redhotzz

SMART lady, you are! I injured my lower back at an early age (24) slipped while cleaning a shower and herniated the L4-L5 and into S1 discs. Instead of running to surgery, my Chiropractor/Ortho MD hospitalized me for 8 weeks, in 35# of pelvic traction and kept me 'snockered' on pain meds and tranquilizers the whole time. ALL discs 'relaxed' and slipped back into place. I then went to PT for 3 weeks to a 'save your back clinic' specially for nurses/doctors and learned how to build my core, how to do the right exercises for lower back and what to do immediately, should I feel any 'twinges' of lower back pain again in the future. That was in 1976. In 2010, I finally blew out L1-L2 and was MIS-diagnosed by one ER doctor and then a clinic PA, so that I ended up with cauda equina syndrome on top of the herniation and by the time I got to a Chiropractor who would see me without any health insurance (2 months of constant pain) he took one xray and sent me to the Emergency Ortho Clinic and I was told IF I didn't have emergent surgery I would be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. I feel lucky that the Microdiskectomy helped me walk 100% again and I again have feeling in my pubic area and right thigh. Because of the time lapse involved, I do have residual burning pain most of the time, but I walk 3-4 miles/daily and when things get too painful, I see the Chiropractor who, in a few visits, can get the searing pain to let up some. I rarely take anything for the pain. Before I would allow any neck or back surgery to be done on me, ESP if young and in a medical career, I'd try Chiropractic 1st for a month to see if they can help. I bought 30 YEARS, before my old back had to be chopped on, and only then because of which discs were involved PLUS the bladder involvement. Old L4,L5 &S1...they still support me! Hardest thing about ALL of it is learning to WAIT until you have adequate lifting help...esp in the ER. We stay busy, we work short-staffed LOTS, and we are harder-headed and think, "just this once" or use a sheet, etc to assist us...please get good help and save your necks & backs!

Sorta like us WOMEN who got pegged as nutty or druggies when we had HORMONAL MIGRAINES every moknth...with PVCs. Once I got pregnent, at age 39, never had them again. Now, all kinds of treatments for migraines.Lucky for me, I stopped being the medical guinea pig for every Neurologis, Internist, OB-Gyn after I was put on Ludiomil at work and started to see the wallpaper drip! It was a cousin to LDS used for migriines in 1980. I feel for people who have ANY disease with few symptoms...RDS, chronic pain, fibromyalgia...because they get treated differently...SMH.

This is my first-hand understanding of what the 'deal' is with ALL the NC hospitals as of this time, at least in the Charlotte vicinity: they are mandating ALL RNs that do not have a BSN, to get it IMMEDIATELY or look for a 'demotion' in job. They want PROOF that you are currently enrolled in a BSN program and check it each semester. Anyone in management, who doesn't take this advice is being sent back to 'floor nurse' status and pay. If you are a dinosaur, like me at 59, too bad so sad. I can join the others and get my BSN now OR retire OR leave to do ECF nursing or Home Health...and I got the message. loud and clear, that those options would only be for the few next years til all of dinosaurs DO retire. If you have a job currently at Novant or CMC (and they have ALL the hospital jobs now, pretty much) and are enrolled IN a BSN conversion program, then you can pretty much work as much as you can for now. I'm a young 59, but Nursing is my 4th career and I am TIRED and will not go to college again...for any career. I've retired, and really I am happy that I have. There are many disgruntled RNs around my age who don't want the added expense or only have less than 5 or 10 yrs til retirement to go and they are not going quietly (and also being written up for any cause possible)! We have been hearing, "You're going to need your BSN degree now" since I began my career in 1970. I suppose this is the only way to MAKE IT HAPPEN now, and probably the reason you are not hearing from any recruiters, internship programs, etc. It's a mess. I do know NC was one of the founding states to begin the Compact States Licensing so I am betting they are one of the states to do this mandatory RN,BSN conversion. I know young women in FL who have gone through not one, but two nursing programs and have a Bachelors in some other career, like Psychology or Biology and still can't get a job as a RN at this time...and they have been told so many different reasons for such. I can only speak about what I have been through. I believe that the RNs who already have their BSNs are being "encouraged" to either go and get their Masters in Nursing Science, or in Hospital Administration OR they can go back and convert to Nurse Practitioner or go to a PA program. I believe it is being done to get ready for all us Baby Boomers who are retiring and ALSO some huge change in our Healthcare System, which we all know HAS TO CHANGE. The Dino MDs will be retiring as well, and many new MDs will not want to do any form of Socialized medicine so more advanced practice RNs there are, they more responsibility they will be shouldering. Truly, i don't mind, as I have often been treated better by the ARNP in any practice than I was the male MD...not a slam, just fact. IF you know different about all this, PLEASE voice what you know or tell what you know. I just know what I have seen and been through. I look forward to hearing what other states are doing, as I was lead to believe this is going on nationwide. I hope this helps someone who was making a huge move and didn't know why they had not heard from any jobs they wanted.

