New grad report: "Patient arrived at 14:00, history of hypertension in 2018, surgical history includes an appendectomy in 2005, lab values at 08:00 were.

Seasoned nurse report: Bed 4 is fine, family is loud, IV is in the left forearm, needs a laxative later, good luck.

It’s honestly refreshing seeing how report naturally condenses once people figure out what details actually matter during a handover.

I've been quietly reading this subreddit for a few years now. I'm not a nurse or even in healthcare, but I've always found the discussions here fascinating. I've learned so much from reading about your experiences and perspectives, which I'm truly grateful for.

One thing that always stuck with me was how you talk about the importance of quality of life over quantity. About how sometimes, just because we have the technology to keep someone we love alive, doesn't necessarily mean it's the kindest thing to do. And how sometimes, letting someone we love go is the biggest act of love.

I never imagined how much those comments would eventually mean to me.

This year, my mum became critically ill and ended up in ICU on a ventilator. Her lungs had suffered extensive, irreversible damage, and the doctors said she could potentially survive with a tracheostomy, but would likely remain bedridden and dependent on breathing support for the rest of her life.

Everything happened so quickly. I was dealing with it and making decisions on my own, and the entire experience felt almost out of body.

I remember laying in the hospital at night, beside my mum while she was on the ventilator, reading through this subreddit and listening to the machines, analyzing the monitors.

And I kept thinking about all those comments I'd read over the years.

Of course, I desperately wanted to keep my mum with me for as long as possible. I would have given anything for more time with her. She was my best friend. I am only 31 and she was only 62. But because of the things I'd learned from nurses here, I understood that keeping her alive wasn't necessarily the same as doing what was best for her.

My mum passed away a few days after we took her off the ventilator.

I don't think any of you realise how much your words can reach people outside of nursing. You were sharing your experiences, frustrations and perspectives, and I just wanted to say thank you. You helped me understand something incredibly difficult at a time when I needed that understanding more than ever.

And although losing my mum has been devastating, I'm grateful that I was able to think about what was best for her, rather than only how desperately I wanted her to stay.

Thank you for the work you do, and for the things you share here. They really do make a difference. ❤️

I caught myself using my elbow to hit the handicap door button at a grocery store yesterday even though my hands were completely empty.

Also constantly scanning people's veins in public places or instinctively checking if a chair is locked before sitting down.

What's a weird habit or muscle memory thing you catch yourself doing in normal life now?

I’m an RN, and I just quit my job as a specialty coordinator. I need to vent.

One of the physicians I worked with was habitually late. Over about three months it added up to 40+ hours of me, the team, and the patients waiting. I did everything you’re supposed to do. I reported it through the formal channels, asked leadership for additional guidance, and asked them to show up on time. Nothing changed. Any time something deviated from the plan, they lashed out on the team and refused to take personal accountability despite their lack of work. After I resigned, a C-level executive reached out and offered the job back saying these things take time. I declined. Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. How are we supposed to trust the systems in place? Why is it up to nurses to hold the healthcare system together in spite of all of the headwinds.

I hold myself to high standards, and I’m tired of being the person who seems to care the most while the system shrugs. I’ve left nursing once before, came back, and now I feel I am done again. I am furious. Imagine how quick we would all be fired for being chronically late everyday? Nurses get chewed up, and the people who cause problems rarely have to answer for it.

Hi all,

L&D nurse here and I got a voicemail today from a lawyers office. See here:

"Hey (nurse) my name is (lawyers office person) I'm calling with (lawyers office) we represent (hospital I recently quit) in a lawsuit that was brought against them by a former patient, we know you are no longer employed with them and you are not a named defendant in the case but our attorney would like to speak with you about the care that you provided the patient and anything you may remember about it if you could give me a call back I'd appreciate it my (number) thank you.

Im wondering if this is something I need a lawyer for, or because I'm not a named defendant it's not that serious and I could just sort of say "I would have to review my charting" rather than even attempt to go by memory. I've delivered hundreds of babies so I can't even imagine remembering something not charted that's actually medical/clinical.

Anyone ever been involved in something like this? Better to ask a lawyer?

All welfare districts are saving money. No set term contracts are continued. No new ones are taken In. The permanent ones have even more shit to deal with. This is not a sustainable situation... I have worked 2 years at the ER and 1 year at the ICU. Cannot find a job. Just making this known to you international colleagues. No work available here, even for us native ones right now. 🤷‍♂️

For me it’s when day shift gives me a 15-minute breakdown of the patient’s entire medical history from 2012, but forgets to mention they haven’t had a BM in 5 days or that their IV line blew twenty minutes ago.

I don't need a summary of their childhood chickenpox, I just need to know if they're stable and what's actively running.

What’s the handoff habit that instantly drives you up the wall?

Last year we got a branded cheap plastic water bottle that leaked on first use, and a single slice of cold cheese pizza if you were lucky enough to be on shift when it arrived.

