wefdm21

You know what guys...this is great info. I have been looking for this for so long. Chaxanmom, chelle, anyone else already accepted into the program, have any of you had problems with setting up your clinicals. Chelle I believe you reside in Indiana so this probably isn't a problem. But for others in different states, I know it takes months probably, but you have to find a site, find a preceptor, have that preceptor approved, and then your state BON has to approve the whole thing. What if this doesn't happen? That's what I'm affraid of. Finishing all those gen ed's, taking the TAES, paying fees and tuition left and right, and then not being able to get my clinical hours:angryfire. This would send me right over the edge.

I'm sorry, but I don't care how common this is. It may very well be the norm in all 50 states. That still doesn't make it okay. Nothing else is at stake here except for the safety of the residents and YOUR license. I've done my 8 months in LTC and have finally been offered a job in another field. I will miss my residents, but I'm sorry, what these places are doing just to fill their pockets is wrong. The residents in my facility pay 6000-7000 dollars a month (or medicaid/medicare does, but still), and you mean to tell me you can't employ another nurse to work a 60 resident unit with me. I don't care what shift it is. Let's not mention that there's only 2 CNA's with 30 resident's each! You're crazy if you think these people are going to recieve quality care. I hope your facility is truely an exception, and this system is actually working for them. What finally took the cake for me is when one of my residents with bipolar disease who is allowed out side the facility at all times of the night threatened to wheel him self out onto the high way in his wheel chair. You cannot be everywhere at all times. 60 residents are just too many. Maybe if you had 60 perfect angels who slept all night and never put on a call light or attempted to get oob un assisted. Or there were'nt any crazy narc addicts who come to the nurses station to curse and threaten you nightly because you won't administer pain meds when they aren't ordered. Or in addition to your medicare charting and skin assessments and pertinent issues your facility doesn't make up some "night-shift chart audit project" or some other assignment for you to do. Then MAYBE just MAYBE. I'm sorry this is just my own rant. I say get your experience and get out.

What if your UM threatens to write all the CNA's up if they don't get these people up by 12pm everyday? What if she takes it upon her self to drag a resident out of their room (while in the w/c of course), and force them to eat in the dinning room even though they are visibly upset. What do you do then?

I don't think you need TCN for any portion of the program. I always spoke directly with someone from ISU when I researched the program. I would just go directly through the college. If you want to purchase the study guides as a supplement, then fine, but don't give away extra $$ to a third party.

Hey jamangel. What have you been up to? How far along are you with your core classes? I haven't looked at ISU in a while. I've been trying to concentrate on getting these core classes knocked out. I'm shooting for Georgia State or West GA for next fall. Two tuff programs, but if I can make it I'll be so proud. If all else fails I'll turn my attention back to ISU. Still have a ways to go.

Wait until you experience RN'itis during your OB rotation. Then you'll love the LTC nurses. I work in LTC and I think the environment is so stressful that the energy just rubs off on everyone. However when I was in school the LTC nurses were some of the nicest encountered.

I agree with the poster who said you can develop a system after awhile. But I do also agree that the current ratios are rediculous and unsafe. I currently have 28 patients on my hall with all of the previous mentioned conditions. I graduated last September and have only been liscenced since October. I oriented for 3 days. I worked nights for the first 3 months but have now taken a 7-3 shift. I decision that I regret deeply. Our unit has 56 residents and at nights there is only one nurse. Every morning we are "challenged" with lack of CNA's. For example we should have at least five for the basic minimum care for the residents and this morning none showed up. They usually start trickling in around 900 am. Of course administration is doing nothing about this. I often go home with so much guilt because it is impossible to throughly care for that many residents. Honestly some issues just get pushed to the side and hopefully I can get to them the next day. I don't care what people say these patients are supposed to be more stable, but in my opinion they are just as sick sometimes as patients in acute settings. It doesn't help that you don't have the supplies needed to care for these poor people. When the families get in my face screaming, I usually can't say anything in response because their complaints are valid. I just pray and take each day at a time until I have more experience under my belt.

