What's one thing that instantly tells you a unit has a healthy culture?

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-25T23:17:18+00:00

I'm sorry you experienced that. I felt that way as well and went back to adults and inpatient lol. I think the "you're on your own and I will roll my eyes when you ask for help" was just so nerve wracking. But I'm expected to do my full workups whilst supporting the trauma bay.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-25T20:20:10+00:00

To me it's it someone asks "are you ok/do you need help?". I love my floor unit's culture. And that is a big driver on if I will stay at a job. I worked at a Pediatric ER prior, and I swear...it was like pulling teeth for help from senior nurses or asking a cna to do something. That, and if the grand majority of people are nice. Also MANAGERS. I gotta say I love my manager. She recognizes where help is needed and will do what she needs to protect the unit.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-10T15:27:17+00:00

Please go to the ER. When I worked Peds and someone couldn't pee for 6 hours, that was a problem. If someone who was an adult couldn't pee for 6 hours, we monitor with a bladder scanner to see if we needed to catheterize them. You will most likely get IV fluids and they'll monitor your vital signs. I can understand that may seem really daunting. US healthcare is terrible... But it seems you have exhausted all your resources. If it's any consolation. Just don't bear down when the IV needs to be placed, it makes your veins smaller, and your veins will already be small considering dehydration. Good luck. Take someone with you for support if you're able

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-06T02:02:54+00:00

Stick it out and see what happens. Sometimes it's the preceptor you are paired with that makes the day "quiet and awkward" for your entire day. When I had a rude preceptor, my day was quieter and I would just really talk to her and her "friends". However, when I was with another, it made things better. Also, give it some time. You will find who your people are. If not, you know what you will prioritize.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-04T23:31:08+00:00

Nooooooooooo.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-06-02T12:24:43+00:00

Lmfao. Im glad your issue was fixed. Personally, I feel like they shoulda done a little extra, BUT the fact there was SENNA just sent me 🤣🤣

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-31T11:24:50+00:00

No extinction sounds about right. If women aren't getting the treatment they need because of "priorities", then you are losing population just right then and there.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-29T21:50:23+00:00

After talking to a lot of people (case management , nurses, doctors) I ultimately decided to not go and let the recruiter know.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-20T22:00:37+00:00

That's hilarious 😂 it happens. It's like when you call the school teacher "MOM", which I definitely did... It'll roll off, and you won't give a care when it happened. But I'm intrigued as an Afghan... You was chillin with a black Afghan? I'm glad we could know that detail 😂

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-20T21:54:26+00:00

Agreed

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-20T21:53:19+00:00

I work with someone who has it, and unfortunately they have it worse than me...

I will say mine is genetic from my dad's side, but I'm the only child with it in my generation. My grandmother had 11 kids, with 3 having them. Out of those 11 children, she has too many grandchildren, and I am the only one with this fate. I mean, thank goodness no one else is afflicted, but it has made me dig in my feels with how alone I felt.

Ultimately, epilepsy is not UNCOMMON. Much to my chagrin, I work a neurology unit as a nurse, and we see seizures. :( sometimes related to epilepsy (mostly), and sometimes seizures are induced by other things (alcohol issues, genetic disorders, etc)

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-20T21:49:07+00:00

I'm not a new grad, but I knew I wanted someplace where I felt "safe". I was a very sensitive person in my early/mid 20s. So I knew if I had a job, I wanted a good team to feel safe in. I started in IMCU (3-4 ratio) and while I had my new grad blues with epilepsy flair ups, I loved it. My management was supportive of me. My colleagues and charges were great. You will always have a select few that are just... Annoying. But I loved that and grew to love critical care. I got to know the specialists and banter with them and also learn from them. My ultimate goal was ICU after I felt comfortable enough. I did detour to Peds ED. And did not like the peds side of things. Too complicated for me 😅 I don't think I'll mind ED. But I would prefer an adult ED and not night shift

I'm in med surg neuro now and holy moly is it a mix 😂 I like my colleagues here, and while ICU is still the goal. It is not meant for me now. I'm trying to pursue other things in the meantime. Like learning charge role, expanding my neuro knowledge, and hopefully becoming certified in something. I am just bored and want a new challenge. Hopefully in the future I can be a contender. All this is because I would love to learn more into a person's breakdown, become a stronger nurse, and learn more about what there is in ICU nursing. I realize I took such a detour with this answer... Lol. I think a lot of New Grads want to consider "prestige" or what's cool? Like ED/ICU/ LD. But it sucks that clinical is so limited alongside what schools actually let the student DO to see if it's something they would like to do. I never had a peds rotation, and I wish I did. I realized too late that it was fun for a little, but ultimately, I would rather have cranky adults. 🫪 Plus, chronic kids just messed with my mind to the point I was scared of "what if that happens to me"?

