Megan Weaver Culbertson, BSN, RN | Peace Love Nursing

Nurses: Life Savers Not Card Players

Nurses took to social media to share their frustrations over a comment made by Washington State Senator, Maureen Walsh (R). The senator was discussing a proposed ammendment of a current bill that looks to give nurses mandated breaks and limit mandatory overtime. Let’s discuss the bill, the comments, the problem with this type of language about nurses, and why all of us should care.

The Bill

SHB 155 is a bill that would give mandated rest periods and meal breaks to nurses and technicians including RNs, LPNs, surgical techs, cardiovascular invasive technologist, respiratory therapist and nursing assistants. It also would regulate overtime and prohibit overtime being used for scheduling nonemergency procedures. A recent amendment to the bill, which is strongly opposed by the Washington State Hospital Association, would limit nurses to working only 8 hours out of a 24 hour period. The restriction would be a strict requirement, with no exemption for emergencies. This would totally change the staffing of a hospital and work schedule where most techs and nurses typically work 12 hour shifts. The amendment also looks to exclude techs from the mandatory breaks.

The Comment

Senator Maureen Walsh (Washington State-R) was discussing the current bill and its relationship to critical access hospitals in Washington State that only care for a “handful” of patients.

“I understand helping with employees and making sure that we have rest breaks and things like that. But I also understand we need to care for patients first and foremost. And by putting these types of mandates on a critical access hospital that literally serves a handful of individuals, I would submit to you those nurses probably do get breaks. They probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day. But the reality is- this bill does not apply to critical access hospitals. Please support this amendment and help out some of the underserved areas of the state.”

Senator Maureen Walsh (Washington State-R)

The use of this language and the problem caused with nurses

There is SO much I could say about these comments. It makes my heart hurt and angry to read them. You are talking about my people. The ones I love. The people who are next to me during codes, rapid responses, repositioning my patient’s in my bed,. Some of the best people around. This is a blog and not a research paper, so I will try to keep my thoughts short and concise.

The first insulting and hurtful comment that caused the (justified) uproar on social media was that we play cards for a considerable part of the day. First off, I think me and any other floor nurse in the U.S. would LOVE to invite the senator to come shadow us for a day and see what it is a nurse does. Because I can guarantee you, it does not involve playing cards. We titrate drips. Administer medications. Assist with procedures. Hold the hand of a grieving love one. Watch someone take their first breath. Watch someone take their last breath. The list is never-ending of the live nurses touch in a day and the patient’s that touch theirs.

The second is the language used to describe why the nurses in critical access hospitals do not deserve breaks. Saying things like “we need to care for patients first and foremost” and they only care for a “handful of patients” is classic language that has been used to force nurses to work harder with fewer resources for years. It is using out compassion and care for patients against us. Yes, we want patients cared for. It’s what nurses do, we care for patients. We are the patient advocates. That is why they are asking for breaks. It doesn’t matter if you work in a small, rural hospital or a level 1 trauma center. The nurses deserve to eat, use the restroom, and have a moment to breath and recollect on a shift. It allows for nurses and techs to provide safer and better care for the patient.

Why we should care

According to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) there are over 4 million Registered Nurses in the U.S. and over 920,000 LPNs. Nurses are also the largest health care occupation. Even if the change does not affect you, we HAVE to support each other. This is the only way we will begin to make true change in nursing. I love my job. I work for a good hospital on a unit I love. However, this doesn’t mean that other nurses are not hurting or being treated unfairly.

If you ask a new graduate nurse (or even experienced nurse) what their future plans are- they immediately talk about graduate school. Or at least leaving clinical nursing, especially in the hospital. I love NPs, Nurse Educators, Clinical Nurse Specialist, etc. Higher education is GREAT. However, someone has to care at the bedside! Therefore, this is a concerning issue. A multifactorial issue that involves more than stress at the bedside, but stress at the bedside does play a role. Nurses are leaving the bedside in pacts and part of it has to be with work environment: no breaks, stressful shifts, lack of support. Supporting bills regarding safe staffing ratios or mandated breaks helps to improve the work environment of bedside nurses and could lead to encouraging nurses to stay.

