Cubby

As a parent I did not always do things the right way-especially when refering to body parts. We referred to our sons member as his 'boo boo' (I have no idea why we thought that was a good idea ?) One day we were at the lake and a small child went crying to her mother and said "Mommy I have a boo boo on my arm." Joshua asked us why she had one on her arm!!! We corrected our behavior right then and there:imbar

Yeah, you would think anyone would know that this is a BAD practice. However, my mother who was an LPN for over 40 years smoked while she was on O2. She did not blow up-though we were all concerned she would-just died in her recliner, with the O2 on and her ever present cigarette no where to be seen. She never would listen to us though. Oh well.

Oh, I'd say about 20 years:rotfl: Nah-before you know it you will have a grasp on most things. Good luck

We deal with this problem frequently. We call it "Comfort Care Measures Only" the family decides-'enough is enough' and we allow the resident to die with a tad bit more dignity than trying to 'beat death' with various IVAB, PEG tubes etc. I find that once "Family" has decided that they don't want anything else done, the resident improves-at least for a while. Death always comes, but usually is way laid by a brief period where the resident is cognizant, and happy that they have some control over their life, even if it is at the end.

I HAVE HAD MORE THAN MY SHARE OF BEING AN ACUTE CARE NURSE-BUT I PREFER LTC. I LIKE KNOWING THE IDIOSYNCRACIES OF WHO I AM TAKING CARE OF. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS IT THAT I CAN SEND A 90+ YEAR OLD TO THE ER (99.9% OF THE TIME IT IS A FAMILIES REQUEST, YEP, YOUR DAD WILL BE THE ONLY PERSON ON RECORD TO NEVER DIE) WITH THEIR SKIN INTACT. WHEN HE COMES BACK, WE HAVE DECUBITUS ULCERS ON FEET, HIPS, BUTTS. WHY? I KNOW THAT ACUTE CARE NURSES TAKE GOOD CARE OF THESE FOLKS. I JUST DON'T GET IT! INPUT PLEASE

We had so much trouble with this. HIPPA and all! The way that works best for my unit is on the daily assignment sheets there is a list of all the residents names. If they are a DNR their name is in BOLD type, if they are a full code their name is listed in regular type. Everyone has their patient list with them at all times, so it is easy to figure out who is a code and who is not. Hope this helps

I am in the same boat. I am on Duragesic 50mcg and Neurotin and Zanaflex for post back surgery pain. I had the surgery in January, but the pain persists. I have been told by my DON that if I have to take the medication I cannot work. No one out there is going to pay my bills for me, so I keep quiet! Isn't that sad?

God forbid you should learn something from a LTC facility. Everyone knows that LTC nurses don't know a thing :angryfire :angryfire

For about two years after I got out of school I was petrified about IVs-I looked for jobs where there would be the least amount of starting and maintaing IVs. Finally my dear husband said to me one day-"Junkies can start IVs" I got over my apprehension and started really trying-practice makes perfect (almost). If a junkie can do it-By God so can I. You will get there, I promise. Just don't quit.

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Puerto Rico late next year. We are just now beginning to investigate our newest hairbrained idea, so if anyone has any info we would appreciate it. Housing costs, jobs (only want to work a couple of days a week). Things of that nature. Thank you in advance for any help. We gotta get out of this place!!

Sounds like we have a bit too much chlorine!!! :chuckle

I know-first hand how hard beating an addiction is. Now that you have started on the right path, the right decisions will be easier to make. I am so proud of anyone who can beat something like this. I have clean and sober for 4 years now, and I know if I can...anyone can. Best of luck. Your on the right path. :)

It was the middle of the Month of April 1995. I was working at a LTC facility, and had gone outside to smoke a cigarette with a coworker. Being the middle of April in Oklahoma you tend to see some strange cloud formations. My friend and I saw these clouds that looked like the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and they were headed toward OKCity. We thought nothing about it except it was a very strange cloud formation. The 19th of April (which was about 3-4 days later) we had the bombing of our Federal Building. Coincidence? I don't know. But like my heading says-this is the first time I have ever told anyone except my husband. I don't know if Sharlene told anyone or not. I'm not sure if any one would believe me or not!

I have thought about continuing my education on-line. I am currently an ADRN, and am wanting to get my BSN or go another route to get my Bachelors Degree. Has anyone had any experience with Phoenix? They seem a bit pricey to me, but I know nothing about Long Distance Learning. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

You stated yourself, you know what you need to do. I know that when I am up against something like this, the decision that is the most difficult for you to do-is the right thing to do. Follow your conscience-you know what you need to do. It is never easy, but the patients deserve an unimpaired professional to take care of them. Hope everthing comes out ok for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

If only I could remember them all. All I can say is-a call light in the hands of an Alzheimer's patient is both a source of joy and endless frustration! Use your imagination :rotfl: :balloons:

My husband is an LPN. I am an RN. We both work at the same facility-same shift. I am his supervisor. It works well for us-probably not for everyone, but give it a try. I like seeing him several times a day, and it gives us something else to complain about (other than each other! :chuckle ) I would not have it any other way. In this day and age-boy can you tell I am an old fart!- it doesn't hurt on the gas money either! We have done this for 28 years! When our children were small we worked different shifts. Could not trust anyone with my kids-outside of their daddy.

And yet, LTC facilities are the ones with the bad reputation. I send one of my residents to the hospital with an acute process and when they return they have bedsores, and don't look (Or smell) like they have had a bath the whole time they were gone. But yet LTC nurses aren't 'Real Nurses' Makes my blood boil!

:chuckle It seems to me that most folks-nurses or not-are from a dysfunctional family!

Delusions of grandure?? I thought at one time, I could make a difference. Like I said-delusional plain and simple

Hate their first job? How about that one and every other one I have had since I graduated. I think I need time off. :uhoh21:

Don't ya just love ignorant people.

I want to know what happened to #2. Was it the victim of of #3?

My husband is an LPN (We get to work together). Our DON was eating with my husband and me one evening and made the remark "Well it's not like LPNS are nurses. I was so embarrassed. I make it a point to all of the LPNs I work with that they all have skills that I don't possess, (You don't/can't learn everything) and I value them as coworkers and humans. That was one lesson I will never forget or repeat. :angryfire

My facility is soooooo nice. They are planning on letting us keep our jobs, that is if we agree to decrease our PCA staff!! This is a joke (I think! :chuckle )