Duflinkka

Just bought a PT Cruiser. Love the milage, back window are lightly tinted for privacy, and the hatch is covered so I can put all my equipment back there without worrying about everyone seeing it.

I'm a fan of the rainbow sherbet.

I never graduated high school. I have my GED. And I'm set to graduate with my ADN in December. The only limits are the ones you set for youself. Good luck!

For 7 long years I toiled as a CNA in LTC. I cherished the nurses that took the time to help me turn or clean residents, and tried to be understanding when other couldn't or wouldn't help. When I became a nurse my most difficult adjustment was realizing that I couldn't help the CNA's as much as I wanted. My own responsibilities were overwhelming... 32 residents for med pass and treatments. 5 of those were skilled, high acuity residents on another floor. Anytime I had a spare moment I would answer lights, or if I knew my aides were busy I could take someone to the bathroom or provide assistance when needed. But truthfully, I was just learning my role as a nurse so I had to learn my own responsibilities. I would not be the nurse I am today without aides that understood that, and covered my lights while I learned my new role. When I became faster, and had more time to help them I did with pleasure. After all, we are on the same team.

Nope. Family and friends first.

Scrubs seems more accurate in my setting.

This is pretty tame compared with the other posts, but it's the grossest thing that's happened to me yet. A few months ago one of our residents had a peg tube removed. The site was still healing. She was on a pureed diet, but tended to sneak regular diet items whenever possible. I went in to check the site, and she started coughing after the dressing was removed. Her stomach's contents sprayed out at me like a geyser, totally soaking my uniform. Solids, pureed items, the whole deal. Now how could I ever go back to a desk job when more experiences like that await????

Hmmm... I was given a pen, hand sanitizer, lotion, a small candle, and a thank you. Also, we worked short too! But that is an everyday gift at our facility. Tuesday I had clinical at one of the local hospitals, and they invited us and the rest of my group to join thier celebration. They had a free lunch buffet, punch, cake, and new organizers for all of us. I thought that was very kind of them.

Have you already tried it, or are you nervous about your first stick?

And I'm pretty sure U of I's distance program is accelerated... http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/academic_programs/undergrad/rn-bsn/major-req.htm If you're in Omaha, UNMC has an accelerated program, too. I know it does... I've looked into it recently. If you're set on Iowa I would see if Iowa western in Council Bluffs has a connection to the U of I's distance learning program. And as far as that goes, I know Iowa Wester has an ADN/RN program. So does Metro in Omaha.

I think Grand View has an accelerated program. http://www.gvc.edu/aspx/audience/audience.aspx?pageid=158

Thank you kindly. So.... Unless I'm reading something wrong, there are no actual laws for staff to patient ratios in the hospital on in LTC. What a shame. Thanks again.

Does anyone know where I can find information about laws regulating staff to patient ratios in Iowa? Our facility is getting out of hand... I know I can't keep up with the load anymore. I want to say I had 34 residents under my care this weekend, and several of them are pretty high acuity. I know my one CNA was caring for 25 residents. And they just keep taking more. Our CNA's are breaking under the load, and I am to a point where I really can't help help them because it's all I can do to finish my own work. I do what I can to make sure they get out on time. Usually I am at least an hour late getting out. I know that to an extent this is fairly normal, but I think this facility is beginning to push it as far as safety goes.

Boundaries...some people need 'em.

We weren't tested in school, either. And I've been to several hospitals for clinicals in the area. None have made me test. To be honest, I expected it and have been surprised it hasn't happened.

Just this weekend I was slapped by a resident with dementia at my facility while I was trying to give meds. She caught me just right against the ear - my head was ringing for at least an hour. Now, she has no clue what she's doing. Since I've been doing this awhile I've been hit a few times, but never by anyone aoX3. If anyone alert hit me, I would press charges in a second.

sorry - I meant for this to be bigger. But I'm sure you all still understand.

for the OP, I do not wish to seem cruel by making the following statement. However you do not seem to understand what we are saying and you seem to be taking it as a personal attack. Your inability to see what was wrong about getting residents under your care dressed for the day at 3:30-4 am is cause for concern. I have read several of your threads and posts. You were in a difficult facility. Even if you had not been terminated, leaving would have been an ideal option. But several posters have tried to give you options for better handling such a situation in the future, and you have not even thanked them for their advice. All you do is keep insisting you did nothing wrong. I can promise you during a state survey it would be considered a violation to get residents dressed so early, whether you had just changed them or not. I cannot stress this enough - getting someone dressed for the day that early is a violation of their rights. Are they able to verbally protest? Did they tell you they didn't mind? Even so, it is WRONG. Next, I must address the way you keep repeating that nurses think of CNAs as slave labor. I think I can safely say most actually think of them as godsends. When I was a CNA in school for nursing, all I did was think of how much better I would treat CNAs... much better than I was being treated. Much to my surprise I discovered that as a nurse I have responsibilities that prohibit me from helping as much as I would like. Yet my aides know they can always count on me for a lift, or to answer a light, or to check on an alarm. And every night they leave on time, while I'm stuck doing paperwork until midnight... usually with a 16 hour clinical starting at 6 am the following day. I agree with the posters who are suggesting you wait awhile before nursing school. I did, and I'm a better nurse now for having done so. Work a few more jobs and get experience working with difficult supervisors. Learn how to accept criticism better. Learn more about yourself. You will be better prepared for client care and advocacy in the long run. Peace be with you and best of luck in all your future plans.

I am an LTC nurse. I have only been licensed since August 2007. But I was a CNA in LTC for 7 years before I took my boards. 2 things I can promise you: 1. Never would I dress anyone before 5 am, even during 3 am rounds. NEVER. In my opinion, it is abuse. 2. Any facility asking me to do so would lose my as an employee, and could expect to have state called continuously until that situation was corrected.

Thank you all so very much - I'm learning a lot by listening/reading.

Hello all! Okay, so yesterday my friend was orienting a new nurse. She asked if VS were completed for one particular resident. This client's BPs are always low, as in 90/60 for example, and they can be very difficult to hear. The new nurse replied that she had "palpated the blood pressure." No scope, no cuff. My question is this: Has anyone else ever heard of palpating a BP? I know you can somewhat palpate the brachial artery to properly place the scope, but I have never hear of anyone having this skill.

We have liquid dilantin that smells just like oranges.

I was a CNA for 7 years, and I enjoyed the patient care aspect of the job. But my body is trashed. Long hours, short staff, heavy lifting... My back is still sore most of the time, and both my knees and ankles are arthritic. I'm only in my early thirties. Several of the aides I work with are much older and have been CNA's for decades. I have no idea how they do it - they have my utmost respect.

This terrifies me. You know it will negatively affect care.

I've never been a sitter, but I've been assaulted more times than I can count in LTC. Those little old folks with Alzheimer's can really pack a punch.