simonemyheart

Express your passion for the job. Everyone says "I always wanted to work with kids" or any other generic answer, make yours stand out.........instead let them know you and your story. Let them see your heart and your passion to make a difference. Don't be typical, be you.

Great post!!! As a nurse I love helping students, teaching, giving feedback, and watching them learn new skills.

I moved here from another state after graduation and had a hard time finding a job. I had given up and just decided to do what I have been doing for years.......let my husband take care of me and our family I only appiled for jobs when I felt like it after a while because no one would call me back and I really discourged. I applied one day and got a job. I was soooooooooooo happy. That feeling didn't last long. The job was making me hate nursing. There was no support, no education, 6 week orientation.....if you can really call it 6 weeks because one week is in orientation, one week is not doing anything but watching other nurses, and then I was placed out there on my own. Not to mention it is a specialty Tele/PCU floor. I couldn't take it anymore. Luckily right before I decided to quitI found a new job!!!!!! I can't say don't take what you can get but warned Florida is not like other states, they work you to the bone. I had on a good day a 6:1 pt ratio and on a bad day 8:1. Most PCU floors max you at 4:1 around the country.

It was more of a dig at the companies who advertise in night clubs, bars, casinos, loungers, etc. I am a nurse and I didn't realize the dangerous effects it was having on me. Granted I am far from a saint and kind a million things I have done in my life that have but me in a bad situation. Coming from the inner city, a failing school district, absent parents, and all in all on my own from an early age, I never thought about the warning labels. To me at the time it was decoration of the bottle....that's sounds so stupid now. When you are at an impressionable age and want to stay up for all hours of the night and get drunk, red bull and vodka was a growing trend. A lot of companies advertise things to teenagers but cover their butts by putting warning labels on them....that was my main point. My mindset at the time was drink to forget and do it all night. Now at 28 I will have life long issues from it. Yes, I messed up....yes, I realized I messed up......not everyone does until it is too late. *Had a "friend" die in the club from MI and no one knew until the club closed b/c we all thought she was drunk and passed out. Media is a scary thing

Helped my ADHD too

I was one of those pts. I had been drinking red bull and vodka for almost 4 years. I had chest pain for almost 2 years but never connected the dots. I went to the doctor for pain in my shoulder and we were just discussing everything and I mentioned how I was having chest pain all the time. Dr. ordered an EKG which showed an abnormal rhythm. I was referred to a cardiologist. I was found to have a blockage due to a substance "can't remember the name" that is similar to furaldehyde. When red bull and vodka are mixed together this substance develops. If you don't drink them often it is able to be secreted from the body, but if you drink them as often as I did 3-5x a wk, it becomes dangerous. Thank God my shoulder hurt that day or I might not be here today. Many ppl are dying or developing long-term complications from these drinks It's like you can drink alcohol all night and never be tired. But the companies put on the label "do not consume with alcohol" so they are not liable.

Hello.......I feel you're pain!!!! I work on in PCU and we can have up to 7 pts, but average 6:1. It is unsafe and fair to us or our pt's. I just got a new job and I look forward to turning in my 2 wk notice. You are a brave woman!!!!

If you are near the tampa area I know a good hospital that takes new grads

I was also an aide before I became a nurse and after being on both sides I don't think it is fair to blame the RN for the load CNA's have to do. STAFFING!!! STAFFING!!! STAFFING!!! Is often the problem. Many facilities higher up's have no idea what we do and how we need help. All they know is that the work is getting done so they don't invest in more staff. As aide in a SNF I had a load of 16+ patients and for me it wasn't worth killing my body over. I decided to look else where for a job and it took me 8 months to find a hospital where each CNA was taking care of 6 pts. With that being said as an RN my job is physically and mentally draining. I have seen CNA's who recently became GN's and have said time and time again they had no idea the mental toll of an RN takes. If something goes wrong for any reason (including if the CNA forgot to do something) the RN is reprimanded. At the end of the day we all have to play our roles. As a nurse one of our jobs it to delegate care and that is not saying that we cannot help with ADL's but if I have blood running a one pt and another on a cardizem drip and one on TPN and lipids and all of their labs are coming back critical it is my job to delegate other tasks to the CNA. I do not like bedside nursing and I am working to find another job in the nursing field and if a CNA doesn't like there job they have the opportunity to chase their dream as well. I can't afford to quit right now but I can work towards my goal. I adore my CNA's and always lend a hand when I can but if I can't at the time I will delegate. It is the same as me saying to my director as she walks around the floor not helping or answering call light (BTW she was a floor nurse at one time) to stop the meeting she is in to run blood for me.............Even though it is apart of their job to help in that way if the RN is busy but they never do. Remember that it is all about pt care and if I have a critical lab on a pt and I am trying to reach the doctor it is my job to delegate and request aide to grab vital on this pt. We each have a role in care and it is not fair to blame the RN for the reasons you stated.

