Prof Reed

I was observing a nursing student doing a dressing change. I gloved just in case I needed to help her out during the process. To keep my gloves sterile, I clasp my hands together in front of my chest. The patient is watching the student and then watching me. He says to me: "Are you praying that everything will turn out okay?" At first, I didn't know what he was talking about, then realized how my folded hands, posture, head slightly bent forward (so I could see better) must look to the patient. I assured him that prayer wasn't needed at that time and that the student was doing an excellent job with the dressing change. We all had a good laugh over that one.

Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville Florida offers the IV Certification Course for LPNS. Usually it is offered 3-4 times a year. Next one coming up will be in June. Call Lois Ellis 352-395-5730 for further information. It is a 30 contact hour course. You may also take 20 hours of the course online and then do the 10 hour clinical at the school. This is usually done on the last day of the class. I believe that the cost is $275.00. Check with other commuity colleges. Brooksville is on I-75 and so is Gainesville. Would probably be an hour drive each way. SFCC is visable from I-75. Good luck.

These posts have certainly been enlightening. The majority of the posts were enlightening, some crude, some to the left or right. Everyone has the right to form their own opinions and belief systems and may act upon those as they choose. The line is crossed when those opinions and beliefs interfere with another persons. ie: you must believe what I believe and act the way that my belief systems says you must (not that I necessairly act that way myself - double standard). It seems that the USA is hung up on anything related to sex. NurseCathy: I hope these posts have helped you and ultimately your student(s). Take heart. "Nothing is either good or bad unless you make it so." Keep an open mind and heart and allow everyone to be themself (whatever or whomever that may be).:balloons: :balloons: :balloons:

I am also a Practical Nurse Educator. Persons should be admitted to programs based on accepted admissions practice (ie: scores, etc) NOT on who or what they are or are perceived to be. Granted, having a person who presents one day as male and the next day as female could be disrupting to classes and clinicals. Ground rules would have to be established with this person as to whom they wish to be portrayed as, male or female and then stick to that. As long as this person has a sincere wish to be a nurse and is qualified, then who am I to say that this person is not worthy to be in the nursing program, just because I am uncomfortable with who or what they are or are becoming. As to having a transgendered person taking care of me...I could care less. When I have been in the hospital, I don't inquire about the nurses family, sex or any other personal matter. It does not affect my care. Now, I may ask them where they went to school, how long have they been a nurse, because this information MAY affect my care. I want a nurse who is attentive, caring, knowledgeable and most of all, SAFE. What they do in there personal life is their business. Educators have the job of teaching and setting professional examples NOT passing judgement on someone's personal life. Too many times, educators try to push on to the students, their own beliefs and standards, rather than accepting the students as they are. People should be allowed to be whomever they wish to be, without interference UNLESS their behavior in some way interferes with your freedom to be yourself. If more people in the world practiced this, we would have a much better place to live in.

Hi: I teach in the LPN program at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville Fl. Many of our students come into the LPN program because 1. they don't have the prereqs done for the ASN programs, 2. they can work as an LPN while taking prereqs and make more money, 3. we have an LPN to RN Bridge program where after you graduate from SFCC and work as an LPN for 6 months (preferably in acute care), you can apply for the bridge program the next year and join the 2nd year RN students, thus completing your RN degree in 2 years (provided you have the prereqs done). The advantage of becoming an LPN first is that you can make more money while taking prereqs and while in the last year of the RN school. There are a number of LPN programs in the state. Go to the following website for further information: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_consumer.html . Scroll down to the bottom and click on the "Registered and Practical Nurse Training Progarms". LPN programs start on page 3. When checking out the schools, ask what is their state board pass rate. this will tell you how good the school is. At Santa Fe Community College, last year (2003) our pass rate was 100%!! Now that dosn't happen every year, but we consistently have been in the 95% and up range. IN all programs, LPN and RN, there is usually a list. Program lengths vary from 10.5 months (ours) to 18 months. The shorter the program, the more intense it is. Having been in school is a plus for you as you already know study habits, etc. The age range for our current class is 21 - 54 years old. If you would lilke more information about the LPN program here at SFCC, go to our website http://www.sfcc.edu, click on the index, click on "N", click on "Nursing Progarms", click on "PN" for LPN program specifi information. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Have you checked with the Florida State Board of Nursing on getting your license here in Florida?? I know that some of the states do not meet Florida qualifications for LPN licensure. Go to the Florida Board of Nursing website (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_home.html[/url]) for more information. Here in the Gainesville area, north central florida, north on I-75 about 1.5 hrs above Pasco Co., the LPN wages are about the same as what you are making. However, remember, that Florida does not have a state income tax, so whatever state tax you are paying now, if you make the same amount (11.20/hr) you would be giving yourself an automatic raise (depending on the percentage of your current state tax ie: 6%). That was nice when I moved here from Michigan. Let me know if I can be of more assistance.:balloons: :balloons: