MHSA LPN

I work with a nurse who I graduated with. We work at a substance abuse facility. She leaves the narc keys dangling from the lock, if anyone complains of any kind of skin condition she gives them Bio-Freeze, she turns her back on patients and even leaves them alone in the med room with the narc drawer wide open, she once said she didn't know that demerol was a narcotic and that's why she didn't lock it up, she encourages patients to not take their meds because she went cold turkey when she was an alcoholic, and she thinks chest pain is just a sign of stress. I'm so happy I was at work last night, not her, when a patient had chest pains unrelated to stress.

I learned a lot in LPN school, and I didn't expect to stop learning after school. If I'm unfamiliar or curious about something I research the topic. I have been working as an LPN for only 4 months and I am considering RN school.

I graduated from McFatter in August 2010. I dedicated 3-4 hours a day to the program. The curriculum did include A&P, Human Growth and Nutrition. For me, it was simple to enter, but it may be difficult now. I've heard there is a waiting list. I don't think they were that strict. As for my class, I think 6 people failed and about 19 graduated. The Tease covers math, science, English and reading comprehension. My overall average was a B. For about 6 months I worked part-time, 12 hours a week, while in school. I hope this helps.

I like my job. Maybe it's because I've been a working nurse for only 4 months. I work in substance abuse. I did clinicals on a med/surge floor; that area of nursing is not for me.

I work as a substance abuse LPN in South Florida. $15 an hour. I make more money and work fewer hours as a freelance writer. I'm keeping the LPN job for the benefits.

You can be a nonsmoker and still get lung cancer.

Although this is not funny, I can't help but laugh. At the ALF where I worked very briefly it was no big deal if a narc was missing. (I couldn't believe it.) The protocol was to "make the MAR reflect the medicine on hand".... despite the fact that an ex-employee was caught stealing about 30 or 60 percocets and filling the resident's bottle with white pills. I'm convinced that place is a bootleg ALF.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. There are residents at this ALF who should be in a nursing home. The standard procedure for all incidents is the same: Call 911. I wasn't allowed to provide first aid. I wasn't even required to carry a stethoscope. The place really needs to be inspected. They drop pills on the floor and give them to patients. One of the med techs wears acrylic nails. One day the water was slightly pink. The keys to the narc cart are left hanging on the wall, so anyone can come in and steal drugs. That place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. 7 days were plenty for me. I'll just keep that place off my resume and hope no one finds out that I ever worked there.

I was a new LPN at an ALF. The job is mainly just passing meds. Two questions: 1. Is it typical for one nurse to pass meds to 80 residents? 2. Am I supposed to be a mind reader. The CNA told the DON one evening that one resident appeared to be unconscious. In my presence, the DON said "I'll do the paperwork on her." So I continued to pass 8:00 meds, hoping to finish before 9, which is almost impossible. The next night there was an incident with another patient, and since I was the only nurse there I stopped passing meds and took over, etc. I was there until midnight. Anyway, the DON calls me into her office 2 days later and says she was disappointed because I didn't do the paperwork on the first patient, etc. ***** Why didn't she just tell me to stop passing meds and take over. After that conversation, I had to leave, for good. I wish them luck in finding someone to fill that 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. shift that only pays for 3.5 hours even if you have to stay late. Am I overreacting?

They didn't offer me the $12 an hour job. They hired someone else. Sadly, I would have taken it if they had. Don't know how I would have paid the mortgage, though.

Laid off journalist. Covered medical and fitness news. New LPN. Graduated in August. Passed NCLEX in October. Became IV certified in November. Sent out a gazillion applications. Had 2 interviews. One was for a job at an ALF. Salary: $12 an hour (no typo). I've been working as a legal writer since September. A Home Health agency has expressed interest. They gave a me a test that was harder than any test I've taken, and then invited me to an orientation next week, so even though I feel defeated, I am hopeful.

From a legal perspective, you assume certain risks when you become a psych nurse, so it would be futile to press charges, unless the patient has been proven to be faking his/her condition.

Don't get nervous when people say the test is hard. I thought it was relatively easy, easier than nursing school. I got 85 questions and passed. Only a handful of questions had me scratching my head.If you study daily, it WILL be easy. Good luck/

Your replies tell me I was not over reacting. I reported the RN to the Ethics/Professional Behavior board. They took a preliminary report, will call back in a few days for an in depth report and make a decision by July 10. Meanwhile, I think I will write a formal letter of complaint to the pediatric DON. Thanks everyone

I'm a student. During clinical I watched one nurse assist another in inserting an IV for a blood transfusion. The nurse, who happens to be an assistant manager, told the patient "You stink like a farm animal ... You're just a sh--ty sh--ty bang bang." The other nurse said nothing. The manager kept repeating himself over and over ad nauseam. The Pt was 11 with CP, pseudomonas, pneumonia, diarrhea, contractures, secretions, etc. You get the picture. What would you do? And are many nurses this insensitive? The Pt was alert. I'm starting to really rethink whether I want to be a nurse. By the way, I did do something about this.