cabkrun

YIKES. Having a heart attack because of a missed med is "small stuff". Maybe it's time you got out of nursing all together, because someone may not get better even if you do change nursing jobs, because you've missed "the small stuff". Overdose of chemo? Oh sorry, just a "small stuff" error. I hope you are joking, really. And not a details person? How long you been in nursing exactly?

Have to agree with mvanz on this one. Rarely there may be a "medical" cause, but it's not the norm. Both my brothers are fat. The younger one has spent the last who knows how many years "self medicating" because there absolutely HAS to be something wrong with him to cause him to be fat, other than the fact that he eats fast food nearly every day, hasn't exercised in years, etc. Americans generally are lazy, yes. We have become addicted to our automobiles. It's a pretty sad statement when you see someone get in their car to drive to another parking space a block away, or to the grocery store that, if lucky, is a 10 minute walk. I am not nasty towards obese people. If nothing else, I feel sorry they have gotten that way. Yet, I won't buy the excuse that they are somehow so different than anybody else that can maintain their weight at an appropriate level. It was rare to see a fat kid when I was growing up. Now, you see them everywhere, being fed chocolate croissants and large hot chocolates at the local Starbucks by their fat parents. There isn't a medical reason at all for this. Some of those Starbucks drinks have over 700 calories. It really is calories in vs. calories out.

There isn't such a thing as "detoxifying" our body. It's done all the time by the kidneys, etc.

eliminating entire food groups never works. it's all about proper portion sizes and moderation. want some candy... have a small piece. (YUMMY). A good part of the problem is our sedentary lifestyles. People just don't move anymore. We rely upon our cars to take us to the grocery store a block away. We live too far from our jobs... Surburban sprawwlllll. Ugh. Luckily, I am a cyclist and a runner, and I eat whatever I want. My cholesteral is fine (Just even got the new VAP test to make sure), my weight is at the low end of normal, and I feel fabulous! I'll tell ya, exercise is my life saver... I feel like crap if I can't do it. I feel wonderful because I can and I do and I absolutely love it. heheh

Pagandeva, thanks for the kind reply. I really think you make a couple of valid points. First off, the devaluing has to stop. The comments about LPN's are just catty and childish. I don't understand why a person secure in themselves would ever say such a thing. There is obvious value to the role, and what you talk about in terms of the differences between LPN and RN make a lot of sense. Secondly, you hit it on the head when you talk about not practicing in arrogance. It may get tiring, but it is important that a patient understands that an MA is not a nurse, a NP or PA is not an MD, etc. It ties into expectations from the patient, as they may believe they are not getting appropriate care, when in reality they are asking the wrong person. And, you are right... for someone to practice outside their scope of practice because they "feel they can" is NOT SAFE. I agree, a result that does not devalue a role, yet clearly defines that role would be nice. The devaluing has to stop with the different providers. When people start cat fighting about roles and fairness, etc. it becomes about them and not about the patient.

Pagandeva, not trying to say I disagree with you. I understand where you are coming from completely. I don't know if confusion can ever be cleared up by just introducing oneself and their title. What I don't like to see is the petty arguments over "it's not fair that an RN thinks they are so superior to MA's". That kind of crap gets a little tiresome. It just seems silly to argue over such stuff. :) I respect your thoughts, and agree with you. I wonder if it is why some countries (like the UK) are hesitant about bringing in another health care provider (debates about PA's entering practice in the UK) because altho they want to address the shortage of health care professionals, introducing yet another level of practitioner might just be too much. I apologize if you misread my intentions.

I don't think anyone wants to throw the towel on MA's. I think people just need to represent themselves as professionals, and CORRECTLY. I am sorry, an MA is NOT an RN. They do not have the same level of training. There is no way to argue that point any differently. Anyone thinking they are the same, and talking about "fairness" is just doing a disservice to the profession. It isn't about one being above or below another. It's silly to look at it that way. It's about people in the medical community making sure that their "customers" understand who is caring for them, and what they can appropriately be expected to do based upon their training. It ties into another big stink being raised right now about Nurse Practitioners introducing themselves to their patients as "Doctor". Granted, some may have a Doctorate, but no matter how one tries to spin, they are not an MD, and patients will get confused.

