noodlefrax

Thanks! That makes me feel better about it

I was working med/surg prior to my move. We didn't just assist in ADLs, we had to do tons of vitals (not just q4s- post op vitals, blood transfusion vitals, etc) It can get crazy when you have 12 patients and you have a ton of surgeries coming back at the same time! We also had to collect samples (urine, stool, sputum) and take to the lab, post op ambulation, qh I&Os, assisting the nurse in various duties.. all kinds of stuff! (my mind is a bit fried from looking into uni info!) It's an awesome place to work and anyone wanting to be a nurse should definitely see med/surg! I loved it, even in the days I was ready to tear my hair out You can learn so much on a med/surg unit. Enjoy!!

Thanks! I plan to do so as soon as possible. Just trying to cover all my bases here since you never know where life takes you! Is there any place that shares some specific info about the Common Foundation Program (first year)? I have read that it does slightly cover all of the branches (except midwifery), I was just wondering how long/how much. The lady at Queen's already informed be that I would have to do an 18 month module (?) after the general adult degree to cover that base in the USA.

Erm, let me clarify- I am not affiliated with the military anymore (was an army brat) I am in the UK for Settlement. My husband is from N. Ireland. My concerns is that if we decide in six years to move back to the USA that my degree from the UK will allow me to practice in the US. (Will be seeking more info from Queen's on that) I just gathered that the original poster here had the same concerns. Also, international student fees are astronomical!!!

I am in a similar boat!! I came from Arizona to Northern Ireland and am not 100% on how I will go about finishing school yet, but I can offer you info from the education section of the Arizona State Board of Nursing when I inquired: The degree would not directly transfer; you would need to provide a credential evaluation from an approved CES agency that declared your program equivalent to a US program. This is usually not too difficult when talking about UK programs ( there is a cost and time factor), however many UK programs do not provide maternity nursing. You would need to have maternity nursing theory and clinical practice in your program or take the midwife program following the program. Other areas of deficit sometimes seen are in psych-mental health and pediatric nursing (all these need both theory and clinical) I am enclosing our current instructions for applications--please note the page for graduates of foreign nursing programs. This was after I sent info for a BSN General Adult Nursing through the University of Ulster. \

I started off in LTC and met some of the BEST aides and nurses there. This facility in particular sounds like it has a collection of "rejects" for participating in such behavior and allowing it to go on. It's reputation certainly speaks volumes. These places tend to take on and adhere to people who shouldn't be in the field and end up having maybe 2 or 3 quality employees who actually care about the residents and their careers. (Those are the ones who also get abused) The state needs to clean house and they won't as long as they don't know this behavior is happening.

Wow!! You need to have this reported. This sounds like a b um facility full of bum people! You'll find one anywhere and they all seem the same- a LTC full of reject nurses and aides who are in the wrong career. There should be some type of whistleblowing ability without fear of consequences on your behalf. It IS your responsibility to report any abuse that you see and those girls mocking the resident/picking/poking/hair tugging is 100% abuse. Also, shoving the resident in their room and locking the wheels is abuse. Sounds like the nurses are violating HIPPA with their chitchat. This place sounds like it needs to clean out the closet with it's employees. If you do nothing, nothing will change and the abuse will continue. Check out information from your state for reporting abuse anonymously be it through the state, through APS or whatever channel you need to go through.

I agree! There's been a very wrong impression put out CNA's; many of us do a lot more than wipe butts! (in NO way am I downplaying the role of a LTC CNA by any means either- I used to be one) I'm now in the UK and am getting to know their system. They have "Care Assistants" who work in LTC and home health and Nursing Auxiliary/Nursing Support/Nursing Assistants who work in clinical settings like Hospitals, etc. A Care Assistant isn't even able (by scope) to take a blood pressure without being certified to do so, to help illustrate the difference.

I suppose that would vary from state to state. In AZ a CNA isn't permitted to perform those duties listed above but a PCT is (as far as I have seen in AZ anyway) which is why the hospital I worked for wanted us to get our PCT (they would offer the course) and be able to do these tasks.

I wasn't about to read all 58 replies, but the hospital I worked for in AZ had very few LPNs and were looking to phase them out. They wanted the CNA's to become PCTs so they'd be able to do foleys, glucometers, D/C'ing IVs, EKGs and things along those lines- certainly nothing to do with intubation or administering medication as I read on another post.

Scope of Practice is a terminology used by state licensing boards for various professions that defines the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the licensed individual. The scope of practice is limited to that which the law allows for specific education and experience, and specific demonstrated competency. Each state has laws, licensing bodies, and regulations that describe requirements for education and training, and define scope of practice. Health care professions with defined scope of practice laws and regulations include Dietitians,nursing, midwifery, emergency medical services(EMT), pharmacists, social workers, physicians and surgeons, dentists and dental hygienists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, athletic training. Governing, licensing, and law enforcement bodies are generally at the state level. In some cases, federal guidelines / regulations exist. For emergency medical services, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U. S. Department of Transportation has a national Scope of Practice. Just Sayin'

Hopefully this reply isn't too late, but you should be able to find that info on the California State Nursing Board website or something!

Is that not a PCT? In the hospital I worked in, only PCT's could do all of that. CNAs cannot. They were going to do a PCT program for us all to take so we could float to other units easily (I worked medical/surgical) and we all wanted to do it to better help the nurses (and get more practice in before nursing school!)

They'll most likely hire you and train you, just be ready for a very different change of pace. It can't always be as personal as home health is, but everyone gets attached to some residents :)