable. As you pointed out, you didn't call your manager for every little thing when you were on the floor, so the nurses you work with shouldn't need to constantly be blowing up your phone. Every now and then with a quick question, whatever. But you must stop feeling guilty if you put them in a position to call whoever is actually on call. You can help and help and help until you drop from exhaustion one day, and someone will probably still look down at you and be annoyed that you didn't do more. Other people's opinions are not a good barometer of whether you're doing enough.
2. 

   Hardest Thing to Learn

   NightNerd replied to Okey Foley's topic in Nursing

   Oh yeahhhhh, I kinda forgot I met my boyfriend at my first nursing job! So never mind, y'all, I still haven't learned my lesson six years later! That's a tough one, Davey. It sucks feeling like you have to temper generosity with practicality, but so many of us have had an experience that demands just that. I know now I don't give anything I expect or need to get back; then, it's a nice surprise if I do.
3. 

   Nursing and Children

   NightNerd replied to Davey Do's topic in Lounge

   It's so important that having kids doesn't become (remain?) the default for everyone. My mom seemed to love being a parent, while my dad...truly didn't, but that's a whole other story. It's so dumb, but honestly, until some of my friends started having kids, it didn't really occur to me that people typically like their children and enjoy being around them; I'm so used to hearing about the responsibility and nuisance of it all that I was amazed to realize there's a lot more to being a parent than that! I have gone back and forth on whether I want kids for a hot minute. I've always known that I wanted to be a foster mom, but the idea of biological kids is something I've waffled on. At this point, I think I would like to have one, maybe two if time and biology allow, but if it doesn't happen for some reason, that's okay. But I know now that I do genuinely want to be a parent in some way. When I was with my ex, I was quite sure I didn't want kids, and was even prepared to give up my goal of being a foster parent. Only later did I realize that it was because he would have been such a wretched co-parent. He was just not a very nice, patient, or accepting person, characteristics that seem to be essential to not permanently scarring your kids. Just my opinion. With my current partner, I feel very differently. He'll be a great dad, we'll share responsibilities equitably, and we will genuinely enjoy raising children together. Plus, he's also happy to join me in foster parenting, which is kind of an important thing to agree on! So that is what has influenced my latest feelings on the subject, which have been fairly consistent for the past few years, so I guess I can make decisions based on them now. This is an adventure for the 2022 version of NightNerd to embark on, since we're waiting until I finish my MSN to get started on adding to the family. I will probably hang out in bedside nursing for a few more years, particularly while we have young kids, then move into something more related to my degree gradually as they enter school.
4. 

   Hardest Thing to Learn

   NightNerd replied to Okey Foley's topic in Nursing

   This is such an important thing for me too. I have learned to see many work situations in a different, healthier way after talking through them with my counselor. For me, I think one of the hardest things to learn that I've actually conquered (for the most part) is not getting caught up in unit drama, gossip, and shift wars. I worked on a unit once where everyone was very close and friendly both inside and outside of work. While that made for lots of fun memories, it also resulted in cliques and some weird dynamics on the unit, and I think my work suffered for it a little - being distracted by petty things, I think I missed a lot of learning opportunities and didn't accomplish as much as I could have. Now that I've worked at different hospitals, I find it easier to be friendly with coworkers while not needing to view everyone as a personal friend. This does wonders for my ability to not take conflicts personally and not get caught up in talking negatively about anyone, which keeps my work life more peaceful and gives me less craziness to sort out on my days off.
5. 

   How Long Do You Expect To Be a Nurse?

   NightNerd replied to SilverBells's topic in Nursing

   This is so accurate. I love taking care of patients and would do this forever if I could - but without the support we need to do it right, it's draining and exhausting and not sustainable until retirement.
6. 

   Interview questions

   NightNerd replied to 2021NEgrad's topic in Nursing

   I just realized I didn't actually answer your question. ?? As far as what to say, I would just thank them and say I will take a few days to consider the offer; is okay if I get back to you by (date no more than a week later)? I don't typically volunteer that I have other interviews scheduled, but if they ask I'm honest about it. They understand you've probably looked at a few other positions; you just want to convey your continued interest in THEIR open position and not look like you're trying to take advantage.
7. 

   Four 12s in a row?!?! ????

   NightNerd replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

   I 100% have had that. Two or three days off is my sweet spot where I can breathe on my days off but not completely lose my work groove. Also, it seems like a lot of folks arrange their days together to have a stretch for vacation without using any time - which makes total sense! That said, I've tried arranging my days in three in a row before to travel, one set before and one set after, and knowing I have three in a row to go back to really puts a damper on the last couple days. For me, I much prefer using some vacation time so I ease back into work doing only one or two shifts when I get back. It's so interesting hearing how different places and work environments have such different practices!
8. 

