Job Responsibilities
I work on a cardiac step-down unit. It is very fast-paced. My
responsibilities include assessing patients, administering
medications, notifying physicians of any changes in patient's
condition, and a lot of charting. I alternate with another
nurse, as charge nurse. On other days, I take 5 to 6 patients of
my own. We work on a 36 bed unit. The patients on this floor
consist of post- heart surgery, post- heart cath, chest pain
related to heart problems, irregular heart rhythms, among many
other diagnoses.
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Job Requirements
I attended Nursing School and obtained my diploma of nursing.
You must be willing to set everything aside, and concentrate
only on nursing school in order to make it through. It took me 3
1/2 years of college prerequisites and nursing school to obtain
my diploma. I then had to sit for my state boards, which
consists of a multiple choice computer test.
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Uppers
On our unit, we often see the same patients over and overagain. I've seen it
many times, once someone starts having heart problems, there is no miracle drug.
There is only therapy or medications that treat the problem, but don't cure it.
We get attached to many of our patients and their families.
It makes me feel good when I help someone, or when I feel that I had a part in
making them get better.
I like working 12 hour shifts. I am able to work 3 days in a week, then dedicate
the other 4 days to my family.
The pay is good. I work in the in- house agency of our hospital. RN's working
under this agency make $25/hr to $45/hr.
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Downers
It is very stressful. The patient load if often overwhelming.
It is frustrating and sad when you lose a patient; especially
when it is someone you have been caring for quiet a while. When
you're a nurse, you often grab the obituary section of the
newspaper first.
Just today, I found out that one of my patients that had been to
our unit several times over the last 2 years had passed away. He
was 24 years old. It's often difficult to grieve over this loss
when you know you can't discuss it outside of the hospital.
There is a very high divorce rate in the nursing field, and I
believe it is because it is difficult for us to express our
grief, frustations, and stressors to our families due to patient
confidentiality.
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Lifestyle
I wear scrubs to work every day. It a lot like being able to wear your pajamas
to work.
I work Monday, Tuesday and Saturday one week. Then Sunday, Wednesday, and
Thursday the next. Our unit has 2 day track and 2 night tracks. We rotate out so
that we only have to work every other weekend.
I have worked my fair share of holidays, along with my coworkers.
I mostly work with Females. There are only 4 male nurses on our unit (one on
each track).
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Compensation
Full time nurse make $18 hour to $27/ hour. They are also able
to buy company health insurance, short term and long term
disability, and retirement. They are also able to select from
several other incentives (insurance, ectr) and recieve PTO and
sick leave. *Not a bad deal, huh*
Agency nurses make $25 to $45/ hour. No insurance. No PTO. 401K
only.
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Advice to Jobseekers
This is a very rewarding career. Make sure your heart is in it.
And when you do become a nurse, don't over-do it. Burnout is
very common in nursing. There are many days I wish I had gone to
beauty school instead. But when it comes down to it, I wouldn't
trade my nursing license for anything!
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