Cat Nurse

Yes! I was a CNA for awhile, then started school to be a LPN, finished that did correspondence for my ASN, and just finished my BSN. I am the charge nurse for a very busy orthopedic-med/surg unit. I love all aspects of the job. But, I love helping the pts. The CNS's are called PNT's at my hospital This stands for Patient Needs Tech. To me they are the most important member of the Care Team. When I have a lot of stress, I go find a PNT and offer to do something for them, this helps me de-stress. And it gives them a short break.

I have worked at the same hospital for close to twenty years, I have lived in the same house for about seventeen years. I have always tried to go to work, I know of two occassions I did not make it. Once when we have about two feet of snow and the city I live in had not plowed my road, I live on a dead end. The most recent was the ICE Storm of 2005. We had no electricity for 6 days. The problem was the falling trees and power lines. This past blizzard I packed a bag and stayed all night. I had about 20 hrs of overtime. The thing that upsets me is the people that don't make any attempt to get to work. Yes, I don't have children at home, my husband was in California, so I only had a cat at home. But, these people have no commitment to the job, the patients or their co-workers. Yes, they need to be smart about traveling. The hospital offered to go get a few people, but they had reasons they could not come to work. People called in sick, sick chil, then called and told us how much fun they had sleding. The thing that upsets me is that the absences are going to be excused!! What about the people who showed up?:stone

My hospital has just made decided to get rid of LPN's. At first it was if you had 25 yrs experience you were exempt from becoming a RN. Now the units have decided to total get rid of all LPN's, regardless of experience or student status. What I am worried about is the impact of 50 less nurses in our institution. I agree that everyday the work is more geared towards the RN. But, this is a major decision. Many LPN have not been worried about job status and have spent alot of money on things like new house, new cars. They did not get the full statement you may have a job if your current unit decides to keep LPN's.

The system we currently use, is a nurse locator. It is a device alittle smaller than a beeper. The nurses station has the master control, they press locate and can find the nurse and call into the area. It has pros and cons. Some people are overly dependent on it and other don't use it and look for the person. Like anything it is good as the users want it to be.

I have a male nurse manager. I have worked with him for many years. I am not agreeable to some of his hired staff. I think his hormones get in the way of his judgement. But many people feel intimidated by him. Many have quit and say it is because they don't feel comfortable around him. Most, probably would not have been confortable any place or with most people!

I work 8 hr shifts M-F. I am old and have been a nurse for 25 yrs. I will leave the 12hrs to the young nurses. I just don't know what I will do if they mandate 12 hr shifts?

Hello, I have been was a LPN, the a ASN-RN and now I am a BSN-RN. I am the charge nurse M-F. Our unit council recently made a decision to not use LPN's on our unit. The unit is Ortho/Med-surg. The hospital has mandated that the LPN's go to school ,with completion in four years. Then the rest was up to each unit. WE have a high turn-over rate of patients. Recent changes have really changed the role of the LPN. They have revised the IV medication administration, now LPN can not give any IVP drug. We tried LPN-RN teams which did not work because the LPN was not helping the RN, simply because the role change now prevents this. I have worked with many of these LPN's for many years they are my friends, but on Monday I feel they will see me as someone they will hate. The ultimately goal we want is for the patients to have the best possible care available. I pray they don't think it is personal, because I understand more than they know. Because it could have been me.

I just completed the ASN to BSN program at Indiana Wesleyan. It was a none traditional off campus program. We met once a week for about two years. It allows you to be able to continue to work. If you have children and need to work this is an ideal program. I am considering the Masters program online.

I work M-F on a ortho (med/surg overflow unit) we usually have more med pts than ortho. I am in charge and usually have 4-6 pts. On a good day we have one PNT. The hospital policy recently changed so all vitals are done every shift plus the post-op pt whose VS are every 4hrs. Nurses forget they can do a bath or a set of Vitals. Several nurses will spend time looking for a PNT to do vitals, than if they did them selves.