t.l.

No Mam, I am sorry the MD won't write you a back to work statement because you decided to stay in Atllanta 3 EXTRA MONTHS ! You were seen here today, that's all we cover ! Did say this !

DON'T STRESS ! If the staff & the patients see you stress, it makes everything worse ! Smile, rely on your preceptor, and the older staff members ( not age, experience) establish a positive relationship with the staff, and they will help you through ! God Bless !

don't feel sorry for me, honey, I'm doing what I want to do !

Eliminate this continous race issue ! You started this, time to end it !

Here's a question for everyone ? What if your patient crashes during your night shift, and you have the spouse to deal with while your patient is sinking fast ? The Dentist my grandkids see takes them WITHOUT PARENTS for their cleanings and such. It hasn't hurt them one little bit. I say bring back the restrictions on visitors and hours. Patients are in the hospital to recover, are they not ?

I had a patient who thought his erection would shock me , and when I told him I certainly did understand his request for help ( with a snicker) he jerked the sheet back up, and said he needed something for pain. Again, ( snicker) I told him I would get the charge nurse for him. She was my MOTHER !, and he was discharged shortly after when my mom the charge nurse called the MD. LOL I will NEVER in my life forget that !

our president is also 1/2 white, so that doesn't make a difference at all, now does it ?

Unfortunately, very few RN's are willing to work in LTC's , passing, meds, doing treatments, all the documentation required by the state, and the chronically understaffed state of most LTC's . I was once told by a state inspector I had 3 minutes per patient, for meds, and that included the crushes and tube feeders, as you know, 1 med @ a time, flush, repeat, and God forbid there are fliud restrictions ! Not to mention the fighters, biters, scratchers, and families who hover over, waiting like vultures for you to mess up, and @ times, hoping you do ! I have worked 23 hours straight because of call offs, and ' there's no one else to do it " . Perhaps the government should 'rethink 'the patient to nurse ratio in a long term care, and go for the maximum, not the minimum staffing necessary.

Tell it like it is , LHH1996 ! You get my vote !

to: dotherightthing, As a nurse, you should be the one leading the troops to equality for all, and it sounds to me as if you are looking for an excuse to turn this issue into a black versus white thing, instead of what is is ......... the establishment can't 'do' without LPN's. There's enough of a nursing shortage anyway. Move up front, no matter the color or nationality of the one next to you.

Why can't we all see each other as friends and neighbors, and not see the black nurse or Indian doctor, the Nigerian x-ray tech, the Jamacian receptionist, or the white cleaning lady ? This is 2009. We need to set a better example for our children, and see each other for WHO we are. Remember what Dr King said ' Judged by the content of our heart, and not the color of our skin ?' Let's learn to see each other as God sees us, people, not perfect, but making a better world for those who come behind us.

to : dotherightthing wow ! In my workplace almost all the RN's are African- American, there are very few white nurses. I am glad to work for a company that sees All THE TEAM as making valuable contributions, and not seeing the color of their skin. I am of mixed heritage, A/A, American Indian, Germanand Scot. I identify myself as a proud American, not as a race or color.

I have been an LPN for 30 years. Did I ever think about going back to school for the RN ? yes, but life got in the way. Have I taken classes to improve my skills? yes, I have an IV certificate, and an MDS/Care Plan certicicate, a Rehab Nurse certificate, Advanced Phlebotomy certificate, a CNA Instructor certificate, I could go on & on. I work @ a Walk in Care that gets everything from head colds to heart attacks. Who do you think the RN calls when a child needs an IV ? Me. They either can't, or don't want to even try ! I love my job, and my patients, and truly believe God called me to do this, not manage, but interact. My middle daughter is an RN, and she admits I know more PRACTICAL applications that she does. She had never inserted a foley catheter in school, started an IV or Mixed antibiotics. Yes, our training is different for many reasons, just as an MD is different from a PA or a DO. different jobs and different qualifications for different areas. Go on to RN school if you choose, but don't let anyone tell you you are not a nurse if your license says LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE.

I have a certificate in Phlebotomy, a certificate in Rehab, and a certificate in IV start & maintaining. Do I want to be an RN ? not really, I like being an LPN, I love the patient contact and I enjoy the extra time I have with my patients. I don't have to rush off to complete paper work or handle a crisis in management. Life is Good.

I'D GIVE IT A SHOT JUST TO TEST MYSELF, AND MY OWN STUBBORN PRIDE!!!!!:chuckle