Honestly, I’d respect hospital administration way more if they just sent an email saying "We appreciate your hard work" instead of spending money on promotional junk that ends up in the breakroom trash can. Does anyone’s hospital actually do thoughtful recognition, or is it universally badge reels and cheap pens?

Anyone know what this can be about? We have a super high turnover and a lot of staffing and leadership issues lately. I think it’s pretty fucking stupid to ask people to do this when they clearly know what we’re suppose to do.

Healthcare salaries are all over the map. From CNAs to surgeons, Mississippi to California, the differences in pay are staggering. Geography alone can completely change what your work is worth, often far beyond what cost of living explains. How the fuck is this ok.

I spent four years on nights and finally moved to days two months ago.

On nights, if someone ordered food at 2 AM or brought in leftover cake, it was a free for all feast in the breakroom. On days, people actually label their Tupperware with aggressive notes administration walks through randomly with clipboards, and everyone is hyper-conscious of management watching them.

I don't miss the destroyed circadian rhythm but man I miss the sheer we're all stranded on a desert island together camaraderie of nights.

So I am currently in God knows what week of orientation. Today was my first day of having five patients and it was a disaster. My first patient was complaining of shortness of breath and I tried problem solving what I could do to help. I let the doctor know. My second patient their IV ended up leaking and going bad.

And another patient I had another bad IV and I ended up blacking out eventually and not being able to comprehend my preceptor’s instructions and I ended up seeing my last patient at 12pm for A FIRST ASSESSMENT. All while doctor’s orders are coming left and right. Three people are total care alone and PCU status.

I guess should I just quit? I cried for 20 minutes because my preceptor saw me drowning and she had to step in to intervene. And then she had me take a seat and chart for an hour because of how behind I was on charting.

And even at home, I am just balling my eyes out.

I just feel like an absolute stupid, pathetic nurse for having two years of experience. I don’t know what to do.

I am starting to hate nursing. There’s nothing wrong with the patients, or my colleagues. I just can’t time manage and prioritize straight and those are my huge struggles.

I don’t know if I should leave the profession entirely and just struggle financially already because of how much this shift affected me today.

Mind you, I dread work everyday even on my days off and am horrified of thinking about going back. I can’t even find myself enjoying what I used to with gaming or writing, or just anything. Because all I experience is dread and not wanting to talk to anybody.

Hi! Idk if this is allowed in this sub so delete if it’s not. I’m currently in my last sem and working on my capstone project. I was thinking about doing my project on the importance of dual sign off for blood, since the unit I’m on for preceptorship does not do this (Pediatric oncology). Does your unit utilize dual sign off for blood products? If so, do you actually find it useful in for the prevention of the wrong blood being given and/or adverse reactions to blood products? If your hospital doesn’t, do you wish they did? Again, lmk if this isn’t allowed on this subreddit, was just hoping to gain some insight!

These were found this year in an operating room cabinet drawer. The pen expired in 2018, the pads in 2023, and the Boom Chicka Pop in 2024

Mine was finding a fully stocked supply room with actual medium gloves in stock, plus a functioning bladder scanner on the floor that wasn't hidden in some random dirty utility room on 4 West.

It’s the small things keeping me sane at this point. What’s your tiny win this week?

I work at a rehab unit and one of my patients came back from dialysis so I checked his vitals around 2245hrs and found his BP was 74/46. My pt and his wife who he had on video call didn’t seem surprised so I asked if his BP is usually this low and they said it does happen to him after dialysis. He had no complaints of any symptoms and agreed we could take it again later (he was on the commode at this point). I checked his vital trend and the lowest BP recorded was around 90s systolic (some vitals weren’t recorded post dialysis). But since he was asymptomatic and the incoming nurses were already here and I’m off at 2300hrs, I decided to document my findings and endorse to the next nurse. During my report, she didn’t seem too alarmed and said she’d check the blood pressure again later so I thought maybe it’d be okay? But I feel like I didn’t do enough for the patient or I should’ve at least called the on call doctor to let him know. I was hesitating for a while but I decided to leave since the incoming nurse said she’d take care of it. But right now I regret not doing anything. I’m afraid they’d see his vitals or my note in the morning and criticize me for not doing anything or that I’d get in trouble. I called the nursing station because I was too worried and apparently they haven’t been able to get another reading because the patient’s refusing (he’s normally uncooperative and rude) and said he knows his body and that he’s fine. I can’t help but blame myself for not thinking critically enough and now I’m afraid something would go wrong and I’ll be the first to blame. I should’ve done something

I probably didnt get the job but i was wondering how normal it is for hiring manager to talk about how catty their unit can be. She said "you know how it is about working with bunch of women". Which i know how it is but it gave a bad impression to be talking like that about your team. Another nurse friend told me its actually a good sign that they are being upfront about it rather than lying.

Also, with my past jobs, Ive always gotten a tour of the facility. This one didnt.

