Gingilly

Hello all, my question stems from confusion over my role. I am a new DON working home health and post of job responsibilities is case management. I agreed to this being part of work load but after hire I found out I would be making 50% of patients. This includes oasis entry and creating care plans from scratch as well as regulatory and staff management. In the four months I've been here I have had a DHS survey and resurvey which is incredibly stressful! The surveyors made me very aware of deficiencies, inefficiency and need for updated protocols and staff oversight-in other words The DON responsibilities. I have tried letting my administrator know this only to be told I must fix everything while managing my cases and this is how it's always been done. So for my mental sake, is this the usual? Does the DON really double up as a full time case manager? Am I out of line thinking that a DON should only do regulatory and management? Please enlighten me. If this is the wrong forum, please feel free to move this post to a more appropriate one. And thank you in advance Gingilly

sorry to hear that esp. when their website emphasizes nontraditional students and alternate pathways. i got in at western u with a lower gpa overall but a very strong science one. maybe youu wantto raise the science component by taking some classes at community colleges? or some easy 3 unit classes on itv to build it up? as long as the last 2 years are strong and you have reasons for the lower grades, you can sell yourself. good luck

this will be quick as i'm out the door in a few minutes. average competitiveness. only 12 at open house. school is known more for its pa program per my md who taught there. having unusual background, lots of volunteering and leadership experiences helps- must do a portfolio of such experience in adn route. my stats were not too impressive- undergrad at csula 2.1 and forgot to apply for graduation in 89- busy traveling the world so no official bachelors degree. however early entry (14 yrs. old) and an honors student with 3.8 science gpa and 1.2 everything else....due to incompletes that went to f's. very irresponsible at that young age but lots of international activism in teens and twenties, speak several languages. managed to settle down few years later and finish med prereqs at ucla with 2.8 gpa while running business in allied health. still didn't bother to graduate. then did nursing program at a pretty competitive jc 3.9 gpa, finished at age 37. also lots of general ed classes at jc to raise cumulative gpa to an unastounding 2. 891- with well over 240 semester units over 22 years. hope you get the picture......i have a very strong leadership background in healthcare though which they really dug and was able to prove my seriousness despite not so great grades. if u have bachelors degree already why not go straight to dnp? you don't need a masters at some schools...not too many know this. vanderbilt for one.....or direct entry at western is fine. don't bother adn if you don't have to- i just am because its the highest degree i have. hope this helps

try vandy

I got in at Western U of Health Sciences NP program for this fall. Very excited to be starting!

I'm chiming in a little late so I'm not sure if this will help but I accepted for their adn-msn this fall. Biggest factor in my decision was the distance based aspect and the 2015 deadline. I should be coming in right under that. I don't have a bachelors at all and didn't want to spend the extra time on one because of the deadline. School has a good reputation and its seems standard that you find your own preceptor at other private schools. The price is norm for a private school. I like that it is double accredited too. The teacher I sat w/ at open house was very personable as were the current students that presented. I went to LAHC where faculty were pretty rough so I guess I don't expect much. Let me know what you decided after all..........

Hello to fellow grad students. I just accepted for Western U of Health Sciences ADN-MSN/NP program this fall and I'm so excited! Wondering if any one else on this board will be attending and if so, interested in buddying up? Let me know! Gingilly

UMMMMM got me thinking about how necessary it is for me to still feel femme while I'm scrubbing butts! I wear matching lace lingerie daily and well fitted dickies black label scrubs which are silky feeling. I altered the waist and bust with darts on those horrid white school jacket uniforms I had to wear. I now usually wear tapeet vicini wedges but I've got some leopard print wedges around here too and a red pair of Dr. schols nursing shoes. I use a patchouli scented deodorant by Lush thats very soft and paint my nails beige or baby pink. Make up is just red lipstick and sharp arched eye brows, hair in a french roll. I'm in home health so I guess I can get away with all this but i'd die if a job asked me to plain jane it down. Most of all though what really keeps me feeling feminine is long evening soaks in the tub with aromatherapy oils and then getting all dolled up for bed. I love being a woman. I think being a nurse kinda desexualizes you though.....

