ohlpn

I submitted my resignation today at the ALF where I've worked as a "part time RA" and "prn LPN" for the last 3 years. I showed up for work yesterday to do the month end audits and was told that the week-end nurse (who broke her leg last week) was being replaced by a recently hired LPN from a "sister facility." He will be given all her nursing hours & RA hours until she can return to work. This action by our Executive Director is an obvious ploy to get me to resign. Several years ago the parent company fired and forced resignation of 90% of their "older" employees which saved the company tons of revenue. I suspect I became the latest statistic...honestly though, I've had such a sense of peace & relief since turning in my 2 week notice today! It will just have to take us a little longer to pay off some bills & I can live with that.

I've been an LPN in ALF for 3 years after retiring from a skilled nursing home position after 13 LOOOONNNNGGGG & painful years. This past year I was "asked" to return to a "part time position" as an RA (resident Assosiate) in order to retain employment hours. In other words, I had to go from $19 an hour (LPN wages) to $12 (top aid wages) an hour if I wanted more than 3 days a pay period. I am just curious if other nurses have had to accomodate the "corporate machine" in this way. Our ALF has gone from 25 residents to 44 residents since January of this year. We have not been given any more nursing or RA hours or staff since corporate implemented these changes. Staff is resigning at phenominal rates & the company is unwilling to fill these positions. Unfortunately, those of us that have been loyal & stayed with the company through thick & thin are being worked to the bone! At 62 years old (& in compromised health....diabetes related conditions) am I really being taken advantage of, as many of my co-workers suggest? Unfortunately, if I don't continue like this for the next 2 or 3 years I'll have to become a Walmart greeter until I'm dead! Just a rant, friends. I think I REALLY know what to do...

I don't want to be a whiner or complainer, but Diabetic peripheral Neuropathy absolutely inhibits physical and mental/emotional cabilities in the field of nursing! After working as an LPN for over 15 years (plus 5 years previously as an STNA in a skilled nursing home) I have joined an Assisted Living Facility with my parent company! I was denied Social Security disability benefits for my debilitating DPN last year. Since I will turn 62 this year, I will take early retirement this summer. I'm hoping that I'll be able to continue working a few hours a pay-period in order to pay into payroll taxes this year.A couple of my paychecks were $0 last year due to the voluntary deductions from state & federal income taxes withdrawn & limited "on call" scheduling. I was a stay at home mom for most of my life & my DH earned enough that would take of our family until the late 80"s until Reaganomics kicked in & I was obligated to go back to work (at minimum wage) to put food on the table & help with a a house payment. I realize I have it "good" because I still have a job (with some pretty good 'job security'), but i really empathize with those that are struggling with this disasterous economy. I honestly believe that things will get better within the next year or so.....I wish the prosperity will come much sooner, but I'm not that optomistic. I empathize & pray that those in dire straights are able to recover from this miserable situation. You folks are absolutely IN MY PRAYERS!!!

My company does not allow Crocs, yet they are the only shoes I can wear comfortably throughout my shift. I've found Easy Spirit walking shoes offer comfort, but they don't last as long as Crocs. I've got Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (a severe case) & I'm limited in footwear choices. I have a co-worker who swears by Z-COIL (http://www.zcoil) footwear, but I'm reluctant to pay out about $200 bucks for work shoes! I seem to manage with my Easy Spirit walking shoes, but I'd really prefer something that would make me feel like I did 40 years ago!

I graduated (LPN ) in 1993 and made $9.50 straight out of nursing school. After a few years I discovered our company was paying $2 more an hour to the "kids" than I was getting. Get this...I was training these children straight out of high school who made at least $2 more an hour!! Anyway, depending on your location (political environment), I suspect a recent LPN/LVN graduate can earn $11 to $22 an hour. I recall working a stressful & unrewarding position in a skilled NURSING HOME for many years before I "fell into this Plumb job." Please note: Even an Assisted Living Facility can rip the life out of you....

