AmyB

I love my job. I work part time at a LTC facility and I love to spend time with these wonderful people that are sometimes forgotten. There are hectic days, and there are days where I wonder what the heck I'm doing, but I wouldn't trade my job for anything else out there.

San Jacinto Central ADN program Alvin Community College ADN (I think)

What wonderful news!!! Be sure to celebrate thoroughly this weekend.

6 min. drive if I hit the light green. 7 min. drive if the light is red.

This is what was drilled into our heads in school. I guess I'd never given it much thought since then as it was very clear what we were to do...

I am so grateful to be blessed with the CNA's that I get to work with. So many of them are dedicated individuals who are proud of the work they do and care for the residents like they were family. I understand that some may not show the respect you deserve, but many more of us are thrilled to get to work with you. Best wishes!

Just passed it on to all my former nursing instructors and nurse friends. Awesome!!!

I graduated from San Jac Central May 2005. The clinical sites range from the Medical Center to UTMB to East Houston RMC and I'm not sure how much further west and north of town. Good luck and best wishes with this change in your life.

I thought my yesterday at work was impressive. BS 30. Recheck after 6 oz of oj and 6 sugar packets - BS 28. No order for glucagon, so had to keep on with the oj and sugar. MD was unable to be contacted after numerous attempts. She finally called back 4 hours later asking what the problem was. WTH?!? Found out at the end of my shift that the resident's BS the previous morning was 29, verified by the lab. No mention in report or anything. Gotta love LTC.

I found some New Balance that filled the requirements and lasted forever. I graduated in '05 and have been wearing them to work since. I think it's finally time for some new ones.

Congrats kmbridges!!! I didn't realize they had a night ADN program. It would seem that school would be all you would be able to do - study and read during the day, classes and clinicals at night. I can definitely relate to not ever seeing kids and DH. We had to reintroduce ourselves after graduation. Best wishes!!!

I have three kids aged 5, 6, and 7 when I started my pre reqs for nursing school. I waited to begin until my baby was in school full time. I was very fortunate during nursing school (I've learned from reading this board) to have been able to schedule all but one of my clinicals for times when my kids were in school. After graduation, I would have liked to work in a hospital, but wasn't willing to do the day care thing. All hospitals I looked at here schedule 12 hour shifts. I also wanted to be home with my kids after school and in the mornings. I was fortunate to find a nursing home close by (5 min commute each way) that would let me work days (6-2 now, 7-3 when I started) so I would get home soon after my kids got off the bus. School nursing is another option worth looking into. I wasn't able to make it work for me, but maybe it will work for you? I understand that my situation is the exception to most of the rules, but I have been very satisfied with my current situation. I hope you can find a solution that suits your family's and your needs. Best wishes!

We have 8's. It used to be 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7. Last Friday it changed to 6-2, 2-10, and 10-6 to provide more staff on site when residents are being awakened and gotten out of bed. My first shift with the new schedule is Tuesday. Should be interesting

No bonuses except for being able to continue working. Also, if you get lucky, you'll be working when family members of our LTC bring in food for the staff. That's it. Whoopee!!!

Our residents have assigned smoking times and our aides take them to an outside location to smoke. If the aide smokes, he/she can bring his/her own and smoke with the residents. Under no circumstances are the aides allowed to accept "gifts" from residents. We just had one of our aides terminated for accepting cigarettes from a resident.

I do love it in the fall when we "get" an extra hour. Sometimes it doesn't really make a difference in my day, but today, it seems to be significant for some reason. I keep looking at the clock, unable to believe how early it is and that I have gotten so much done already today.

So, what's the good news??? When do you start? Amy

We couldn't even chew gum!!! It helps me to relax and has been proven to stimulate memory (I read somewhere), but it was left in the trash at the door.

To summarize my current situation, I graduated nursing school in May 2005, passed boards June 2005, and began working part time Sept 2005 at a local LTC facility. Apparently after one years time, employees receive a raise - mine was a whopping 3%. I relate well with the other staff members and residents. The only disciplinary action taken against me during this first year was a write up over a minor incident. My question here is how much was your first raise and how long did your facility wait to give it to you? Is 3% common, or should I look for other employment where nurses are more valued?

Here, I started as a new grad at a nursing home last year making what I would have started out at working at a hospital.

I've had mine for 7 years and love it. No hormones. No hassle. Fabulous.

That was beautiful. What a wonderful story. I, too, love working with the geriatric population and am surprised by how much I miss them when I'm off.

I've had my child's school nurse call me for a bump on the head from playing on the playground at recess just so I'd know to be on the lookout for any changes in condition. She knows I'm a nurse and we get along well, so we're comfortable talking "shop". I can see her doing that for any student, even though the injury may seem minor at the time, to educate the parents and help them to be aware.

Splinters. My first and foremost thought is SPLINTERS!!!

One thing I learned while in nursing school with kids (aged 5, 6, and 7 when I began) is that kids are great. They can be very understanding. You are providing them with an excellent example of the importance of education and hard work. This lesson will not be lost as they continue throughout childhood and into adulthood. I, too, had moments where I felt like a complete failure as a mother. Then my kids would say or do something that made all the effort worthwhile. I always tried to remind myself that I can do anything for any given length of time - one semester of algebra (I hate math), one clinical of nights (who will keep my kids?), or two years of killing myself to make it through nursing school and achieve the goals I had set out for myself. You can do this and you and your family will be better for your efforts. Best wishes!