lujological

Hopefully after 35-40 years in nursing retired playing with my grandkids but it medical insurance keeps going the way it does I will be still working enough to get benefits but if I am it will be in the geriatric area I love.

coming from back when we had to starch caps ugh thank god no more!It was diffucult for me to wear anything but white but I finally got around to nice print scrub tops and my residents comment every night on my different ones.they really enjoy seeing what I will wear next.I watch sales and buy them up when on sale so have quite a collection.along with white slacks and white panties underneath and CLEAN white shoes you can look very professional and feel good about yourself and your residents will notice!!they are embarssed by tight pants,colored underware under white and low cut tops.this was unheard of when they were growing up so respect them and their needs we are working in their home when you work in geriatrics.

you all have stated some of the same things I feel but i guess the most important to me is It has forced me to continue learning and not allowed me to get stagnent,I have seen many,many changes over my 35 years of nursing.It has Never been boring!!I have never wished even on my worst day to leave nursing.I have changed type of nursing till I found my place in geriatrics.We all have that special place where we can excel in nursing which is another reason I love it.there also is no replacement for the feeling you get when my resident tells me Boy did I miss your smiling face while you were off.I also have great co workers and other professionals to work with.In general it is a great overall profession to be in even with it's problems.thanks for having this upbeat thread

Yes,I have told cute stories or shared information and given the address to many of my fellow employees.who are in nursing.When they check it out they come back and thank me for the info.

I am just coming off 2 years of 12 hour shifts.7 in a 2 week period.While I never did more than 2 in a row and enjoyed the extra time off it has taken a toll on my body.MY reward for 12 hour shifts-hypertension,diabetes,and an ulcer!AS nurses we need to learn to care for ourselves first so we are able to care for others; they are depending on us!

I agree with all you had to say-achot chavi but would like to add what makes it unsafe is the number of 12 hour shifts you do in a row.some places work you 3 or 4 days in a row.Anything beyond 2 days is unsafe.I just am coming off 2 years of working 12 hour shifts and learned quickly that 2 in a row was my max.Not only is it not safe for your patients but also for your own body.Health reasons is why I am making the change back to 8 hour shifts.I will miss my extra time off between days working but at least will be alive to enjoy time off.my reward for 2 years 12 hour shifts is hypertension,diabetes,and an ulcer!as nurses we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others.Bless all nurses no matter how long their shifts are.

to QuestGav-you are so right about the caring people in hospice and that is the "BIG"difference I see in nursing homes/retirement communities our facility has 5 hospice organizations that come to our facility and the resident or family can pick the one they want. 5 years ago when I changed to this facility there were no hospices there.I lost my parents 7years ago dad and mom 6 years ago. both had hospice.My dad at home as he chose and my mom in the hospital because she could not make it home.It was a wonderful help to them and us so I am a real hospice fan from personal experience

to milner-I am unsure of what you are asking me could you clarify?thanks

thanks for the trip down memorary lane.I remember it all.In nursing since 1963.With the exception of the importance of good obeservation,I am thrilled we no longer have to do the things mentioned.I still can"t get used to gloves and will have 1 clean and 1 dirty hand but always use foam handwash.I do remember as a student in 63 being yelled at by a doctor who came in nurses station while i was sitting doing end shift charting because I did not stand and give him my seat.also remember my father being sick in hospital and I was only 11 so I dressed in some of my moms clothes and put on makeup so I could get in to see him.then we found a stairwell that opened unto back parking lot for employees and i snuck my younger brother who was 4 and sisters who were 8 and 10 up to his room.we took turns peeeking down hall and when a nurse headed our way we hid in his bathroom.He had been in for 2 weeks and was real homesick for his children.He had a mild heart attack at 45yo but was doing good and in a private room on a regular unit by then.My mom was at work and I was babysitting my siblings.Devious wasn"t I but there was no way we could visit he wasn't allowed out of room and down to the visitation room.MY baby brother kept asking for him so I took things into my own hands.hope you enjoyed my little tail every word is true!!back to nursing changes-while all new stuff we do is needed I find I have less time with the patients/residents and that is the sad part.The computer use drives me crazy.I am technology challenged!! but we must learn to adapt.thanks for having this thread it has been really interesting!!!

