peglegpeg

NFLPN Soon In Northern Kentucky Post #1 peglegpeg Senior Member Registered: Sep 2003 Location: Posts: 52 Opening Soon! Post #1 I am pleased to announce that the northern Kentucky chapter of the NFLPN will be up and running soon! Have patience - it is a work still in progress - lol - but I AM making prgress. P __________________ nursing - ya gotta love it!

"SORRY IF i CAME ACROSS AS NEGATIVE THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION, I TOO WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR LPN'S. I AM PROUD OF WHAT I GIVE , AND HOPE WE REMAIN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A LPN?" You didn`t come across as negative - a little discouraged, maybe -I never WAS discouraged by being an LPN until I read all the LPN-RN debates -LOL. I have been an LPN for 25 years - over half my life! And this is going to be a grand year - we here in the US are seeing nursing history made. Back to the point.... I received a phone callfrom the NFLPN - I am very pleased and proud to report that the organization leaders are actively helping me to establish a northern Kentucky chapter. I have talked to the nurses I work with, and some of them, and a LOT of CNA`s, are interested in joining. Now I need to find a president for our chapter. I had much rather do the behind-the-scenes work and let someone else be the spokesman - LOL. But interest is picking up, and public interest is picking up, also. It just goes to show you what one person can do, if they try! I suggest you go into search engines and find out everything you can about the Canadian system. Then begin to improve it. I am making progress here, one step at a time. :roll P

Can anyone tell me the staffing ratio for TX LTC facilities for both CNA and nurse? Or can you tell me where I might find it?? PLEASE HELP!!TEXAS Standard Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part I, Chapter 145 Texas Dept of Human Services, sec. 19.1001,2 Professional Nurse Coverage At a minimum, the facility must maintain a ratio of 1 licensed nursing staff person for each 20 residents or a minimum of 0.4 licensed-care hours per resident day. The facility must designate an RN to serve as DoN on a full-time basis. There must be a licensed nurse to serve as charge nurse on each tour of duty. Facility must use the services of an RN for at least 8 consecutive hours per day, 7 days per week. Staff Counted in Standard Licensed nurses who may be counted include, but are not limited to, DoN, Assistant DoN, Staff Development Coordinators, Charge Nurses, and Medication/Treatment Nurses. Staff, who also have administrative duties not related to nursing, may be counted in the standard only to the degree of hours spent in nursing related duties. Nursing Waiver Yes I hope this helps. P

"Well said..... only I dont know what we can do to turn things around, it seems every time I check the LPN post it is all about LPN'S up grading. Is it all about money or do they feel that they have no credability as a nurse." It is a good thing for LPN`s to upgrade, to further their own education. But that will not stop the nursing shortage in any way, shape, or form. LPN`s are a vital part of the American healthcare system,and will be more so, as the baby boomers age. "I find this subject so stressful, how can we make the bodies in power aware of how valuable we really are?" I`m not aware of Canada`s healthcare system, but if I were you I`d think in a more positive light, about who you are and what you are capable of, as an LPN. We are worth a lot - we are worth a fortune, actually - and if somebody codes and we bring them back,we are PRICELESS! We are good, functional, well-trained professionals - we just don`t have the advanced book-learning that the RN`s have. And we are getting deeper and deeper into the IV side of nursing, as well. Look at the apathy and disinterest displayed on the Kentucky nursing board. THIS is what is wrong with the LPN`s today. We are not together as a group - we are not in the NFLPN - we are not a team - we are just wobbling along, not knowing or caring what happens to us. I am one person, and I am doing this one step at a time. But each step I take is one step forward, for the good of all. You can do the same. Take it one step at a time. I will help you all I can. P

"If we were all men this would never be tolerated! It is sad to say but...... Women seem to be too accomodating." You are right! Us ladies all went to school and got a vocation - a career - and since then it seems like we`ve laid down......We need to make our voices heard across this nation! There are approximately 750,000 LPN`s in the US - what is WRONG with us?We are a substantial part of the healthcare system - we need to act like it! Nothing will ever change as long as we stand silently by and let a handful of people control our working lives. Get up! Get up and get going! I am making a diference here- one step at a time. P PS - hey, carz - glad you are man enough to be a nurse! LOL P

