TCRNCOB61

IPN is in Florida. I am in my last year of my 5 year contract. ( my 3rd one, I have started over 3 times, am a slow learner!) This last contract I have really worked on my recovery like I did not before. I am not board referred, I self-reported. Life is good, One Day At a Time!

I live in Florida also and am in IPN. I have been in IPN for 8 years now, relapsed 2 times, I now have less than 2 years left on this 3rd contract. Each contract is 5 years and if you relapse you start over with your time. The IPN program is not hard if you just follow the rules. More than half of the nurses in my group do not go to AA/NA meetings. (we do not have to have papers signed anymore, even when we did you could get anyone to sign them, it did not mean anything) I did not really understand and "get" recovery until this last relaspe when I really started going to NA meetings, got a sponcer, started working the steps and working on me. This time I got it. I have more than 3 years clean now. I am very thankful to God that I have another chance. I look at some of the nurses in my "support" group I have to go to each week and know that they are not getting it. Recovery is life changing. You have to want it. My life is better. I am greatful.

I worked full time nights (8 hours, 5 nights a week), took 9 to 12 hours in college year round for 2 1/2 years, had a 5 yr old son when I started college, and a husband that thought I was his personal servant. It's all in how bad do you want it. I did it. I would NOT want to have to do it again. I am very glad I did it when I was only 25.

I always volunteer to work as I never did like the bar scene. (drinking was not my DOC) I work 12 hour nights so I am safe at work before dark and don't go home until daylight. My sponsor would like for me to go to the local NA dance and speaker meeting they have every year but I am still uncomfortable going to things like that. (part of my past we are working on) She would like for me to be able to pick up my keytag that night as new years eve is my clean date. 3 years this time.

I do not start my car until everyone has their seatbelt on. I also wear my helmet on my motorcycle.

Congrats!!!

My mother was just 64 when she died of unknown causes in her apt. She was not found for approx. 4 days. There are 3 of us kids, all 3 of us left home by the time we were 16 years old to get away from her. She was one of the meanest people on the earth. I would try over the years to get to know her and it would fail. She was just mean and hateful. She was a hermit and had no friends that I know of. The only reason that the neighbor got the manager of the place was there was a package from the post office at her door for 3 days and that was not like her. She had died in her sleep at some point. No will, no life insurance. I had to pay for everything even after she died. It's NOT always the kids fault! I can't tell you how much money I have spent on her over the years trying to make her life better because "I OWE her". I have had 4 years of peace now. I am sorry she died but she is in a better place. (other 2 kids could care less)

I work Mother/Baby and was called to the ER trauma bay when my son was brought in after a MVA (I was working that night). I am VERY greatful for the ER nurses down in the ER as I was a basket case on the inside. I have been a RN for years but in a sec. I became a MOM and just wanted to fix him. Fix him right now!! He lived thank God. We spent 3 weeks in the hospital, had 3 major hip surgeries to rebuild his hips, his was bedridden for 6 months, but he is back walking now. I hope I NEVER get that call again. He is my only child. He may be now 28 years old but he will always be my only child. He came so close to dieing. The EMS did a great job in the field and the ER did great.

We have to wear Black and White. Can be all black or all white or combo. That's for the RN's. LPN's wear combo of Red and white. Most of the male RN's wear all Black.

Does anyone know offhand what the postage is to Canada and the UK to send a card? I hate to stand in line at the postoffice if I don't have to.... TIA, Theresa

I must be one of those rare people then..... I got my LPN in 1982 and then went back to college Jan. of 1985. I went part time the 1st year then full time (2 years worth) after that. Worked full time (nights, 11pm to 7am), had a 5 year old child, and a husband that was one of the worst on the planet. It was NOT easy in the least but I did it. I wanted it very bad. I made straight B's all thru nursing school and was very happy with that.

Email sent. Thanks for starting this up again this year.

It has not gotten any better in the 25 years I have been on nights. I don't see it getting any better either. A day shifter will just tell you to "take a nap" and come on in! I would so love to call some people at 1 or 2 am and see how they like being woken up from their nights sleep. But that's another thread......

