alsal41

I'm glad I got to read this thread, it gave me a greater understanding of who feels what when. I don't want to sound down on either side in particular but ............ Having been a PCA in aged care, I can actually see her side ..... having worked with some pretty atrocious RN's, I can REALLY see her side. PCA's can be treated awfully .. maybe not by you, and maybe not by some of the rest of you, but there are RN's out there, who make Hitler look like the nice guy. You don't know who she has had to deal with before, and I'm actually impressed she actually noticed something wrong with the resident .. I've seen too many residents ignored by PCA's whilst an underlying infection turns septic, I've seen too many RN's blow off a cerebral bleed, a CVA, a heart attack. Yes, this PCA could have approached this in a much more professional manner, but sadly, there is a breed of PCA out there that do think they own the place and yes, a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I am now a Nurse .. in a hospital, and there is no way, in God's earth I would go back to Aged Care even qualified now. Aged care is brutal. It's all about the damn paperwork and the $ ... I have worked in a variety of NH's and trust me, from the PCA side, they're all the same. Maximum nursing for minimal $, whilst the RN's and EEN's have to jump through the paperwork hoops, answer to supervisors who know nothing about nursing and only see the business side of things. Everybody is stressed. When I was a PCA, I had a resident having a stroke. I noticed one eye had blown. I rang the RN who said "So what?" 1/2 hour later, she had a lopsided smile .. rang the RN who said "So what?", yes, all minor things but I KNEW what was happening and nobody was listening. 1 hour later, this residents arm was paralysed, rang the RN .. yeah .. you got it "So what?" .. within 5 hours, this lady was fully paralysed down the right hand side .. THEN the RN rang the doctor .. bit late sunshine ........ pity the "caring" part was ignored *sigh*. That's one of the reasons I got qualified. So I CAN make a difference. So I CAN educate upcoming PCA's and let them, those at ground zero, help me give better care. I probably would have sat this PCA down and explained what I was doing and why. I'm asked to qualify my judgements in hospital, I would expect no difference in Aged Care. Yes .. ME TOO!!

All nurses, RN's and EEN's have to do a medication competency when they start work with a new employer. That is, lots of little questions that involve the calculations. You get to do it mostly in your own time, you can liaise with other staff about it, you can use a calculator and in some aged care homes, you can take the exam home with you and do it quietly there. And as for hiring people from OS .. yes, telephone interviews are quite the norm. Cheers & Goodluck!

For example: I am an Enrolled nurse, but I have my endorsement (I can give out most but not all medications), so my employer has hired me as a Division 2, level 2 EEN, whereas another worker who does NOT have her endorsement, is only a Division 2, level 1 EEN. Yes, t'is confusing. I also heard that even when I finally get to Division 2, level 5, the pay rate difference is only about 30cents ... hardly enough to really fuss over eh?

Thankyou! Tonight I had my first patient load. 4 patients except one got discharged. But the buddy I had last night had two horror admissions so I ended up pretty much looking after the rest of his, so I really sorta had 9. Busy? Yes, but nothing horrible. I'm in a cardiac unit so unless they're having an episode, they're all pretty independent. Gives me time to concentrate on learning the little bits now :-) And the $ will come in handy LOL Cheers

Having just left Aged Care as a PCW (Personal Care Worker), I was earning $17.49 at one job (because I have done Cert III and Cert IV in Aged Care) and in the other job it was $15.63 because they wouldn't recognise my 3,800 hours of *nursing* service and they didn't recognise my Cert IV. I'm now an EEN, and I'll be earning $21.39ph. Not a bad pay rise! LOL

from an Australian point of view, I have been a medical secretary for some 25 years, and sorta fell into nursing by looking after my in laws for a couple of years. This gave me the confidence to do a "carer' course which gave me the skills to work in nursing homes. THAT gave me the confidence to accept a scholarship, and as of YESTERDAY, I am now a qualified Endorsed Enrolled Nurse. I have not long turned 47. This career has been what I have always, always wanted since I was a very little girl. So ...... *go for it* You've got nothing to lose, and as of Day 2 in the job, I'm havin' a ball! Cheers

I'm sorry, perhaps I didn't explain myself properly I am an Australian Student Nurse (EEN = Endorsed Enrolled Nurse). The quesion was in an assignment I had to do. Don't ask me why .. ask my teachers !! Anyway, here in Australia, the low-down on thermometers is as I said: They are actually significantly different pieces of equpment, because you can't usea digital thermometer in a tympanic area. On another note, over here in Australia, Rectal thermometers are no longer recommended (athough I know they are accurate, they are no longer official unless you have absolutely no other option, as is mercury thermometers now 'illegal' to use) I know Tympanic thermometers are digital, which is why I needed help, because absolutely NOTHING gave me the difference anywhere I looked. But thanks for everybody's input ... very much appreciated. Cheers

Thanks for everybody's help. I finally pinned down a nurse at work and asked her the same question (and yes, it's a bit cryptic, but I guess that's why they're the teachers and I'm the student eh?) Answer: Tympanic Thermometers are used to measure the CoreTemperature through the tympanic memranes. Digital Thermometers reads the body temperature through a mucous membrane or the axilla. Both pieces of equipment need to be set to Average Core temperature or Axilla temperature to get an accurate reading. Axilla readings are not reliable but do give an indication. Tympanic readings are less invasive and fast. Eg: You wouldn't use a Digital thermometer in somebody who has a jaw injury, nor would you use it on a chid in the mucous membranes in case they chew it!

Ok .. I'm stumped .. this is one of my assgnment questions and I can't find ANYTHING valid .....:uhoh21: What is the difference between a digital and typmanic thermometer? Any help (with references please) would be lovely. None of my textbooks actually give seperate difference ... if anything the thermometer is being called the 'digital tympanic" . go figure ....:angryfire Thanks Sally (Australian Student EEN)

I have hunted high and low and I CANNOT find the 'normal' ranges for: Temperature in a Baby of 6 months Temperature in a Child of 10 years Oxygen saturation in a baby of 6 months and oxygen saturation in a child of 10 years Apologies if I sound like a complete dingbat, but it ain't in the books I got for my studies !!!! Arrrghhh (and I've googled ... can't find anything concrete) Many thanks Frustrated Nursing Student !!!(alsal41):monkeydance: