edchunt

Hey all, I currently work at the VA medical center here. I interviewed along with two others from our acute psych unit and 4 other internal candidates from the med-surg and ER. None of us three from the psych unit were selected. I have been doing psych nursing for seven years and hold an ANCC psych certification. None of the otheres are certified and the two that were selected have zero psych experience. One is a new nurse/one year experience and the other is ER nurse. How did this just happen? Oh, by the way, the job is in the Mental Health clinic working 8 to 430 weekends and holidays off. I just cannot figure this one out!

Who pays more than the VA?

No, because the 48 hours and 32 equal 80. Overtime is paid for time over the 80 hours for the pay period.

I concur with the above statements. I was just not brave enough to put it that way. Thank you!

One important aspect to this is that the escort must be from our unit. We work with a max of three a shift. The majority of us do not smoke. I guess sometimes you have to do what you are told to do and hope for the best. I guess some people have to do a lot worse. Again, I do appreciate the different views and ideas for solutions to this dilemma. I understand the fact about self medicating. I also look around and see that there are worse things that we could be exposed to in a job. I am appreciative for the job I have and I am very appreciative for what these Veterans have done for me. A little reminder though, these are not all your classic Veteran you might be thinking of. Some are very good manipulaters. I know they do experience psych problems. So I know I cannot think of people like my brother who put in twenty years and knows no means no or not right now means not right now because he did not get that type of problem. We just don't want to breathe the smoke, no matter who is producing it. Whether it be a veteran who just happens to be a sex offender at the same time, or a patient with CHF who has that right to smoke. Whether it is a veteran who has a criminal record as long as the Nile or a COPD pt who has the right to smoke. Some of us do not want to be bombarded with seconhand smoke. As of now it stands that it must be our nurses that escort the patients.

I wrote a new note about escorting patients ouside to smoke at the VA. Please read on that and provide some input. This would be over in the general discussion. To make a long story short, We nurses are told that we are supposed to go out with patients and remain with them in the smoke huts whilw they smoke (very close confines). We had a short reprieve after an incident in that very smoke shelter, then poof some complaining to the pt. advocate and the smoking is back on. We cannot find that as part of our employment that we must be subjected to sidestream smoke, however we are mandated by the chiefs of medical and the director that we must be in there with the patient while they smoke. I know these are Veterans and they should have everything they want. So I guess there is no changing it unless we find another job. Just was interested in some of your takes on this matter.

Oh yes, our setting is different. We are acute psych; however, much of the same type of things happenig with our SW.

With all do respect to Gerry1888, all of these Vets are not old. In have patients that are 25 or even younger. They may live forever, or what seems like forever right there on our supposedly acute unit. There are even smoking staff who do not want to sit in the smoke huts with that much smoke or that much close confinement with potentially dangerous psychiatric patients. It appears Kylea is knowledgeable to this issue because she works within the same system. We do not have any indoor smoking though. I worked at the State mental hospital before the VA and those patients loved to smoke also. Talk about dangerous people, some of these are! They just recently cut the smoking out of the State run facility without any problem. I hear the worst of it was with staff. I think some of those patients are Veterans, but I don't think they are getting special smoking rights because of that. My brother is active duty for twenty years , getting ready to retire soon. He has been engaged with every enemy, and involved in every conflict since 1988. Of course he is not suffering with psychiatric problems, so that would be a different story when it comes to being respectful and following rules without causing a revolt. So far, these are all good points , and I thank you all for adding your input.

We cannot find anything that suggests that we should be exposed to seconhand smoke. The patients believe it is their God given right to smoke so they get to go out accompanied by nursing to smoke in any kind of weather. Right now we have a foot of snow and it is about 15 degrees!

I was just wanting to get some feedback concerning escorting patients to smoke shelters and the need to remain with them in the smoke rooms. I work for the Veteran's Administration on the acute psych ward of the hospital. The patients have had smoking privelidges since forever. They had been able to go out without staff accompaniment in the past before an incident ocurred that caused new policy to be implemented that required them to be escorted by staff. The staff member, usually a nurse is required to remain in the smoke building (8x16) with up to 8 smokers. An incident ocurred recently which caused a new order that stated the patient would no longer be going out to smoke. The patients grieved this to the advocate and shortly after they regained their smoking privledges. While the staff enjoyed a short lived no smoking policy, it was overturned and now there are some nurses who refuse to go out and stand in those smoking huts. Health issues are the main reason and there is nothing in our job description that says we will be subjected to sidestream smoke. Any ideas on this?

