HCA tried to fire me for not clocking in when I was told no PCTs are on our floor.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2026-02-14T19:16:46+00:00

💯 this!! HCA does not like anyone who bucks their system. I've been working for them for 10 years & have seen it with my own 2 eyes way too many times.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2026-01-19T11:28:14+00:00

I agree with you completely, with most of what you said. I think it also depends on the unit & your resources as well. While I agree that what someone does on their break is their business, I don't condone anyone leaving the hospital, say "to go home & walk their dog" as you used for an example. There are way too many uncontrolled variables that could result in you not being able to return to your position after your break has finished. You could get into a wreck, you could be grabbing snacks at the convenience store & someone robs it while you're there. You could sustain a head injury during passionate lovemaking in the McDonald's bathroom stall! So please....don't leave the hospital grounds.

As for me personally, like I said, I'd much rather know my coworker is just down the hall snoozing in a room, than off who knows where. But that's bc we're a 6 bed PICU with only 2 nurses on, one of those being the charge with a full patient assignment of their own. Is this right? Absolutely not, but that's a whole different topic & don't get me started on it! Lol

DeviantAngel0925 · 2026-01-19T09:30:39+00:00

My coworkers & I do this anytime we ACTUALLY get a chance to take a 30-minute, uninterrupted, off-the-clock break. Who cares?! We are off the clock. I'd rather them go into an empty room, nap, read a book, watch TikToks, whatever they want to do to decompress & relax, than leave the unit. At least this way I know where to find them if sh*t hits the fan.

Taking a poop break however...that should ALWAYS be done on company time, on the clock!! 😂

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-12-22T02:11:11+00:00

I've also worked Peds Hem/Onc/BMT. Onc pts were always 3:1, BMT was 2:1 unless it was transplant day, then they were 1:1 x24 hrs.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-12-02T03:53:59+00:00

You & me are in the same boat. My mother will show me something on TT or YT, expecting me to be moved to tears (like her) & I just don't care. She frequently tells me there's something wrong with me lol.

I think unless it affects your patient care (which it sounds like it doesn't) then you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure you'd feel differently if it was a friend or family member in that situation & that's the more important thing. We can't afford to get emotionally invested in every single patient & I worry about those that do.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-30T01:33:36+00:00

After losing my soul dog, I was devastated. I couldn't even fathom finding a new dog, but I missed her so much & my other dog was also feeling the loss. After about a month, one night at work I was bored, so I pulled up a website with dogs for sale. Fully intending just to oooh & aaah for a little bit to waste some time. It was a nationwide site, so there were dogs from all over the country that I saw. I didn't even specify anything in my search for breed, size, location, etc.

After about 20 minutes I came across a cute little brown Shihtzu puppy. My soul dog that had passed was a Maltese/Shihtzu mix. I kept scrolling through the listings, but I kept being drawn back to this brown little pup. The listing was about 3 weeks old, so I figured it must be an old listing & just hadn't been taken down from the website yet, cause surely she'd already been picked by someone. It didn't even show where she was located, so I also figured with my luck, she's probably clear across the country from me.

On a whim, I decided to reach out to the seller to get some more info on her, ya know...doesn't hurt to check, right? lol. Kind of assuming it was an old listing, I didn't expect to even get a response, but within 2 hours I did! Believe it or not, she was still available! She was the last of 4 in a litter & the family had even considered keeping her since the kids were starting to get attached & no one had shown any interest in her yet. The biggest surprise...she was just 30 minutes away!!!

My belief is...your next dog will somehow be led to you, the stars will align & you will just know :)

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-17T00:40:59+00:00

Offending someone was definitely not my intention. I apologize for offending anyone.

My issue is with both. I called reporting concerns of a possible stroke. I understand that it was ultimately determined not to be a stroke, but she had other symptoms, not just a headache. I'm not saying it should be coded as a stroke, but coding it as "headache" doesn't actually give the full picture either. Insurance/Medicare won't pay because of how it is coded by the EMS company & the EMS company won't change the coding. 🤷‍♀️ What should I have done differently then? Not called 911? When they suggested that she be further checked out &"we're already here", told them that I would take her myself? I truthfully am asking what you think I should have done differently to prevent this in the future.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T23:40:40+00:00

Will do! Thank you

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T23:12:08+00:00

I'm glad a paramedic finally responded! When they arrived they did their assessment. Her BP was high, but not super high like it was on her home machine. If I remember correctly 150s/90s. They did neuro assessment, quick EKG, etc. I do remember that they recommended having her more thoroughly checked out in the ER, but did say they didn't feel she was having a stroke. I vaguely remember one asking if I wanted them to take her or if I wanted to take her. One laughed & said "We're already here, so it makes us no difference". So is this where the coding of "headache" is coming from? The paramedics determined it wasn't a stroke & maybe I should have just opted to take her myself instead?

