greenbean

Sigh. I don't use this site as much as I should, but when I looked today and caught site of your thread, I had to reply. Where I work, second to understaffing/being overtaxed with work, the hardest part are some of the nurses. Fortunately most of the ones on my unit are okay and I'm so absolutely grateful to a few of them. Still, others, especially ones that float over from another unit which has a reputation, are just plain mean. I wanted to throw a chart at the one I was giving report to last weekend. She was responding like I was an idiot and giving a look that matched. It hurts, especially if you believe that you're in it all together. For me, it's a challenge to my self respect. I do the best job that I can and I work at reminding myself just how good I was at something that night. You will never change those mean nurses and mean nurses are something that is out of one's control. Why they are like that is another subject, but still won't change them. All I can do is take pride in my own work and give it over to my higher power. I've been a nurse for little over 1&1/2 years, and though I've learned a lot medically, probably the biggest challenge and most growth has been from dealing with difficult people. It's been painful, but I do feel stronger, maybe even some wisdom. Hang in there and know that you are far from alone.

My family is currently in the process of getting my stepdad in hospice care. We had a nurse from VNA Hospice come out to the house a couple days ago and one thing she said I can't believe, and it raised red flags as to being able to believe the rest of what she said. According to her, hospice pts. can be Full Codes. This naturally doesn't seem to jive with "end of life care". I've been an LPN for over a year, plus I've worked as an aid for many years and I've never heard that one before. Is what she said possible? It's kind of a moot point for my stepdad because I doubt my mom would choose that, but it makes me question this nurse and that particular hospice. I'll be calling another one tomorrow morn--one that has a stellar reputation and I've only heard wonderful things about--even from their employees! By the way, my stepdad has Parkinsons and dementia. Though he is definitely hospice appropriate, he's been a joy to my mom and my family for the 10 years they've been married. A testament that it's never too late to find true love.

Thank you for the quick replies. I wasn't suprised the advice was somewhat varied, and I had already planned on asking my supervisors this week what they would do (& what policy is). To clarify, we still call them heplocks, but flush with NSS. I work in a "Specialty Hospital" that is maybe a step down from a stepdown unit, though that varies. It's part of a large nursing home/rehab facility and our patient's accuity sometimes varies alot.

I have been an LPN for a little over a year and just recently finished IV cert. class. This morning in report I asked the LPN I was giving report to why a certain pt. had a #18 heplock--he was only receiving Vanco Q72 hrs. and not known as a potential candidate for blood. She stated you ALWAYS put in an 18 if they have the veins for it, regardless of what they are receiving. This is not what I have heard from other nurses, or in training. I'm curious about opinions on this from experienced nurses. Thank you.

Thanks to those who replied. I found it very helpful. I do intend on contacting a hospice in my area (NE Ohio), though I hope to be moving back to Tucson AZ next year, and I'm curious about Florida too. A friend taught me this prayer and I've found it to be priceless: "I pray for your highest good".

I am a fairly new LPN (July 2005), though an older one (I'm 45). I have wanted to work in hospice for at least a few years, and was a volunteer for a while a few years ago. I've had a lifetime of experience working with the elderly, and currently live with my mom and stepdad, who has Parkinson's and is probably hospice appropriate. I also have a BA in Sociology. My question is--is there much room in hospice work for LPN's, or should I begin planning on continuing to RN or BSN? I feel that my background makes me a good hiring candidate, but in reality I wonder if being a LPN is going to handicap me too much within the hospice field. Thanks for any advice/suggestions.