I am in Clarksburg. At work right now. I hate getting 2 feet of snow!

I don't mind being known as a nurse and getting paid very well for what I do. I wonder if we should change doctor's titles because they do more than the first doctors did? There are stereotypes to male nurses but it doesn't change waht we do or how we do it.

I am a NURSE who just happens to be male and I am proud of the title and proud of the heritage as well as the modern profeciencies that nurses possess. I am just making a comment and do not wish to oppose anyones's views. I am making far more money now than when I worked a job in a factory doing man's work. The potential for salary increase is there also.

So... it's not totally online??

I work at the VA in Clarksburg. It definately is a different way of doing things. I wish I could go back to my old state job. Pay is the issue though. So here I will remain.

WVU is completely online? I need to check it out! I am currently applying to UOP.

No schedule yet. But, I don't think I will this year. I sneaked a peek at the penciled in tentative version.

In the words of Ed McMahon, "I did not know that." Hey lady, I haven't written in a while. I am thinking of going back for some more school, maybe University of Phoenix, online. Need to find out about some help with $$. Those places are higher than the moon.

Sconoli, You will see how it will pan out. I have been there. So you definitely have the job? As I said I will be right next door to you. I went to school with LPNs older than myself (40). One was 50 and another 46 or 47. Just sit back and watch how it all comes together. You are a hard worker , no doubt because you are an LPN. You passed your boards even though your child was ill around that time and in the hospital. The schools will be there waiting for you to conquer them when the time is ripe for you. Some LPN experience is very helpful (my opinion) , some of the best nurse I have worked with are experienced LPNs. You will be able to learn a lot while working. I was working for the state at the time I went to school ( Sharpe Hospital). The state will help you, in some cases with your schooling. Whether it be working around your school schedule or even financially. So get in there and check into it. A couple years can't kill you. You'll be making money with some of the better benes around. I just applied to Fairmont myself to get my BSN, I have had to wait awhile but it will be worth the wait in the end. Keep investigating ways to help yourself and you will see it all become clear and you will find yourself studying for RN classes sooner than you think. Keep your head up and good luck to you.:)

Sconoli, Is it the nursing home? That is a state job right? I work next door @ the medical center. Anyway... don't give up hope too soon. Things will fall together and you will be able to attend college and get your RN. Consider your age. I was 40 when I became an RN. I was an LPN for four years which was good experience for me. The schools aren't going anywhere and your patience will pay off in the future. It will happen for you! I would guess that the BON does recognize any accredited program. My nurse manager got his MSN from Phoenix online. It will work out you will see. Just go to work and keep researching.

Sounds like you have made your decision already. I work at the VA that you refer to and it is a great place to work. I have responded to a post you wrote prior to this concerning where to attend RN school. I was an LPN for four years before going back to RN school and it worked out fine. I also plan to work a year then go back to school for BSN because the VA will pay for it plus give you the time off you need to attend. I went to D&E for the ADN with the plan to go back later to get the BSN. I know this has a lot of I in it and everyone has different needs, but I am satisfied with what I have done and what I plan to do. Just thought I would drop a line because I have done these things. The VA will help you pay for you school just a little later on. I think the oppurtunity to go to school will comke more often than the oppurtunity to work at the VA. It really does depend on what you want to do though. You can do some of both and get it worked out. Maybe go to D&E and get the ADN in just three short semesters and the VA will still help you with your education. Sometimes taking things in short steps are beneficial and will pay off too.

Yes!! New grads even. $18.00 hr. to start probably, maybe 19. I have since moved on to the VA just across the river. But that's the scoop. Hope it helps some. I like the VA better, but I'm back in my element of psych there.

Update! I have started working at the VA now. I figured it would be better than UHC anyway. Hopefully this is my last move and I will retire from the VA some day. Hey barefoot lady, what's happening?

I probably shouldn't say too much here, but... Bateman is not the only state place that is like this. If you catch my meaning. I'll probably get in trouble for saying that, but the truth can be hurtful at times. I moved on to a medical facility but they are cutting personell. So it's everywhere. As for the overbedding and having three to a room. There is a place up north that operates in much the same fashion. Run by the same agency.

Well I went and quit at Sharpe and started working at UHC. It is a lot closer to home and the pay is much better. UHC is 3 miles from home where the other job was 33 miles from home. I also wanted to get back into med-surg type nursing. I interviewed twice with the VA and only heard back from them once. So there's the latest.