Julz034

I'm not an OB nurse, just an experienced Momma! From my experience with four children, those are never on target. My last, they said she'd be 9-10lbs, she was 7 lbs 6 oz. Even the L&D felt my stomach and said did they estimate the weight on this baby! I said yes, they said 9-10lbs. Nope! Wasn't right... sometimes it's under sometimes it's over. Sorry that I do not know how to do the measurements but I definitely wouldn't hang on to what they say because it's rarely right.

Definitely in my prayers. So sad that she lost her life.

July 22nd!! Kudos to the post above me! I had a baby at 15 and 3 after that, not til a little later, but still! I have been through so many challenges, but I'm still here MAKING it! Congrats to everyone!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking the same thing. I guess maybe different hiring managers/DON's look at it different, though. If you go to a hospital (which I have no intentions of, unless it's psych) maybe one has worked in LTC care and understands, and then maybe another manager doesn't and thinks you're useless. I would think a nurse is a nurse no matter where you go. I have heard the stereotyping you said as well with a L&D nurse and even a psych nurse, especially psych that you don't do "real nursing skills". Again, I believe a nurse is a nurse no matter what you do. If you work in Psych, you're a psych nurse, you're assessing just as much as in the ICU believe it or not, same with L&D they constantly have to asses I would think. I think a lot of times only ER, ICU, med/surg nurses get looked at as "real" nurses, or they're the ones with the real skill set. They're skilled in their area of nursing just how any nurse is. I hope I really like nursing in LTC as it will be my job for a few years before I receive my BSN. I loved it on the admin/management side, I'm sure I will love it just the same as a nurse. The nurses I worked with were very knowledegable and their skills could've been taken to a hospital any day. They were much more competent than a lot of nurses I have seen working in hospitals! No matter where you go a nurse is a nurse! =) We just specialize in different areas which make us unique, not unqualified!

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Now that makes more sense!

I go to Bohecker-Cincinnati. They're classes aren't bad. Your first term, you wanna study your butt off! I'm going into the second term, I hear it's nowhere near like the first term, and third term is easier than the first two. First term, I went most days like 8-3 sometimes 4. I had clinicals once a week from 7-3 and one day, on Wednesdays my Psych classes were only from 8-12. Next term, I am doing Clinical's two days a week, monday and tues from 7-12, then in class from 1-4:30, rest of the week is lab and lecture from about the same time. As far as accreditation, seriously, don't let it scare you. I've had a very long talk with the director. It will not affect your License, or you sitting for the NCLEX. They do have an articulation agreement with Indiana Wesylan University, they take 40 credit hours. You have to complete another 20 of pre-reqs, and then 18 months to get your BSN, they also offer MSN degrees. Indiana Wesylan told me they have agreements with Cincinnati State, Gateway community college, and some other colleges and they take the full 60 credit hours, so there's only like one pre-req. Sorry this is a lot of info but hopefull it helps! Some colleges require you have NLN accreditation to get your BSN, MSN. Most I have looked at do not, including University of Cincinnati, one of the biggest hospitals down here. So, you just need to decided if they're accreditation bugs you enough to go somewhere else. There are LOTS of waiting lists, and lots of other schools whom are lacking their NLN accreditation. Good luck to you!

Hmmm interesting. I didn't know you weren't allowed to listen. And what I said was like, say a teen, which is a rare time, comes in pregnant, is upset, and is just depressed over the situation, maybe suicidal, needs immediate attention. You wouldn't be allowed to sit and listen to her vent? If she says "I know I want to have an abortion, I can't do this." You wouldn't be allowed to say "I understand how you may be feeling, why have you decided on that decision, do you know the risks?" In school, we're taught to actually talk to our patients. I'm not talking about "therapy sessions" I'm talking about just those rare instances that occur every now and then where you may have to take those extra few moments. Never know, you may find out it's not her that wants to abort, but actually her parents. In that turn, I would find a way for them to maybe seek family counseling, and direct it to a professional in that area. I truly believe in sitting and listening to your patients, you can learn a lot about them/ their condition. I understand what you're saying, but what we've been taught in schools, and how our providers in my state work seem completely different. It's so weird to hear all of these different stories. I don't think anyone of us is right, I think it depends on the board, you staying within scope of your pratice, and also what your facility allows. I do know, that in Psych, RN's hold the group, and one-on-one basically "therapy" sessions.. Not psychological, but anger-management, expressing emotions and feelings, commincating effectively. Like I said, my son has been in and out of Psych facilities, and many of them, and they all practice in the same way. Interesting! Anyway, I'm sure I will have my BSN before I'm in the psych field, due to limited positions in Psych with your LPN. As soon as I receive my BSN I plan on doing case-management, and I think people misunderstood that I'm not going to be a staff nurse, my role will be completely different, so I will have a completely different job description than that of a staff nurse. Excited and can't wait! ?

