yankeesrule

Derek Jeter, Matheew Mcconahay(sp?) I agree with tatgirl Jason from Ghosthunters. I love his bald head or is that Jay? Brandon Fraiser, Joqauin Phoenix, Turtle from Entourage, Dennis Frantz (dont ask its a guy i find extemely exciting), Mr. Big from Sex in the city... I would do whatever needed to be done to make them comfortable and happy. What a dream it would be to take care of any of these men. YUMMY!!!

I have worked for NY state for over 10yrs. I worked as a LPN for the state over 5yrs. I had one resident that was in my group home that everyone truely loved. She lived with 6 other ladies. 2yrs ago she had chronic URI and dysphagia issues. Eventually she was in need a PEG insertion. The procedure was done she was transferred to a nursing home and lived 2wks after the procedure. Her death came as a great shock to us. She was not young but it didnt make her passing any easier. She passed 12/25/05. We the staff had a nickname that everyone called her as it was so fitting. She had nicknames for us as well. Fastforward to 1 week ago. I was visiting one of my ladies from the same home where "sweetie " lived. She is in the exact same Nrsg home, same floor as sweetie was. I was there sitting with her after working the overnight 12-8 then 8-4. I never forgot that sweetie had died in this home, but never focused on it either. As the aides where transferring my lady to bed I stepped out in the hall and I looked up and i remembered the last time I saw sweetie was 12/23 sitting under this picture in her wheelchair by the radio I told her I loved her and went home. After the aides put my gal to bed I sat there was working on some stuff I dont know if I daydreamed or what but as clear as day sweetie came in said to me "my name.. Im ok " and left. I dontremember her walking or in a her chair. it was so vivid. The next thing I recall Im crying hard. Like I just found out she passed. I went back to the work location was telling my coworker, again with the tears. It shook me to my core. Later that evening I was telling my husband about it. AGain crying so hard like youdo when you a child you heave.. My question is A. am I out of my mind B. has this ever happened to anyone C. I think I hallucinated this as I was exhausted. SORRY SO LONG.. :0) Yankeesrule...

When a storm is coming I get my bag packed and I leave early for work. If it storms during the night. I call them tell them Ill be there when I get there. I try not to call in. But I WILL NOT drive in ice/sleet. It is unsafe and I value my life a heck of alot more than my employeer.

I have a few tricks. I have 2 jobs one is my 40hr a week job the other is agency work. with my 40hr job if they need me to work and i dont really want to but have to I say can I work adjust meaning Ill work the next 8hrs for a shift off. Typically I will do if for my Friday off so I get 3 days off. PLus they dont have to pay overtime and its a win/win situation. But when I am in the middle of the shift. I keep busy. I avoid looking at the clock, thinking oh crude 15hrs and 45mins to go. (that just sets you up for a long day) halfway point I make an attempt to have a good meal. I go freshen up brush my hair/teeth, wash my face. Put my feet up for 10 mins even helps. (sometimes is a negative too) I really think it is all about being positive and not thinking about the hours. I am in a different boat than some. I am married but have no children. SO I am not really losing precious time with my family. When you are a parent ... thats a whole other ball game.

My father was reported to his DON due to his inabliltiy to hear the buzzer med cart. His coworkers felt he was unsafe. This deeply upset him, and he felt discriminated against. With that being said, he ended up leaving his job early retirement/disability. Come to find out he would of qualified yrs ago for permant disablity from his job as an RN as hearing is an essential part of the job. He lost his hearing in 1 ear due to an explosion in Vietnam. I think one can still be a nurse with a hearing impairment, its how you deal with it and find ways for your to do your job and provide adequate medical care to your patients. Good luck to you.

I agree with you 100% Jellis. It is a mistake I will never forget, something in hindsight "should of known better" Prior to that error I was in the trained thought the unit secretary should know all the residents as they scehdule many appts from them. Thankfully the pt was ok. If I can save 1 person for making the mistake I made, its worth putting it out there. But I still hold to I wont give meds if no ID band. I no longer trust the word of 1 even 2 people. Its to scary and I dont want to walk down that road ever again.

wow I am not sure how to start this post. I am now a supervisor in my current job. Before that 14yrs before I started in food service, then Direct care (similar to CNA)then LPN now supervisor. Every step I have taken lead me to where I am today. When I work my part time job as an agency nurse I have to rely on CNA's greatly to help me. It is sad that anyone wishing to go into the medical/nursing field would want to bypass being a CNA its called work. I think it helps to start at the bottom. You can only go up. My father just retired as a RN for over 30yrs. Up to his last day working he continued to help with ADL's . Nursing is treating the human need as well as the medical need. I agree with most if you dont want to become a CNA that is like learning to walk before you crawl. It also sounds like cna work is beneath you? I could be wrong. Just my humble opinion.

