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Keep trying. Don't give up easily. Have you talked with your advocate to see if they can give you some ideas? It just depends where you interview and who you interview with. Do NOT, I repeat, NOT tell the "HR" person. Wait until you meet your manager and get a good feel for the job. No reason telling someone all your business if it's not the right job for you. Dialysis is a good place and I've heard Herman is tpapn friendly. Good luck. YOu CAN do it!!

I'm still laughing!! I guess having "crappy intake referral infrmation" is just a universal problem!! Funny how when we call the patient to set up apts, we find out ALL kinds of important stuff---like they are staying with a family member WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY across town. At my last job, another nurse and I even came up with a general form to be filled out. My boss didn't think too much of it though. She NEVER even tried to use it. Yet, they paid so many "non-admit" visits, they could have hired a monkey to come in half days and get the information before sending nurses out on non-admits. Sorry, it doesn't take much to make laugh.

OMG!!! I had to laugh outloud when I read this!! At my last job we begged for this informtion

That is so AWESOME!!! I am so happy for you. I said the same thing about being an advocate, yet I haven't done it. It's been almost TWO years. LOL. I do feel like I should, but then again, I also feel like I wouldn't be a good one. We will see..... Please keep us posted so I can do my "official happy dance" for you. Also, let me know what you think about the last month taking FOREVER!!

It has been a long long road!! And the finish line is in site!! I remember when you were looking for a job. Did you stay in Victoria in med surg??? Have you thought about being an advocate once you are done???

Lance- First off--CONGRATS MY FRIEND!!!!!! I don't remember what the success rate of TPAPN is, but I was shocked when I found out it wasn't that high! You are in the last stretch of this road. Be prepared to take your two UA tests earlier in the month (I think mine were back to back), AND you still have to have TWO chain of custody's on hand (unless they've changed) Make sure that ALL your paperwork is in as timely as possible. I think I faxed the last month's paperwork in as quickly as I could including the weekly meeting sheets, but they still wanted the hard copies. Call and ask your CM helper if you have everything "current" as of now. I think they were missing a quarterly report on me, even though I had already mailed with some other ppwk that wasn't missing. I then got a call from my CM telling me that I had completed the program, how much she enjoyed my "attitude"(If she only knew the times I screamed in my car alone, cried, or laughed out of desperation), and would I please consider being an advocate to the program. Something I haven't done, but really feel I should give back since the help was there for me when I needed it. Once that happened, I could quit calling the daily number. I think I still did a couple of times, just out of habit. Plus, when you are finished, any extra COC forms you may have, you can mail them back and get credit for them. A word of caution---continue to follow ALL the rules until you hear otherwise!! Also, for me, that last month was almost like a whole year in time!! I literally felt like the month lasted FOREVER. Which isn't the case, but I think you get so excited counting down the months, that it's like watching a pot of water boil----takes forever. Congrats on your success. Remeber, this is just the beginning of your LIFELONG recovery. Just because you have completed the program, does not mean you still don't have to work on yourself. Any questions you have, send me a PM and I will do my best to answer. I am so freakin happy for you!!! Great day!!

Robert2010- From what I have seen in Houston area, LVN's who become RN's have to have a year experience before most will hire you. Even if you had a year experience as an LVN---go figure! I've actually seen nurses that were LVN's and then became RN's who have had to go back to hospital to get the experience. Crazy if you ask me! The going rate for LVN's in Houston is around $35-$39 per visit. For RN's I've seen $40-$60 per "regular" visit. The lower pay sometimes covers mileage/phone/computer, and the higher pay, no mileage. Then OASIS get more depending on SOC (start of cares), PH (post hospital) and RCT (re-cert) I use to know the rates for PDN (private duty nursing-which is like a shift) but couldn't even begin to tell you that. It's a great way to make some extra cash picking up visits. The down side is, when the census is low, the visits are low also. What area of town are you looking at? Good luck with your search. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I will try and help.

please do check with your cm (i truly hope you don't have the ole bat i had, but apparently, she was what i needed at the time) i did find that sometimes the "rules" would change while in the program. it also depends on where you are at in the program. i don't remember all the added stipulations i had, but it was very doable for me. and, like i said, i had a don and case manager in the office that didn't make a big deal when i "checked in daily" plus i used a field nurse that i had become comfortable with to explain my situation to, and she became my "back-up, back-up" so, i'd meet her often, have lunch/coffee for the day. seems to me, i kept a calendar and had whoever initial the days i worked when we met up for the day. that way, no one could say i didn't have my "face to face" also check with your advocate. he/she may also know something about home health. in fact, when i finished, my cm told me that they had had very "good results" with hh and participants. hope things haven't changed. keep me posted and best of luck!!!! you will make it!! promise! how far are you in the program, if you don't mind me asking?

Magsulfate----Ummm, I'm sorry, I think I'm the QUEEN OF TEXAS AND TPAPN!!! I kid, I kid!! I'm right there with you. I read the post, and guess we think too much alike. Something doesn't pass the sniff test. Magsulfate and I both have been where you are. Take an honest look at yourself. TPAPN is doable---NOT FUN. But you have a chance to come out of this and a better person. Keep us posted~we have been known to be wrong. But not often--Right??

Actually, here in Texas it is very possible to do. I know from experience. There is an extra page in the contract you have to agree to along with employer, but I didn't find it too difficult. One thing was, I had to make a face to face contact, and preferably first thing in the morning. Then a call throughout the day. I was lucky to work with a really great manager, and a field nurse that would always meet up with me. Plus, if I recall correctly, you can only take call once a month and those days you will have to have a face to face with someone. That was kinda a downer on the weekends when you didn't have to see anyone. But, again, I made the bad decisions, so it wasn't horrible. The BEST part for me, was there was really no temptation. In HH you don't really give narcotics. Of course, if you want to find trouble, you can. Right? Plus, honestly, the pay was much better than the hospital, and more flexible. Good luck. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM and I will do my best to help you. FYI, I did complete the program with little problems. So, it can be done. Again, best of luck!!