Thank you for the update and I'm very proud of you! You've really earned all the accolades so enjoy your success and best of luck on the test! Please let us know when you pass b/c I know you will! Jen

Graduated dec 2008, traveled alot, took kaplan july 09, took nclex march 2010 and passed w/ 75. Jen

Heck yeah it makes a difference! I am African, and was given a plain Caucasian type name at birth intentionally to "give me a competitive edge" in the job market since I'm fairly dark skinned. This is according to my grandma whose husband was lynched down south in the 50's. In elementary school I was adopted by my east indian stepfather and given a muslim sounding name. I noticed a definite difference in new teachers expectations since I was suddenly "non black" despite physical appearance. I think it was easier for people to accept/ invest effort in me since i was a "smart ethnic group".... I was offered several math and science scholarships even though I'm not particularly good in those subject and looking back I do believe it was partially due to positive stereotyping. However as soon as I was of age I changed my name to the African name my parents really wanted to give me and it sounds Japanese which is typical of many traditional african names . So now folks are surprised when they meet me and I can tell they are scrambling to match the credentials on paper to the face in front of them. To really screw w/ folks I 'll just break out in Japanese which I speak fairly well but thats another story. I have let people assume I'm mixed asian black since I know it will get me in the front door at least. I hate to admit it but there are "good" and "bad" ethnic names and its subconscious even with the best intent. All the kids named Hitler and Adolf can attest to this and so can the Shaniqua's and RayRays. Any way just my .0001 cent and experience Jen

Its not policy at my facility but I wash before I use restroom and afterwards and use a paper towel to turn the faucet. My first teacher taught me this and I've stuck to it for years. With Cdiff and mrsa running around I do all I can to protect myself. I also use antibacterial hand wipes instead of the sanitizing gel because I want the friction that hand rubbing cant give as easily. Jen

I had a pd case where the pcg started throwing equipment at me (tpn bags and tubing, soft stuff). When I mentioned this to the agency they gave me a blank look. I learned its ok to be "sick", have child care issues or even be "moving" out of that pts range....make something up or you'll be nice and dead. The warning signs are there.....

Go. And volunteer a little while your at it. Use this on your resume. There are lots of missionary and such organizations. And while youre there learn some spanish. As a matter of fact you can state this is why you went- spanish immersion! being bilingual helps esp. on the western side of the country. I left college to travel and have been all over the world in all kinds of conditions. You really learn to deal w/ people and broaden your perspective. These are two attributes that will serve you in the nursing field. And do no t feel the need to justify your self to any one employers included. I'd take the approach that this isn't an vacation but part of your self development plan. Set yourself apart and upgrade it. And congratulations on graduating! Jen

This is the exact reason I can't do this per diem. I can not justify 60 bucks for a 45 minute case thats close to a 100 miles away. Not even 50 miles away. Thats absolutely silly and I'm broke not stupid. They tried to play on desperation and yes its very insulting. I'm very fortunate to have a gainfully employed spouse and live well below our means so I don't have to grovel the way they wanted. But really? Really? Only a fool would jump for this and that they'd offer it on a bed of roses says a lot.....

Thank you Cali! I was hoping for a call today so I could finalize my request to go back to shift but no such luck. I am going to call tomorrow as a formality and a way of ending this civilly. I hope to find work soon elsewhere, its tough and it took almost 5 months to land this one. i hate being out there again in such a dismal market but oh well.... Jen

I know in my gut youre right. I haven't heard from them yet and I'm not waiting around. I'm not even upset over the sheer lack of respect- its just business and I've gotta take care of mine. I'm not going to even pretend this is about pt care- health care is a business, bottom line and RN's are a business expense . See who you can get to work as cheap as possible. Thanks for your fabulous feedback, its been extremely helpful. Have a terrific day! Jen

very interesting turn of events today. my salary was reneged and management offered me per diem rate instead citing medi-cals undecided budget. they also asked me to do my training for the rest of the week with no pay since i'm just observing... considering the territory, cost of gas, supervisory responsibilities and slap in the face i had to turn them down. i requested to resume my shift work. i'll probably be watching opra tomorrow while getting my mani -pedi Jen

Amen! And thats awful to think a national employer can get away with such low wages. Just a shame because I know these employers are not broke.

