leeae85

I am currently in the LPN to RN program @ Trident. I started this past summer (which was just transition classes since I already have my LPN) and this fall is when our "real classes" started. Try your best to keep not only up with the reading, but AHEAD. I dont know how the beginning classes were since I did my LPN at OCtech. Do you have any experience at all in the health care field (CNA or something?) that would be beneficial just to get you used to the whole nurse/healthcare setting which some people actually have a harder time with that than actual disease processes/ nursing interventions. I would suggest going ahead and trying to learn about the nursing process and care plans and learning your basic lab values and what they mean ahead of time if you havent already done so just to give you a leg up. Good luck to you! And you are right, anything worth having is hard, so you have the right idea and I think you will do just fine.

First off-you seem like an Awesome nurse & don't let others try to make you feel bad about doing such a wonderful job. Sure there are some days when you won't be able to pick up the extra slack, but thank goodness you do or there seems like their would be an awful lot more problems on your unit. How unprofessional of that nurse to berate you for you reminding her of policies! I would of let her just kept on fussing at me and write the write-up right in front of her!

Charleston, SC 2 years experience Psych hospital 15.50 base pay, with $3 eve/night diff and $5 weekend diff old job in Charleston for nursing/rehab home-20.80 base pay.

Hello all, I was wondering if those who have taken the CPNE can share what the most difficult skills they had to perform while being tested? And, if they have ever been through a DHEC survey were someone watches them, is this what the CPNE feels like? Thanks in advance!:wink2:

I have a Ped-Egg and LOVE it! Might be a silly question-but what do the stridex pads do for the cracked /dry heels?

I'm pretty sure at the rehab nursing home where i used to work used to do the same thing, and we never had any problems with it. Whenever the patient was d/c'd from the hospital, on his d/c summary there was a specific list of d/c meds and d/c orders, and we would write those out as admit orders, call the on-call md/np and they would approve, and usually add some lab work to the orders. I figured that was just standard practice.

I agree with what you are saying, but I know someone is going to throw in "Well, that's why we have Universal Precautions...blah, blah, blah". Which I'm sure everybody is aware of, but even knowing that rule I understand your feelings that you feel that you have a right to know. And thats a good point you make about the MRSA, and VRE, we always get that information, how come we don't get the HIV/AIDS info? I guess if he is taking meds for it that would be one red flag.

First off Congratualtions! I really can't help you with the responsibilities portion, but I do have an easy idea for a fundraiser! (Which I usually dont like because they take too much time and commitment) but whenever registration of spring classes start and your school is like mine, there is ALWAYS a line a mile long waiting to get registered or waiting to get books, and the nursing program would always have a table set up with snacks and drinks. If you can catch pepsi's or coke's on sale when two 12 packs are 5 dollars, you can make some $$ of that and some brownies or cookies. They always turned out good when they had it! and Its something you really dont have to put too much precious time or effort into it! Good Luck!

I was just wondering about Universal Health Care and if in fact it would greatly affect nurse's salaries? Anyone from Europe or Canada who has dealt with this personally? Thanks in advance for any input!

What age group is it? I work at a RTC, and if the kids there get into a tiff about their meds, I just calmly let them know that refusing medication will warrant a write up that I will be sending to their therapist, and they could possibly not transition to the next level. It's about 90% effective!

i unfortunately do not have any miracle stories, but that last story about the man on X Mas day made me cry! What a blessing!:heartbeat

How many times has this yelling/finger pointing happened? Once is more than enough for me! You should be able to feel safe & comfortable in your work environment. You said that mgt is not always there, which to a degree IS nice, but someone needs to be there to be the referee! What is the problems you are having with the CNA's? Is it because you were once "one of them" now you're an RN? I wouldn't put up with crap. As an RN, you have WAY too many other doors to choose, and I would find something else if the problems continued.

Don't feel bad! What helped me was always volunteering to put one in if someone needs it. I work in LTC and I put in a lot more foleys than I thought I would be doing, I also do an lot on in/outs for UA/C&S. The nurse I work opposite of has a hard times with caths, but is good at blood draws, and I'm the opposite, so we pretty much help each other out. One trick I've learned is if you are having a REAL hard time seeing the meatus, and even visualizing the anatomy, sometimes it helps having the patient lie on their side, kind of like in a fetal position with their legs drawn up. I have to do that alot esp. when the little old ladies can't get their legs open wide enough for me to get in there. Good luck & keep on trying!:nuke:

I've been an LPN for 2 years, so I consider myself a new nurse. I remember my first nursing job and the nurse that was orientating me. I thought she was pretty "gruff". She kind of reminded me of the troll under the bridge in that story Billy Goats Gruff or something like that. I love her to death now, but I was so scared of her! Your new nurse is probably scared, nervous, excited and wanting to please you all at the same time. You sound like you would be a wonderful nurse to shadow, so she's probably just wanting to make sure she has all her bases covered. I think all the text book nursing is going to stick with her for awhile. The only way she will learn all the real world nursing is to get a heavier patient load. That way she'll learn how to cut corners (but good corners) in all her assesments and such. Hang in there!!!!