I think most people will try not to discourage you and some may be honest, but read the other posts that are on this board right now. Most of them say the same thing. I'll I will say is do the research like others have said and be extremely careful.

What's up with this! I have a psychotic resident on my hall who is now in her 5th nursing home, which happens to be the last chance for her because there are no more facilities that will take her. Well anyway, mental illness must run in the family because the son is just as crazy as the mother. He's known for going around sexually harrassing the nurses and threatening peoples jobs. What is unfortunate is that he is good friends with the executive director. Just recently this resident has accused a nurse of ripping out her J-tube and scrubbing around it with a wire brush. She's not all here, and they know it, but the son comes in, believes what she says, and eggs her on. He is constantly telling her that something is wrong with her and she is now being sent out to the ER on a daily basis. Last night she threatened to report me because I would not send her back out after she had just returned from the hospital 4 hours earlier. She also had an appoint to go the next morning. I had to send her roomate out because she was truely sick, but this resident got so jealous that the roomate was leaving that she had a fit. It's really sad because just to have a normal day this resident has to be given every prn psych med that she has on a routine basis. But I'm feeling like I don't want to work in LTC anymore because of this and other reasons. The facility feels like they have to give into any request this family has not matter how weird and believe any story they come up with not matter how insane. They recently had the day shift nurse suspended for a week, and I fear that my job is on the line everytime I'm around them. There is nothing that anyone is doing wrong, but we have to take time away from our other residents in more serious condition to go around and get statements from everyone to cover our behinds. It's a really sick situation. This is just my vent for today. :angryfire:madface::angryfire:madface:

Oh my God... I'm so feeling the exact same way right now. Except I've only been working 2 months. The whole system is a mess, and as a new graduate I'm not out to go on some crusade to fight for change. I just want to get some experience as peacefully as possible without any problems. But I will tell you that working at the facility where I am I'm truely afraid that I'm going to lose the license that I just earned. I've been filling in for a sick nurse on the weekend shift and the nurses during the week seem to always backlog everything until the weekend. All of the family members seem to always save up all their frustrations and threats for the weekend nurses. I have a psycho resident right now with a psycho family who keeps making up lies about any nurse that they want to get fired at the moment. So we are spending more time going around getting statements in our defense than caring for the other sick residents who are in more serious condition. The facility does not back you up for anything at all. I'm just afraid that I'm going to be fired from my very first job and reported to the state for something that's truely not my fault.

online program. Please give me the "lowdown". I've gotten the info from the school, and spoke with someone through email, but please, I need some first hand opinions. My questions for you are: How's it going? How far along are you? Has anyone graduated? If so, how was it finding employment with a degree from this program? How did you arrange clinical time? How does your state feel about endorsing your license? Is it worth while? Thanx for your input. I'm finishing up all my core classes at local colleges and universities and I am applying to their nursing programs, but if I'm told that it will be 2+ years before I get in then- uh,uh- I plan to go this route. Oh, I'm an LPN pursuing my BSN...just alittle background. :smilecoffeecup: Thank you!

I haven't enrolled. I was just wondering if we have any graduates on here from the ISU online program. And if so are any of you working. Right now I'm trying to finish up all of my core classes at local colleges and universities. I will apply to their nursing programs,but if I'm told that it will be 2+ years to get in I'm considering ISU. How is it going for you? Do you live in a different state other than Indiana. How are you arranging your clinicals?

It's hard, but possible. I started LPN school with a 2mo (who I was still BFing), a 1yo, and a 4yo. I had to go and pump milk on our lunch breaks. Oh, and I was also waiting tables 4 nights a week (had to pay daycare in order to go to school). I used a 1/2 tank of gas everyday driving from home to daycare to school to work. Let's just say it was a rough year, but I finished when half of my class didn't.

Per hour? Per month? Annually? Do you work two 12's (Sat/Sun)? What are the benefits to working this schedule? Do you get extra incentive? The LTC that I work PRN for has a Baylor prgm, and I was wondering if any of you prefer this type of schedule.

GA... But I do love what you said pagadeva2000... "Believe in yourself in the meantime and have faith that what you need can be brought to you at the right time." I will try to do this.