LeeAnna328

I saw this thread and I had to comment! I am an RN and I am currently ADON of a SNF. We are high acuity (LOTS of iv's, central lines, wound vacs, etc) and I would definitely say that "skill loss" is not a problem. That being said, I come from a nontraditional background for a SNF nurse. Previously, my experience has been in CCU and ED. I have absolutely loved critical care. I was offered my current job by a DON who is an amazing mentor, and thought that I might like a change of pace. I am a Navy wife, and the places we have moved have not always given me the luxury of picking the "perfect" job. I was uncertain at first, but I love my current job. I'm not saying that the skills I use are the same as they were in the CCU, although my assessment skills are EXACTLY the same, I'm just saying that I think the most important thing is for nurses to stick together. We are all on the same team, and we all (hopefully) thoroughly assess our patients, and do the best we can with the situation at hand. Some of us hang dopamine, some of us deliver babies, some of us teach, and some of us do the MDS (haha, I have learned to hate that thing), but at the end of the day we all play an important role in healing our patients and their families. None of us could exist without eachother, not effectively anyway, and we should all do a better job of appreciating the work done by our peers.

The tape on the floor doesn't say anything nor does it indicate anything to anyone other than the nursing staff. It is no different that placing a "contact precautions" or "droplet precautions" or whatever sign on the door. Why would tape be any more insulting than that?

C.Diff patients are only standard precautions, unless coming into contact with their feces, if their symptoms are "controlled". If they are not controlled, then they are on contact precautions. The soap/water thing does apply, since C.Diff is a spore-forming bug, and hand sanitizer doesn't kill the spores (which can survive on an inanimate object for up to 6 months!) At my facility, we do not insist on a private room for C.Diff, but we do try and cohabitate the C. Diff people. Also, if we have a C.Diff positive patient in a room with a non-infected patient, we make sure that they don't share the toilet. What I mean is that if the C. Diff patient in incontinent and their room mate uses the toilet, there shouldn't be a cross-contamination problem. With MRSA, we use contact precautions when coming into contact with the colonized area (with the bins/gowns/etc). If it's MRSA of the sputum, then it's droplet precautions within 3 feet. We have maintenance put tape on the floor to remind everyone. Mostly, we try to be reasonable. Hand washing is still the most effective infection control prevention measure, and we do have hand sanitizer all over the place. Hope this helps!

Would you mind telling me the name of the hospital?(that might help me convince my manager) Yes, I was planning on working as an RN for my current employer, but now I'm not so sure. They knew about my being in the program, and the need for 200 preceptor hours, when they hired me as an LPN. At that time, they told me that getting the required hours here would be no problem.

I'm asking because I work in a hospital which has now refused to do my 200 hour preceptorship.....FABULOUS. So, I am hoping to find a SNF that will let me do it, even though I won't be an employee.

I'm asking because I work in a hospital which has now refused to do my 200 hour preceptorship.....FABULOUS. So, I am hoping to find a SNF that will let me do it, even though I won't be an employee.

What SNF do you work at?

Thanks for your answer. The thing I don't understand is that, if you are applying for a Washington RN by endorsement, why you would even look at the "non-traditional training" paperwork? I have heard through the grape vine that you can just take your boards out of state and then reciprocate back in. On the "license by endorsement" form, there is no mention of proving work hours, etc.

who told you that you have to have 1000 hours rn experience to have your license reciprocated into washington? i have looked all over the web site and i can't find anything saying that.....

how did you do your 200 hour preceptorship?

Hi! I recently completed the excelsior college ADN program, which I began before moving to Washington state. I am an LPN, and am aware of the 200 hour preceptorship requirement for taking the NCLEX in Washington. I work in a hospital in Everett, and am having some trouble getting them to approve my doing the hours there because of an issue of liability. Anyway, has anyone else done the program in this area? If so, how and where did you go about doing your preceptorship? Any advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!