Rainscape

This patient lives at home and is a quadriplegic. There is only one of us present on each shift. That is why no one is available to help with repositioning. Thanks so much for your input.

I work with a patient that weighs 200+lbs. At night a Hoyer lift is used to get him into bed. My problem is when I try to reposition him later in the night (he has to be positioned on his side). I do use a draw sheet but it is just so difficult to do. I don't seem to have enough strenghth in my wrists. Is there anyone that can give me some tips as to how to make this easier on both of us? There is no one available to help with repositioning. Thank you :)

He is on Klonopin and Primidone. He sways and looks as if he could topple over with each step. Labs have been ordered. I hope that we can find a way to keep him from getting so banged up. We are not allowed to use alarms. He does have a pad on his floor beside the bed. He refuses to use the call light. Thanks so much for your input.

I'm a newly licensed nurse and just started at a ltc facility. There is a resident there that has fallen and injured himself six out of seven days. In one day he fell twice. With each fall he gets new injuries and he sometimes reopens old wounds. The facility is "Restraint Free". I am worried sick. I just don't know what to do to protect him. They don't have staffing for someone to sit with him. I have never worked in a ltc facility before and just don't understand how we can just sit by and allow this to go on. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please advise. Thanks

I just took the LPN NCLEX this past Wednesday (Jan 30, 2008). I looked on the Ohio board of nursing website on Thurs and discovered that I passed, Woo-hoo! Yesterday (Saturday) I received a LARGE envelope that contained my license and a diploma suitable for framing. Again, this is Ohio and from what I understand other states may not be as quick to post. My computer shut off at 85, two of my classmates stated that their computer shut off at 85 as well. They both passed. Good Luck!

I just finished my clinicals and started my LPN preceptorship in a LTC facility. My question is.... In clinicals we unfortunately had just one patient to care for and write all about their drugs on drug cards. Now, on my third day with a preceptor I have 22 patients that I am supposed to be able to recite the 5 rights, and all drugs on all of the patients and distribute the meds. If my clinical instructor stops by and I don't know all these drugs I will be in alot of trouble. I haven't even had time to write down all the drugs these patients are on! I am totally overwhelmed by this. Is this the way it is supposed to go? I thought that we students would work up to doing ALL the patients more towards the end of the 14 weeks course. I know that in the real world it will be busy but I while I am in school I want to use this opportunity to learn all I can, not just to be so busy and unsure of myself. Please advise

Can anyone give me some tips on how to don sterile gloves when they come folded so strangely? I am new to this technique and have had some practice in the lab. The gloves at my clinical site are folded in a way that I can hardly see where the cuff is. The fingers are all wadded up. My instructor says "Don't shake them". Are there brands of gloves that come folded in a decent way? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Have a good day. Thanks

Thank you...that is really encouraging

I am not a nurse yet, so I can't speak as to your particular work environment. However, Bullying goes on in almost any workplace and is very upsetting. Just don't give anyone else the power to take away YOUR dream. You sound like a very caring person and the kind of nurse I would have care for my loved ones. Keep your chin up!

Would some of the LPN nursing students mind sharing their clinical experiences? The school I attend seems to focus so much on the nurses aide portion. I have nothing against nursing assistants or the work required (and no, I don't think I am too good). However, I am not going to school to become a nursing assistant. It is just that even if an opportunity came up for me to learn something I am too wrapped up in caring for my patient to leave him/her. I have been in clinicals for several months and I have only passed meds (with supervision), a couple of finger sticks, one shot and suctioned a tracheostomy. Is this usual? Am I expecting too much? I am just worried that once I am finished with school that I won't be prepared. Thanks

Wow, that reply is very disturbing.

Hi Everyone, I just started lpn nusing at the beginning of February '06. It is the part-time program. Even though it is part-time we have sooo much studying to do. I am really surprised...thought it would be a little slower paced. We will be finishing our body functions book in just 6 weeks.