hi brian and staff-thanks for the email when i had not visited for awhile(some mild health isssues-getting tested and still working)THRILLED when i came on and saw the nurses with disabilities thread.I have diabetes and hypertension but have several friends who are nurses with more serious disabilities and you can bet your bottom dollar (as they saw)i will be telling them about this site!!thanks for thinking of us

hi-I am so glad to see this handicapped forum got started!! this response is to TurtleTyme. It is comforting knowing there are other nurses out there having the same problems.,I am a diabetic for about 5 years and on oral medications,I work 12 hours from 6pm to 6am-3 days a week the night hours plus only 3 days in a week took some juggling till I worked out what works best for me and my body.I like challenges and planning what would work best was that.!.I love my job as supervisor because part of the shift I deal with orders and doctors but the night part I have a small wing of residents to give meds to so I have patient contact too.I think the trick is really liking what you do so that you can figure how to handle the diabetes best.the next important issue is that your place of employment allows you to do what you need to do to control the diabetes.I work at a christian facility that values their residents and their staff.they respect me and understand my health needs.You need to find a nursing position that allows you to take care of yourself yet do your job.Good luck to all you diabetic nurses!!

in 50 years nursing I have seen morphine use go from very little to quite common for end of life pain the patients comfort is the main goal here.my current position is in long term care and in it I have really seen a significant increase in use here due to doctors and hospice who seem to finally realize that end of life no matter what the cause should be comfortable!as supervisor I often have to deal with this question as new grads are afraid to use morphine even when ordered by doctor and hospice.I think some nurses forget that it not only is for pain but the anxiousness and air hunger that comes with that time.While I don't believe every nursing home resident should have roxanol,I do believe anyone who hospice has evaluated and believe is in end stages of life deserves to have their wishes to die with diginity and comfort met and that is our job to do that for them.

this is going to vary depending on the type of nursing you are involved in.I think the nursing article covers the basic things all nurses need to use to be a good nurse.But as an example what i encounter and have to handle working in long term care is different than the hospital nurse.I still have to assess my residents and when their sick send them out to hospital,take care of their pain,Listen to their concerns and their FAMILIES,encourage to eat and drink when the appetite is gone,assist in adl's and ambulation,be at bedside when they are dying and support them so they can leave this world the way they want with diginity.We are the eyes,ears,and hands for the doctors in long termcare.I would say that 90% of the doctors I have contact with know that and appreciate nurses.I did have one doctor tell me he did not like coming to a nursing home because it was like watering dead flowers.I told him that he shouldn't come-we did not need any gardners here.His associate came after that and he never returned.The rest of the doctors count on us to fill them in on their residents and their needs and show us respect.I know this did not help with your request but it will give you a different view of what is out there from a nurse of 40 years

I have had several stops where i only got warnings.I do carry my nurse liscense in plastic case with drivers liscense and registration.however I am the mother of a local police officer and even if i don't mention it the officers see my last name and ask if i am relation to officer soso.as a result only get warnings.My husband who has a heavy foot also only warnings but my son"s chief told him "tell your father if I see him heavy footing it AGAIN I will give him a big fat ticket" my son gets very upset with us as he says it is embarassing and the officier who does the stopping always tells him about it so we don"t get away with it.I agree with the person who says police don't give nurses tickets because we are in a service position and deserve to get that extra help.Both my husband and i have been behaving and have not had any stops in almost 2 years.

gerinurse-mangement that has no idea what goes on -on your particular shift,they pull staff ,from your shift to use on other shifts,they have no idea what other things can go on like-alarms you need to check on,phone calls to get maintance in for problems,laundry problems,calls coming in,espically call offs then they have the nerve to exspect me to try and find replacement staff,all while i am trying to do morning medpass.It seems 11-7 is the least understood shift,oh i forgot mandatory inservice during the day when you sleep!!all of these are reasons for burn out.