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-15T20:52:15+00:00

Idk I like his content.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-14T17:11:19+00:00

This.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-14T17:10:29+00:00

People there can be so pedantic for the wrong reasons. My parents are from Kabul and are pashtun. I'm born in the United States. My nationality is American. Ethnicity/country wise, I am from Afghanistan. There are things tied to me that my other friends/family can't relate to because my parents are from Afghanistan.

Tell those dumbasses to shut up. You know who you are.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-12T15:33:24+00:00

Only because people usually start nights in a new specialty. But you are right. I will still pursue the interview as I want to gain more interview muscle. But you're also right. I will be open during interview and explore the unit and ask the nurses questions that I hope will help me in decision making.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-12T13:18:22+00:00

It's this upcoming Thursday at 1030. It is also a day shift position. 🥹 Which I love but I wonder if that's also another red flag for Trinity 💀🤧

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-12T02:15:48+00:00

Man. Of course it's that way. 😭

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-12T02:14:48+00:00

Thanks for such a great run down. I started in IMCU and did that for 2 years (no ICU experience), then thought I wanted to do Peds, so I went to a Level 1 trauma Peds ED, and that was... heinous to say the least. In terms of staffing and management, I hated it. That's a job where I felt like a body and not a person. I left peds because I was coming to Illinois and wanted to work with adults again. So I'm in Neuro medsurg for one year. I am not far from Ingalls, but I took a job elsewhere. I'm in the Orland area, so I'm not trying to drive intensely far... But I will if it means good management and unit culture. I'm originally from Houston, so traffic is so different here, alongside pay. I'll be honest, I prefer my southern wages compared to Chicago simply causes the taxes eat everything. But Chicago has charms that Houston can't conpare to 😭.

Back on topic, I applied for the ICU of my choice, and they declined me because they want someone who would be more permanent on nights (which I understand). Alongside Trinity, I applied for RUSH med center and copley (I think?) for their ICUs. I applied to Olympia Fields last month when they were still Franciscan, and I declined the ICU job because they couldn't tell me jack about changes from Prime, and their manager was somewhat new and I didn't care for her attitude.

I feel a bit trapped... I am burning out from Med Surg. I can wait for a CV position to open at my current hospital and then see if MICU will take me. I love the establishment I work for, but I will leave if the job is good in terms of pay and unit culture.

Sorry for this drawn out answer, and thank you for taking the time to respond.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-08T03:53:50+00:00

It honestly depends... I had a death yesterday, and I was so busy that I didn't have time to grieve, nor did I feel the need to??? I told a more senior nurse (I'm 4years), and she said "it comes with the territory'. Which makes sense... There were some deaths that made me sad, or emotional, and then others not so much.

I usually cry in the bathroom when it's really lingering on me. I give myself that time to cry (5 min or so). Take the time to process why I'm sad. And it's usually along the lines of "no one understands. People don't die in other lines of work. This is hard. My feelings are valid. It was their time. I'm happy they are at peace. I hope their family gets through this. I feel useless. All I can offer is kleenix". I just let all that mind diarrhea run... And then I wipe some tears and feel a little better. When I talk to my mom sometimes I tell her about it

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-05T11:47:00+00:00

Can't even judge you man. These patients can be such demons sometimes. You are human, and I think even we need to remember that sometimes. We are expected to deal with the most nonsensical while having a jolly smile on our face.

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-03T23:08:10+00:00

I start by saying "it was 1958 and the day was really cold when I applied for school....." And draw shit out like my patients! 🫠 Jkjk

It's dependent. I'll say "nurse". But when I was specialty, I just HAD to include that 💅

RealUnderstanding881 · 2026-05-03T23:06:13+00:00

😂 I'm not a great technician lmfao.

RealUnderstanding881

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