ex1140

You inspire me. I received my LPN license in 2005. My plan is to return to school early next year. My long term goal is to be a ARNP. I have worked in mental health for the last 6 years and can't imagine working in another area. So, I concerned about having to work in med surg at any length of time.

So how did you make out?

I think you are referring to the P.E.R.T. It's similar to boards; it gives questions already answered correctly. So, in the that respect, it actually helps you to pass.

I know this thread is a bit dated...but I am considering Miami Dade's bridge program. I would like to know if clinical rotations are still on weekends. Is psych rotatation weekdays/mornings? If so, what are the times? Thanks

Whenever, I wear scrubs in public I feel like a rock star...that's how much attention I get. Most people admire the salary attached to nursing. They assume you make this astronomical amount of money an hour...really funny to me. I do agree...sometimes it's nice to be asked medical questions...especially when I know the answer.

Thanks...I really appreciate ALL the feed back. You guys are the best...God Bless.

Thanks so much...will do.

Any one could be the target of a bully...but you should focus on what makes you so appealing to a manipulative personality. Have you been told your are too nice? Are you extremely compliant?

Hi, I am returning to school this year...and I am torn between psychology and nursing. Currently, I'm a psych nurse, LPN, for the VA hospital Miami. I am stationed on PTSD...and I find my job very rewarding. After nearly 5 years of working on my floor, I'm determined to work permanently in psych. I've considered going back to school to become a psychologist, but I don't want to be in school for the next 10 years or more. Which leads me to this question....As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner...would I be required to work on a medical surgical floor for a while before working in my specialty?

[TABLE] [TR] [TD=width: 482]* [/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482] NCH-Downtown/NCH-North, Naples, FL (Site Specific documents) NCH Downtown and NCH North provides personalized care for over 30,000 patients a year in our two-hospital, 681 bed system. NCH's outstanding reputation is confirmed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), in its award of accreditation to both NCH hospitals. NCH-Downtown address is 350 7th Street N. Naples, FL 34102 and NCH-North address is 11190 Health Park Blvd., Naples, FL [/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482][/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482] [/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17][/TD] [TD=width: 482][/TD] [TD=width: 10][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17][/TD] [TD]When travel is required we encourage you to plan to arrive the day before the first day of testing. In this way if you are delayed in your travels for any reason you will still be able to participate in the examination. Specific hotel and lodging accommodations near your test site as well as directions to your test site facilities are provided in the confirmation materials you will receive in the mail after an application for the examination has been processed. You will need to make all hotel and travel arrangements. [/TD] [TD=width: 10][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17][/TD] [TD=width: 482][/TD] [TD=width: 10][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482]Link to Excelsior College HOPE THIS HELPS;)...SORRY IT'S SO LATE...:)[/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482] [/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 17] [/TD] [TD=width: 482] [/TD] [TD=width: 10] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Welcome to nursing...where everything is not always done by the book...that said . I don't agree with what this person did...but I know that nurses sometimes talk way too much. You stated that there is a "bit of bad blood" between the two of you...if there wasn't would you have come up with this post? I don't think anything should be done at this point...there is nothing to do, the info has been exchanged and no one was hurt...since this person doesn't like you, she wouldn't welcome your asking why she breached patient confidentiality. And as long as you are not giving out patient information yourself...I think that's all that matters.

"In fact working opposite shifts from my DH is probably the reason we are still married after all these years, lol. Try to make the best of it and enjoy the positives until you can find another shift." by Jules ...couldn't have said it better myself... Yeah...I have to admit it's the shift that works for me right now...but in the beginning it was very hard. I had promised myself that I would not work this shift. However, I ended up with it after starting work for VA health system. And it is working for me now. My kids are probably older than your son my youngest is 13 and the twins are 17....so I picked the right time to work this shift as my kids are old enough to fend for themselves. Have you considered, getting the same off days? This has worked for me...my husband is off on Wed and Thurs so I try to get those days off as much as possible...since we tend to rotate a lot.

Psych nursing is as easy as the type of unit one is working. I work in outpatient psych so it's not as difficult as inpatient or lockdown psych care. So, it depends on the unit.

Hi, I recently saw a job opening for a LPN/RN and the job was paying very well. I didn't realize that a LPN could make that much money and work in such a rewarding area of nursing. Well anyways... I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to go about getting certified or if I can since I'm still an LPN. Thanks in advance for your input.

Hi, currently I am working on a residential floor at the VA. It is comprised of a substance abuse unit, post traumatic stress disorder unit, and psyhcosocial unit. I float between the units, and they are all on the same floor. I don't pass medications, I only chart if an incident occurs, and I don't have a supervisor on the floor. I am somewhat like a baby sitter... for adults. The patients or residents if you will are free to leave the floor as they wish, but they can only leave the facility if they have a pass. I have seen two people overdose, and one person bring alcohol on the unit, substance abuse unit. And last week I encountered what appeared to be the worst panic attack I have ever seen. Can anyone relate to this type of position. I would love to work for this VA on a permenant basis, BUT...not on this floor. I don't like not having a supervisor on the floor...and I don't like all the freedom. And I don't like the fact that I don't give meds. I am under contract and I really don't want to return to this floor. Please tell me if you can relate or if you have any advice. Thanks...

