Dierdre

Dierdre has 18 years experience and specializes in Biomedical, Hospice, LTC, Office.

Latest Activity

1. Funny OB things people say

   Dierdre replied to at your cervix's topic in Ob/Gyn

   When I had my now 15 year old daughter my now ex-husband asked the doctor to put an extra couple stitches in for him. The crusty old ex-army physician barked at him "Get an implant!"

2. Is it time to get rid of 12 hour shifts?

   Dierdre replied to country mom's topic in General Nursing

   I hate 12s. Period. There is no redeeming quality to them whatsoever. I never got more days off with 12s anyway. I will never work at a facility that does not offer 8 hour shifts.

3. Parents of kids with autism, please read

   Dierdre replied to LydiaNN's topic in Pediatric

   I'm married to a guy with Asperger's Syndrome and pregnant. Have to admit I'm a little scared. I love him, and he's definately difficult to handle sometimes. He has some behavioral issues that are a little weird (I've caught him running in place i...

4. WHY ARE NURSES SO RUDE to CNA's?

   Dierdre replied to nurse2be123's topic in General Nursing

   There is no excuse for nurses to be ugly toward CNAs (and vice versa, see below). If you feel like you have a legitimate complain, you can go up the chain of command, and to HR if necessary. Unlike physicians (which isn't right, but there are already...

5. New LPN, should I go back to hospital CNA instead of long term care?

   Dierdre replied to LrElizabeth7's topic in LPN/LVN

   Wow. That ratio isn't even acceptable in Oklahoma, which I consider to be seriously behind the times in LTC ratios. Find another job, STAT. Even in LTC there'll be plenty of them. There's plenty of jobs for new grads out there, I'd try to get one ...

6. Some feedback for a job I turned down please...

   Dierdre replied to StocktonNurse's topic in LPN/LVN

   I strongly agree with the previous poster. What in the heck were they THINKING? A new grad simply does not have the experience to make the kind of decisions that a SNF coordinator needs to be able to make. Also...working at least 84 hours per week...

7. Teach me how to document--PLEASE!

   Dierdre replied to natrgrrl's topic in LPN/LVN

   I would leave out the medical diagnoses (CHF, multiple MI's, CAD, etc) because you could be accused of 'diagnosing' the patient, which can only be done by a physician. Also, I would have notified the physician IMMEDIATELY on a systolic bp "in the 70...

8. Pay for LPN in USA

   Dierdre replied to Young28's topic in LPN/LVN

   It's not Oklahoma. New Grads make about $14/hour in LTC, nurses with a prodigious (read 10+ years) can start at about $16. Physician's offices will pay about $12/hour, and prisons start at about $15/hour. Hospitals bring up the rear at between $10...

9. OMG I feel so overwhelmed

   Dierdre replied to kayleighac's topic in LPN/LVN

   Hmm, I'd spring for less money and less responsibility. Get thee to a physician's office, minor emergency clinic, plasma center, blood bank, or something where you're not responsible for other people's lives. If your state doesn't have medication a...

10. Getting involved with a co-worker

    Dierdre replied to Runman1914's topic in General Nursing

    Hmm, I have had very few office romances, generally speaking they end in disaster...however, there's the little matter of the one that did work too. I met my hubby at work, we worked together successfully for over a year, and the only time we ever g...

11. Nursing Sucks! Or Does It?

    Dierdre replied to Pianoforte's topic in General Nursing

    You know, in my experience the only thing that bucking the system has ever done is get me fired. Trying to advocate for better staffing, better conditions, better anything can be compared to beating your head against a brick wall. I remember being ...

12. I've had enough...turned in my resignation!

    Dierdre replied to 2shihtzus's topic in General Nursing

    It really hurts to be forced to leave your friends over a difficult situation like you've found yourself in--where you're being actively persecuted by management. Best of luck with your new (and better!) job, and hopefully the next politics will be ...

13. whats a LPN to do?

    Dierdre replied to jean333's topic in LPN/LVN

    Don't worry about it. They were asking if you could come in most likely because the doc would have had a few minutes to meet you before (s)he started seeing patients for the day. If you couldn't make it in half an hour, it's best to say you can't, ...

14. management nursing

    Dierdre replied to katieRNlove's topic in General Nursing

    Welcome to the wonderful world of LTC 'management'. Dang, it seems like even after eight months out of the job I keep finding ways to get angry at the place I was working before, and seeing your plight really torques me off to the maximum. I'm mad a...

15. How long did it take you to feel comfortable in LTC?

    Dierdre replied to vanilmil's topic in LPN/LVN

    LTC is not possible without shortcuts. The last time I added up the amount of time needed to take care of my LTC residents including meds, breathing treatments, eyedrops, inhalers, treatments, fingersticks, insulins, other injections, assessments, c...