I know at my facility they are not hiring LPN's due to the push for RN's and the lack of jobs of new RN's I think it would be even harder for LPN's. The insurance companies pay more out to hospitals that have a greater number of RN's. There are a few LPN's at my facility but they have all been there for 5-15 yrs. My hospital is small and are hiring new nurses without a problem. I think a lot o new grads don't think to apply for smaller hospitals around the area.

I get to work about 6:45, get my pt assignment for the day. I look up the H&P, consults, order's, labs, VS hx - to not trend or change. I go and look in on my pt's rooms to make sure no one is in distress and assess who is the most critical. I get report on my pt's during walking rounds, I check IV sites, IV tubing, rates of drips. Who's on a drip, who's getting antibiotic or other IV fluids, who's on maintenance fluids. Is there any out of date tubing, IV's, is everything labeled. I only really write down in report info that I have not looked up and all the nurses know that I do this so it's no longer a problem. We do not have doctors in our hospital at all times so I like to call the MD's in the AM regarding orders I may need - pt in pain -need pain meds, low H&H as compared to previous labs, a decline of of pt's condition, Dr. So and So has cleared this pt can they be DC'ed, clarify meds, etc. I like to it this way b/c our floor gets crazy busy and it's easier to do whatever I can earlier. I pull my meds, grab supplies, and to my morning assessments. I make sure I focus on lung sounds - with IV fluids I hate fluid overload, pulses, perfusion, O2 sat, VS, heart sounds, LOC, all that good stuff. In between all this Im being called away for phone calls, pt in pain, pt has nausea, demanding family members who want to know why my grandpa who just had a stroke is NPO, critical labs coming in, some pt's heart rate is in the 30's, Im getting a new admit when I already have 6 pt's........... After all this maybe I have time to sit down and chart, while Im charting the unit director wants to know why I'm charting when I could be the room talking to my pt about there life - BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO SAVE THEIR LIFE AND IF I DON'T CHART YOU WILL BE ASKING ME WHY HAVEN'T I CHARTED YET. Then their are random people who want to know if grandma can have more vanilla ice cream but can I make it look like a sundae and mix it with chocolate pudding with crushed graham crackers on top. And of course I have to jump up and do it because we have to keep those HCAP scores up and my favorite thing to do is play waitress. Pt X spent all his time asking me questions about anything and everything and I answer but not to his satisfaction and then the doctor comes in and gives him the same answer but he forgets the rest of his questions and is on the call light wanting to know more answers when he could have asked to the doctor 30 seconds ago but he tells me that he doesn't want to bother the doctor because he is too busy. Yeah, like I'm not. That's my day or at least the first 3 hours, the other 9 are just as bad.

1. How many goodies your doctors get Is your doctor prescribing you certain drugs because those are the best for your condition or because of a pharmaceutical company's influence? Here's one way you can find out. The Physician Payment Sunshine Act under health care reform requires drug, device or medical supply companies to report annually certain payments or things of value that they've given physicians and teaching hospitals. This could be speaking fees, consulting fees, meals and travel. So, you can find out which and how much companies pay doctors or health care workers. The companies are obligated to report annually about physician ownership and their financial investments. All this would be available on a public website. Effective date: Final rule is expected December 2014. 2. More breastfeeding rooms and breaks Many working mothers now get a more appropriate place for expressing breast milk than they had before. Employers must provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk." Nursing mothers also can take "reasonable breaks" during the workday to express milk, as frequently as the mother needs. The exception is companies with fewer than 50 employees, which can claim it's an undue hardship. Effective date: March 23, 2010. The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items. 3. Caloric reality at every major chain restaurants Under the law, you would walk into a place like McDonald's and see calories listed under every menu item -- Big Mac (540 calories), McNuggets (10 pieces- 470 calories) and medium fries (380 calories). The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on menus and drive-through menus. Other fun facts like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein would have to be made available in writing upon request. So far, there is mixed evidence about whether calorie postings sway nutritional choices. The rule also extends to vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines. The FDA issued a report in April 2011, and left out movie theaters among those establishments required to post calories. So, if implemented, you can tell how many calories your sandwich has at Subway, but you won't be able to tell how many calories your buckets of popcorn have at the movie theater. Effective date: The FDA has not yet issued a final rule, so there is no time line on its implementation. 4. Abstinence-only education The health care legislation renews $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-only education. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "programs that receive this funding must teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems." And they also have to teach that sex before marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects." For every four federal dollars a state receives, it must match $3 (75% of the federal money, in other words). 5. Flexible spending accounts stiffen Flexible spending accounts previously could be used to buy over-the-counter drugs and vitamins. As of 2011, the accounts became restricted to prescription drugs, although in some cases a doctor can "prescribe" over-the-counter medicines to make them count. Health care related purchases that still qualify include condoms, contact lens solution, home diagnostic tests and bandages. But note that in 2013, your contribution amount to these accounts will have an annual limit of $2,500; previously there was no limit. Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the medication provision; January 1, 2013, for the contribution limit. 6. Tanning will cost you You've been paying a 10% tax every time you've visited the tanning booth, thanks to health care reform. The UV-emitting tanning devices have been classified as "carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization. Indoor tanning has also been banned for minors in California because of the potential for skin cancer. Effective date: July 1, 2010. 7. Support for wellness programs at work Face it, staying healthy in a stressful workplace with the tempting soda machine in the break room can be tough. But the health care reform law gives companies incentives to start wellness initiatives. Small business got incentives in 2011, when companies with fewer than 100 employees working at least 25 hours per week became eligible for wellness program grants. The law sets up a $200 million grant program from 2011 to 2015. As of 2014, participants in wellness programs generally can get discounts or rewards from their employers of up to 30% of the cost of their health care premiums (currently, the maximum discount is 20%). That reward can go up to 50% if the secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury deem it appropriate. Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the small business and January 1, 2014, for the potential discount raise. 8. Free preventive care Mammograms, physical exams, colonoscopies, vaccinations -- these are among the preventive care services that will be fully covered by insurance companies. This requirement kicked in for new health insurance plans that began on or after September 2010. Examples of preventive care include screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, which are covered without a co-pay. For women, this would also cover genetic counseling for the BRCA gene for women at higher risk of breast cancer, mammograms every one or two years for women over age 40 and HPV DNA testing every three years for women. For kids, the services include autism, vision, developmental and lead screenings. The complete list is available here. Effective date: All health insurance plans must comply by 2018. 9. Home visits to expecting families The law also includes funding support for early childhood home visitation for people expecting children and families who have young children. Professionals come to the home to provide information and support. The aim is to reduce child abuse and neglect, promote the health of mothers and their children and prioritize high-risk populations. Research supports such positive outcomes. The health care law provides $1.5 billion for related state-based initiatives over five years. Effective date: Began in 2010 with $100 million for fiscal year. 10. Health plans you can read Have you ever been confused by the language in health insurance plans? The health reform law requires health insurers and health plans to provide concise and understandable information about the plan and its benefits. According to the Health and Human Services press release, "The new rules will also make it easier for people and employers to directly compare one plan to another." Patients have a right to two key documents to understand and compare their health insurance choices: a comprehensible summary of benefits (which is standardized similar to nutrition facts on packaged foods) and a glossary of terms of health insurance coverage. Effective date: September 23, 2012.