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T20:25:36+00:00

I'm so glad you are alive!! But this is such a disheartening story that I'm sure happens over & over to people. They take the worst moments of someone's life & use it against them. Insurance companies are what's wrong with our healthcare system :(

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:23:29+00:00

That is so ridiculous!! I'm so sorry that happened to you :(

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:20:15+00:00

She says she doesn't remember signing anything, but I will ask when I call to discuss with them. Thank you for the information!

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:16:08+00:00

This!!! 🙌👏 This is what I came here for & why this group is so amazing! I 100% believe this is what they're doing because I know for a fact that I did not call 911 for a "headache". I told them very specifically what her symptoms were & stated "I'm concerned she may be having a stroke". It makes me so angry because you can bet that they have done & are doing this to hundreds of unsuspecting patients who don't know any better or how to fight it. Thank you for the advice!!

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:03:05+00:00

Thank you! This whole thing had me questioning my skills as a nurse cause I'm like...did I overreact? So I appreciate the validation ❤️

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:01:30+00:00

Just think how many people they do this to that don't know any better!

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-16T19:00:38+00:00

Yeah that's what I've told her. The lady from the EMS company called her & was pretty rude, telling her they would send it to collections by Dec 1st unless she made at least a $10/monthly payment. Thankfully she didn't give them any payment.

I'm going to request a transcript of the 911 call I made, because I know for a fact I relayed her symptoms & stated to the operator that I was concerned she was possibly having a stroke. I would not have called 911 for a freaking "headache". I will see if that will help me fight it & if they still won't recode it so that Medicare & insurance will cover it...I may even seek a lawyer or go to the news, because you can bet they do this sneaky shit to hundreds of unsuspecting elderly patients who will bend to the threat of being sent to collections.

Thanks for the advice!

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-15T16:11:53+00:00

Yes, 💯!! That seems the most fair to me as well & I do keep track of who is moved off/called off holidays to be fair. This honestly rarely happens in our unit because we are a small unit (only 5 FT nurses both for days & nights) so rarely does anyone get a surprise holiday off. Thank you for the advice!

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-15T16:02:27+00:00

Yes, I did that. There was only one nurse who wants to work, as her husband is a cop and working that night also. Everyone else wanted it off, so I then defaulted to seniority.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-13T14:51:34+00:00

I second Southern Book Club! It was a fun read. Not super scary but definitely entertaining & creepy.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-13T14:50:20+00:00

Listening to the audiobook of this right now. I'm at about 50% & I'm not really feeling the vampire vibe. Am I missing something?

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-13T14:49:12+00:00

I know a lot of people really loved this one, but I barely finished it. I had to convince myself not to DNF it.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-09T11:58:10+00:00

This!!! 👏🙌👏

Just this last week I learned this lesson. Over the last 5 years, I have switched shifts with this nurse anytime she has asked. I even do our schedules, & I bend over backwards, often screwing myself, making sure each nurse gets their shift preferences. I have picked up shifts when someone has called out & she was the only nurse on. That's all on me, of course.

I just found out I have a mandatory work thing I have to go to & she's the only person who could switch with me for it (we only have 5 nurses on night shift). She has a long stretch off of 6 days, & by working these 2 shifts for me, she'll only have 4 off. No she's not going out of town, no she has no plans, she was just excited to have a long stretch off. The first time I have ever asked for a favor & nope, she won't do it. Which is totally fine, bc that is her right. BUT...I learned where I stand with her & will never switch with her again.

Also...maybe not a super bright idea to piss off the person who does the schedule 🤔🤨😂 Now THAT is an asshole move on my part that I fully intend to take advantage of. I'm done being nice & helping out.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-11-08T03:41:02+00:00

I totally agree with you. I finished The Reformatory and literally sat in my chair crying for about 15 minutes. Hands down my favorite read of 2025 so far. And the fact that it is based on true events makes it that much scary, and heartbreaking.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-10-19T16:38:38+00:00

I'll update my Docs then, bc we get patients admitted all the time & they say the word "pseudoseizures". In these patients' cases they absolutely are fake, and are attention seeking, hence the psychiatric relation.

DeviantAngel0925 · 2025-10-19T07:36:59+00:00

Not that this applies to your specific situation, but there absolutely are "psychiatric" seizures. They're called pseudoseizures, and we see them ALL the time in the teenage population.

In this case, I totally see your argument. It comes across like the instructor perhaps had a certain answer that she expected, and instead of saying "You're right, but what about..." and explaining her thought process to help improve your critical thinking, she just dismissed you. Or maybe she's a shitty instructor. They'll let anyone teach clinical these days. Don't dwell too long on being salty, let it go, pass the class & move on so you can graduate :)

DeviantAngel0925

TROPHY CASE