SirJohnny

Bummer.

... any follow-up to this story. I know it happened in 2012, but was curious as to what eventually transpired.

It's soon going to be just two major players in Pediatric Private Duty: Bayada and Aveanna. They will bill the state $50/hour for the kid, and you'll get $20. Welcome to America.

Screw the agency manager. He is looking out for his own interests (e.g., gets paid commission for the sale). Remember, this is a business, not some feel good charity work. By feeling sad or getting angry, the manager was playing to your feelings as a young, caring female. Gotta grow some callouses and let it roll off. There are other cases out there. They know that. Agency is greedy, they will find you more cases. It's a win some, lose some game for the agency. They know that.

I have a regular four night a week account, and then float the other two or three nights. Sometimes, I will grab an evening shift on an easy kid. I do not like to chase kids around, so don't work day shift. Usually good for 50 to 60 hours a week. Gotta work overtime if you expect to make any $$, as rates are super low ($25/hour with no benefits and no shift differentials / weekend differentials).

Keep practicing. It's hard at first, but you will get good at it after a few weeks. If patient is obese (> 300 lbs), screw it and tell agency you need a CNA in there with you. Leave if agency refuses. They are the ones making all the money, not you.

There was a nurse, he goes by the name "Nick the Nurse" and used to run a blog. Anyhow, he received his ASN from Excelsior. Applied to California. They turned him down. He appealed their initial ruling. They told him to get his BSN. He went to that online Western Governor's University for his BSN (which he managed to get in a few weeks ... as this school gives credit for "life experiences."). California accepted his BSN and granted him a license. This would be around the 2010 timeframe. ---- I am wrapping up by PMHNP/DNP at the University of Pittsburgh. Did my ASN through Excelsior, and BSN through Univ of Pgh. Am thinking there might be a legal loop hole or legal case to get a California NP license (which I know requires an RN license). I believe Nick the Nurse, used several legal arguments in presenting his case. He published his argument, but has since taken it down. If anyone has a copy, can you please post. Thanks!!

You will learn how quickly nurses eat their own (particularly the young). If you do not have a thick skin (I mean really thick skin), I would seriously tell you to run, do not pass go, and don't look back.

It's a minimum wage job ... not even nursing related. Go to the next business down the street, throw in an application, and start working there. The economy is probably the best its been in 20 years, so finding a minimum wage job should be a piece of cake.

You tell your boss to go to h*ll. Your safety is paramount. You don't want to work at this place. Find another job. Don't tell new employer why you left old place.

Update: Oct-2017 -- Here is a link to webpage that explains in terms for us dummies. Nephrotic Syndrome vs Glomerulonephritis NCLEX Review ============= To differentiate between the two -- Here is what I use: ... "itis equals infection which produces lots of blood." Hope this helps.

Hi there: - I am currently attending the University of Pittsburgh PMHNP/DNP program. They have a post-masters DNP program for mental health that you might be interested in. A lot of the classes can be done online, but you would probably have to do clinicals within 100 miles of Pittsburgh. - You could also look at Wilkes University. Their program is mostly online. Would be an Master's Level program. Hope this helps.

Hi there: I am currently starting my fourth year (part-time) in a DNP/PMHNP program. My gripe about the DNP program is that it's too research/social issue focused. We've had 4 classes, just on the principles of research. I've also had classes on Family Health, Community Health (3 classes), Informatics (that was more programming based, not about learning an Electronic Health Record). After 3 years, I'm actually just starting my clinical rotations this semester. The main benefit of the DNP program is that you can go teach at a University (if that's your calling). Clinic wise, I don't see any advantage of a DNP over an MSN degree. Just my two cents. Johnny

Hi there: - Started nursing school back in 2004 (you can actually look up my first post on allnurses.com to verify). After several years in Long Term Care, I made the switch over to Pediatric Private Duty Nursing (which I absolutely love). I am hoping to someday work as a pediatric psychiatric nurse practitioner. - I am currently 53 years old, and about half-way through the DNP/PMHNP program at the University of Pittsburgh. I am also near deaf, and had open heart surgery in 2010 (aortic valve replacement). I am a little slow, but not dead, and just keep plugging along. I also adore fly-fishing for wild brown trout (which keeps me going). - I really don't see myself retiring, hence one reason to get out of the more physical demands of bedside nursing. We have several instructors in the nursing department at Pitt who are in their late 70's or early 80's and still going strong. One still has her own FNP practice. - My advice, just go for it. What else are you going to do? Sit around and watch Bonanza and Star Trek reruns? - Just my two cents. Johnny in Pennsylvania.