Took a really good class on it (we'll see when I actually have to do a real one) It did away with what I thought was silly questions, and clarified others. I think with all things new, there will be a learning curve but overall good. However, it looks like discharges are going to be a lot more detailed. And you will really have to know what happened during the cert period. So, if you work for someone that only uses their RN's for OASIS visits, you will be in trouble.

Thanks for the laugh. I thought I was the only one that had days like that--ha! Except, mine usually involve rain, and waiting at some gate trying to talk to Merdle who can't hear me to open the gate for me. All the while, I'm getting soaked since I have to have the window down for her to hear me ask her to open the gate. Then, when I get to her apt, she looks down her nose at me, because I have the nerve to come to her house so wet. As if I drive around wet in my car, looking for houses to go to. Ahhhh, the life of HH nurses.

Chimers-Help! I looked up that book on Amazon. Am I doing it wrong? I only see 1 USED available, and it's $999 (that's more than a bit pricey to me) I've seen this book before, and it is good. But seriously, am I doing something wrong, or is there only one available?

Didn't see anyone mention Home Health. I know that not everyone can do it because of their restrictions, but I find it to be a very low abuse specialty for me. Good luck finding a job.

YES, you need a lawyer. Make sure you find one that is experienced with the BON. I think you would need an administrative lawyer, but I'm not positive. Google your state and nurse lawyer. Hopefully you will find what you need. Good luck! Keep us posted.

I think that we ALL get to the point that you are at. I think you were right in what you told the on-call nurse. Maybe she has a different side~like she's not comfortable with catheter care? Didn't have the supplies? Already talked the wife through how to flush? Who knows. We all hate getting those calls at 9PM at night! I guess it depends on your agency and what they say you have to do. Sounds like you're under a lot of stress too. Sick little one, paperwork, and not feeling your best, I'm suprised you answered your phone! Take a couple of days and enjoy life--NO CALLS. If your patient's have your number, change your message to say "I'm sorry, I'm not available, please call the office and the nurse on-call will contact you" We are caring people. But we forget to take care of ourselves. Hope your day gets better!

HmarieD- Not sure if your agency has out-lyer patients or not. If so, according to what we've been told, it can only make up 10% of your revenue. Our agency has about 40%--so we are trying to figure out what to do with these patients. It's sad. Honestly, there are no alternatives---except nursing homes. We have several diabetic patients that are seen more than once a day. And all of the RN's have tried to work with diet/medication management to decrease this. But as you and I know, some people just can't go without 4 x's a day injections. If you do not have these types of patients, then you are right, it should not change your reimbursement. In fact, we were told in our OASIS C class, that we should expect about a $10 per patient increase. Of course that will be eaten up in the customer survey. Ahhh, doesn't everyone love change?

Thanks for your input. I wonder if we are getting mis-information. What about "out lyers" patients? The 3-4 time a day diabetic patients? What are other agencies doing with those patients. From what we've been told, this is a change that has happened in the last 6 weeks.

From what I have learned about OASIS C, the "pay for performance" is her--JAN 1st. There is more details on admit OASIS and then the d/c OASIS is more detailed also. The RN's will really no longer be able to do just a SOC and D/C since the pay will be based on the outcome. If someone else knows something different, please share:coollook:

What is CLIA? I'm sorry, I don't know the "lingo"

Ooops, didn't mean to hit send ye. Where I left of.. SO CAN YOU!!! Not sure if you are doing this, but do NOT tell anyone about your stipulations until you meet face to face with the nurse that will be hiring you. Any chance of working where you were working agency for? They already know you, and your work ethic. Network, Network, Network! Do you go to meetings? Ask EVERYONE you know. You may find a friend's neighbor who knows so in so, at the hospital. Get your foot in the door. Get that face to face. Hold your head up. You have THREE years of sobriety. That right there PROVES you are worth a chance. Some of us had only weeks of clean time. Dialysis and rehab, are usually "recovery friendly" places. You can do this. Yeah, I won't lie to you, it can be hard. But it CAN be done. Good luck and keep us posted!!

Look EVERYWHERE and look AGAIN! First off, know that you are NOT first one out there, or only one in this situation. And we have done it, SO

I'm sorry, it's been a long time since I took the test, so I can't answer your question. And forgive me for asking, have you taken an NCLEX test prep class? I didn't know that you could take the test more than three times. I do know someone who took the test twice and really wanted to just give up and not take it again. Luckily, an instructor gave her the name of a very intensive test prep class in town. In fact, they had a very high pass rate (per the nurse) Third time, she took the test, no problem. And just to let you know, she was a GREAT nurse from what I saw. Just not a good test taker. Good luck and I hope you passed. Keep us posted.

In TPAPN you are allowed to work homehealth. There is an additional form to the contract that must be filled out at time of hire. Actually, I think that HH is a safer area to work. If you're not willing to commit to your recovery, sure, you can find drugs anywhere. But in HH, generally, you do not give narcotics. Hopefully OsoStressed is at the end of her contract and can put this behind her/him.

I'm so sorry about your son. How's he doing? I'm praying for you and your family. About the ex's gf, my advice is just focus on your son. Sounds like the hospital is taking care of her. Just a "flip" side of the situation, maybe she cares about your ex very much. This includes his children. I can't imagine your situation, so I won't even try. But right now, your son needs both his parents fighting for him. Nothing else matters, right? Big (((((((HUGS))))))))) your way. Please keep us posted on your son.