dragon.chow

I just got my LVN license. After hearing the LTC nightmares my classmates are going through and considering my back probs. and desire to continue my education, I took a position in H.H. all pediatric cases. So far I love the work but I'm a little scared of the nurses training me. Scared for a few reasons. Mainly because they're horrible, horrible people. Lazy and doing what my teacher called "BAD! BAD! THINGS". I can't really complain to the supervisor because this agency is desperate for nurses, all signs point to "don't care what you do (or don't) as long as you fake the paperwork and don't kill anyone" nursing. I've been pretty much told so. I'm still new and anything I say will be a she said-she said situation. I really need this job. I hurt my back while working as a caregiver waiting to take the boards. There are not a lot of jobs for new grad lvns with iffy backs. The pay isn't horrible and I can set my hours and days so I can jump back in for my RN. I love the detailed care I can do with just one pt. per 8-12 hr. shift. Advice? Cammy

Hi, How do I find out the working conditions of the SNFs in my area? I live in San Bernardino County. I'm days from finding out if I passed the nclex-pn (I called, results have been mailed). I'm sure I passed. I plan to go into home health but I need some acute care experience if I ever want to get in at a hospital. But my back... for the lack of a better word...sucks... I don't need surgery yet and I'd really like to give the science a good ten more years before it gets anywhere near me. I can't exactly go into interviews with "So, how much heavy lifting will be required and can I get out of it?" In case your wondering, I didn't realize how bad my back was till I was out of school and doing caregiver work waiting to take my boards. I was working mornings, total care of an 80 lb. woman w/cerebral palsy and night time with a 13 yr old autistic boy who turned bed time into a cage match. Before that I thought I had a little low back strain from, you know,..37 yrs.old.... stress from being a single mom with a disabled kid.... out of shape ...ect...curable with reg. exercise, ect..... yeah...not so much A herniated L5 and DDD T12 and L1. I don't want to start somewhere and then not be able to do the job. I'm not lazy or useless but lifting and moving people on my own is absolutely out of the question right now. I've heard some places have strict policies against moving pt.s without assistance. How do find those places? All I ever hear about is where NOT to go work. I have a job in homecare I can do as a new grad. but I'm worried I'll lose skills if that's all I do. Is there such a thing as a part time SNF job? I could also take my I.V. course and go stick people 8 hrs. a day at a plasma "donation" center but I think I'd rather rub my face in the used contents of a sharps container. I'm going right back to school for my RN but it could take a few years. I was taking my prereq.s for a nursing program back in '93 but I got pregnant. Morning sickness and cat dissection REALLY don't mix so I decided to take some time off. My son has autism so things got put on hold. He's doing really well now (considering) or I wouldn't have even tried to go back to school. I'd like to stay in and get my Masters. I'm a better student now that I'm old and have no life to interfere with studying Any ideas? Cammy

I've sent for and received my license? I'm so freakin' broke it's not funny. I'll have my test results any day now (I'm in CA) and I NEED to work. I'm 2 months behind on my rent, there's no money for my car payment let alone back-to-school shopping ect.. I can't even afford to pay for my license till I get work. in-a-hole time I can't work at my usual job right now because work comp says I can't lift more than 10 lbs. I've been doing home health caregiver work so of course they haven't called in two months. I can't get workers comp. $$ and my ex stopped paying child support 3 months ago ( I don't fault him, he's recovering from major injury/surgery and is worse off financially than I am). I'm getting a tiny amount from unemployment, and I sell my plasma :oP twice a week. I've found the perfect job where being a new grad and a crappy back won't be a prob. but do I bother even applying before I've got the ACTUAL license in my hands. A SNF is out of the question for the moment. Should i just start putting in App.'s at Mc. D's? advice??

Hi, First I'll just say hi, I'm out of school for a couple months and getting ready to take my NCLEX later this month. I started working in home health as a respite worker and messed up my back the first week. Actually they say what happened was I "discovered" I have a bad back. According to the doctor I was sent to, I have arthritis in my upper lumbar/lower thorasic V. According to the urgent care doctor I originally saw, I have degenerative disk disease. Either way .......WT*...???? I'm 37 Before this I've had a little low back muscle strain here and there but nothing a litlle exercise and dieting couldn't fix. I barely got back to school after taking 12 years to stay at home with an autistic son. He was doing better and seems stable so I figured Hey! why not try having a life? The middle of my back now goes numb (except for the sharp, stabby electrical shocks, pins and needles) whenever I slouch, bend or stoop for even a minute. What am I going to do as a nurse??? What jobs won't put me in a surgical suite getting my spine fused in a few years. I just saw my ex go through that last year and NO THANKS! I'd like to give the science at least ten more years. Every nurse I know has told me to get used to muscle relaxants and Vicoden (got that in me now, does it show??? ppppllllbbbttttt...) I can't hardley type a straight line how am I going to "think critically" pass meds and change dressings when I can't remember basic spelling and grammer?? Seriously I need suggestions... whimper... Cammy