I can understand if you are worried about lawsuits but I for one will forever be VERY great full to the nurse that stopped and saved my son's life after his MVA. His truck hit another SUV so hard (not his fault), both femurs shattered his hips and with the combination of the air bag and the steering wheel compressing his chest and rendering him unconscious, he stopped breathing. She got to him and got him breathing again and kept his neck straight until EMS got there. He would NOT be here today if not for that WONDERFUL NURSE that saved his life. I am deeply great full. I would and will stop if at all possible to pay it forward.

After more than 25 years of nursing I still can't be in the room if my pt. is throwing up. I can handle just about anything else but that. But the nurses I work with love me and will go take care of the problem and I draw all their labs for them. Fair trade in my book!!

We used to have VCR's in every room on our OB pp floor until they started disappearing. After about 5 were stolen we had to take them out of the rooms. The pts. loved them but it costs to much to keep replacing them!

So well put Tazzi! I still have my days when I need reminding I am NOT in charge. (tho my sponsor reminds sometimes!)

1. How long (years) have you been a nurse? 26 YEARS 2. What is your annual gross income? Less than 30K, 30-40K, 40-50K, 50-60K, 60-70K, Greater than 70K 3. Do you have an Associate or Bachelors degree? associates 4. How long have you worked for your present employer (seniority)? 8 years 5. On average how many hours do you work weekly? 36 6. Do you work during the week, over the weekend, both? weeknights 7. What is your gender?female

I can't help you at all as we have to take 5 (yes I said five) couplets everynight on our M/B unit. At times we go to 6. Our mothers do not keep their babies in their rooms at night, we have at least half of them in the "holding nursery" each night. We do try to staff the nursery with a RN, she does all the admits of newborns, C/S's baby assessments and helps our 2 PCA's with nightly wts. If we can't have a RN in the nsy. we put a PCA in there just to sit with the babies. Our administration does not count the babies either.

I used to feel that way before I really started working on my recovery. I got the the rooms in 1999 for overusing a OTC sleep aid and my own pain meds and going to work impaired. I used those meds to escape from life. I just wanted to hide, I was the queen of isolation. Well I ended up relapsing twice because I did not work on my recovery. My clean date is Dec. 31, 2005 now. I hold my head up when I go to meetings because I need to be there to save my life. Those other nurses are there for the same thing. I bet they have or have had the same feelings as you about seeing you at those meetings. My home group meeting has 8 nurses that attend reg. We all know each other even tho we don't work on the same floor. We keep what is said at the meetings AT the meetings. Working the steps will help. Theresa Just for Today

My son was in a MVA last Jan 22, 2007. They brought him in full Trauma alert. (Fx. both hips, head injury-sunroof fell on his head, and many lacs.) They had cut all his clothes off in the field just to get him out of the truck. I was working at the hospital on a different floor when they brought him in and when I got to the trauma bay he was covered with a sheet and stayed that way. I really don't know if and if so how long he had been uncovered. He does not remember anything for 12 days so he is of no help. I do know they missed a few lacs. that should have been stitched up on his legs, 2 of them down to the bone that did not get noticed until the next day and then was to late to close. I don't know if this was because of that sheet. I know they needed to save his life and I am so forever GREATFULL for the best staff in our ER for taking care of my son. I for one can see the need to have the pt. as uncovered as possible so as to not miss anything. I do understand the need to cover certain areas (I don't think I needed to see my son's foley!)(He was 26 years old at the time) ER NURSES ROCK!! Keep up the great work you do. I will stick with OB.

Just keep doing the next right thing as you seem to be doing. Here in Fla. the narc. key restriction is usually for one year, so if it's the same there you are half way there! I thought my year would never end but it did. You will find the right job for you. Please don't give up. Theresa

My son was almost killed last Jan. also due to a drunk driver. Below was the truck he was driving. He fractured both hips, left one was crushed. Seat belt was about the only thing that saved his life (and the nurse that stopped to help and restored his airway until EMS got there.. will for EVER be so grateful to her). He has a limp but is up walking!

Where I work if you call off more than 5 times in a year you will NOT get a raise that year. Most everyone works sick cause you just never know. They even count if you are a pt. in the hospital.

What is wrong with single mom's today that makes it OK to have 2 or 3 men at your delivery and wondering which one is the baby daddy?? Why is that OK in today's society??? I am seeing it more and more. It's almost shocking to have a mom and dad that are married these days.