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Some of you need more education..... What were you taught about hypothyroidism? ? If your memory is shot I will remind you...one ss of hypo is low baseline temp. 96 is common. When that person rises to 98.5 that is like a normal baseline of 98.6 going up to100.6! VERY uncomfortable for that person These people do not tolerate warmer climates either. Research your endo! I can confirm....as I am one of them. Even though I take a total replacement (200mcg), I still run low baseline like the majority of other ↓thyroid patients. Low Wy and Montana.....HATE Florida/Texas! Don't think a patient is whining next time....

I worked St Joe's on Woodward in the middle 80's. Post partum....would routinely have 10 mothers-some first day c-sections. Even though the nursery did vitals/assessment, we still spent time teaching/nursing, which in essence gave us twenty patients. Don't get me wrong--PP is easily the easiest job ever. But twenty pts is ridiculous! Maybe someone is tired of lawsuits!

This is an older thread.... And I am older and now more experienced...I also worked many many hours- my 12 hour shift routinely was 12-16-18 hours. It has been proven that any hours you work that is more than 10....subject you to making mistakes! It was well know when I worked and has not changed. If you do this you are subjecting yourself to potential lawsuits for making mistakes. Also,, as an older/wiser person,, I do not want to potentially harm a person. Live and learn! Some things only become clearer with age....

Look at the copy of the paper you signed with the agency. It probably says (at the bottom I tiny print), that you may not work for any individual/agency for 6 months to one year after leaving the agency or you will be sued by the agency. Do not take what I have looked into for gospel! I asked a few agencies what their rules of departure were... I also have heard that the agencies have a weak statement to enforce but I would urge you to ask a contract lawyer. Good luck...I am also curious! Mic

Please help me out here. I am both newer to Texas and new to HH. My first HH job and I am shocked the first day! Mind you, I have been in hospitals for many years-ICU/THORACIC/ER... On my first day, when time for meds, I find out meds are already in a nondescript 'home-type' pill box! There are several times of the day to give meds. I know WHAT meds to give but who the H put them all in a pillbox!! What if that person screwed up??! Are all states this way about HH meds? I am horrified.... I have to trust that some other person did this right! With all the trouble I had transferring my compact license- TBON 'didn't get' items sent by myself and my other state of license, told me incorrect answers to what I needed several times...it was a disaster... I understand that Texas is a hothouse for people coming to a state and lying about what/where they went to school etc... Now this fiasco of loose meds?? Also, when the Agency called me at the last minute for a night shift, the night CNA (they could not find anyone else for replacement, so they used me, an RN),, pointed to a bedroom by the patients and said "you can sleep in there".......yes I was going to be tired but I would not CONSIDER sleeping!! When I said "you don't sleep while your here, do yo"? The leaving CNA said "why not"? Geez! Please foregive me but is this the attitude of HH in Texas!? I am not impressed-at least with my first HH company...

Wow! I used to work in Michigan. Sometimes 10 postpartum patients! Of course that meant teaching breast feeding moms, changing diapers, etc. the vitals were taken by nursery staff, but then the babies came out to us. Go Blue!

Fiona, You are lucky! What province do you live? And, if it is not too personal, can I ask about how much in US dollars you spend a year to renew your license, or is it every two years?

I do not hear much about Liability Insurance anymore. I have gone to part time Home Health. Nobody that I have asked has their own. Is this due to the Recession, or is it considered outdated now? You comments are welcome. and what you think about the general cost if you do carry it. Thx

I do not think it is wise to send out cards or any info when taking care of a pt or discharging them. That would be a conflict of interest and a good way to get fired. Not while the patient is on hospital property. A friend in Hawaii was recently fired for doing the same.

Yes, I finally got my license...but not after they said they had everything......and I looked up my permanent license number.....only to find out later that they never did change from the temporary to permanent. It was such a mess. I have worked a few days a month with Home Health. Love it.

I recently got my RN from Virginia license transferred to Texas (compact states). This was the most confusing, misinformed process I have ever gone through! I have had licensing in 6 other states. NOTHING has been such a nightmare. Please talk to more than 1person at TBON. I got different answers from each person. They lost three sets of transcripts from the school where I did my nurse refresher course. They misplaced items. They told me I HAD to take THEIR Jurisprudence class even though I had taken an accepted class. TBON was the most incompetent BON I have ever experienced. Be careful. Good luck.

My male patient uses incontinent briefs. He is sensitive to the elastic at the leg opening. So far, we have found none that have a cloth-like band at the leg opening.Can someone be of assistance regarding a product?This is an active gentleman.Thank you.

I needed to do an RN refresher course. I have some disability issues that made it a challenge to find someone who could accommodate my disability. Plus, I am not in Houston! Not to worry! PHES went the extra mile...several miles, in fact.. PHES was able to let me do what I could through correspondence, then found a great place to do my clinicals where I live! (I must give that place a big 'Thank You', also!). PHES did everything to make the course as easy for me as possible. If you are looking for a company that can help you with the 'out of the ordinary', PHES is the place to use!