The amendments added to this bill should be opposed and are possibly a way to get the bill to fail entirely. 12 hour shifts are long, yes, but also give nurses a lot of flexibility and time off away from the job. A much-needed benefit in a job where you literally are responsible for people lives and see people through some of the worst moment of their lives. And a tech works just as hard as a nurse- and deserves a break just as much as a nurse. Everyone who is caring for patient’s deserves a break. It results in better and safer patient care and a healthier and happier health care worker.

What we can do

The Washington State Nurses Association also opposes these added amendments to the bill and has provided an easy to use form to tell legislature about your opposition to the bill. I strongly encourage you if you are in the state of Washington to voice your concerns. I also encourage ALL nurses, no matter what state you are in, to take a moment to voice your support of nurses in Washington and help educate Senator Walsh on what a nurse does during a 12 hour shift. Education is key to changing public perception of nursing.

http://maureenwalsh.src.wastateleg.org/contact-me/

Aside from reaching out to legislature, educate people on what it is a nurse does in a day. Educate our education, our skills, our critical thinking. I also encourage you to share with your family and friends though conversation and social media about this bill, the amendment that needs to be changed, and why Senator Walsh’s comments are wrong. Nurses recently came together in NYC and through negotiations they were able to avoid a strike and begin negotiations for safer staffing.

Nurses are a strong and powerful force and when we come together, amazing things can happen. CHANGE can happen. We advocate for out patients, it’s time we begin to advocate for ourselves and our profession. Advocating for nurses is advocating for patients and their safety.

References

Bureau of Labor and Statistics. (2015). Nurses have highest employment in healthcare occupations. Retrieved from:https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/registered-nurses-have-highest-employment-in-healthcare-occupations-anesthesiologists-earn-the-most.htm

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (n.d.) Active RN licenses. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/6161.htm

Sauer, C. SB155 passes senate with an amendment that restricts nurses to 8-hour shifts. Retrieved from: https://www.wsha.org/articles/shb-1155-passes-senate-with-an-amendment-that-restricts-nurses-to-8-hour-shifts/

Walker, A. (2019). Senator remarks go viral: Nurses “play cards for a considerable amount of the day.” Retrieved from: https://nurse.org/articles/senator-maureen-walsh-nurses-play-cards/

Life Update

Hello! Happy Wednesday! I decided to write a little life update with some pictures just for fun before we start diving in to all thing nursey next week! A few things have changed in the past 1.5 years that I have been away from the blogging world. I went from being a new grad RN to making my way into becoming one of the experienced nurses on the floor. The beginning of last year, I was asked to get my feet wet with by precepting a travel nurse. A few months later, I took a practicum student in her last semester of nursing school. Last fall, I completed Preceptor 101, a class required by my hospital to orient new graduate nurses. And finally, in December, I was gifted a new graduate nurse to orient! I spent 6 weeks total (other weeks were spent on days) orienting my nursling. It confirmed I love teaching and helping to grow and educate new grad nurses! My next new grad will be coming to join me on nights in just a few weeks! I also decided to continue my academic journey and I am finishing up my second semester of a full time RN-BSN program and will graduate in August.

On a more personal note, some highlights of the past year:

Bradley proposed and we are engaged! (as if full time nurse and full time student wasn’t enough to see me busy 😉 hehe)

Wedding date October 12, 2019

Taylor Swift Reputation Tour with my sister/bestie

Celebrating my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary and seeing my family

I said “Yes” to the dress

Bradley’s talented sister photographed some engagement pictures

And traveled to a few of my favorite places

My current plan for the blog is to publish a new post every Wednesday, 2-3 Instagram posts a week, and of course some IG stories, because who doesn’t like some IG stories? 😉 I’m telling you my plan for the blog to hold myself accountable and help keep the anxieties at bay. Thank you for stopping by and letting me share some fun from the past couple years with you! Check back next week when the nursey fun will begin!

Hello World: Part 2. Back to the blog.

Hello, friends! It’s been way too long! 1.5 years to be exact. I cannot believe it has been over a year since I published a blog post. I started this blog when I was in nursing school to share my journey as well as my love and encouragement for nurses and nursing students. When I began my job at the hospital as a RN, I quickly became fearful of anyone finding my blog. What if they didn’t agree with my view of things? What if they thought I had poor writing skills? What if they thought I was the weird girl talking to herself on the internet? The list of anxieties and fears went on and on. I ended up removing the link off of my blog’s social media pages and stopped blogging because the anxiety of anyone seeing it took over.