I work for a state facility. The state facilty required direct care staff to be med certified. This is a 8hr 5 day course. You then have 3 med pours with the RN at your site the Rn can say ok go ahead and pass or not. I dont agree with it but I have done it. YOu work under the RN licscense. So essentially you screw up it could effect them as well. With that being said there are some meds you would (or at least I hope you would never give out ) That only an RN or LPN could do. Just remember when you pass meds for a small or large facilty 1. REad the Mar remember the rule of TRAMP Right Time Right Route Right Amount Right Medication Right Perosn. 2. follow the rule of checking 3 times Mar to the perscription, the Rx to the bottle and the dr order itself. 3. Alway focus on the task at hand the person meds at that time. 4 NEVER EVER EVER PREPOUR MEDS FOR ANYONE. THAT IS ONLY SETTING YOU UP FOR ERRORS. 5. When administiring the med ALWAYS CHECK THE ID BAND IF THEY HAVE NO ID BAND CHECK WITH A VETERAN STAFF THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. (I made the mistake once the person had no band so I asked the unit secretary she told me the person I was looking for was the one in red she walked over to her and said this is jane doe I gave her the meds. Jane doe speaks up about 3 mins later and said she wanted to go to her room. outside of her door said ms. smith.. unit secretary said oh I get confused with some of the people I have only been here 1 month. Needless to say I was calm we called dr. I had the nrsg supervisor speak with the unit secretary and then i became extremely upset over trusting someone. NOw if they have no band I refuse to give meds to that person. Its just unsafe . IT sounds like alot, meds is a big deal but reading the orders, understanding them and taking your time focus on the meds, decrese all noise in the area you can. Good luck.

I work for a state facility. The state facilty required direct care staff to be med certified. This is a 8hr 5 day course. You then have 3 med pours with the RN at your site the Rn can say ok go ahead and pass or not. I dont agree with it but I have done it. YOu work under the RN licscense. So essentially you screw up it could effect them as well. With that being said there are some meds you would (or at least I hope you would never give out ) That only an RN or LPN could do. Just remember when you pass meds for a small or large facilty 1. REad the Mar remember the rule of TRAMP Right Time Right Route Right Amount Right Medication Right Perosn. 2. follow the rule of checking 3 times Mar to the perscription, the Rx to the bottle and the dr order itself. 3. Alway focus on the task the person meds at that time. 4 NEVER EVER EVER PREPOUR MEDS FOR ANYONE. THAT IS ONLY SETTING YOU UP FOR ERRORS. 5. When administiring the med ALWAYS CHECK THE ID BAND IF THEY HAVE NO ID BAND CHECK WITH A VETERAN STAFF THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. (I made the mistake once the person had no band so I asked the unit secretary she told me the person I was looking for was the one in red she walked over to her and said this is jane doe I gave her the meds. Jane doe speaks up about 3 mins later and said she wanted to go to her room. outside of her door said ms. smith.. unit secretary said oh I get confused with some of the people I have only been here 1 month. Needless to say I was calm we called dr. I had the nrsg supervisor speak with the unit secretary and then i became extremely upset over trusting someone. NOw if they have no band I refuse to give meds to that person. Its just unsafe . IT sounds like alot, meds is a big deal but reading the orders, understanding them and taking your time focus on the meds, decrese all noise in the area you can. Good luck.

I would absolutely quit working. I only work to pay the bills. That is why majority of people work. I chose nursing as it is a guaranteed job for life. If I won big.. what do I need a job for.. pass it on to somone who needs the money.. Me Ill be in tahiti... :)

This past summer I was sent to a facility to work thru an agency. I walked on got assigned to the rehab floor (great just my luck my least favorite of nursing ) Anyhow it was like my 2n time to this facility. I got report. The previous shift went over each pt with me. I started completing my 4pm fingersticks I went into the room introduced myself as this womans nurse for the evening. Immediately she started" OH My Lord, Jesus.. " I must of had this look on my face like What did I do, she said what is your last name I told her she said oh never mind, I then replied that is my married name my maiden name is.... again with the lord... she said to me "you have no idea who I am do you?? I said no but then it was like a lightbulb went on . This woman looked very much like my mother, very much like one of my aunts. She was an aunt of mine that I hadnot seen since I was like 3yrs old. She had dissaccoiated herself from the family. So we chatted a bit I asked her Are you ok with me being your nurse. She smiled and said I think its wonderful. Now I know I will get top notch care. I think in cases where you know the person if there is no policy it should be entirely up to the pt comfort. Especially if it may be a conflict of interest. I dont know if I would flat out refuse to take care of someone because I know them. I would definately let my DON know that either I am related, I know this person, or we have/had a personal relationship. We as nurses are working to care for the pt/and their illness not their ego/friendship. Good luck.. oh and by the way since that faithful day of me entering my aunts room. She has reconnected with her siblings now 28yrs later. Great story huh. Maranda

