norinradd

I have been treated GREAT as an LPN/LVN. I graduated from PN school in 93' and have had so few proplems. I fight against systems that in my opinion hurt LPN/LVNs, but the people have been great.

Good nurses respect good nurses. Some bad nurses are RNs. Some bad nurses are LPN/LVNs and as such their mistakes are more likely to be repeated as not "that nurse's mistake" but rather "that LPNs mistake". Hospitals have a problem. What are LPN/LVNs? We vary so much. If they hire an RN they can, within reason, know what that person can do. Some LPN/LVNs do everything an RN does but the next one may do little more than a CNA. It is confusing and easy to be misjudged.

I can only say about my experiences. I am a BLS and ACLS instr and will soon have my PALS instr. I have my PICC cert from Bard. I have had several in-house chemo certs. Most national nursing organizations still have RN as a min requirement. I found that out when I took the ENA's Trauma Nursing Core Course and passed with a 96% to find out they could not give me a card.

In a doctor office, nurses call in orders all of time. How is this different? Can you see a doctor defend himself be saying, "Well I signed these blank Rxs and... nevermind". Doctor's office's are a world on to their own. So much that goes on is done directly on the Dr's license.

I hate to tell you but terminology will be important now. You will be reading orders written by doctors that love the stuff. You will be the one trying to translate what the doctor just said to patients and families. Acting professional... just as important. Most patients won't know if they are getting good care. They will know how they were treated. Everyone else's adivse was good but I didn't want you to keep thoughs opinions through nursing school.

Sounds like your time management is pretty good. You got a lot done in a short time. Advise: First things first! Constantly triage. Ask for help when the "have to" things aren't getting done. Know that everything is not "have to". If you do this you still may not always get out on time. If it happens frequently, look again at what is on your "have to" list or maybe look for better working conditions elsewhere. No matter what. When you clock out, tell yourself "What's done is done and what's not... not." and leave the worries there.

I noticed at a friend's graduation that 80% of the ADN grads had jobs already, but only 30% of VN/PN students had jobs while I heard time and time again that they were looking forward to a career in ER or critical care. I felt they had been given a disservice by not being informed better as to what the markets needs were. I have been bless that I have never had a problem finding jobs that interested me, but the walls are slowly closing in for LVN/LPNs.

For my area (Dallas/Ft.Worth) the answer is yes. Despite the shortage of nurses, more new hospitals are RN only and others are going that route by not hiring any new LVNs. There are still jobs, but the flexibility is less.

PICC lines have always been part of my job. It really does depend on where you work. I ask up front when I interview what the limits will be. I enjoy working toward the edge of possibilities. If you don't, that makes me no better than you. It is a personal choice. However, if you pull the LVN card everytime you are out of your comfort zone it makes admin start to question the abilities of LVNs as a whole. Regardless of the rules or the law, if you are asked to do something you do not feel competent about, it is your responsibility to refuse. This goes for you if you are an LVN or an RN. The field is to broad to think school alone will cover everything.

A patient may refuse anything but that does not mean they should be offered whatever they wish. Send staff in as usual and chart everything she refuses, from ADLs to meds. I am ashamed of the nurse who would belittle your own co-workers for fear of a law suit. Pts should receive the best care we can offer and be respectful while doing it. That doesn't mean catering to someone by disrespecting your own people. That would be a slap in the face to those who were told all of a sudden they aren't good enough to do their jobs. Doing the right thing is always the right thing reguardless of the risks. I hope this person is not a supervisor. To know they have no loyalty to there own and would sell them out whenever "prudent".

Sorry it didn't work out but you don't want to work were you don't feel safe. On paper at least they can let you go in the early stages for any reason. If they stated why on paper maybe, but face it, it's not a place you want to work. As for,"From what I understand the department of health got word of this and has since gone in to correct the situation." Wink, wink.

I have no real problem so far as they are uniform white and not thin scrubs. I know to much about my co-workers anyway without knowing who prefers thongs to bikini. I have more of a problem trying to degrade a group of professionals by making us color coded like some items on a store shelf. My hospital chose to go with royal blue. It's hard to be taken seriously looking like Papa Smurf. In hosptials who had no formal dress code I never had a problem with being identified for two reasons. I wear my name badge, second I greet my patients and introduce myself when I first meet them and as needed.

Never asked for scrubs to be my "uniform" they look tacky because they where made to not look like anything, just to wear in surgery. I don't see any more reason for me to wear a t-shirt as a woman should. As noted previously, cleavage is more of a distraction. And no I am not complaining.

I can't say much for the hats because of being a guy and all, but I do agree about professional dress. I much prefered the heavier cloth that wasn't see through. As for scubs, they can look OK but I frankly fill like I am wearing PJs. Dress codes where I have worked were more about colors for different floors or titles. I felt like we were products on an self and adm just wanted to see us as such. Not to mention being part of a committee with people wearing suits and dresses while you are dressed head to toe in royal blue looking like papa smurf. If I could make one law it would be no dairy cow prints in 2X. It's just not right.

I had proposed a new entity using the BSRN as a template but would bring everyone to the table as to what those core comptencies would be. I started working in hospitals in 1987 as an EMT/orderly. I made $3.65/hr while working through school supporting a wife and three children. By time I finished LPN school I had one car repo'd and forclosure papers filed on my house. I then worked two full time jobs for the next four years just tring to get ahead. Now I am a single dad who homes schools his kids and works only one full time job. In short I respect all nurses. No matter what route they took and how hard or easy the road was. But I still believe times are changing. The choice to continue as we have will not remain an option. I am treated not just as an equal where I work but as a resource. My gripe if I have one is with the system in place. I also understand some peoples idea of LPNs not being as good as an RN. If you are in a place that does not let you learn and function to the limits of your abilities then your abilities may not grow the same. Most good RNs I work with are ADNs but I have worked with BSRNs that were just as great. When the shortage becomes even worse changes will be made. Adm still doesn't understand what we most want is to provide excellent care for our pts in a safe and healthy enviromnet while being treated as a professional with respect, and to contribute to our families. A name change could attact people who wouldn't normally think of "nursing". A 4yr degree would make it more likely to be seen as a professional. Whatever the outcome I think we still know what's best for us. Watered down programs and higher nurse to pt ratios would only make it worse. That is the future I see if we are not more proactive.