ihollie

A friend of mine is having a problem. Here is the situation, one of the residents (at the LTC where she works) require high dosage of oxygen and the tank needs to be changed twice a shift. I was always told, as was my friend that only a licensed nurse can turn the oxygen back on and set the flow as this is a medication but the CNA may change the tank. She works both the day and night shift depending on the day. The nurse on day shifts says "oxygen is not really a medication, the flow never changes, it's so simple, of course you can do it." and night shift nurse say "CNA can never do the oxygen it's a medication and out of there scope of practice. I better never see you doing it either" My friend is very worried licensing will come in and find her doing something wrong and that it will ruin her future career in nursing. I am confused as well. What are the rules on something like this??

I feel your pain!!! All the RN programs are 2 years or more impacted, with 18 months or more of prereq. I don't have time for that, I have two children to take care of. When I decided a LVN program was better option for me right now, I got the samething. It does get old.

I've always wanted to be a nurse but I wasn't sure, if I was cut out to be one. At my mothers suggestion I took CNA training. I LOVED caring for the residents. I knew right away I wanted to go to nursing school and work in a LTC or assisted living. That was back in 2002, I never got the opportunity to work beyond my training, despite being hired by the facility I trained in. (My son was diagnosed with a wilms tumor a week after my training ended. He good now !!) I have gotten back on track and I am taking my prerequisites for the LVN program. But every time the subject of "where do you want to work" comes up, everyone including professors, former CNA's, graduated LVN's going on to RN's are always negative saying "you'll hate it", "you weren't there long enough to see the bad", "if you go LVN you'll be trapped there too" it's all meds" It's really been getting into my head. Does anyone out there really enjoy LTC as I did?