Oh... I feel your pain. And it has been many years. One of the posters was 'right on'. The first year is just getting your feet wet and learning how to organize your time/skills! You can't expect to have the skills that come only with time/experience! I can still remember my first job in a very large hospital in Detroit....how I would forget something when I was at the patient's room...at the very end of a long hall. I would waste time going back to the med room, going back for SOMETHING that wasted time. It is just learning. I realize that it is probably even worse today- institutions expect more and more from nurses, sicker pts, more rules, etc...... Don't quit yet- it is too soon! Try a different job. Something that isn't as pressuring- maybe a long term care. Home health. Something where you are not as pressured for time possibly. Not everyone is cut out to be under the stress of 'get it all done by the end of the shift'. Unfortunately, the attitude of a workplace is hurting RNs. We are so stressed now- make more money for the workplace/hurry/work harder/work longer... that it is really only biting the institution in the butt. We CAN't what we should be able to, to the pt. We can only give 'our best', which isn't what it should be. We ARE more apt to make mistakes. We are treated as crap now. Nursing isn't what it once was- it is only a 'money maker'. What about working for a doctor? Make sure you interview HIM/HER, not the other way around. You want to work for someone who is a very good doc, who is compassionate to pts/staff, who pays a decent wage... essentially someone that YOU WANT to work for. Then you will feel better about your job and will automatically do your very best! Don't take a job 'just because they offered you a position'. I hope you take the time to see where your niche is. There is a place for you. Chin up!

I would agree with 'joanna73'. You should have the skills you get only by working on a floor before going on to a unit. Even if just for 1 year- it makes you a much better nurse in my opinion when you have aquired skills that you only get on a floor- organization, learning how to handle different emergencies, how to help your coworkers, time management etc. Working in OR will limit your skills- you will learn to be good in OR, but that is a very limited skill area. I have worked in OR, so I am well aware of how limited it is. Get more skills first. I realize in todays job market you may have to take what you can, though. Best of luck.

Yes! I was a civilian nurse, although I worked for Indian Health. But....you must get a year or two (I forgot if you need two), of experience first. At least that was the way it was when I was working. Right now I have a friend that just got hired to Ft Sam, here in Texas.

I am sorry you are going through something like this. Very recently there was an article in The Times?? regarding the same. The article said there were XX (number) of med errors a year. Because nurses are so over taxed at work I am afraid it will happen more. As far as reporting it, I would, myself. Because of the strong possibility of termination I can understand that there is probably a very high percentage of errors that are not reported. Sorry I did not answer your question and just added my 2 cents. Hope you keep your job and that sometime facilities see that stressing nurses more and more hurts nobody but the patients and themselves in the long run. Probabaly will never happen.

As I worked L&D for 15 years, along with other units, I see no reason to be worried about your new unit IF you have good crosstraining and someone looking over your shoulder routinely if it is indeed L&D. With all the crunching of jobs in todays world, you can figure you will be getting floated to different units. It is just a money number to the hospitals now. I hope you become comfortable and have good coworkers to support your jitters.

I hope you are correct about the cultural aspect- I would like to learn fron people who are 'old Italy', or 'old Swiss', not Muslims that have moved there in the last 50 years though....Thanks for your opinion

It seems that most with back problems continue to have problems after surgery- the majority. I, too have had two surgeries in the last 11 years and always thought I would 'get better in the next 6 months'. It has been 11 years and I am now worse with a compressed c3 - needing surgery again. Nursing is only going to get worse on your body- with cutbacks at hospitals, less staff to pt ratio, you will be lifting/pulling/pushing more and more. You will be hurting more and more. I'm sorry I don't know what you would be able to do for a nursing job, but realistically the outlook isn't good.

I would love to work in a country that I have wanted to visit- I think that is a way to get in-depth knowledge about the country/people. I have a friend who is in the States now, but will be returning to Iraq in a few months. She teaches at the University and has tried to coax me into coming to Iraq to teach at the hospitals....but some of the stories she has told us makes me VERY leary about going there. I do not understand the religious/political aspects of the country, but do not want to be unsafe. She speaks of the Muslim as a very dangerous people. I do understand that what she sees is first-hand. How dangerous is it? She says the Muslim nurses are very abusive towards patients because they have only lived a brutal life and do not know compassion- that the nurses often yell/hit patients. I also discussed this with a neighbor who just came back from Iraq in the Air Force as a Medic. She confirmed the nurses abusing patients. I definately am not sure I want to consider this. I have wanted to go to Italy, Netherlands, or other Euro country for a long time. But statistics show that Italy/Netherlands are now approximately 50% Muslim. I wish to be with Christians, not violent people. What can any of you say who have had experience with these countries, please?

Hmmm That is an interesting thought. Wonder if he just wants to discourage people from doin online because it is less money in his pocket. Guess the only way to find out is to call BON!

I need to renew my CPR- talked to someone who does a course. He said the online courses are not accepted by TX BON even if your place of employment accepts it. He said you MUST do a 'hands on' part of any course. What have you encountered? thx

I'm still 'in shock'! Yesterday I was talking to someone who lives in my neighborhood and telling her I am going to do a refresher course and see if my back/neck can tolerate 4-8 hours a week working. I mentioned all the new drugs I will have to memorize, as there will undoubtably be a drug written drug test wherever I work. My neighbor said "just take your Blackberry with you and use that- they allow you to use it' Now maybe my age is showing, but I thought an interview is to give a potential employer a clue of how much you know by testing!? Don't they want you to do it without help anymore? Or am I a dinosauer? I guess I can look at it this way: If you use your Blackberry, then you know you are correct?? I know taking your Board is so different now- I guess you can take them from home on a computer- I would imagine people use a Blackberry or even books to get some of the answers then also?? Opinions, please.

Don't be fooled by hand sanitizers- or try to fool your patient inatvertantly! Hand sanitizers are not as effective and last for about 2-3 minutes. Nothing is better than taking the time to do a soap handwash- and it isn't as drying.