I always try NOT to tell, but it depends on many factors. If I'm the patient, I'm an impossible stick (and have let RN/techs stick me up to 13 times before I insisted Anesthesia be called~WON'T DO THAT AGAIN). If the situation or family member ill warrants it, or I'm being treated like an idiot, then I will tell the doctor that I am a medical professional. It does change things often. I'd NEVER go in wearing my name badge, like I see so many others do...even if they work in the kitchen or central supply. I'm an ER RN, so we see it all the time. It doesn't change one thing in MY performance, as I try to treat all my patients like they are family. I especially am humored, when someone tells me they are a Doctor and then via conversation, they are a DDS or PhD. "doctor". We get that often in the ER...esp via phone. HIPPA has helped it. I really am glad to see that I am with the majority in "sometimes" telling. I wouldn't act like the "bad apples" that try to control the show. When my Grandma was terminal, she called for me to have her put on a Morphine drip. We'd discussed it for years prior to her even being ill. I had to drive 12 hrs to the hospital and when I got there, all the floor nurses knew who I was from my Grandma's telling them. They got the drip started when I got there at midnight, and gave her extra boluses in between (they asked me if it was OK). When they went on breaks, they came to the room and asked me if they could bring me coffee or food, they changed her bed sheets Qshift to keep her clean and comfy. If my BEING a RN got her that, then she deserved it! I really believe they treated their patients like that on that floor. It wasn't phoney at all, and I was able to share 2 extra days with someone I adored.:heartbeat

WE are living in the age of DEGREED programs.Save yourself the hassle down the road, even if you are now a RN and call the BOARD governing that specialty in your state and GET THE FULLEST degree to enhance your RN now and be done with it. It only takes a few law suits and before you know it a one year diploma means nothing. You can't get too much training on someone's skin and you will be happy years from now when you get a job with all the degrees and have that knowledge, too. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. good luck to you!

Just when you think you've heard it all, something else comes along!!! That ADMIN came and told you that and apologized to him is just NOT right! People just never stop blowing my mind! (we need THAT lil' icon...a mind being blown~he!he!

I have worked in an office and have NEVER seen the doctors sign anything off as to a MA's advice. In NC, I don't know what the rules are on this, but I have listened to the MAs talk or advise while waiting in the waiting room and some of their interpretations leave much to be desired.

Just MY opinion, as kids are who they will be by I think age 5~you need to be a stay at home mom til they get into school. After that, go for it! Nursing is one of the fields wide open to what you can do and what hours you want to do it. I was fortunate to be a stay at home (single) Mom Sunday thru Thurs and worked every Fri/Sat nights 7p-7a. My ex got our son EVERY weekend and he was only supposed to have him every other. I didn't have to pay for child care when he was with Dad, hence everyweekend. On the major holidays, I usually gave Dad his choice because I could do things with him all day and get some winks before work or just do our holiday the next day. But...I'm certain you'll get many other opinions from many other women and men who juggle work, kids and marriage or single parenthood.

Honest to God...I hope that I am dead before this happens. No joke...this would be a sad day and I'm a Boomer getting ready to probably be on the receiving end of this mess! #1. I'll be continuing to take good care of my body. and #2. I'll be keeping a 'stash' of pills for the time that the above comes to fruition.

If it was me...I'd be looking for a new place to work ASAP, new grad or not. It's obvious from your witnessing the Charge nurse in it too. Learn this early>>>follow chain of command...pretty much no matter what. And keep notes at home of what you did, who you talked to and what the date was...it will come in handy later on. Since you are so new, and it appears that this is a tolerated thing on your unit, I might go to HR and speak to the Nurse Recruiter who you spoke to with the "I need some help...I'm thinking maybe I don't belong here" attitude and tell her what is going on. I am certain that there are laws that cover this type of gossip and how would YOU feel if they were discussing YOUR being in rehab and assuming they knew all the details... the BEST of luck to you, but you do not need that kind of peer to learn from...you WILL be either dragged into it OR if you do oppose the clan, they will get rid of you....someway...been there and done that!