-- Yes, Robert Morris is around $1000/credit. Their FNP and PMHNP programs are all doctorate level programs. Same with the University of Pittsburgh (where I attend). I am told that their lecture classes are all held on day per week (usually Thursdays). I am also told that some of the classes may be taken via distance education. -- When I looked into their FNP program a few years back, I was told there was quite a wait to get into (two years). Hence, I applied and got accepted into the University of Pittsburgh's program. I am currently starting my 4th year at the Univ of Pgh in their DNP/PMHNP program (going part time, paying my way as I go). I decided to grab all of the non-clinical type courses first. Actually starting my first clinical rotation in two weeks (Psychotherapy). Still have to complete/writeup the DNP capstone project. - Hope this helps.

Hi there: Nursing school is a bear, much worse than either the undergraduate BS-Applied Mathematics or BS-Computer Science degrees that I earned at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to the demanding academic schedule, you'll endure the emotional roller coaster known as nursing school hell. Everyone, at some point in their nursing school days, has broken down and cried, and seriously contemplated quitting. My advice. Get your life in order. Get the divorce behind you. Have a game plan of who is going to watch the kids while you are at 12 hour per day clinicals. ------ That being said, if you want to go for it ... Find out the pre-requisite courses for the nursing programs that you are interested in applying to. Every nursing program I have seen requires 1 semester of Chem w/Lab, 1 semester of Microbiology, and 2 semesters of Anatomy & Physiology. You may also be required to take an Algebra-I or Algebra-II level mathematics course. I would suggest starting out with Anatomy & Physiology at your local Community College. The cost will be relatively low. Now is the time to hone your study skills. You should walk out of A&P I and II with a 90+ average. As bad as you may think these two courses might be, they are a cakewalk compared to nursing school. Remember, you aren't spending 1 or 2 twelve hour clinical shifts in the hospital at this point. Make sure you know how to write term papers. You will write multiple articles during the nursing school process. In nursing school, I probably put in 4 hours a day studying. More on the weekends. Way more the week before midterms and finals. Remember, there are no curves in nursing school. Univ of Pgh now requires an 80% to pass an undergraduate nursing class. That means, 79.4% = fail/do over and 79.5% rounds up to 80% meaning you passed. You will most definitely see classmates pass or fail a class by only 1 or 2 questions. The margins of failure vs. success are that thin in nursing school. Regarding finances. Make sure you have a few $$ in reserve for a rainy day fund. The car will probably die the morning of clinicals, or you may need a new furnace or washer/dryer. Stuff costs money. Make sure you have it, before nursing school. Relatives, boyfriends, and girlfriends will all get jealous of your success. Some will support you ... others will try to tear you down. Don't believe me? Look at some of the earlier threats posted on this website (allnurses). Here's to wishing you a successful journey. Johnny in Pennsylvania. (Completed BSN - Univ of Pgh in 2014).

Same thing with Paw Patrol. Can't stand that show. I actually record "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "Barney the Dinosaur" episodes off of YouTube for my clients that do not have Internet or Cable Television.

Sounds like you are working as an independent contractor, as opposed to going through a third-party agency (e.g., Epic, Interim, Bayada, etc.). I definitely would like to hear how you got set up to do this. Please tell us more. Thanks in advance.

Yellowstone is completely awesome in August. If you can swing it, hit the park the day after Labor Day. Weather is still nice, most of the park facilities are still open for another week or two, wildlife is moving around (getting ready for winter), and most of the tourists have cleared out. If you are into fly-fishing, this is when you want to go. Hardly anyone will be fishing, and all the streams (where you are allowed to fish) will be open. Did you know the Yellowstone River inside the park does not open to fishing until July 15th (to allow the native cutthroat trout to spawn in peace). I was there Labor Day weekend 2002, and spent 2 hours walking/hiking the 5 miles back into the 1st meadow on Slough Creek. This is a world famous location for fly-fishing. Couldn't believe that I had the entire meadow to myself (unheard of). Caught and released around 30 cutthroat trout that day. Had to wait for a moose to get out of the way (was standing on the trail) on the way back to the car. Ended up driving over to Cooke City that evening. Found an old hotel/restaurant/bar, around 10 at night. No one else there, so I ended up eating a spaghetti dinner and talking with the waitress (actually helped her clean up/vaccuum the place). She gave me the phone number of a hotel to crash out at that night (only $25/cash). Ended up spending the night, until about 3 in the morning, talking about fly-fishing with the hotel owner. We actually tied about a dozen or so flies that night while trading fishing stories. The next morning, I headed back to Denver, Colorado (where I was living at the time). Actually, ended up using the experience as the basis for my undergraduate nursing school admission thesis (it's somewhere here on allnurses.com ... can find by doing a search). Anyhow, it's something to think about. ------ I graduate (hopefully) in Dec 2018 from Univ of Pgh - DNP/PMHNP program. I am actually planning on driving down to Disney World about 10 minutes post graduation. Not sure if I will go to the parks or just lie around in the hotel for an entire week. I'm already 3 years into the program am so utterly ready to get it over with. Whatever you do ... have lots of fun. :)