HOW MANY HANDS? are caring for your loved ones in a nursing home? Not enough! I am lobbying for KENTUCKY legislation to pass for nursing home minimum wage staffing reform. This is a serious problem - the nursing homes are desperately understaffed! One NURSE simply cannot provide adequate care to 50-60 patients. One CNA simply cannot give adequate care to 30-40 people. Nursing home residents are suffering daily from lack of staffing. Please - add your voice - AND YOUR VOTE - to mine! Let`s give our elderly the care they need and deserve! Vote YES for minimum staffing standard reform in Kentucky! The general public is unaware of how poorly the state of Kentucky nursing homes are staffed. They believe that the N/H`s have adequate staffing to meet the patients` needs. Below is an excerpt of a report of the guidelines of the NCCNHR-approved federal staffing standards: Adequate numbers of well-trained, well-supervised staff are critical to quality in long term care. The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-203) promised each nursing home resident that s/he had the right to expect care and services from the nursing home which would allow him/her to "attain or maintain his/her highest practicable level of physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning." Unfortunately, however, Congress did not go that extra step and require a specific minimum caregiver/resident ratio or a minimum standard setting out the number of hours per patient day that a resident should be receiving care. In 1990, Congress did require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and report to Congress by January 1, 1992 on the appropriateness of establishing minimum supervisor to caregiver to resident ratios and provide recommendations on such ratios. Only now, in 1999, is that report being completed. The Department of Health and Human Services expects such a report and recommendation to be submitted to Congress in 2000. Until the federal report was completed, the role of setting specific standards was left to the States to develop and implement. Most states have a specific minimum standard in state law, regulation, or policy. None of those state standards, however, meet the Consumer Minimum Staffing Standard - a standard developed by nursing professionals with long term care expertise and adopted by the membership of the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (in 1995 and an updated version in 1998). The Consumer Minimum Staffing Standard requires, at the very least: FOR EVERY NURSING FACILITY: A full-time RN Director of Nursing A full-time RN Assistant Director of Nursing (in facilities of 100 beds or more) A full-time RN Director of In-service Education An RN nursing supervisor on duty at all times (24 hours, 7 days per week) Direct caregivers (RN, LPN, LVN, or CNA) Day 1:5 residents Evening 1:10 residents Night 1:15 residents PLUS Licensed nurses (RN, LPN, or LVN) Day 1:15 residents Evening 1:20 residents Night 1:30 residents PLEASE! DO YOUR PART AND VOTE THIS INTO LAW! EMAIL [email protected] MINIMUM STAFFING REFORM NCCNHR KATHY STEIN - KENTUCKY STATE LEGISLATURE AARP

"NFLPN has alittle more to their site, even has a discussion board of which 65 whole members are registered. The most they ever had online in one day was 5!" Excellent information - thanks! I will promote the use of their website as much as I possibly can! I don`t know yet how active the NFLPN is re: MSS legislation, but if they see us nurses getting actively involved, it will certainly further our cause. P

"Since most LPN's are going on to persue the RN degree and become members of the ANA, what's the point in them fighting for us??? I'm just disgusted with it all and at 47, going back to school is probably a waste of time." I know plentyof LPN`s wo are "lifers" - like myself. I never wanted to be an RN - I wanted to be a bedside nurse, and at the time I went to LPN school, all the RN`s were supervisors - the LPN`s did all the floor work. I respect any RN who is a good nurse, and I respect the authority the supervisors have over me - I just don`t want to be one of them. We all have our place in life, and being an LPN is mine. The point is that, if you start promoting public information and awareness, and work towards getting the MSS laws passed, we can see history made in our lifetime. P

I used to frequent the NFLPN a lot back a couple of years ago, But when folks would ask questions directed at those in control of the organization, many times NO ONE would answer it. Like the fact that it takes MONTHS to get your membership card...even after paying with credit card! I emailed them once, and NEVER did get a response! They have just this year changed the setup there, and you can't find any posts ealier than when they changed the site. They used to have some regulars on the there...but I don't even see them anymore. In the process of promoting change, I have emailed the executive director of the NFLPN 4 times in the last week. She has answered promptly on 3, and I am waiting for the 4th. I must say that I am enormously pleased that I have gotten her attention in this matter. I wondered why there was apparently no active chapter in the state of Kentucky, and would it be possible to start one. Her response, and I quote - was "go for it"! (What a rush for me!) WE have to initiate change - WE THE NURSES have to get involved! I encourage anybody interested to do the same - WE can - and will - make the difference, if we only try! P