   Interview questions

   NightNerd replied to 2021NEgrad's topic in Nursing

   How long will orientation be, AND is there room to extend it by a week or two if you need it? If you're going into a new grad residency, ask what the requirements are and about how much time you will attend on it outside of your regular shifts. What kind of clinical ladder programs are there and what would you work on to get to each level? I also ask these couple of questions and get some pretty illuminating answers: 1) What is the biggest challenge facing the unit right now?, and 2) If you do choose me to be part of your team, what will I be doing a year from now that shows you I was the right choice? A week or less. I don't know if you get to have any share time on the units you're interviewing at, but I know share time has eliminated some choices for me and I've been able to answer sooner than I thought. Definitely let yourself learn about other jobs that you already have interviews set up for, but I wouldn't push it longer than a week.
9. 

   So, who are you?

   NightNerd replied to JBudd's topic in Nursing

   This is fun! Weirdly, the first thing that I always think of but rarely say aloud about who I am is a writer. I haven't published anything I've written, though that is a goal I'm always working toward. I've written two full length novels and hope to finish my third once I graduate this Spring, and I have several ideas for stories I want to tell afterward - once I finish revising what I've already done, of course. That is probably the most consistent way I've thought of myself since a very young age, so yeah! I'm a writer. I'm also a med-surg nurse, a grad student, a girlfriend, an aspiring mom (dog mom, cat mom, bio mom, and foster mom - can't wait to finish school so I can bring all of these things to fruition), a runner, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an avid reader (especially of cozy mysteries), a true crime junkie, and a pen pal. I think that covers the big stuff!
10. 

    Typical orientation time for new hire?

    NightNerd replied to MyAimIsTrue's topic in Nursing

    I have been pretty spoiled; in changing between similar nursing jobs, I've always been offered a month of orientation, including classroom and typical hospital orientation. I have historically used every minute of it; it takes me a minute to get comfortable with everything that's new when changing hospitals, even if it's the same specialty. If you feel two weeks isn't enough, definitely ask more if there's room to add another week or two if you feel like you'll need it. I always ask that question in orientation, and it saved my butt as a new grad - it was very illuminating when the interviewer looked stunned and said, "Well, after two weeks we really expect you to be up and running." To a brand new nurse. Noooooope.
11. 

    What’s the farthest you would be willing to commute?

    NightNerd replied to MountaineerFan57's topic in Nursing

    I couldn't do it long term, but that's just me. I've had coworkers who make similar commutes that seem outrageous to me, but it works for them. You have to think about how it'll feel making that commute if you get stuck there after your shift was supposed to end and you have to be back the next day, what it'll be like factoring in different weather events, etc. Only you can decide if those are worth it. If you think you'd be willing to move a bit closer for your dream job, it might be worth it for a short period of time while you make preparations. Alternatively, is there anyone you can stay with between shifts, could you rent a room, etc. to cut down on commute time during a stretch of shifts?
12. 

    Four 12s in a row?!?! ????

    NightNerd replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

    Can't complain on that front, I do have a good chunk of days off after it. I think when I do three in a row, I'm pretty useless for at least the first day and a half afterward (and, like I said, a bear - anybody just want to scream any time someone even talks to you after a stretch of shifts???). That's more what I'm dreading - the recovery time I'm going to need and can't really afford right now, rather than the actual four in a row. Still learning to completely leave work at work, I guess. @Michellelizz gosh, yeah, most of the time three in a row is the longest stretch I or my coworkers end up working. One nurse I knew fondly remembered skiing six in a row during the Summer so she could get in a week of beach time between. I suppose a regular set of five days off together would be pretty great!
13. 

    Four 12s in a row?!?! ????

    NightNerd replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

    Right?! And it isn't even a lie - getting out of bed that third morning is physically and spiritually agonizing.
14. 

    How important is it to have a job in the medical field while in nursing school?

    NightNerd replied to Anatomy Jane's topic in Nursing

    It's helpful but not necessary. If they accommodate your school schedule, I say roll with it!
15. 

    Four 12s in a row?!?! ????

    NightNerd replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

    Gotta love those conveniently scheduled meetings turning a 12 into a 13.5! Or classes that start at 11 am between shifts...?? I miss nights a lot of the time, but that's one thing I'm doing okay without right now.
16. 

    Four 12s in a row?!?! ????

    NightNerd replied to NightNerd's topic in Nursing

    I wish, it's arranged so there's not a cent of overtime (two shifts are over a weekend)! I do find that if I get a group of patients I mesh with, three in a row isn't too awful - but definitely still tiring.