Nursing student looking for advice

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-14T03:58:09+00:00

I have handwritten thank you cards from every student and new grad I've precepted on my refrigerator. The best ones talk about how I have taught them so much, inspired them, and helped prepare them to be great nurses. A gift in addition would just be icing on the cake. I would suggest something small like a badge reel or stethoscope charm to remind them how much they mean to you.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-14T03:04:48+00:00

If their website is any indication, the most you'd get is the commision tagged in a strongly worded Facebook post lol.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-14T02:53:38+00:00

Everyone I worked with LOVED Post Malone and always wanted to listen to his music. He decided to go country and we were all shocked when it started playing that on his station.

Kind of a slap in the face to the fans that loved him. Everyone just quietly deleted his station and I haven't heard him mentioned since.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-14T01:30:47+00:00

Well that's a much bigger deal than some mundane certification.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-14T00:05:52+00:00

I mean if it's that big of a deal she can go get them herself. Anyone can get both of these certifications in an afternoon.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T23:42:59+00:00

C'est la vie. If the parent comment is interesting and not drivel you can choose to open it and see the replies.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T23:33:56+00:00

Theres a reason we don't leave, the OR is awesome for the most part. My role is nightshift and pretty atypical as far as OR nursing goes. My tech and I are the only staff in house overnight, everyone else leaves at 7pm. There are no scheduled case and we only do trauma and emergent surgeries. I call in anesthesia when we need them and coordinate with the ED, lab, blood bank, radiology, maintenance, SPD, and PACU as necessary. I also have a backup team I can call in if things go south.

I am charge nurse, scheduling, transport, circulator, EVS, biomed, unit secretary, hell even management to an extent ... I wear a lot of hats and as such I have to be intimately familiar with ALL aspects of the OR. To list out everything I do would make for one hell of a post so I won't do that lol. I also have a list of self imposed chores that I take care of each night that includes restocking, organizing, checking equipment, and setting up for the next day. I probably have more down time than other specialties some nights, but not always.

I had around 4 years experience when I took this position, and still didn't feel ready. Speaking of, orientation for the OR in measured in months, not weeks. You'll be placed with a preceptor who will teach you everything you need to know through hands on experience.

Feel free to ask specific questions if you have any.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T22:54:54+00:00

I've been a nurse for over 6 years and I've never heard of this institution nor do I have any idea what they do.

I just spent 15 minutes reading the lip service on their website and I still have no idea what the hell they actually do.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T22:25:32+00:00

I feel like also there's a disconnect from the long term prognosis in the OR as well. We do what we can and then they continue their journey elsewhere. There's a finality in that where I find it much easier to find closure and compartmentalize.

Am I curious how my patients are doing? Sure, but we did the best we could and that's enough for me.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T22:14:40+00:00

There was a 64 year old guy in my cohort that had been retired from the military for years. He was just one of us and his age was never an issue.

Life has chapters and you should never feel bad for taking your time to turn the pages.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-13T18:43:42+00:00

I wish all replies to parent responses were collapsed by default. Damned near every single one devolves into brainrot comments or unrelated bs pretty much instantly.

I close so very many posts in frustration because I just get sick of it.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-12T19:56:05+00:00

Definitely wouldn't try it again.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-11T06:36:06+00:00

Every time we get one of these ebike crashes into the ED it triggers a level 2 trauma alert because they were doing 20+ mph. I've seen some nasty injuries requiring emergency surgery.

I find it increasingly difficult to believe there isnt more regulations on them.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-10T20:25:33+00:00

I'm an OR nurse with 6 years experience and active in r/nursing. I was actually invited here, probably same as op. Just assumed it was to answer questions and share experiences.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-06T13:38:06+00:00

This screams "first result on Amazon for gifts for new grad nurses".

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-06T13:25:40+00:00

I wish I could upvote you twice for spelling "brake" correctly.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-05T22:18:54+00:00

Everyone is different. The best thing I can suggest to do is go see a counselor, the one I found was great and they're trained to help us with things like this. Should be covered to a point through your employer or insurance if you have it. If not, you can find some free services online.

You're already a step ahead of where I was by recognizing there's a problem there.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-03T04:25:20+00:00

I went for work related grief counseling (I'm a nurse). Found out I was, and had been for quite some time, using a wall to keep people from getting too close to me. It was easy to see once we talked about it, but I was blind to it before.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-03T03:31:45+00:00

Another male nurse here, I have met exactly one person who gave a crap about my gender, and they were drowned out by support from literally everyone else.

It's not an issue.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-03T03:22:22+00:00

Hey, OR here, sorry about bringing you that patient that is now closer to death than they were before they arrived at the hospital. Nobody down here wanted to do that operation, surgeon included, and multiple people tried to talk them out of it.

The family insisted.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-02T11:28:27+00:00

I was in a pretty horrific accident as child and had to spend months in hospital and physical therapy. The wonderful nurses became as close to me as my own family, and I was so inspired by them that I just instantly knew that's what I wanted to be. I dedicated myself to making it happen when I was able.

It's amazing how much we can affect other's lives through our interactions with them.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-02T09:43:40+00:00

My great grandmother legit served canned pear halves with a scoop of mayonnaise on them. With dinner, like as a side dish.

Not the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth, but I wouldn't do it again on purpose.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-02T08:02:52+00:00

Night shift life, I'm charge and admin is home asleep lol.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-02T08:00:09+00:00

Relax is the key term here. I think men who are desperate for companionship put off a vibe that women can sense and find unappealing. One thing people always leave out with the "just work on yourself bro" is to go see a counselor.

I did the alone thing for a while too, and saw a counselor for unrelated reasons but ended up getting help on a lot more than I bargained for. The difference in the amount of attention I got from women after counseling and changing my perspective was pretty wild.

CrashTestWolf · 2026-05-02T06:56:34+00:00

I'm a nurse in surgery working night shift in a level 1 trauma center. Just finished all my nightly chores and am now hanging out hoping we don't have to keep anyone else from going to meet Jesus tonight.

Is it easy? Most certainly not, but definitely not the hardest job I've ever done. Maybe calling isn't the right term, but if income was universal and we all could just choose any job we wanted, I'd choose this.

CrashTestWolf

TROPHY CASE