One thing I am sure all of us can agree with with....... When I had my first child in the UK I was young, dumb, and alone. I had no idea how to take care of a baby. My midwife came to my house everyday to help me care for the baby and teach me how to do it myself. My husband travelled for work and was not always home so I needed as much help as possible. After I felt comfortable the midwife turned me over to the health visitor. A health visitor is the equivalent to a ANRP in America. She came to my house 2-3x a week (she could more days but that was all I felt like I needed). She taught me how to cook, clean, sterilize, prepare food, freeze food, breast feed, put baby to sleep, swaddle baby(I had no idea what that was at the time :loveya:) , etc. When it was time to transition to solids she came with equipment for me to keep with everything I need to make and store food. You might think, did I get that for some special reason..........NOPE, everyone gets it no matter of social status. Just think how many young parents could benefit for the service. Not just young mothers - all mothers. When you are alone you are more prone to postpartum depression and other complications.

I live in the UK for years and LOVED it. There was such a peace of mind knowing that I didn't have to choose between taking care of family or taking care of my health. Not to mention France has the #1 rated healthcare system. What part of Europe are you from?

I am so excited!!!! Health care is not a privilege it is a RIGHT!!!! Example - I just bought a brand new car, no driving hx and/or no previous accidents. I have NO choice but to buy car insurance because it is the law. If I get caught driving without insurance or an accident I have now racked up thousands of dollars in debt....................WITHOUT insurance - the car I hit is totaled and I have no way to pay for their car or mine, SO......what happens - the insurance company of the other car will have to pay to have their car fixed/replaced and will sue me for the money (which I don't have and most likely will never have). The other car's owner insurance rate will go up and to off set cost average prices for insurance will go up. WHY are premiums going up (at least one reason, I know there are others) - b/c I was irresponsible and did not buy car car insurance or bought it for one month so I could drive the car off the lot and then cancelled. Is the insurance companies taking away my constitutional rights by making me buy insurance. Is the state taking away my constitutional rights by imposing fines on me for not buying insurance. Is government/state taking away my constitutional rights by imposing my car...........I should have the right not to buy car insurance and pay the bill for the totaled car when it comes in the mail because I have $20,000 dollars in my bank account that I can't wait to give the insurance company. Just think if everyone bought car insurance and the premiums were lower I may have been able to afford to pay, right? I don't know if this law is going to be the saving grace to our health care problems but isn't is a start, isn't worth exploring? I mean we haven't tried it yet. I have tried several different ways to make my meatloaf and I am still trying to find a way to make it work. Now I know car insurance and health insurance or two different things. I know, I know, I know!!!!!! It was just a thought :loveya: