Does this sound funny to you?

Published

A woman was recently hired at my facility as a CNA student. She says that she was an LVN in ICU 20 some-odd years ago. But, she doesn't know what a foley is, she doesn't know basic infection control, and the stuff she says with authority, she has heard either myself or a nurse say. I don't know what to think, but it sounds very very odd to me.

I say she's full of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like there is a good reason she is no longer a nurse. I'm not real sure I would want her as an aide though either! Keep a close eye on her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I too was a candystriper in the early 80's and knew what a foley was! Okay I was 14 and folley = ewwwwww..but still I knew what one was, that it was in the bladder with a balloon, caused a big probelm when patients yanked them out, and they were touched only by the nurses..not me!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
warning only distantly related to the subject:

I have a road near me called Foley Drive. I crack up everytime I drive by, picturing everyone in the neighborhood walking around with leg-bags....

OK, I'm easily amused.

I guess I'm easily amused too. I just cracked up!

mv

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

This woman says she was an LVN in ICU 21 years ago in California. She hasn't been in nursing since then. But wouldn't you just need like an LPN refresher course or something? And I am absolutely ready to backhand the woman. I'm a CNA preceptor, so I have to deal with her comments all day. Saturday, she "corrected" the RN on her injection technique. The RN yanked me outside by my sleeve to rant, she was so mad. But she's an idiot. While doing male peri care, she wiped BM from back to front, getting BM all over his scrotum. When I corrected her, she got clean washcloths and repeated to herself over and over "front to back, front to back" She still can't figure out which beds are A beds and which are B beds, which is crazy because the way the room is set up, it's obvious. She doesn't know how to transfer, oh, and get this, she can't tell whether someone is choking or not. A lady had some lemonade go down the wrong pipe today, and she freaked out. "She's choking she's choking!" Yelling at my for not doing the Heimlich (sp?) Um, if she's coughing, she's not choking. She didn't realize that a person fresh out of hip surgery probably shouldn't bear weight on that side just yet. Or how to use a hip abductor. If she in fact were a nurse, I'm thinking maybe our license was revoked?

And CHATSDALE, she isn't licensed as a CNA, she's a "shadow" going through the CNA class. I'm hoping she quits.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

An LPN in an ICU? That sounds fishy in itself.

And the way you're describing her, sounds like her license WAS revoked, IF she ever really had one. She doesn't have a clue about the most basic stuff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OK, 20 years ago is only 1984....not the dark ages with knights and castles.

Sounds like there is something fishy to me.

Vizsla, I have to agree with you. 1984 was not that long ago. I was just graduated from highschool and I know what Foley was at that time.

Hmmm....wonder, how come a CNA doesn't know what foley id :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

LPN's and LVN's could still be "grandfathered" in as late as 1982 to 83 here in Pa....I worked with one whom had only ever worked in a GP's office-she knew NOTHING.No school-no diploma,no license.....When I knew her she was a night nurse in a private nursing home...As far as LPN's /LVN's working in ICU-the scope of practice varies greatly from state to state and every facility is different.The trends keep changing but over the years many LPN's/LVN's have been the backbone of various units in acute and long term care.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why not ask her?... then get back to us, were all curious now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion