kathylorr

I gave out small pen lights to all whom worked the 3rd shift with me a few years ago. Was such a hit that I had folks from other shifts asking me for one, even those I didn't know or had ever worked with.

Yes, work from home sounds like an ideal thing. I tried it a few years ago doing chart reviews trying to determine why a device had been ordered for a patient with the goal to detect Medicare fraud. The biggest problem I found is the lack of human contact/interaction. Sure I could pretty much set my own hours, didn't have to get dressed and make my self presentable each day. I would find myself sometimes going days without actually talking to anyone else. At one point I realized I hadn't even changed out my nightgown and sweat pants for a couple of days. I would end up waiting for the mailman to make his stop just so I could actually say hello to another person and get a live response. Plus I quickly realized just how many cigarettes a day I could smoke since there was no limits. (I did quit smoking a couple of years ago) Plus it just isn't healthy to do nothing but sit at the computer hour after hour without any reason to get up and get moving. I lasted a few months at this but soon was looking for a nursing job that would get me up and going in the morning and bring me back to face to face, hands on nursing care. Yes it sounds great, but can have many pitfalls, Kathy

Does your husband prefer you wear a Burka when out of the home?

Watch: Proof That Concealed Carry Gun Nuts are Dangerously Delusional (Video) | Americans Against the Tea Party

All you video game wariers should watch: Watch: Proof That Concealed Carry Gun Nuts are Dangerously Delusional (Video) | Americans Against the Tea Party

I had a patient one night who died of his cancer. When his doctor returned our phone call a couple of hours later he insisted on knowing what his blood sugar was now, and when I reiterated that he had been pronounced and sent to the morgue two hours ago, he insisted he still wanted a finger stick done and I had to go down to the morgue, pull him out of the cooler and do a stick! It wasn't like this was unexpected, as he was under Hospice care and was expected to pass. Interestingly, once I could palpitate his finger enough, I did get enough blood for the stick and his BS was in the low 100's but how this meant anything is still a mystery to me.

I had another fun type experience a few years ago when I went to a job fair a large HMO was holding. Before going, I had downloaded their 8 page application and had carefully filled it out so as not being trying to write it while using a clip board on my lap. When I handed it to the clerk, she took it and said I'd have to do it again as they want us to do it while in their presence. Same 8 pages. OK, copy it over again and take it back up. Fine, now have a seat and wait till my name is called. Sat there and waited and waited and waited, watching others get called in. Got to talking with another RN after awhile and we figured out that those being called in weren't for nursing positions but were for aides or housekeeping etc. Finally after a couple of hours, approached the receptionist to find out what the holdup was and was told the person who interviews nurses had gone home hours earlier with a migraine and they just hoped she would feel better and possibly return later to do her interviews. That was enough to make me think if they have such disregard for our time, that it wasn't a place I wanted to work. The other nurse I had been sitting with said this was the 3rd or 4th time she had been there to apply and had never actually had an interview yet! I still get mail from them a few times a year asking me to come to one of their hiring events. I've seen interviews with their CEO bemoaning what a problem they have hiring nurses and what a scarcity of them out there. Gee, maybe the problem is with your own HR department:) Kathy

I think you should be concerned about your fiance's lack of support with your dreams. Why is he so eager for you to get a job as soon as possible-financial necessity or fear of losing control if you are farther away? Kathy

I've resisted agency nursing because I saw how badly their nurses were treated when we had them on our floor. They'd get the worst assignments and be treated rudely by the 'regulars' I didn't understand that but saw it happen so often. I have talked with a couple of agencies and when I brought that up, most admitted it was true. Maybe my skin isn't thick enough to take that. I also think it is getting to be the future of nursing. The hospitals don't want to fully staff for the chance that one of their own might not get the planned over load of patients if they get a run of discharges and it would work out to only say, 6 patients per nurse instead of the planned on 10. Of course if the ER gets a run and there is a lot of admittances, they can handle 12-14 without missing a beat. Kathy

Just about all of my time was spent in med/surg with only an occasional float to another type of unit, such as ortho or gyno. I think I would really like surgical but any time I see it advertised it is always for people with at least a year of experience. Kathy