I remember being at an appt. with my GP, and the MA did my blood pressure, brought in my chart... the typical things I've seen them do. She mentioned she was trying to get into nursing school, since as an MA she does everything a nurse does anyhow. YIKES. (I'm not a nurse, but I know better).

I have heard that the program at CCSF has a really solid reputation, and very strong clinical aspects. From what I understand, the students graduating from that program are in high demand. I don't know much about Ohlone. Part of may also depend upon where you live. CCSF has very early clinicals, so living a ways from the City might make for some really early mornings.

This is true. And, unfortunately there is a doctor out there that has written a book that says the solution to our health care "crisis" is to make insurance pay for only the dire situations, and everything else should be paid for out of pocket by the people, with doctors competing for lowest cost of service. Excuse me? This is a solution? What will happen is people will stop getting preventative care, and colds will turn into pneumonia, high cholesterol and diabetes will go undetected, etc. This is a solution? Making people who can hardly squeeze by even with insurance pay for even more? I am of the mind that the health care of citizens is a matter of Public Health.

I agree with a lot of this. Like I mentioned, my husbands father has heart disease, and he isn't running over here for treatment. In fact, there was an article in the NYT yesterday about the difference between US and European Health care. We spend quite a bit more per person on health care, with worse outcomes. It's because of many of the things you mention above, and also because Americans feel entitled to many unnecessary procedures (and doctors permit them for fear of being sued). I'm not saying any "system" is perfect, but I disagree that hordes of Europeans and Canadians are running over here to get health care. Actually, some of the opposite is happening...Americans going overseas because some operations are less expensive, and it is the only way for them to afford it.

The whole idea that "people die waiting for many simple procedures..." is a myth. Granted, "socialized medicine" is not perfect, but our so called system surely isn't either. People in this country wait for procedures as well. Many doctors are leaving the profession because "every patient that walks thru their door is a potential lawsuit". My husbands father lives in England, and he has received perfectly fine care there, and he has heart disease. He surely isn't running over to the US for care, which he very well could since he is dual citizenship. I know people in the US waiting months for an MRI. There may be waits in places like London for voluntary type issues, but it's rare for someone with a life threatening illness to die waiting over there. In reality, we have "socialized medicine". It's called the Emergency Room, and if you don't think that is an expensive way to provide health care, oh boy. Canada has both a socialized system to cover everyone, and people have the option to purchase additional private insurance if they don't feel satisfied, and of course if they can afford it. I would rather see people in this country insured, versus running around sick and diseased and unable to do anything about it. Talk about a Public Health Crisis. I find it a bit smug to assume we are so much better in the US. You are right that the US does pay it's nurses better than most countries, and it's probably why there is migration to this country of foreign nurses. Don't know the answer to that one.

Sorry, I disagree. I surely wouldn't want someone taking care of me that cheated all the way thru nursing school. It's like the recent NYT article about Phillipine Nurses cheating on their exams in order to come over to the US as nurses, and people dismissing it by saying "well, they still have to pass the exam over in the US". There are a ton of prep courses out there that you can take and prepare for to pass NCLEX. Someone might cheat all the way thru school, then spend a good amount of effort to study and pass NCLEX. Not the same kind of nurse IMO. It does a huge disservice to the profession, and it's a lazy instructor that doesn't change the exams. On the flip side, people cheat ... no matter what profession, but it doesn't mean it's right, and KARMA doesn't always prevail.

Mid-life at 33? wow, I wouldn't consider that mid-life, you are just getting started!! I agree with cyberkat. I don't think you should be going into a career in nursing soley based upon wanting more money. It's such a tough job, and you will most likely be very very unhappy. I would suggest, as others have, either volunteering on a hospital nursing floor, or working as a CNA first. The grass isn't always greener, and you might be very disappointed. JMHO.