I couldnt agree with you more. Finding no satisfaction in my job of 13yr w/NYS i was a nurse for them for the last 5yrs. I decided to take a promotion and now am a supervisor. It has been nothing but miserable and anxiety galore. Feeling like I wanted and needed more I signed on with an agency. It was the Best decision I ever made. I go in feeling needed, appreciated and competent of something more than just a civil service employee. I am somebody when I put on the uniform and go to work. People I dont know ask me about workign for an agency then admire my guts and drive. (which something I really need to hear as I have really "lost" myself in these last few yrs. I love working for an agency. Your first timeto any facility is daunting, but thats part of the thrill of it. And I have to say Im a pretty good scavenger.. so I too am having a blast. I still work my state job full time and agency on my days off and nightshift. signed Happy in the hudson valley.

Myself i am fairly new to agency work almost a yr. It is difficult. I do take the whole shift to pass meds. Anything other than nightshift I dont get a lunch except when I sit to chart. But i have learned people are people and the geriatric a majority are on the same meds so i am familiar with them when I dont i ask. As far as the pass of the meds to the tubes here is what I do. ONce the meds are crushed put them in some warm tap water and they disolve going down 1,2,3.. however if the tube has been in a while and has a buildup on its walls a little ginger ale will help break some of that down. This is if the person can have it. Was a trick of the trade I was taught at my first night from the agency job. good luck.

In Feb I took a promotion where I now am a supervisor and no longer working in title for NYS as an LPN. Since then I have been wrote up for 5 med errors: 1. dr ordered a med stopped and a new med started (vit c). I instructed staff to d/c med, they didnt do it accurately .. hence I got the error. The vit C is another issue.. I wont go into but was wrote up for that. 2. I notifed the nurse on a sat via interoffice emial) that one lady would run out of Oscal. We needed a new Rx. I was off sun/mon. Was out sick t/w Thur I am informed at 830pm we dont have oscal for the lady in the am. I notifed the Rn via email of this (there are other circumstances) but because I didnt notify the nurse on call immediatley Med error. 3. wrote up for med error as we ALMOST ran out of Fruit eze.. (those not famililar with its like a prune spread) very hard to gage when to order as we use 4 tablespoons a day. Due to the pharmacy not always having stock I was wrote up for this possible error. I am wanting to know : if I am still a LPN but not in title with my job because I took a step up the ladder, does my knowledge and crediablity not count. I am concerned this could go to my licsense. I dont know if this nurse just does not like me but there seems to be no give here. I am not saying I didnt make errors following the policy.. perhaps this is just a venting post. Then the mere fact I am a trainee in this slot I am not entitled to my union representation after being with NYS for 13yrs. I feel like this is a railroading and they are lining the track right up me. I have never in my 5yrs as a LPN felt so incompentent and questioning my ability and knowledge. Makes me rethink being anurse and perhaps a nice career in customer service is safer. Thanks for reading my vent.

Thank you to whom ever started this post. My sister 26yrs has been tested for everythign under the sun and this dx of benign familial tremors has never been brought up. She is contacting her doctor this week. And for once hopeful and optimistic her tremors will stop. She has had them since she was a child. The doctors always felt it was due to her breech birth. Thank you for your bravey on speaking out on this subject.. Maranda (aka yankeesrule)

Hi I work for NYS (well did as an LPN, till I took a promotion.) STarting salary for LPN with the state is around 27-31,000 a yr. This is with benefits. The state is always looking for help. Good luck keep me posted on your progress. i think the website is www. cs.state.ny.gov (dont quote me on that) M.

Well I dont know if I have enough knowledge on this issue but here it goes. I signed on with an agency in Late March. I work for NYS. I was an LPN but took a promotion as a supervisor. I signed on with the agency to keep my skills up, to keep myself in the game, to make more money and the agency work is flexible enough for me. i have only worked at one place thus far. But I have been there for over a month. I have floated to 3 of the 4 floors. All the nurses have been extrememly friendly. I have encountered more rude patients than staff. Maybe I got lucky I dont know. I do know that I dont devalge the amount I am getting paid. I do let them know that No this is not my only job. I do put in 40hrs at my primary job and I have been pulling 32-48 a week with this job. I would hope nurses as a whole dont think agency nurses a less par in their skills or less of a nurse as they. An agency nurse is setting themself up to enter new environments on any given week. We dont know the internal games going on in a facility and perhaps that is a perk. I love the agency work. I have learned so much in such a short time. I have done so many treatments that I had only done in school 5yrs ago. I would think attitude and general body language could be a factor. OR... people are just miserable and they take it out on you! Good luck. M.