After two years in my job and some personal growth, I have decided it’s time to be brave and start blogging again! Life is too short to not do what brings you happiness, right? I love nursing and my job as a cardiac RN in the hospital, but it doesn’t provide much of a creative outlet. Blogging allows me to explore nursing in a more creative way and share my love and support with nursing students and nurses.

Nurses and new nurses are definitely the heart of my blog. New nurses hurt, experienced nurses burn out, nursing school requires a lot of time and personal sacrifice. All of the different seasons of being a nurse bring their own triumphs and struggles. I can honestly say I love my job and have loved the journey that brought me here. However, this is not to say I have not been exhausted to the point of tears or struggled with burn out, anxiety, and stress during my time as both a nurse and nursing student. I hope and pray this blog and social media platforms will be a space of love and encouragement for pre-nursing students, nursing students, new graduate nurses, as well as experienced nurses. I hope to share my journey and things I am learning along the way, advocate for self-care and burn out prevention, support the new nurses and nursing students, and show appreciation for the experienced nurses. All the things that I feel a passion for and are a huge part of my heart.

Thank you for being here, I hope you’ll stick around.

XOXO,

Megan

My NCLEX Test Day Experience

Two months ago I was on my way to Charlotte, NC to take my NCLEX exam. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago. I wanted to share my timeline and experience because I know it is something we are all curious about as nursing students! I left Wednesday afternoon with Bradley and we headed d to Charlotte for the night. The first thing we did when we got there was find the testing center- this is something I highly suggest you do even if you are testing in your home town! The last thing you want is to be stressed and lost the day of your test. After that, we grabbed some dinner and headed to the hotel room. I mostly just relaxed and tried to not think about what the next morning would bring. I did sneak in a 50 question review on my UWorld app while waiting for dinner (oops!), but other than that- no studying the night before!

I woke up at 6- I was to show up at 7:30 for my 8am test. I chose an 8am test because all through nursing school my tests were typically at 8 or 9 in the morning. I wanted to keep things as normal as possible, as well as not have to long to let my nerves get the best of me. Now, I know people who test early and loved it, and know people who tested later and loved it. You have to do what’s best for you!

I showered, got dressed, spent a few minutes of quiet mediation, then headed down to the continental breakfast. The hotel had a really nice spread- I only wish I had been hungry- ha! My anxiety was high but I knew I needed something in my stomach. I ate some yogurt and fruit and sipped some coffee. I could hear my heart pounding and my hands were shaking- the day was finally here!! I was about to take my NCLEX- the test that would decide if I would become an RN!

I drove to the testing center- even with turning the wrong way out of the hotel I was there in 6 minutes (I booked the hotel closest to the testing center). Give yourself plenty of time to get to the test center- this is not the time to be late because of traffic. I walked in to the center- went to the restroom- and walked in the actual center right at 7:30a. They had me grab a number and take a seat. While I waited the gave me a print out on basic information for the NCLEX- how breaks worked, time, number of questions etc. I ended up waiting until 8:05 before I was called up! I did not expect this but they called every person up individually and it took some time. When they called me I did my palm vein scan, had my picture taken, and then was walked to a locker. I had to pull up my hair to show my neck and ears, put my scarf in the locker along with my ID and keys. My instructor said not to bring anything- so I didn’t. Most people has purses and jackets though and this wasn’t an issue. I then took my locker key and talked to the test proctor- who again checked me for any paraphernalia. He then handed me a white board and pair of ear plugs and walked me into the testing center.

Once inside the began the test. You have to do some practice questions- some do not count against time and some do- you have to do all of them before you can begin. I quickly went through them then it was time to start! My heart raced the whole time- although I did start to calm down as time went on. I didn’t feel as focused as I usually do on tests- and I didn’t feel as confident as I hoped in my answers. Every select all that apply question that popped up (there were a lot) made me more and more nervous! However, I believe this is how many applicants feel. Remeber, Pearson Testing Centers proctor a lot of differnet tests. If you hear people typing or getting up quickly- the are not necessarily taking the same tests as you! So don’t feel like your missing something or doing something wrong.

