msmel321

You are too funny!.....well,BOP is your best bet! Not sure about their physical requirements except that you have to pass a PT type test when you go to training(GLYNCO).

Have you considered US Public Health Service?...it is actually a uniformed service...they work at correctional facilities, Indian reservation, health depts......public service.......the requirements are BS in nursing and cut off age of 42....you should check it out...the pay is excellent!....I would have done it but i was too old!!!!!..image that!!..their website is http://www.usphs.gov.....hope this helps....and no,,,I am not a recruiter...just someone who has been there and I like to check out all of my options too.....one of the nurses i work with is PHS and he really likes it....it seems alot of facilites have GS positions available and PHS positions available and both work together....pretty cool....our job is the same but he wears a uniform every day.....hope this helped. M

I don't know your location in W.VA or your age, but if you are looking into a more structured work environment and great pension then i highly recommend a BOP job. There are several Federal prisons in KY and W.VA....i am new in corrections myself, but I will try and answer any questions i can...you can also email or IM me. Good Luck!

Don't know anything about the facility but would be interested also....I am originally from that area and was thinking about moving back up that way.

Don't mean to sound dumb, but what is HSA?

There was a bit too much CREATIVE INTERPRETATION going on with that company which is why I left....I am only hoping not all HH agencies do this...I am not quite sure where to begin looking.

I know exactly what you mean...I went to go admit a pt last week and when I arrived the daughter of pt and the pt herself told me what they needed was a sitter for her mother so she would not be alone while she worked and that her mother is not homebound, she goes everywhere with her duaghter....the pt had 4 meds,all of which she could identify ,when she is to take them and why she is taking them...I offered some other resources for sitters and did not admit...the next day I saw that the agency was sending another nurse to admit When i asked why, they told me the patient was called back by the agency after i left and was upset that she misunderstood about homebound and that her mother is homebound afterall.....I had already put in my 2wks notice with the agency and this was the day before my last day!....I don't know if I will find another agency that second guesses its nurses or gets admissions not matter what, but i hope to...I love what home health could and should be....that was 2 days ago and i start looking tomorrow for another job!

I am new to HH(9 months) and am wondering how other agencies work their case managers....Ifeel that our company is messed up...I am a case manager in SE Alabama and cover 2 large counties...our company covers a total of 7 rural counties...the case managers do not make up their own schedule...the clinical supervisor and the LPN in the office make up the schedules daily...I have patients in my case load that i have never even seen but am expected to know everything about them...I have patients that live within a block from me and seem to never see them, instead, I travel 50 miles between patients and our LPNs see some patients the majority of the time we have them....I discharge patients that i have never seen before..we are responsible for all our own labs and contact with MDs..it is very frustrating to manage patients this way.Actually it is not possible in my view...we are also responsible for all tranfers and orders for each patient...at first i thought I could never catch up because i was new but after reading on this website I think it is just the company...any views or suggestions?...our census is at 140(not evenly distributed between 4 RNs) we have 4 RNs ,1 FT Lpn, 1 PRN LPN and 1 HHA

Freebird..thanks so much for the info...unfortunately right now i don't have my own patients..so i never know from day to day who i will see.I hate to have to go in the office and scramble for info,but that is the way it is for now.I have gotten the plastic boxes for the trunk and i just rigged up an old handheld shopping basket in the front seat and ran an old luggage strap thru it and strapped it to the seat...i can hang files in it or just keep my daily car charts organized...i also purchased an over the seat car organizer that hangs from the front seat that has slots and pockets to keep my phone and extra pens,markers, highlighters in...seems to be working. I would love to know more bits of wisdom....email me sometime. Thanks Mel

Hey there!..i am new to Home Health(2 months) and I am of course having a very tough time with the OASIS, but i realy think if I started with my time management and organization that my day would run much more smoothly and a less frustrating.....Any suggestions ot tips out ther for time management and organization in my car!!!! ps...can't seem to get much out of the others i work with...it must be a VERY hush-hush secret!!!...lol Thanks alot, Msmel

cookie102...Thanks so much .....you really boosted my spirits..Home health is actually an avenue I had thought about.....but,again I was told 1 yr experience..but I will keep looking with other companies. Are you in Alabama?....I would think home health could afford me more 1 on 1 time with patients if the time is managed well.

As far as the job offers jumping at you....I am in SE Alabama and not alot of choices really...but the wall I keep coming up against is everywhere seems to want at least one year experience.Where were you getting all of your offers from?...Also, I don't know if I mentioned, but I am 47.So I hope that won't play a part in getting a new job!

Thanks for the replys so far.... As far as how I have handled this situation...I have told my NM, many times of my concerns with the ratio, which is usually the times that 3 nurses will be scheduled, then it goes back to the usual 2.She has also told me that I can always ask someone from the unit for help!She has told me many times that they are working on the staffing, and I have heard thru the grapevine that they have hired 2 new graduates to fill these positions.This staffing problem is a management problem and has been going on for over a year now.Our floor is connected to the CCU and as of next week there will have been 9(from the floor and the unit) that have left due to this same issue.I love cardiac nursing,but this is not an issue that will be resolved quickly.As far as burning bridges, I did put in my resignation letter a request to stay PRN, so as not to totally cut all ties.Which may sound dumb, but I do love this floor.I also thought it may sound better when applying for another posistion.Am I wrong? I may have pulled the plug too soon, but my big concern is how this will affect being hired elsewhere.Will they look at me as a quitter?

doobiedoo...I would love some info also...could you shoot me a private message also!....or email.....Thanks!

I could really use some help here! I am an Rn graduate of 8 months now...I started straight out of school on a cardiac/telemetry floor...THEY do not label this floor a step down floor, but we have post op day 1 CABG pt,Cath pt,Fem-Pop,pacemaker placement...lots of copd,chf,renal failure...you get the picture.Our floor has 16 beds.I work 7p-7a.We have 2 RN on this shift and if full 2 CNA...1 CNA if less than 15..sometimes unit secretary.I have never been comfortable with this ratio 8:1 on this floor and was told upon hiring that we would have 3 nurses at night.I have been there 8 months and I can could on 1 hand the number of times there have been 3 nurses on this shift....So after many sleepless nights and many mornings leaving there just thankful that they are all alive..I put in my 2 wk notice.I don't have another job lined up but I felt my license was in jeopardy......So now what do I do...Everyone wants 1yr experience...I have 8 months...any suggestions? Thanks