I was wondering that too. I knew it meant "Laugh out loud", but she said she got hit by a "LOL". It must stand for something different on this board.

I know this post is a couple of months old, however, wanted to let you know that Mercy does hire LPN's. They actually have around 5 postings for LPN's right now at their Mt. Airy location. Good Luck! =)

Yes, I definitely think so as well. I worked with dementia patients when I worked in a NH in activites, and I loved it! I thought for sure I would hate it, but I preferred working with them, rather than the "stable" assisted living residents. I learned so much from them, their past, their struggles now, I was able to really help them, and make their life now, as great as I could, and it was so very rewarding! =) I can't wait to get back into in nursing. I wonder if I will ever go to Psych nursing in peds, maybe I will in up in geriatric psych? God only knows the plans for the future. Whichever I end up in I am sure I will love either one! =) Thanks for all your posts, you guys are awesome!

Good! I'm SO glad to hear these responses. A lot of people seem to hate it, and think it's the bottom of bottom if nursing. I disagree, but of course, have no nursing experience in the area, so hearing your testimonials was such a comfort! =) Long term goal is to go into Psych. I am going to get my BSN after my LPN. My school has an articulation agreement with a school who takes almost all of our credit hours. Plus, I'm avoiding another $25k for my RN, they're so expensive where I go! I, too, wonder if being in LTC for possible three years, is going to affect me going into child/adolescent psychiatry when I receive my BSN. Do you know if this will have any kind of impact?

How many of you nurses, especially LPN's like LTC nursing? I ask because, if I can't get into mental health, which would be rare around here, right away, I'm going to LTC. I worked in LTC as an Activities Manager and I found it very rewarding and loved working with the elderly. The nurses got treated like crap at this facility, and I had my own issues with management, so it wasn't just them. I hear so many ppl rag on nursing homes, and if you're a nurse in LTC, well, you're pretty much not a nurse at all. I know eventually I want to go into psych nursing and that's where my heart is, so I really want to try and get in an addictions type facility, or inpatient residential home where I work with children and teens. Any advice and feedback would be great. Thanks everyone.

Definitely in my prayers! You're an angel to come forth like this and ask for prayers, there could be no one else out there saying prayers for this girl. God Bless You!

The OP stated she has no problem with birth control that doesn't let them child be conceived and then kill it. My friend is a strict catholic, and condoms are ok. If you're aware the birth control pill, you take it, possible conceive, and then it kills the child. No, not a medical professional but when I was seeking birth control, my friend didn't know this, told me and I asked my very trusted OB/GYN, and she said yes this is true. I have researched it and it's true. So, it's actually a good thing children have access to condoms. What she is referring to, though, is birth control in which conception takes place, then is chemically aborted by the birth control.

Oh, and not sure where you're from, but in my hometown hospitals-- the nurses ARE the ones responsible for groups, one-on-ones, and counseling type sessions. They typically have 3 nurses on, as well as 2-3 mental health techs. My son has been in and out of psych units as he has a severe mental disability, so I think you should speak for yourself and your career and where you work. I know how our hospitals work. And as I said, I will be getting my MSN in Psychiatry. So, at that time is when I plan to do more one-on-one counseling. IF, I did have a patient come in while working as a staff nurse that had this issue, what kind of nurse would I be to not give her the attention or advice she may need? If I had to stay after to talk to her, then that's what I would do. Where I'm from our nurses are compassionate and take the time to talk to patients and counsel them. Also, when I get my BSN, I plan on doing homecare cases as a case manager. I only plan on being a "staff nurse" for no more than 2-3 years. With case management, especiall in home, you do A LOT of care planning, one-on-one counseling, and getting them to talk. Again, don't know where you're from or what kind of nursing you do... it's different everywhere ya go!