nurse2it

Thanks to all who replied, I appreciate the advice/info.

Angela, thanks for your thoughts. This will help me figure out what the next step is, I truly appreciate your comments and welcome any further suggestions/advice you may have.

I am a student in the ONC HITECH program and will soon be "certified" to perform as an implementation specialist or as tech support. So far the program has been heavy on the soft skills. I worked as a bedside nurse in acute care for almost 15 years and have used Epic emr but have been out of the pt care world for almost 3 yrs. Knowing how quickly change occurs in IT and healthcare, I suspect the IT training I am getting will be inadequate. Most of the job postings I see want experienced analysts/trainers, build experience, etc. I am not an IT expert. Can anyone shed light on what the actual duties of an implementation specialist/analyst are? What skill sets are employers looking for? I know I need further IT education but which courses? I don't want to pursue a degree since I am not interested in a leadership/management position. Any info welcome, honesty appreciated!

Yes it really is that bad! Direct care nurses who do not work in critical care are expected to do the impossible. You might find this informative... http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=608454864&ids=0PdP0Se3wPejoIejkScjwQcPASb3oVc3sSc3cVdyMPejwOc3k

The state of our economy has made all employers skittish about adding to their workforce. Networking is crucial. You must make yourself stand out from the crowd. Consider volunteering where you want to work, that way you will get to know people on the inside who may be willing to hand your resume to the hiring managers. Join a professional organization, attend their meetings and get to know/talk to people who are in the know about job openings before they are posted externally. The old way of looking for a job just does not work today, it really is about connections and people skills. You probably will not get your dream job right away, but take anything to get your foot in the door. Finally, try not to appear desperate. I know how frustrating a job search can be, but having a good attitude is key. If you land an interview, write a thank you note, even if you don't get the job. Ask for feedback on how you can improve. Talk to hiring managers and ask what qualities they are seeking in a nurse. It may take a while, but your persistence will pay off, don't give up! Best of luck to you.

I must be out of the loop because I just came across this article that may be of interest to direct care nurses, what are the chances it will pass? http://www.travelnursing.com/news-and-features/news-detail/federal-staffing-bill-pending-in-congress/30936

Hi AngelNicole, You may get some answers to your question by reading the threads in this forum... If you want to work in a hospital, you will have a very hard time finding a job as an LPN. If you know anyone who is working as an LPN, talk to her/him to get a good idea of what the job entails. If nursing is your passion, then go for it! Best of luck to you.

One facility I worked at kept a loose leaf binder at the nurse's station where we could make quick notes about labs, falls, new orders, etc. the oncoming shift would read it after getting report.

Contact the DON and tell her you won't be back. If the thought of going to work is making you sick, what more proof do you need that it's not the place you should be?

I worked in LTC for almost 4 yrs where this type of behavior is common. I was called every name in the book, slapped, kicked, spit on and more by pts with dementia. If this is coming from pts who are "normal" and management does not intervene, then it will continue. It is so difficult to work in this type of environment, I chose to leave and took a large pay cut.

check with the hospital pharmacy, they may have one for free!

Readers, i saw or heard this somewhere (oprah?) and i'm paraphrasing--forgiveness is being able to let go of the idea that the past could have been different. it doesn't mean what happened is ok, that we need to have a relationship with someone who has done us harm. letting go frees us so we can move on. i'd love to hear your thoughts/definitions

i don't know if this has been addressed but i think alot of the bitterness, rude behavior, poor customer service or whatever you want to call it stems from the fact that many of us have been working in an environment that has left us feeling powerless, helpless, and angry, causing us to turn on each other and behave badly. nurses get "blamed" for things we have no control over, pts and families scream at us because we are the ones at the bedside. administration demands we do more with less to control costs. nursing is tough under ideal circumstances. how many of us have had a pt crash because he was shipped out of the unit too soon after open heart? why is it that the people who tell me how to do my job have no idea what my job entails because they haven't touched a pt in 10 yrs? i recently read about a very wise ceo who explained that one of the reasons for his business success was that the majority of his employees were happy to work for him. he tried to make their environment as pleasant as possible, provided excellent benefits, listened to feedback, implemented change when necessary. the man took no salary for several yrs to avoid layoffs! the point is this: happy workers=happy customers.

not being a hater, unfortunately the things you describe (and more) are not uncommon. have you seen this thread? https://allnurses.com/geriatric-nurses-ltc/why-ltc-so-580353.html

:no: as others have mentioned, staffing can sub contract to cover, respite care is available, etc. DO NOT let the parents GUILT YOU out of time off, be assertive. if you allow people to treat you like a doormat, they will.