Bowel evacuations...I did it once don't look forward to doing it again.

Being too anxious is not a good thing. Anxious people most often end up in bad situations that they could very well have avoided. I hope you all the best, and there are plenty of opportunities for LPNs so don't give up and God Bless!

"First of all, I'm not sure why you would be considered qualified to run a unit as a new nurse." I agree I don't think that you are qualified for such a position. Clearly, they are desperate and it's understandable that you feel overwhelmed. I hope that you will take a stand and I hope that you are being compensated for your inconvienance.

The amount of experience would depend on the type of floor or facility. The floor I'm working on doesn't require a lot of experience because the patients are not confined. However, if you worked in a crisis unit like say at a state ward or prison then that's a totally different story. I worked in psych in the prison system which basically over qualified me to work at my present job. If you are going to pursue working in psych then do yourself a favor and start on a floor like the one I'm on...because it's very easy and you feel overwhelmed, and if you couldn't cut it on this type of floor then the more difficult units would be out of the question. When I worked in the prison system I saw some very disturbing things...people cutting themselves and watching the blood spurt out like a fountain...doing wound care on patients that decided to slice up there legs or arms with all kinds of objects. I wouldn't mind being a psychologist...I think it would be an interesting and rewarding career. Sorry, you asked about duties...observation on my floor is key. We don't chart unless something occurs...which is basically never, and the patients medicate themselves...I am basically a babysitter. I am currently under contract, but considering full-time. I hope you find the right floor or facility.

"Recently, I feel excluded from my co-workers. I am quiet person but I have nothing wrong with people & my job. I overheard them talk behind my back about everything I did, said even if I don't like corn or ham. They joked like I am strange or something. I feel like if we don't gozzip someone, then we will be the one who is talked about. " Wow...I have gone through that for the last 3 1/2 years. If you stand for something people don't tend to like you very much. If you have poor character and you like gossip you will be the most liked. But don't let that keep you from doing what's right. I was accused this week of being too passive by a supervisor. Apparently, I am not outspoken enough for her...at first I was hurt then I started thinking why not take this situation an make lemonade out of it. I feel that the comments are really a blessing in wrapped in ugly paper . Don't be so moved by what people think that you try to become what they think you should be...as long as you are happy with yourself that's all that matters. People that like to gossip can't be trusted.

Currently, I am working on a psych floor and the job is so easy that the only thing I have to be concerned about is the supervisors. Some of them are petty...but the job is cool. I have been blessed in that I have been able to find very good jobs that pay well, or least in my opinion, and don't come with a lot of stress. Of course what's stressful to one nurse may not be stressful to another. If you really want to be successful as a nurse you need to take note of your perosnality. Med/surg is not suitable for every one. Be truthful to yourself and you find the right area for you.

Are you an introvert or extrovert? Apparently, it matters in nursing...I was approached by a supervisor, a new supervisor might I add, and told that I should be more like one of my extroverted co-workers. As you can imagine I was totally offended. I explained to this woman that each personality is different and I can only be...myself. Why I had to explain this to her, I don't know. I am quiet and I don't like being in the limelight and I don't like confrontations. I try very hard to live a peaceful life. However, I must admit it wasn't until this situation occurred that I started to consider that my personality might not be suited for certain areas in nursing. I'm currently working on a psych floor at the VA, and the patients are not confined, they are substance abusers and some suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Has anyone else encountered this type of situation, or am I the only introvert in nursing?:)

Psychiatric nursing can be easy or difficult depending on the facility. Most nurses love working in this area, but the pay can be low as you can imagine because there is not as much to do (depending on the unit). Currently, I'm under contract with the VA to work on one of their psych floors and I don't give medication and I don't have to chart on anyone unless there is an occurrence. Psych floors can be a pain though because the patients are not always confined. The patients that I'm working with are not confined they are free to walk about the unit and the facility. There is a side for patients suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and there's a substance abuse section. I think the confined patients are easier to work with and I'd rather give medication and not have to constantly be redirecting people to sign out and sign in and having to look for patients. Remember when patients are confined it's much easier on the nurse. Hope you find a floor that you can tolerate...most nurses love working in psych because like I stated it's not really difficult.

I agree, experience has taught me that hospice is one of the most depressing areas of nursing...I have not worked in a oncology unit...but I can imagine what it must be like...psych patients will keep you on your toes and some are not as bad as others...they can be amusing at times.

:banghead:Try 60...Yes...I had that many patients as a new nurse while working LTC on 11-7. I shared the responsibility with an RN who would come over at 3 am to assist. It was a terrible job and I would not want to be put in that situation again. I only worked there a total of 6 months. The first 3 months full-time...the last 3 months I worked per diem and they added another nurse it wasn't enough to keep me. I moved on to corrections and only had on most nights between 7 and 10 patients. Here in Miami it's not shocking to here of an LPN with 40 patients at a LTC facility. In fact, the smallest number I've heard is 15. Working with that many patients can be stressful...just because you never know when something could go wrong.