SophiaRN

I also work every Sat & Sun 6am to 10:30PM. I get paid for 40 hours. I love waking up Monday am & realizing that while everyone else is on their way to work, I have the next 5 days off!

School Girl 2006- Not to change the subject, but I love Detroit Lakes in the Summer!! I attended the first Wefest "We in "83" there. I'm originally from that area. Good Luck with School. I started out at FFCC in the LPN program.

Where did you get that stat? ( >15 million people in the US infected with worms)

I frequently "decontaminate" my watch & pen with alcohol swabs.

The protocol that I've seen used most, along with Vanco, is Bactroban to the nares BID (it frequently is colonized in the nares) & Hibiclens showers daily for 1 week.

There's a lot of information out there. Pioneer Network is a good resource. Also, Culture Change Now. I personally have some issues with Eden Alternative even though that is the way most facilities here in Colorado seem to be going. I believe you can embrace the Culture Change concept without making the founder of Eden Alternative a wealthy man. I have seen too many facilities send in there Eden application fee to become certified without going through the motions. Culture change is a journey rather than something you just do & it's done. I believe it's best to take "baby steps". Some things that you try will work, others won't. Your leadership team must be fully committed or you will struggle. You must also educate & involve your residents & your frontline staff. They need to be the ones making the decisions. I've been involved with this for around 4 years now. Feel free to PM me anytime if I can be of any assistance.

I wear my crocs ALL the time. Initially I thought they were so ugly & had been used to wearing a bit more of a heel. However, after trying a pair for work, I can't live without them they feel soooo good. I have tan spots on my feet from wearing them so much outdoors this Summer!!

The use of skin prep (like what is used with a colostomy) used before applying any kind of adhesive to the skin helps with removal. It tends to "toughen" up the skin.

One of my favorite gifts was a gift certificate to a uniform/supply store. Also, a gift certificate for a massage might be nice.

When you say the worst issue was not responding to a vent alarm, do you mean to say that you didn't respond, or you were accused of not responding? If you didn't respond, it makes no difference how well you did in the mock code. Sounds like something is awry.

I too have struggled with OCD tendencies, particularly when starting a new job. I can truly sympathize with you. The checking & rechecking everything can make you feel crazy!! The thing that has helped me most is Paxil.

I went into a new admission's room, introduced myself & explained I would be her nurse at which time, my feet went out from under me!! We (the patient & I) had a good laugh (after realizing I was okay). As long as no one gets hurt, laughter truly is good medicine & we have to be able to laugh at ourselves.

First of all, you aren't "just" CNA. A good CNA is invaluable and unfortunately, sometimes underappreciated. As far as the perspiration goes, where I work, we don't have air conditioning (use swamp coolers) and this past weekend it was in the 100's!! I was dripping sweat by 7am as were all of my coworkers. It's just how it is sometimes. My nephew had/has a real problem with it and had some of his sweat glands removed from under his arms-that helped some. It helps me to run a papertowel or washcloth under cold water & blot my face & then wrap it around my neck for a few minutes. Good luck with your job. We need people like you.

I know a PA that was also an RN. She worked with an Ortho Surgeon. She quit her job in Ortho to become a "House Supervisor" in a hospital because, according to her, the money was better!!

I also believe we need to examine our views and judgements toward people with chronic pain. Of course, we don't want to turn people into addicts and they must be monitored closely, but if someone has chronic pain and it can be made more bearable with the use of routine narcotics, who are we to constantly label them "drug seekers"?? I'm not saying everyone does, or there aren't people out there who are "drug seekers", I just believe that life is too short to go through it in constant pain when something can be done about it.

Am I the only one bothered by the comment, "I didn't want that stupid junkie SOB enjoying it?" When will we begin to realize that addiction is a disease?? I am bothered by this attitude in our profession. I know how difficult and manipulative these patients can be, but believe we should be looking at them as people who are suffering not, as I've heard reference to them on the floor as, "the junkie in room 12", or "the professional drinker in room 11". Let's try to remember they are someone's Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, etc. Just my own 2 cents worth...

I feel so fortunate to work in LTC. My dog comes with me to work most of the time. He follows me around so it's easy to keep an eye on him and the residents love him!! They barely say good morning to me, it's, "where's Chester?" :)

Amen! It's the CNA's that can make or break a shift in LTC. They don't receive enough recognition in my opinion. When you work with good CNA's I think a facility should do every thing in their power to let them know how much they're appreciated as should the nurses.

To sum things up, just be perfect and you'll be fine!!:) It helps me to remember that essentially, the surveyors work for us. Our tax dollar pays their salary. They're there to do a job and for the most part, they're decent people. Once in awhile you'll get one who needs to prove themselves. That happened in a facility that I worked at. She had been an employee there & came in looking for blood. We had a perfect survey the year before with many of the same staff members & ended up with 9 deficiencies that year. When they (a different team) came to re-survey, they said, 1) We should have asked for another team leader (she was the team leader), & 2) We should have challenged all but one of the deficiencies. Live & learn. Remember, this too, shall pass...

1982 LPN $6.43/hr, 1992 RN $15.00/hr.

There truly are MANY days when the patients, their families, & physician's just suck the life out of you. I have been doing this for 24 years now & can truly relate to the way you feel. I admire your strength in being able to realize the need for change & being able to walk away from it. Oh, to be treated with a little respect. Fortunately there are always those few who do & that's what keeps me going. After a particular difficult shift, when a resident (I work LTC) looks up at you & says, " I don't know what I'd do without you", well, that's what keeps me going....

I love Crocs!!! I work 16 hr. shifts. Crocs are the only shoes that I've found that I don't go home with back pain, foot pain &/or leg pain. They can also be thrown in the washer with a detergent with bleach for cleaning. When I first saw crocs I thought I would never wear them (thought they were ugly), but tried them on & threw away my Danskos on the way out of the mall!!

Well said, Greentea! I agree.

I think there must be more to this story! As described, in no way does this constitute abandonment IMO.

I took A & P at ACC, but it was 15 yrs ago (Wow that went fast-)! In those days it was an excellent class with a great instructor. I was also in the ACC fast track program in the early days (LPN to RN). Back then, the school had an excellent reputation with a high percentage of students passing NCLEX. My class had a 100% pass rate first time around! I've been out of the loop for awhile though- living in Norhtwestern Colorado.