missiedi

Love what you had to say. I oved my clinical rotation in the nursing home and told my class mates I would be returning there to work and to say I was ridiculed is putting it mildly. My first job out of school was for a very prestigious medical center in NYC,which had been a dream for me. I got my start in neurology. I really liked my job but at that time rotating shifts was mandatory and I could not handle it due to having two small children. I applied at that nursing home and after six months was promoted to what we called Head Nurse at that time. I loved it just as I suspected. I stayed five years and left due to relocating. I returned to NYC five months later and went right back into LTC. Without going on and on, most of my career has been varied but somehow tied into geriatrics,which is what I actually have a BA in as well as AD in Nursing. I have been a director,home health aid instructor and settled into home care which I have done for most of the remainder of my career.Again,the majority of my patients have been the elderly and I have found it very rewarding. The most important thing is to keep your own focus and standards,try and make changes for the positive. Lead by example,don't gripe and if change is not possible go where your experience and standards will be appreciated. PS. I have also been exposed to supervisors and directors that were less than exemplary.

I think it was very unprofessional for a DON to make this comment to a new hire. She is already setting an atmosphere for a hostile environment. If she were really upset by so called 'bad" habits, she would initiate a retraining/refresher program or in-service on best practices,etc for her nursing staff. She should also look at the policies and procedures that might need updating/revision. Why not meet with Mds or NPs who write med orders and educate them on why 9 Pm meds for example might not work for all residents. If this does not work then maybe there are staff that should be asked to seek employment elsewhere(putting it gently) .

Best of luck to you. I hope you like it,that is the most important thing. I spent many years in LTF before going into home care and I found it very helpful that I had that experience as it made transitioning into home care easier, as most of the patients are elderly. I loved every minute and found it to be very rewarding.

All I can say is :arghh:ugh!

I so agree. I do not want to be hired because I am a sharp dresser but rather on my skills and intelligence . I do agree that some health care professionals do not have a professional appearance and leave a lot to be desired. I would start with the ones I see outside the hospital buildings puffing away on their cancer sticks and reek of stale tobacco. And while we are discussing nurses, let us not forget some of the sloppy,overweight MD's out there.

Kudos to you. I really admire you.

I suggest that you register with an agency. They usually have a variety of positions. Try and think outside of the box. I know it is scary but try and find support amongst your fellow nurses. A few years ago, I was out of work for a few months having moved to another country where I could not practice. Upon my return, I found myself in a quandary as to what exactly I wanted to do. I registered with an agency that sent me to a variety of situations,which included occupational health sites,something that I had never done or experienced. I was scared at first but was lucky to be sent to companies that were very supportive. I also was sent to the hospital settings in areas I had never worked,such and postpartum,recovery rooms, etc. I did this for three or four months and then decided to return to a full time position in a Nursing Home which was always my first love. After a three years stint or so I ventured into home care which I have done off and on for 28 years. It is scary but have faith in yourself. I left the field for 18 months 10 years ago,grew restless and at 56 decided to return to the company I went to work for in the 80's, as a per diem home care nurse. I was welcomed back with open arms and fell right back into place as though I had never left. Get a new hair style and a confident attitude,wear them both to your interviews,you will make it. Ps. If you don not have current CPR I would take that course before going out there,most agencies will require it. Good Luck!

Good for you. this has to stop. I hope this was reported and an incident report filled out. Not only would I meet with this doc but with hospital administration and the nursing administration at the school you are or were attending.Get everything in writing just in case, God forbid, you get sick. I think you might be able to report this directly to OSHA as well. I need to share that I walked away from a $80,000 position due to unethical practices that I tolerated for about 3yrs(worked there for 10). When I confronted my administration about the issue,their response was " Why now" meaning I never had done anything about it before. My answer was 'Why did it ever even happen:rolleyes" ? My only regret is that I did not do it sooner. I slept a lot better at night,took 18 months off,doing freelance work and returned to home care field position part time and am happy. Ps I never again have nor will I ever compromise my ethics for a job or anything else.

This is happening more and more,leading to increased spending. I work in home care, it is driven by medicare/medicaid. The more the patient gets the bigger the reimbursement. I find it very discouraging especially with the economy the way it is. This type of behavior is what has lead to the economic crisis. We are living in a gimme more society that seems to not know limits. Meanwhile,I have seen patients who deserve more denied, especially if they only have medicare. Obama should have appointed an RN to his health care position if he really wanted the truth.

if you mean did i sign a contract? yes i did.

thanks for your support and good luck to you as well. i have to make this work my credibility is at stake. my focus however is a little different. the agency i am consulting for is just starting and awaiting approval. it will actually be training home health aides ly and sub-contracting as a provider of home health aide services. i did get a tip to use info from cdc,osha for some general policies like emergency disaster, infection control, fire safety etc. for employee forms you can go to office depot for free downloadable forms that might help with employee policies. if i get through this i will then be contracted to write a training program. right now there is a president ,vp, and rn which would be me not a direct employee at this time.

thanks to you all for such a warm welcome. john bosco i would certainly appreciate your friends email or here is mine: [email protected]. i will sure keep everyone posted on my progress.

just starting out and was wondering if any one has suggestions on where to find info on writing policies,procedures,training, developing agency forms etc. this will be for the start up of a new home health care agency. any place where i can obtain ideas/how to's that are free or low cost. trying to keep expenses down. thanks everyone. i am new here and really enjoying what all of you are doing.:)

started a major project setting up policies and procedures etc for new home care company opening nyc area. any one have any suggestions on where to find materials ,publications etc to help with this project? any help is greatly appreciated. thanks