Thanks, I tried that a few years ago and it was the worst job I ever had. The screaming, biting, hitting was terrible. The med pass was almost impossible to complete as only few could actually swallow a pill and not need it crushed, pureed, dissolved in pudding etc. Each resident had their own 'special' way of getting their meds and they got way to many of them. I really think the institution was getting paid for each one and they encouraged their doctors to prescribe to the hilt. 25 pts. and only 2 aides who weren't allowed to touch a med even if I gave it to them to give while feeding them. Bless you for having the patience to do that type of nursing, but never again for me. Kathy

I want to thank everyone for their reply's. I'd say the consensus is that it is age discrimination, but of course none of my potential employers would ever say such a thing. What really brought it home for me was reading an article in the paper about age discrimination and how it starts at age 40! I think I have shoes that old:) To be honest, I think I can understand why some employers would look askance at someone my age as a month ago I attended my high schools 45th reunion and most of the others there were acting/talking/thinking old and physically hampered in some way. It was scary in many ways and made me appreciate how lucky I've been not to be like that. Of course, maybe they all thought the same about me. I'll keep on trying. Don't really have a choice as I can't afford to retire as my SS payments would be way to low to live on. I need to keep working to 70 to get enough to get by on from them. Have very little saved in my IRA and still have mortgage payments and car payments to make. To answer a few questions that were posed-how does a hospital downsize? Basically it was a small local one that did a big remodel and ended up with less rooms and had closed their OB dept. which meant a bunch of nurses could now bump for the jobs. I wasn't the only one cut and I've kept in touch with a couple and they haven't hired anyone back since and often tell folks to stay home because the census is low. Work in a dementia unit? Did that before I came to last place and thought it was the worst job I ever had. Lasted about a month and got out of there. No way I'd go back to that atmosphere. I did flu clinics last season and will again starting next month. Also tried doing chart reviews/HEDIS work and found it didn't pay enough to pup up with all the aggravation that ensued. Resume revamp and "re-brand" myself and how I present? Yes, I've been doing that continuously with the same results. Thanks again everyone. I thought there was a way to reply to each posting/answer but can't find it. Thank you, Kathy, RN

I was downsized from my med/surg. job a year ago last February (18 months). OK, I know unemployment is high, but should it affect nursing that much? I go on interviews and think I do well, but then nothing usually or maybe an email or letter a month later telling me they chose someone else. I've come to think that it is my age-63, that is keeping anyone from hiring me. The only jobs that I've found have been seasonal or temporary like flu shot clinics or HEDIS reviews. I was a late comer to nursing and only have had my RN license for 6 years, was a LPN for a couple before that. I don't want to retire, not that I could afford it, and I really loved nursing and thought this was what I would do till they carried me out. I don't look my age, have great health, and hardly ever took a sick day or vacation time. I believe I was a good employee, but now I can only think it is my age that keeps me away. What do you think of my age and the chances of ever getting full time work again? Kathy

Thanks malenurse50. Maybe I'm getting to anxious, but having been downsized out of my hospital position a little over a year ago, I'm really getting worried about never finding a decent job again! There is so little out there compared to a few years ago and what is there seems to be the worst for the least. Picked up some flu clinics and chart auditing but they quickly run out of work and say goodbye, or check in twice daily for no assignments. Or get an offer at LTC for $11 an hour doing aide work with the hope that a RN position will eventually open up!

For you nurses working in one of the NY facilities, I need some answers if you can. I've recently interviewed for a positions in 3 places in the last couple of months (Wende, Albion, Gowanda) and so far haven't heard anything back. Have a couple more scheduled in the next couple of weeks. So far that means womans, men's med. and max. I'm wondering just how long this process takes? I have a couple more scheduled in next 10 days, but am beginning to wonder if I'm wasting gas going on so many and shouldn't I have heard back by now?-OK, I know it's the state and a large bureaucracy, but I'd think by now I'd heard back at least on the first ones. What bothers me the most is my next door neighbor is a officer at Wende and he tells me that they are so desperate for nurses, that I should have been called by now. I have Collins and Albion men's coming up. Can anyone enlighten me on their hiring experiences? Thanks, Kathy, RN