Thank yall for the advice. Sometimes all you need are some words of encouragement. You know what is so funny though, with all these nursing shortages, you would figure your employer would treat you a little better? There ARE too many good nursing jobs to be stuck in a miserable one. No word back yet on the psych job, but I called my agency and I'm going to work some shifts for them until I know something.

I am 23 years old, & have been an LPN for two years. I am currently in school now for the LPN-RN program. I have been at my job for almost 2 years. This is my very first job as a LPN. But right now I have had more than enough. Its a skilled rehab nursing home, and I work on the unofficial Dementia side, which I LOVE by the way. What is making me so burnt out is the management. I know its the same everywhere, but my unit manager is making me hate even being a nurse. I get so emotional at work b/c I get stressed out & i don't want to cuss and scream so I just cry! I know the whole place thinks I'm crazy! I truly feel that I am a caring nurse. I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I do love my residents and have grown extremely close to quite a few of them, inlcuding their families. I told them I wanted to go PRN status and I feel like they (My manager & DON) are very ticked off at me. I feel like the issues I bring up to them are not addressed. I don't go to them about nit-picky things either. It's usually about a rude CNA that I've spent all morning looking for. (& no, I'm not one of those nurses who hunt 2 hours for a CNA just to ask them to take someone to the bathroom). I more than pull my weight at this place. I think thats why the CNA;s on my hall are so slack, they know I;ll do what they dont get done, b/c I hate to see my residents suffer. I know it was stupid of me, but I let the weekend supervisor know that I'm going to put in an application at the Psych hospital. My friend works there, and she says the biggest complaint she has about the place is that its TOO boring. I know that will get old after while, but I need a mental break. Anyways, the weekend supervisor keeps rubbing it in my face"Oh, you're gonna be sorry if you go there, I quit from their last year & it was horrible!" I just wish people would let me form my own decisions. Well this has been long enough of a rant.....

My story is from a little different point of view.....we have a wonderful activities department where I work, always having little parties for the residents with all kinds of good snacks! Well, whenever the party is over, the activities girl comes around to the units and lets everyone know "there is plenty of food left if you want to come get some!" Well, me being the good nurse I am , I wait until I am finshed with what I am doing to fix me a plate, unlike other staff members who tear off quicker than speedy gonzales. By the time I got there, there was like one celery stick left! (I'm not even exaggerating!) I was starving! I saw CNA's, nurses, ect. taking plates piled high with fruit, cookies, pigs n blankets, little sandwhichs, ect, into the breakroom to save for their lunch time. I know this was wrong, but as soon as they walked out, I went to the fridge and started eating off their plates!!! I know that is kinda gross, but I was so mad! I had such bad heart burn after cramming all that food down my throat so fast!

well said!

That's the way I feel, I work the same hall every time I work, half of my patients have been there the whole time i have (15 months) so if i see a total change in their behavior, wether or not vitals are off, and the on call md says send them, I send them. Then a couple of cocky jerks show up and look at me like i have 2 heads! i sent one little lady out because she was calm and quiet, and her baseline was kicking and screaming. she wasn't complaining of anything, but just seemed off. EMT shows up, GRILLS me up and down. turns out, she was almost uroseptic! i dont know everything, but i know my residents!

There is Trident Tech that is in Charleston (www.tridenttech.edu) which has a looooooonnnnnng waiting list, and you can also get your RN there too, but the list is long for both programs. Then there is Orangeburg tech (www.octech.edu) which is in Orangeburg, SC. It is a bit of a drive from Charleston (at LEAST 60 miles) but they dont have a waiting list. you have to apply every year, then they take the top 50 or 60 people. I went there for my LPN and loved it! Good luck!

OMG! 2 hour commute! I complain about my 40 minute commute! PlUS night shift PLUS grad school PLUS all that driving-when do you have time to SLEEP! I would have pulled my hair out 2 weeks into all that commitment. Is there any possibility that you can cut back on work? Are you the sole bread winner? School is very important, but so is your health. See what you can take off your plate to keep your sanity. good luck!

I agree with the post above, you're not a horrible NA! Was he a confused patient (I'm guessing that he is since he is in his 80's and wes yelling at you). When i have patients like these, i find it works best when i say to them"ok it's time to get cleaned up." or "it's time to get in the shower." instead of "would you like to take a shower?" not that i'm trying to take away their rights, but they need to be clean and dry or they will get all kinds of problems. hope this helps.

my favorite LOL calls me Boo Boo or Bee Bee. (My names' Annie)

not usually. i tend to enjoy the Swamp Ass feeling, as does my fiance.

Some places have guidelines and protocols with standing orders, like if a temp is over 99.9 or something, then give Tylenol and recheck. The facility I work at does not, so whenever someone has temp that is high, which personally i consider 99.9 or above, I get a rectal temp and check that, then if that's high, then I call the doc, and the first thing they usually say is to get a UA/C&S and a CBC. Hope this helps!