I heard that LPNs were being phased out in 1970...in Miami, FL...and it's yet to happen! IMHO>>>do not waste your precious school time on either one...go and get your RN. You will end up redoing a lot of what you have already done ESP IF you let 5 yrs lapse...colleges want $$$. They will tell you anything to sell you. You know, I bet that is how I am seeing advertisements now for Vet RNs on classifieds...pardon moi....but I take offense, even as an animal lover and owner, that MOAs, Vet Techs etc call themselves "NURSES" when they aren't. If you want to be called one, go and do the work to BE one...it's really that simple. Hope this helps and you change your direction fast!!!!:redpinkhe:D

I hear what you say and I know all about patient ratios and how busy things can get...I'm a lifetime ER RN, and was a ER Tech in HS, and a PARAMEDIC for 17yrs. I must say that 1hr check and sign thing looks great on paper, but is a huge waste of dry erase boards and the pens. That job...should be for the patient rep that is scheduled in our ERs in Charlotte 24/7. THEY round...they can do only certain specific tasks and mostly must run it pass that patient's RN because they looooove to give out blankets to patients with fevers, but I have to spend some time with my patients and it will be with assessment and teaching while I am doing. It really takes no more time, and I pick up all kinds of things in doing so. If I ever retire, I'm going to write a book. I agree to disagree with you, but thanks for the input! :cheers:

For me...I have NEVER wanted to be in administration at all. I make that known when I change jobs. I am a "worker bee". I will do charge, but not all the time. I absolutely love to precept new nurses and EMTs...BRING THEM TO ME!!!:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe but I want nothing to do with higher up, who BTW never sees a patient unless we go into 'diverting' then 'the suits' are crawling all over the ER. That is not MY kind of nursing. I love to teach, whether it's discharge teaching or as I do stuff to my patients. I spent 13 YEARS telling MDs in the 80s that I felt women were having a MIs when they came in with different symptoms...one eye twitching, jaw pain only..and was often patted on the noggin...and several times in the ER I went ahead and put women on a monitor (at least) or did an EKG anyway and lo' and behold...acute MI! For my yearly educational fulfillment I did a study on women presenting with 'stress' and acute MI and after years of people seeing it....DUH!!! lookey here...the goofy redhead who thinks stress is gonna be our #1 killer is pretty much on the $$$. I've thought about adrenal fatigue/exhaustion for years...again, associated with stress and why so many people now need anti-depression meds. I saw people having withdrawl type symtoms from sudden stoppage of their anti-depressants and now that's a reality. I belonged at the bedside, and that that is how I saw what I saw that made me think the odd things that I thought. Sadly, they pay bedside RNs 20% more than Masters degree nursing school RNs...a study I just read. It is not worth the time and $$$ FOR ME to do that when I can be effective at the bedside. We all have to listen to our own drummers. :redbeathe

In these days of "I'm a Phoenix" advanced learning, it matters not where you went to school. In 40 yrs I have never been asked where I went to school or what kind of grades I made. When you are checked out they check you via your license # and name via computer. Please do not flog me about internet university. I am all for it! I just used it to make a point. I am not against learning in any fashion that works! I may be old, but I am totally with the times!:typing:nurse:

Absolutely do not beat yourself up for leaving...my eyes were made WIDE OPEN when I went to level 1 Trauma Center which also is a teaching hospital. Med students are taught the "7 minute rule". It's dictated by insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaid and that is WHY doctors don't want to talk to other doctors they CAN'T...that is why it's easier to tele-medicine. The docs of the past 15+ yrs know nothing different...I saw it taught to them and like I've noted before, when I was told on my evaluation and at other times, that I spend too much time with my patients I wrote that maybe bunk beds was a good idea for a Level 1 Trauma Center. I wasn't going to just jam in cardiac meds IVP that were supposed to be watched and walk away to the other hall because they put me on the 'split hall'. I absolutely saw patients die that didn't need to and that is why I will not name names. They were not mine, but you all know how you see things happen and can't do a thing about them except CYA in your notes. I lost 35 lbs in 3 months and kept it off over the 2 yrs I was there. I actually was afraid to go eat...I knew that nobody was really watching my patients when I was gone. I cried driving home at night...thinking how poor people were paying the price. I meet prior patients all the time who hug me and ask me, Are you still a nurse at such and such? when I tell them no, I'm working for myself now, they tell me, You were one of the only ones who cared at that place. They knew it and I knew it and it's dictated by the insurance companies these days. I've never met one MD who went to med school to take short cuts and do half-orificed patient care. Like us, they want to do a good job and most are compassionate, but they are taught from day #1 about economics and insurance companies and lobbiests in Washington. Sad....so very sad.