All: Apparently Pennsylvania changed their scope of practice for LPNs, who are now allowed to administer, initiate, and stop parenteral nutrition (TPN). I am not sure when the law changed in Pennsylvania, but here is a link to the BON website. Please scroll down to Item 12 on the bottom of the page. Again, this discussion pertains to PENNSYLVANIA LPN's only. 049 Pa. Code § 21.145. Functions of the LPN. =============== (g) An LPN who has met the education and training requirements of § 21.145b (relating to IV therapy curriculum requirements) may perform the following IV therapy functions, except as limited under § 21.145a and only under supervision as required under subsection (f): (1) Adjustment of the flow rate on IV infusions. (2) Observation and reporting of subjective and objective signs of adverse reactions to any IV administration and initiation of appropriate interventions. (3) Administration of IV fluids and medications. (4) Observation of the IV insertion site and performance of insertion site care. (5) Performance of maintenance. Maintenance includes dressing changes, IV tubing changes, and saline or heparin flushes. (6) Discontinuance of a medication or fluid infusion, including infusion devices. (7) Conversion of a continuous infusion to an intermittent infusion. (8) Insertion or removal of a peripheral short catheter. (9) Maintenance, monitoring and discontinuance of blood, blood components and plasma volume expanders. (10) Administration of solutions to maintain patency of an IV access device via direct push or bolus route. (11) Maintenance and discontinuance of IV medications and fluids given via a patient-controlled administration system. (12) Administration, maintenance and discontinuance of parenteral nutrition and fat emulsion solutions. (13) Collection of blood specimens from an IV access device. ==========

Rule #1: Nothing stops the med pass. You just keep going until you get done. Rule #2: I never look for patients. If I can't find the patient, then I flag that section of the MAR, and will come back to it sometime. Lots of times, I will find the missing resident(s) in the TV room or in the Dining room. But I am not going to be running from the hallway to the TV or Dining room for each patient. Rule #3: Learn who your diabetic patients are. Hit those folks first (or at least make sure you see them within an hour of either side of the ordered med time). The other LTC meds, if late, won't kill anyone. Ruke #4: Snack off the med cart. Most LTC facilities have fig newtons or oreos for their residents. It's ok to grab a package or two to snack on while doing the med pass. Your first couple of times in a new facility will take the entire shift, and you won't even have time for any form of a break. Hope this helps.

Whenever I start a new case, I make sure the parents are ok with me hitting the books/laptop at night. If not, then let me know, and I will find another assignment. I work PDN as the night float, and also go to NP school. Thus, I hit the books while the kid sleeps. Fortunately, nearly all of my cases are stable, and I can get a good 6+ hours of studying in on an overnight 8 hour shift.

Hi there: Your capstone project may have to reflect on patient improvement outcomes versus nurse improvement outcomes. Depends on your institution, so be sure to verify before really digging in too far with your project. Also, be sure to secure your committee members early on. I know at my university (DNP/PMHNP), we can develop protocols that improve nursing efficiency, but the overall goal has to be improved patient measures (e.g., satisfaction, outcomes, lower costs, etc.). A completed project that does not show significant patient improvement at the end of data collection and statistical analysis, is still a valid project. I am in the middle of my DNP capstone project ... and it takes forever to get approvals from the capstone committee, and the IRB. My population is demented nursing home residents, and I am in the process of writing inquiry letters (as well as knocking on a few DON doors) to see if I can generate any interest. As mentioned earlier, the process takes forever. Good luck!!!!

Jules: Thanks for the info.

Thanks for the info.