eileenis1

We have a lot of patients/families of patients abusing the narcotics and benzos. They then cry and manipulate on the weekend to get more meds after they have gone through 60 pills in two days. We get the police involved and log everything but our agency still gets burned and we don't discharge these people. How does your agency deal with this pervasive problem.

That would be an excellent idea.

$27/hr in Louisiana.

The lengthly interview is a good sign. Now, my suggestion is to get some beautiful cards to write nice thank you letters to those people who took time from their busy days to meet with you. That kind gesture has always worked for me.

I really don't know but I would like to offer my emotional support. I hope it all goes well for you.

You might want to contact your local nursing college. Some states have special education financing incentives. There are usually school loans available as well.

I live in Houma and the job market is good here. Have you considered doing home health? It pays pretty well. You can take a salaried position or get paid on a per visit rate. Hospice pays even more. Good luck and hang in there, Eileen

In my state the question asks if you have a mental illness that could prevent you from being a competent nurse

I would go with A. I am a board certified psych RN. I worked hopice for a short while. Your teacher should be referred to the nursing intervention called Validation Therapy which extols the virtue of therapeutic communication through going with the dementia patient's reality rather than insistance on the practitioner's reality.

If it was my call I would say no, never

It sounds like you had a really rough night. i have found that sensitive psych nurses come off as being compassionate and understanding. What distressed pt would not benefit fom that? I agree that you should not have to feel guilty for declining the extra shift.

I took it in the late 90's and found it to be easy because I studeied through the book and did the practice questions.