[VistaGirl]

Come on Iowa!

Our message board is dead!! Let's get some discussions going for us lovely midwest folks!

Who do we have here? Students? CNA's? LPN's? RN's? APN"s?

How long have you worked in said position?

What is your specialty? What are some things you love about your job?

What do you hate about it or would change about it?

Any words of wisdom?

Funny nursing stories?

[VistaGirl]

Well since I am on this board ALL alone I guess I will start.
I am a newly admitted nursing student to start January 2008 and I have been a CNA for 4 years. I specialize in working with residents who have Dementia and/or Alzheimer's Disease. I love my job because I feel like I make a difference in my residents life. Just today I stopped in to work after being gone for 2 months due to knee surgery and one of my residents REMEMBERED ME!! She has been declining so badly since I have left, but she got up, had a huge smile on her face and gave me a hug and a kiss, she even told me she missed me. She is the reason why I make it through my bad days!! What I dislike about what I do is that no one seems to understand how challenging it can be, mentally. Sure, it's not heavy lifting, I am not sweating for the entire shift, but dealing with residents who have such memory loss is emotionally exhausting. Some days it is just so frustrating, and other days it is purely sad. If I could change anything about my job I would tell corporate they need to focus on our residents more than their outward appearance. It irritates me to no end the parties my place of work puts on for the families. I could think of many better uses for the "party fund", but I am a CNA, with no say. That will change with time I know.

[purple_rose_3]

I definately agree this board is DEAD!

Who do we have here? RN, graduated from SCC in Burlington May 2006.

How long have you worked in said position? I've been working on a Telemetry floor since graduation and I love it!

What is your specialty? Telemetry

What are some things you love about your job? To many to list at this point!

What do you hate about it or would change about it? Tbis hospital doesn't have computer charting!

Any words of wisdom? Nursing school is tough, but definately worth it!

[Thunderwolf]

Its not that the board is dead....but because most folks post in the other forums where most folks hang out...regardless of state they live in. I would recommend going to the other forums, and invite other Iowan nurses to come post in here...let them know you are interested. They may just not know that you are here trying to generate more interest in the Iowan forum.

Best wishes.

Wolfie

[VistaGirl]

Originally Posted by Thunderwolf

Its not that the board is dead....but because most folks post in the other forums where most folks hang out...regardless of state they live in. I would recommend going to the other forums, and invite other Iowan nurses to come post in here...let them know you are interested. They may just not know that you are here trying to generate more interest in the Iowan forum.

Best wishes.

Wolfie

Ok we will say the board is "Quiet" instead of "Dead" The main reason why I wanted to try and start some threads here is that I have not seen a lot of posters who claim Iowa as their home and workplace. I am mainly in the Students section right now, and I haven't heard a thing about any of the Iowa colleges, so I thought maybe I could work some lurkers out of hiding haha!

[Thunderwolf]

That was nice of you.

thank you.

[midcom]

Who do we have here? Graduated from LPN school Sept 21. Waiting for BON to get their act together so I can take NCLEX-PN. Graduated from Hamilton College Cedar Falls

How long have you worked in said position? Searching for jobs in clinic setting.Just had second interview for gastroenterology office & will have one next week for a podiatrist.

What is your specialty? Nothing yet but my dream job would be in Women's health, specifically infertility.

What are some things you love about your job? I'd like it to exist!
What do you hate about it or would change about it? ??

Any words of wisdom? You are never too old to learn so don't be afraid to go to school even if you are "old"

Dixie

[gagezoie]

Who do we have here? New R.N. Passed boards Aug, 07

How long have you worked in said position?About three months

What is your specialty? What are some things you love about your job? LTC, love the residents and if some type of R.N only thing needs to be done I don't have to fight to hard for it. (only 3 other R.N's work there)

What do you hate about it or would change about it?
Staffing is a major problem right now. I also think it would be nice to try and make are own schedule
Any words of wisdom?
Do what you want with your career, had a lot of people who thought I shouldn't do LTC as a R.N
Funny nursing stories?
Not to many right now, just a few Witty things some of the with-it residents say can be hilarious as well of the not so with it residents.

[Tanzanite]

Who do we have here? R.N. Passed boards Sept 07' (took my sweet time) Graduated IHCC-Ottumwa campus May 07"

How long have you worked in said position? 9 week preceptor plus 5months @ Hospital

What is your specialty? Geriatric Psych

What are some things you love about your job? The pt's, hours, Pay, my boss, the relaxed no rush atmosphere.

What do you hate about it or would change about it? The drive to and from. Would love for it to be within 5 minutes vs 30min.

Funny nursing stories? confidentiality reasons, can't.

[LPN0207]

Who do we have here? I am a fairly new LPN, graduated December 06, passed boards February 07, hence my screen name I work at Marengo Memorial Hospital.

How long have you worked in said position? I have only been there for a few months, previously I worked for Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg.

What is your specialty? What are some things you love about your job? We see it all, we are a one floor hospital with 25 beds. I love the variety of my job, and learning all sorts of things everyday. LTC was nice, but I just didn't have much opportunity to practice nursing, LTC was getting boring. The floor nurses are awesome, very good group of people to work with.

What do you hate about it or would change about it? Would of course love to get paid more, I am thinking about taking weekend package in order to boost my pay.

Any words of wisdom? Just get in there and do it! I know you will be scared, but you gotta get over it at some point. Make the most of all your learning opportunities. Just cause your new to a job, or nursing, don't let people walk all over you, especially scheduling. It's ok to say NO!

Funny nursing stories? Not really