I haven't read many of the previous posts concerning this issue, but my unbiased opinion is that the US needs some type of Universal Medical Coverage. My story is a case in point.... My DH had PRIMO medical coverage while he worked, we were "young" & with minor children living at home! He retired 2 1/2 years ago & our insurance coverage took a dump! I'm still able to work in an Assisted Living facility, but at age 61, I still have a few health challenges that are difficult to deal with. When we were young & healthy, we didn't need most of the coverage offered...now that we're retired/semi-retired the "Active Plan" sure would make our life more comfortable. We've lost DENTAL, VISION & much of our CATOSTROPHIC coverage....uhhh, these are issues that we are facing for the first time in our lives. When we were 38 this stuff didn't even enter our minds! I don't wish to get political, but NOW might be the time to really evaluate who the candidates for PREZ are & vote accordingly. I don't wish to preach, but you guys who aren't thinking about your "retirement years" yet, need to take a second look at where you're headed. DH and I DID NOT & my career is still in FULL SWING after 45 years of getting up at 6:30 am every day & dealing with people who think they "know it all." All I can say to the 30-somethings of today....do YOU want your future supervisor & "master of your career/life" to be some little 6 year old of today to be calling the shots for you in 20 years? Please think long & hard,,,,

Diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in 1997, & contracted diabetic peripheral neuropathy in 1999. I've been working as a nurse with this syndrome for the last 11 years & it really doesn't impede my abilities too much. Though it's painfull & uncomfortable while at rest & at home, I'm able to work on my feet all day without too much discomfort.. Go figure!!! I applied for Social Security Dis- ability last year & was denied, I'm hoping I will be considered this year, because I'm 61 years old!

In the LTC arena (& probably in hospital venues, as well) how nasty & demanding some families can be when family members are patients. Many of these folks project their anger & guilt towards LTC staff. This is an ongoing problem which most RA's in our Assisted living handle exceptionally well.

I think I've posted this one before, but here goes! I was a fairly new nurse in a nursing home & we had a bedridden patient with an enormous abcess on his back...it actually looked like an infected zit. All shifts were dressing & cleansing this wound, he was on ATB's as well. I had to change the dressing & cleanse it one day & the (male) aide I had asked to assist me in holding this fellow on his side told me "I can take care of this problem, RIGHT NOW!!!" Ronnie proceded to apply pressure around the abcess & popped that sucker right open! It shot across the bed & landed on the wall behind me....it looked like someone had thrown a raw egg against the wall! I was horrified! It took a couple days to quit draining & heal up, but it did in less than a week. After many weeks of "treating" this nasty thing, an aide (& not a really good one for that matter) remedied the problem in a day!

I started nursing (in '93) vigorous, healthy & overwhelmed with optimism! I am now 61 yo & my priorities & abilities are challenged beyond what I could ever have dreamed! I recently received my handicap placard for my car, I work prn as an aid/LPN in Asssisted Living & enjoy my career more than I ever did. My residents appreciate that I "relate" to them so effectively compared to the "kids" that care for them full time. I believe my "disabilities" enhance my caregiving abilities to my 96 yo and 103 yo residents that "youthful" energy & education can not compare. No matter what our capabilities, in nursing we all contribute & offer something to somebody in need.

i agree, but as a semi-retired lpn, deals like this are very enticing to me & my dh! it's times like this that sway me toward socialized medicine.....

In LTC, we frequently check blood sugars without an order. Behavioral changes & other physical symptoms often require "nursing judgement" where chem sticks & other procedures help with assessments of acute changes that need to be addressed to the doctor. Good luck...

i feel for ya! i finally got out of "nursing home" craziness because of this kind of "administrative" mandates thought up by pencil pushers. i'm now working prn in an asisisted living facility & having the time of my life! don't know what kind of advice to give in these situations....sometimes the idiots are running the show & there isn't an easy way out.

When I was a CNA in LTC 20 years ago, a female resident died. The nurse called the son but learned he was on a cruise. The 17 year old grandson answered the phone & a loud party was heard in the background. The grandson wouldn't tell the nurse how to contact his dad & he rushed over to the nursing home with a drunk friend. They were observed rummaging through grandma's jewelry in her room & were asked to leave. They left & showed up a few minutes later with handguns....fortunately, our nurse had the forsight to call the police who greeted these little thugs at the front door. Our facility filed weapons charges & theft against the kids & I was delivered a subpoena to testify. When the subpoena was withdrawn, I later learned the charges were dropped because "daddy" was good friends with our Representative in the US Senate. Just your typical story of the rich kid getting away with bad behavior.

Thanks so much for all the reply's. They were all so informative & re-inforced what I think I already knew. As a post script, my son-in-law says that this nurse was mistaken about the military not being given PPD's. He says all new recruits are given Mantoux tests & he said at least 50 guys in his battalion have tested positive for exposure. I mentioned to the Infection Control nurse with all the soldiers & their dependents being transferred from all over the world I thought the Army would routinely conduct Mantoux testing. She stuck to her guns about there being no active TB, so it was pointless to test for it. What a dope! My daughter & her husband have been doing some follow up on this situation, but I haven't heard anything back on it.