I kept coaching myself to not panic if question 76 popped up- that it meant nothing. Because it doesn’t. I am happy I passed in 75 questions, but people who take all 285 have the same RN after their name as me. After question 75- the screen went blank. I sat in shock for a moment- then completed the survey. I raised my hand and the proctor came and walked me out. He asked what I was taking and when I said “NCLEX” he said “WOW- that was fast!” It didn’t make feel any better- that’s for sure. I felt nauseous again- but luckily I kept my breakfast down. I did not feel confident I passed- and told everyone that I didn’t know if I did. Again, I think this is how most people feel.

Bradley and I spent the rest of the day exploring Charlotte and trying to keep my mind off the 48 hour wait for quick results. On Saturday morning- I woke up- and didn’t check. I was so nervous. What if I failed? What if there not there? Finally- at 12 I put in the credit card information- and there it was. One of the best words in the English language. “PASSED.”

If your a fellow nursing student studying for boards- read my review on UWorld and how helpful it was in my NCLEX preparation!

UWorld Review

On March 23, 2017 I passed my NCLEX-RN with 75 questions! I did a lot of studying and preparation prior to taking such a big test. My school used ATI for our NCLEX preparation including the 7 week Capstone and Live ATI review. I do feel like it was helpful in preparing me for the NCLEX- but I felt the rationales were difficult to understand at times and they weren’t very clear. I also didn’t like that on a lot of the assessments- I couldn’t see what I got right and wrong- and they provided no rationales. After graduating I decided I wanted to try something other than ATI. I used Saunders and Kaplan for my LPN NCLEX prep and liked both of them- especially the Kaplan live review and decision tree.

UWorld Review

There was a lot of buzz about UWorld so I decided to give it a try- and I am so happy I did! It was by far the best test prep company that I have used. It has a Q-bank with over a 1,000 questions and I really felt like the difficulty and content was comparable to the NCLEX. The screen set up is also very similar to NCLEX which is a nice bonus in preparing you to take your test.

The rationals are amazing! They give you charts, graphs, diagrams, pictures- along with a detailed explanation of why each answer is right/wrong! It definitely is like an excerpt of a helpful and user friendly text book along with each question. It was nice to have the information I needed right there as to why I was right or wrong- and not have to look the answer up in another book/program.

There are assessments that can help you find your weak areas and know where to put your focus in the beginning of your studying. You can choose from different content areas for your Qbank questions. I did this for the first few weeks of my studying- and I added in pharmacology even though it wasn’t an area I scored low in surprisingly! I also felt that UWorld had a lot of select all that apply questions that were similar to the content on the NCLEX. The week before you test I think its best to do comprehensive questions over all content areas- to prepare you for the actual test.

UWorld was the only test prep I used after I graduated to the time I took my test- and I feel it more than prepared me for the NCLEX! I obviously felt a little uneasy when I came out of the testing center and had my doubts- but this seems to be common for everyone. A lot of my fellow classmates also used UWorld and agree that they really benefited from it and feel it helped them prepare to test.

Uworld does cost money to purchase access- on top of all the money you are shelling out for tuition and boards. I did the cheapest package which gave me 30 days of access and cost me 80 dollars- and felt well prepared when it came time to test. I felt the price was really reasonable for the quality of the content. I took a few days off after graduation to spend time with family and loved ones- it’s something I think everyone should do. If you do plan to take time off- take that in to consideration for when you want to make your purchase. I waited until after so I didn’t pay for days I wouldn’t be using it. If you need to renew- you can add time to your package before it expires for a reduced price.

This post is not sponsored- I just loved UWorld and wanted to share with my fellow nursing students! You obviously can use other test prep companies- or no test prep company- and still be successful. However, I recommend at least considering UWorld! Head over to UWorld and check it out!

Happy Studying!