I just signed on with an agency as my current job as a LPN is brainless work. Meaning all I do is order meds and run dr. appt. So to maintain my skills I signed on with an agency. Last week was my first night working. I was sent to a nursing home. When I got there I found out I was by myself with 40 pts. Many meds to pass, tx and 3 cna's to help out. I want to know for others who have worked out there is ; 1. is it normal for 1 LPN to be alone from an agency in a brandnew place with NO orientation. No one to check on you, No one to make sure you know what you are doing. I know the agency does the screening, but still I thought it was unnerving. I had no clue who was a DNR who was highrisk, those that needed o2 continuous. I had to wing it the whole night. I guess I did all right they didnt say anything the 2nd night. But I did question this to a supervisor whom set up orientation for me the 2nd night. (kinda felt that was too late for that. I already got thrown in with the fishes. ) 2. the Nursing coordinator came to me and ques if I needed more training. I didnt have a chance to answer as when the nurse traiingn me said oh yes at least one more night. Its not the work I have a problem with . Its the other stuff I need to know where it is and what to do. So could I get some feed back on agency nursing. Or is this just me learning, getting my feet wet. I was scared sh$tless the first night. I have been an LPN for 5yrs, but this is Real nursing stuff to me. Not what I have been doing. Thanks in advance for your insight!! Maranda

Lefty also. I dont ever encounter a problem unless it is someone showing me hands on how to do something.. most recent Im trying to learn how to crochet(sp??) and everyone tryint to teach me is right.. And I have neat handwriting!! :)

Ben, I believe what you are feeling is what every single person who has gone thru clinicals has felt. Like someone said come the end of your 4th semester you will be a pro. I too had and still have 5yrs later diversing what type of lung sounds i hear. Wheezing is the easiest for me. I believe part of it is during clinical you are out of your element as a CNA so your comfort level is not there. At work you are relaxed and know what you are doing. As far as nurses being territorial comes with learning. YOu have to remember even though you are there learning, when you leave they still have that patient to take care of. I wouldnt take it personal. I would speak to your teacher about lung sounds. Many of them have tapes that you can review to help get the hang of learning the lung sounds. My first clinical I completely went blank on how to do a bed bathe. A bed bathe. Simple right. I had been in direct care for over 10yrs but couldnt remember the simplest of task. Dont worry. Remember you are a student. Learning. I once heard it takes someone 100times of doing a given task to make them profeicent in that task. If you can at your job when doing patient care, do assessments on them in your head.. just do the drill in your head practice, practice.. you will be fine. We have all had our moments that make us question ourselves. You will be fine!! Good luck

I think its possible. IF the average student wants "it bad enough" I called my dad up crying and upset because I wanted to get an A so bad. HE told me " BAbygirl, when you become a nurse noone cares weather you had A,b or c's just that you got you liscense that says your a nurse. " so if you want it bad enough an average student can do it. As far as the math part i think alot of hoopla is built up to it. As the school i went to you had to pass the math part or else. With that they made sure all of us passed it. YOu make it that far it will come to you. You really need to learn a few equations that will work for all. Just take your time and check your math. If you need a tutur dont be bashfulask for one. Good luck.

I have been taught they way you said off going know the number in advance. The oncoming count. Then you sign off of the meds they sign on. If they ask you to count then you could know ahead of time there is 18 lorazepam and tell them there is 18 when there may only be 15. Sounds like a very unsafe practice that could easily jam you up. I would advise against it.

Hi everyone. I have been contemplating to go work for an agency on my days off. I dont know anyone who works for one, so I dont know much of anything about it. Can those of you who do/have worked for an agency give me your opinion/thoughts pros/cons. Thanks so much in advance. Yankeesrule!!!

I reviewed my notes thru the summer, I would do at least 30mins study a day no more. The night before my exam I was at work, reading questions and my mind was going blank. I remember calling my dad in tears saying I wasnt smart enough, this is crazy, blah blah .. he told me it was jitters that I would be fine and to put the book down and watch the superbowl. (funny how you remember things like that huh) I took the test in 01 i had close to 284 questions. Halfway thru I asked the proctor, was she 100% sure I had the LPN test not the RN or even Dr boards. I got some laughs with that, and i was dead serious. I walked out drained. I forked out the 7.95 for the 3 day phone call. When I heard i passed, it was the greatest moment in my life to date. I couldnt wait to tell someone. The questions as I recall were random. I dont recall alot of religious issues, but the world is a different place since 01. (cant even call a tree decorated christmas tree) Quess its a sign of the times. take a deep breathe, read each question dont over annalyize what they are asking and you will be fine. GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO HAVE READ THIS AND ARE GOING TO TAKE THEIR EXAM!!!

Wait, we are suppose to get a gift? I have been at my job for over 12yrs, a nurse for 5 never recieved a gift. Im lucky I get invited to Nurses meetings. (state agency... need I say more ) well let me say ahead of time: Happy Nurses week to my fellow comrads!!