Thank you Caliotter! I was rather nervous but all weekend I kept the mantra up. I wanted 31.25 to make it 60k but 30 is close enough for now. I've proven myself , have a good history w/ this company and I think they valued that. They seemed a little shocked when I bluntly said 18.50 was not a living wage and I needed more, but it went well from there. Any way thank you for telling me 30 because I was originally thinking 25/hr would be ok since I'm a new grad......now I can think of paying some bills finally and save for grad school. I'm very happy! Jen

New grad too in Los Angeles, got 25/hr. I think thats decent for your area....good luck to you Jen

Thank you guys, I said my mantra, refused the initial offer and they came back at 30/hr. I am happy with this and appreciate the feed back here. If anyone wants the tactics, I'm happy to spell it out but bottom line- know what youre worth and be confident. I was ready to walk if I didn't get at least 28/hr and that helped me feel less desperate. I think that helped a bit. Jen

Thank you, that gives me the benchmark I'm looking for! I'll update the result of that convo next week! Jen

Sorry, I 'm not sure how to reply to individual post so here goes: Yes 100 plus LVNs: I'd have 60 pts, each with 1 to 3 lvns. I'd have to do a compliance review with them q 60 days and be available for their clinical questions during work hrs. I'd have to see my pts q 60 days for recerts only I believe. And the case load is actually 62 since I'd have an additional 2 pts who get intermittent visits only. I'd rather not name the agency since my co-workers are members here. This new position is a combination of supervisor/field/ intermittent care RN. I have been doing 8 hr shifts at $25/hr, 3-4 days a week. At this time there are no RN cases so I'ld have to do LVN cases but those are all taken. I agree that if RN base is $25 I should be making a little more in this type of position. I'm guessing they are going to come at me with the fact that this is salary position aka guaranteed income rather than my shift cases previously where I went up to a week w/ no work d/t my pt being hospitalized frequently. I have a business background and have demonstrated my ability by assuming cm responsibilities on my previous pt w/ them.....but I am a "new" grad with no experience in health care and its is a dismal makerket out there.....So in other words they are offering a bone to a starving dog. I know that tactic will be to make me feel grateful for little money when theres the threat of no money. I'm sure if I turn this down I wont be getting any lvn cases any time soon w/ them. I'm thinking of asking for $30 (57,600/yr.) then settling for no less than $22 (42,240/yr.). Other than that I've got to walk because then we're talking my old esthetician salary w/o all the head ache......and theres always stripping if I really want to feel like a ho! Am I being unreasonable? Any thoughts on figures I should be throwing around? Jen

Hello all, wanting feedback form the group. I am a new grad RN, still I guess, been working a total of 9 months private duty thru agency. Was just offered a field/ case management position w/ same agency at what I think is a ridiculous pay- 18.50/hr hour. Right now my rate for a shift is $25/hr and I'd like to do no less than this. My responsibilities would be supervision of 100 plus lvns, pt case load of 60: recerts , discharge visits and intermittent visits for only 2 pts. My territory would be a 100 mile radius and I get a gas allowance. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for which I'm very grateful....but the rate is worrisome. I meet w/ the owner next week to finalize things and I plan on counter offering. I'm just not sure how to do so or what justification I could use...besides that I live in Southern California and cant live off 18.50....(which is their lvn rate by the way). Any thoughts on how I should go about negotiating or if I should just be grateful and shut up? Thank you in advance Jen ps this is a repost from CM forum since no one answered over there!