My first Official Week as a RN

Week 2 of orientation was first week training on the floor. I orient for three weeks on nights- and then I will switch to days for the rest of my orientation. I managed to get in a small nap the afternoon before my first day- which was good considering I would be at work until 7am the next morning. I pulled up to the hospital well before my shift was set to start. I hadn’t been able to eat anything because my stomach was in knots from anxiety. I did sip some coffee to try to rid myself of the post-nap groggy feeling. I’m not going to lie- it was hard to get myself to walk through the door. I was excited and eager to begin this journey- but also so nervous. I was going to be responsible for people’s lives. I was going to need to know what to do in codes, take care of sick hearts, and figure out those crazy lines on the monitors (plus so much more!) This is what I wanted- but it is a scary and heavy feeling. Luckily- there is a long orientation process to learn how to do these things- because let me tell you- nursing school just skimmed the surface of what nursing is.

Once I hit the floor I slowly began to feel a little more comfortable. My preceptor was very welcoming but moved quick- I was just following her the first day so I tried to listen and take in all I could. During report I didn’t know some of the terminology and things they were talking about- I found my heart racing and wondering “what exactly did I learn in nursing school!?” However, my preceptor assured me I would learn all that and more over the next two months. My preceptor is so wonderful- she is there when I need her, she welcomes (and encourages) questions, she explains everything in detail but manages to not totally overwhelm me. She is a super nurse in my eyes- knowledgeable, compassionate, a team player- the total package!

The first week I mostly focused on learning documentation and charting- and let me tell you- there is a ton of it! And when you are finally done- there is more. Luckily my preceptor provided me with a awesome check list of things that need to be charted and when- my kind of girl! The second and third day I began to do care and chart on 2 patients with my preceptors help and guidance. I gave heparin and insulin injections, IV push meds, hung fluids, gave PO (by mouth) meds, performed assessments, and was slowly introduced to some basic rhythms. We learned EKG interpretation in school- but it was only a day or two class and I have to say it is different on a monitor. I will take an arrhythmia class, have a competency test, and complete ACLS as additional training on my floor which I think will give me a good foundation- because right now I usually feel like I am not sure what I’m looking at. Luckily, my preceptor is at my side and checking everything I do. I also observed my preceptor work with an Amiodarone drip and two other nurses administer blood. There is so so much to learn!

One of the newer nurses asked on my third night- “do you feel like you are trying to drink water out of an wide open fire hydrant? You’re just drowning and coughing and trying to keep up?” YES!! That accurately describes the feeling! But while it’s scary- it’s also so interesting! Overall, I would say I love my job so far. The nursing staff also has been so welcoming and kind. It was a great first week and I actually look forward to returning to work! I have a ton to learn but I am up for the challenge!

Have a great weekend, friends!

New Nurse Orientation- Week 1

Hello! Happy May! It’s hard to believe a new month is here already! I am loving the spring weather and all the beauty nature has to offer right now! May is an exciting month for me- it is my first month on the floor of the cardiac unit for orientation. I am so excited (but also nervous!) for this new challenge and adventure.

Two weeks ago I had classroom orientation M-F 8-4. The first day was general hospital orientation where they went over the “big picture” things that everyone at the hospital needed to know. It was a quick overview and everything moved fast. They discussed HIPPA, benefits, hospital mission and values, security, and infection control. I also received my badge which was a very exciting moment!

Tuesday was orientation for all clinical personnel- we had PCTs (patient care technicians), a surgical tech, and nurses in my orientation. Again, they went over a lot of big picture things. Hand hygiene, more HIPPA, basic policy and procedure, customer service skills. That afternoon the PCTs went for computer training and the nurses had guest speakers from wound care and the sepsis coordinator (both nurses). It’s amazing to me how many different roles nurses take in the hospital!

Wednesday and Thursday was nurse orientation. Again- lots of policy and procedures. We learned the basis of the computer system (there is so much to learn!). We also had to take a math test (yes- you read that right! Don’t lose your math skills after graduation!) and also did skill check offs on Foley catheters and central line dsg change/Med admin/ blood draw. Luckily, the environment for these check offs was much less stressful than nursing school.

Friday we were left to do healthstream- which is basically a ton of online training/inservice/certifications. The information was helpful and interesting- but staring at the computer for hours can be exhausting.

