RachelLVN

Sorry if this gets a little confusing and long. Right now I live in Texas and am working on a med-surg floor as an LVN. I'm in school working on my RN and will graduate in 3 weeks (woohoo!) After that time I will receive my GN permit and test for my RN as soon as I feel that I am ready. Hopefully in the early spring, I will be moving to Michigan. I've been advised by many people that it is easier to take boards in the state you graduated and then transfer your license - besides, I'm not ready to move until around April. My question is - what do I need to do to transfer my RN license from Texas to Michigan? I have looked on both BON websites and didn't really find any helpful information. Can anyone help me??? Thank you!!!

Hmm, I hadn't thought of these things. In our hospital you need two licensed nurses to hang blood, and LVNs can do everything RNs can do on my unit except d/c chest tubes and give epidural boluses.

I know that time management takes time to develop and I'm better now than I was on orientation, but do any of you have any tips?

Wow, you put my exact thoughts into words. I NEVER thought it would ever be like this.

Last night was my second night off orientation. My orientation time was EXTREMELY prolonged due to having time off for surgery, and also I'm going straight to work on my RN, so since the beginning of August I've only been working 2-3 nights per week. I love my charge nurse, but the relief charge nurse is constantly trying to check up on me, put me down, and always going around to all my patients and asking them if I am providing deficient care, is there anything I didn't do for them, etc. She even told my preceptor she hopes I won't make it as a nurse. Generally on nights we have about 6-7 patients a piece. Last night when I came in, we had an unusually low census (18 pts) and 4 nurses. I found that I was assigned 6 pts, and all the other nurses were assigned 4 pts. When I confronted the CN about it, she said that really I probably should have had 7 pts, but it wouldn't have been fair for someone else to only have 3. I asked her why I should have had 7, and she said that the hospital likes to break new nurses in quickly? She also told me that I had to take the first admit (fortunatley all the other nurses got onto her about that and told me that if there was an admit, they would take it). Well, I quickly found that one of my patients had Alzheimer's, climbing the rails and wandering the halls going into other peoples' rooms (one of those Houdinis that always manages to get out of restraints) and one of them needed a blood transfusion (never done it). Fortunately the nurse that witnessed the blood for me helped me with that. I could put up with her during orientation because my preceptor would always stand up to her. But the last night she was making my life complete hell. During orientation one of my pts was choking and the respiratory therapist told her to go get the suction off the crash cart, but she wouldn't do it because she said "to open the crash cart would be too much paper work." I have tried to talk to my NM about this, but she doesn't return phone calls, emails, and she is never in her office when I go up to see her. Also I work nights so she is never there. One time I asked her if we could make an appointment, she said we could, but she wasn't there when I got to the appointment. Last night this CN told me that she had put in her two weeks (which MADE MY YEAR!!!). Should I even bother trying to hunt down my NM? How should I handle this abuse? All in all it wasn't a bad night - I feel like I learned a lot and handled the things that came up with my pts appropriately, so I was proud of myself for that, I just don't feel like arguing with this $%#%$#^ anymore. My main question is this: is it customary for nurses to be "broken in quickly" like this?

Ah, my opinions definitely change from day to day

I know we have probably all heard this poem, but I just reread it and it reminded me why I got into this thing in the first place: Being a Nurse.... You will never be bored. You will always be frustrated. You will be surrounded by challenges... So much to do, and so little time. You will carry immense responsibility And very little authority. You will step into people's lives for a moment And you will make a difference. Some will bless you. Some will curse you. You will see people at their worst And at their best. You will never cease to be amazed at peoples' capacity For love, courage, and endurance. You will see life begin And you will see life end. You will experience resounding triumphs And devastating failures. You will cry a lot. You will laugh a lot. You will know what it is to be human And to be humane. -Melodie Phenevert

I'm working on my RN right now, and have a presentation coming up in about 6 weeks about professionalism and the image of nursing. Even though it's still a while off, I was wondering: -What are some of the issues you would like to see addressed in a presentation like this? -What are some issues/concerns you have about the current image of nursing, particularly in the media? I am particularly interested in the image of doctors vs. nurses in society. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

What about the bagpipe maker? This man could support his family of 5 by making 6 sets a year.

Absolutely. The state board of nursing is required to protect the public from people they believe will be poor nurses. Their assessment might not always be adequate, though. But people who have "questionable pasts" may be required to fill out additional paperwork and get references from professors, supervisors, etc. You might question the board now about whatever it is that you are concerned about, something that might show up in your background check, or question the dean of your nursing school. I know a lot of people who have had to go through this process, but have eventually tested and passed the NCLEX with flying colors and are now incredible RNs. Don't give up!

My theme song, from a new nurse: Everyone knows I'm in over my head, over my head... (The Fray)

Our rapid response team consists of a respiratory therapist, a nurse who generally has a lot of critical care experience, and the house supervisor usually comes too.

Right now I'm a med/surg nurse. I'm working on my RN and want to continue in med/surg for a few more years. Last semester I did my psych rotation for nursing school and loved it. The only thing is that maybe I am a little naive, but I am VERY easily manipulated, so I struggle with patients with borderline and such disorders. I love rehab, detox, etc., and also depression, schitzophrenia, bipolar, etc., but I'm just not sure I could deal with the manipulation! When I do catch onto what they are doing, it frustrates me to no end! Did any of you deal with this in the beginning? How did you cope with it? rlc

hi Michelle, Welcome to the field! Nursing is definitely one of the greatest fields you could ever go into - I absolutely love it. You've already had a career, so you understand that all jobs come with frustration, and you have worked with MR patients, so you understand working with people who don't always know the whole of what is going on. I think you'll love it, but don't worry if you don't love every aspect of it. Classes are frustrating sometimes, so are clinicals and instructors. If you do clinicals in areas that you hate (and you will!) just focus on getting through and learning everything you can while you are there. We've all had doubts, there are still days when I wonder why I'm doing this, but what profession doesn't have that? Anyway - welcome to the health care field! We're a diverse group, but I think you'll love it =)

This varies from state to state; the Texas BNE is currently trying to limit nurses to three 12-hour shifts in a row, but I'm sure that will never pass, as the nursing shortage here is RIDICULOUS. I think my current record is 13 days in a row, but actually right now I'm exhausted (just got off from my fourth 12-hour night). Tonight's my last night before two days off though