I really would have loved to work in this speciality, but is that common to 1.) Be upfront about the unit's catiness 2.) Not give a tour

By the time I get to my car after a 12-hour floor shift, my brain is completely fried, but my adrenaline is still maxed out. I usually just sit in the parking lot for 15 minutes staring at the steering wheel because I know if I go straight home, I'm going to snap at everyone over nothing.

Curious what other people's decompression rituals look like. Do you listen to music, sit in silence, or just need immediate chaos-free quiet?

I’ve had a very disrespectful CNA today who believes that because she has been working in a nursing home facility for 20 years, she should be given special treatment and get to chose which assignments she wants. She came late and I had the other assignments done for the other CNAs. Tell me why, after I gave her assignment, she nonstop complained to my face for 3 minutes stating things like “oh it’s because you don’t like me” and “I don’t know what it is but you always are very difficult to work with.” Idk what to do, she complains all the time and she complains to everyone. I’m honestly so tired of it. There’s times where I’m like just get off the floor.

By the way, every time she would pass me in the hallway she would say, “this floor is so toxic!” And I’m like… the only person causing toxicity is you-

Anyone at lifebridge health in Baltimore work with this guy? Seems sketchy to agree to not practice medicine in Ireland after multiple issues and the hop over the pond to work on kids in the US.

Hi, I’m having spinal surgery soon due to a bad MVA . The neurosurgeons said I’ll be there a week if I’m lucky. My question is will the nurses know I’m a nurse somehow? How do I fly under the radar ? And do you guys say in report the patient is a nurse. I typically don’t care but I’m so SICK of nobody explaining anything to me because I’m a nurse if that makes sense.

On paper, my job checks a lot of boxes. I make $41.50 an hour, with a 25% differential for my weekend option shifts. I typically work Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday as my usual work schedule and typically pick up 2 days of overtime per month. I put 10% of my paycheck towards retirement and my employer matches that completely. I’m in the south, so that wage could be higher but I’m doing fine and own a 3 bedroom 2 bath house in a nice, safe neighborhood.

I work medical and neurocrit ICU and it’s just… exhausting and I feel like I’m facing ethical dilemmas and moral injury every day. My unit is supportive, with tons of cowokers with 10-25 years of experience. I’ve never been tripled, some days, I even get an easy 1:1.

It’s just the patients and the family members. I’m tired of being physically and verbally assaulted. I’m tired of trach and PEG on a GCS 6 patient just so family doesn’t have to feel bad about letting them die. I’m tired of Q1 neuro checks , and cleaning lactulose poop, and suctioning trachs. I’m tired of coding a 90 year meemaw ate up with cancer because the weekend resident can’t have an honest conversation with a family member.

And I’m tired of medical students and residents bringing their inexperience in every day. I hate feeling like I’m competent in my role but not being able to get anything done without a fellow or attending. I’m tired of extubations taking 8 hours of someone gagging on a tube and flailing because the resident is unsure. I know they are still learning but some days I think they only know how to order protonix and bowel reg and then they expect me to do their job too.

I’ve been there for 7 years and I feel like I need out. I don’t want to work bedside anymore, but I don’t think I can afford to take a pay cut. I’m too scared to go to one of the other hospitals and the culture be totally different. I’m worried about getting bullied or being tripled or having call or overtime forced on me. I feel stuck and it’s frustrating.

And it’s physically killing me. I keep going to my doctor for random symptoms and he says I’m stuck in autonomic dysfunction and fight or flight. I get chest tightness and shortness of breath (we’ve ruled out cardiac and respiratory issues, I’m in good shape) and my feet ache, and I get brain fog on my days off and I’m just traumatized and feel like it’s killed my empathy for my family and friends.

Has anyone ever had a patient whose foley balloon keeps shredding? Not bursting, but literally coming out shredded as soon as it goes in. Docs are saying it is from radiation damage? CT doesn’t show a bladder stone or anything else obviously hard that would be causing it. They don’t have an urology consult. This is coming from a coworkers daughter who is also a nurse. She called asking for advice. Thanks!

In August I came with an idea for a new process improvement at my hospital. I mentioned it to a coworker who's involved in like.. some committee of nurses. She said it sounded like a great idea. I asked around how I would go about formally suggesting to someone in that area of expertise, and was directed to speak to my educator. I made an appointment with my educator and we submitted some kind of educational application online and she told me we'd wait for a response. That was beginning of August.

At the same time more or less, my coworker mentioned the idea to the Admin sponsor for her little committee. Well.. like 2 days ago, my coworker texts me all excited, telling me that they're moving forward with my initiative starting the beginning of the year. But I never received any response to my application. And I was never contacted in any form regarding the education, and apparently will not be taking part in the process in any way.

So I feel kind of cheated out of the opportunity to participate in something that would look good on my record, I would think. And I was also told by my educator it would be a good project to use towards my capstone (am currently in school for BSN).

Any advice on if I should push for some kind of participation or recognition? Any insight at all?

During a discussion among coworkers our manager advised not to get it because it makes you more of a target? What is your opinion on that? Do you have it?