Overall- the week was fantastic! I was lucky enough to orient with one of my best friends from nursing school! It was truly divine intervention- we were hired and took NCLEX at different times- yet ended up in the same orientation! There was also only three nurses in orientation- which our educator said is very unusual! It was an amazing learning environment and helped calm two very anxious type A new grads. The educator and other RN in orientation were both 30 plus year nurses and so full of knowledge! My friend and I both feel so blessed to have spent the week with them learning some tips and tricks to being a newbie.

Last week was my first week on the floor. Sunday night was my first night of week 2 on the floor. It was a great first week and the staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. The blog post for my first week on the floor is in the works and will be up tomorrow! Stay tuned!

One Year Blogiversary!

Today is the one year blogiversary of Peace Love Nursing! In honor of the anniversary and the new journey I am embarking on as a new grad RN, we have revamped the blog to give it a fresh, clean, and updated look! I hope you will take some time to look around and check out the new and improved blog. I also have a lot of exciting blog posts in the works that will be coming soon- NCLEX prep/test experience, job interview process, hospital orientation, and new grad RN life! As I transition in to the role of RN I also hope to restore some work/life balance- more than what I had in nursing school. With this restored balance I plan to include some lifestyle posts for you as well- nature, travel, cooking, family, adventure, and everyday life.

Starting this blog was something that was way outside my comfort zone, but something I had always found interesting and wanted to do. Through the support and encouragement of Bradley and my parents I started it and it is one of the best things I have done! I love the opportunity to connect with people in this space and share my experience through nursing school, the nursing world, and life in general.

In honor of my one year blogiversary, I am sharing five of my favorite blog post from the past year!

1. #NursesTakeDC

This has been my most viewed blog post to date- it was shared over 40 time on FB! But most importantly, it is a cause and an action that is extreemyl important to me as a nurse. One of our biggest roles as a nurse is patient advocate- whether that be in the hospital or in Washington fighting for safe ratios.

2.Safe Staffing SAVES Lives!

This post goes along with the #NursesTakeDC post, but again, it is such an important issue in the nursing community! I felt like I had a lot of passion to go along with these posts- because I have seen what under-staffing can do to nurses and patients, as well as how it leads to burnout.

3.Mental Health Nursing: Why It’s Important

Mental Health is something that I feel is not talked about enough. As nurses, we need to be aware of mental illness and how we can treat these patients with as much dignity and understanding as possible. The stigma to mental illness can be reduced and hopefully eventually eradicated by discussing mental illness honestly and openly. This blog post I shared my thoughts on the importance of Mental Health Nursing for ALL nurses.

4.The End of My Nursing School Journey

This post I wrote on the day of my pining. Much of this blog was written about my experiences in Nursing School, so a post about the end of my journey is one that means a lot to me. I feel it was the beginning of the current transition I am in and the new journey I am embarking on as a new grad RN.

5.Hello World!

This was the first blog post I wrote and so I think because of that, it will always be near and dear to my heart. It was a simple introduction to who I am- but it was a big step outside my comfort zone and the beginning of an exciting journey!

I would love to hear from YOU on what you would like to see on the blog in the next year! Please leave any ideas for future posts- nursey or non-nursey below!

Thank you all so much for all the love and support over the past year! It means so much for me to have you as a part of my little space on the internet. I hope you will continue on this journey with me!

Megan Weaver, RN!

The years of studying anywhere and everywhere, clinicals, labs, skills check offs, papers, projects, drug cards, ups and downs are paying off! March has come and gone but it held so many amazing things! March 1 I was pinned as a nurse with my family and friends present. Two weeks ago on Wednesday (22nd) Bradley and I headed to Charlotte, NC so I could take my NCLEX at 8am on Thursday morning. Last weekend I paid for quick results with Pearson Vue and found out I PASSED the NCLEX with 75 questions!!!! No words can describe how happy, relieved, and accomplished I felt when the word “Passed” popped up on the screen!

Senior Practicum- Labor and Delivery

My last class of nursing school instead of going to clinical with an instructor and a group of students- we worked with a preceptor for our senior practicum. Senior practicum consist of being assigned to work with one RN his/her full time schedule for 9 shifts- or 108 hours. My practicum was on a labor and delivery unit at a local hospital on night shift.Read More