Owloveyou

I have found out that they are COE accredited. What I can't find out is what does that mean as far as transferring an RN license to other states? I was looking at going here for my LPN-RN bridge, but I don't want to be limited to the point that I can't move. ANYONE have any info on this? The school said they transfer easily anywhere, and she hasn't heard of any problems, but of course she wants my 26k!

Those are very neat, but we are not allowed to use them, as they can't be as easily cleaned as the tubing.

I haven't but I will! I'm on day 6 of a 12 day stretch and the thought of going into Wal-mart makes me want to cry at this time.

It could be an agency rule. I was doing both for a while before I was told it wasn't allowed. Could you link me some info on Medicare regulations for home health care? I've been told so many different things from time to time that I'd like to read it myself, but never knew where to start.

Only LPN opportunities in my area are MD office, nursing home, and home health. (Florida) I've worked all three in order, 14.00... 21.25 (nights)...20.75

I'm going to attempt to answer some of that. No matter how many college classes you have taken you still need to take one of the programs, lpn-rn-bsn. With an LPN, you need pre-reqs to bridge to RN, then you can bridge to BSN. Even though you have a lot of certifications they won't make much of a different except in the time between bridging possibly. I would think the smartest process would be RN to BSN, unless you have the time and the grades to go right to BSN. You'll need quite a few pre-reqs based on where you apply. If you have all of the pre-reqs done I wouldn't waste my time with the LPN cause a lot of bridge programs require you to work for a year after the certificate. Just off the top of my head list of pre-reqs from local c.c.'s for my area. A&P 1 & 2 Psychology Comp 1 & 2 Human G&D Micro Sociology Chemistry Human Nutrition College Algebra Any one HUM

If I remember you said it was your first job? I know my first job SUCKED but that's why it was the first. No one wanted to hire a nurse with no experience. I sucked it up, did my year, then found a job that I thought I would like better. Sometimes it's hard to sneak in that first year somewhere. Without that first year of practice I would have never gotten the other opportunities that I did get. I would say stick with it as long as possible, then make sure you have something else lined up. ALWAYS leave on a good note like the above poster mentioned. You never know when it might be the only job open in town in a few years. This particular supervisor may be the sup. at another place also in the future. Nurses network, get a bad rep and you could have a difficult time when looking for different jobs. I would list it as a job that you held because you need the experience at this point. I would never tell a future employer that you left because it was under-staffed; because it can happen anywhere at anytime and I wouldn't want them having the impression if it got that way you'd leave.

In our ALF's in F.L. the LPN's do not do any nursing care that is unrelated to the meds, like wound care, iv's, pt/inrs, etc. That's why the HH nurses are in. Here, it varies on the contracts the ALF's have with the patients. Most are medication only. There are some ALF's that are starting their own home health agencies to then be able to treat patients, but they follow the same rules for certification periods, etc.

Did you ever have problems keeping the jobs separate? According to our agency both jobs can not be performed in the same day. I used to shower a lady in the AM then give her PM insulin, but they said that was against "Medicare" rules. I guess it could be different for different insurance agencies.

Yes, I have been exploring other options I'm just one of those people who get comfortable in a place and don't leave even though I know I should. I always think, it COULD be worse... I at least have a job.

Ha, nice to know i'm not the only one. Do all of the lighter colors do this? I was hoping I wasn't the only "slob" haha.

I will give it a shot, thanks! Who would have thought, juggling balls! Love the Owl!

I am so glad this topic came up in the email. I am the lone LPN at the HHA. We have at this time ONE staff RN and ONE LPN doing visits. They can't seem to keep anyone. The two of us have been there over three years, besides us, they can keep a nurse more then a month. Kind of tells you what crap we put up with, literally. So, when our FT aide went on vacation they'd use one from another office, and have me fill in one or two while she was gone. This was ok, but I would have liked to be asked if i'd do it. So, they fire the FT HHA and use an aide from another agency. When the borrowed help was on vacation, I did the weeks worth of aide visits. Ok, so this was a rough week, and thanks again for not asking me if I'd be willing to do it. Then we had about 15 or so HHA visits a week. The "borrowed" help soon would no longer help because she wasn't being appreciated. So, guess who now has ALL of the aide visits! They tell me, "Do you know anyone that could help?" No, unfortunately I don't, so one would assume they'd go posting ads, since they pay me the LPN salary for HHA work. The HHA job is no joke, it doesn't take a lot of education, but it takes a LOT of core strength and more patience then i've got. I haven't seen ONE ad for this job anywhere that I should so this leads me to think that no one is going to apply if they don't know its open! It's been two weeks that i've been doing aide visit and nursing visits. The aide visit take me MUCH longer to complete then the SN visit, so in essence i'm getting paid less because i'm not able to do as many visits in the day. Then, I go to my aide visit today and the wife is standing in the driveway, waving at me with her sunglasses on and keys in hand. I get out and she yells, "everything is out for you, i'm going to get my oil changed, I won't be back just let yourself out." Ok, so I do this, walk inside and find my bed bound patient COVERED in BM. It was very obvious it was old b.m. i've worked in the nursing home long enough to know the difference between fresh, and hours old. So, she likely let him stay in it, knowing that I would be coming this morning. Add 15 more minutes to an already hour long visit. This just pushed me over the edge. I already have a hard enough time telling people "NO I am just the aide today, I can't change that nasty bandage that obviously needs to be changed, let me call the office to see if a nurse is available." Then, I have to refuse to answer any other questions, like medication related questions. Of course, I find things likely only nurses would notice, which then causes me to have to call the office to call the MD, because i'm just the 'aide' I can't assess things like increased edema while i'm there, cause I can't take orders as a HHA! Sorry this is long, and i'm ranting because i'm coming off a 10.5 hour day of 4 aide visit and 4 sn visits. I called our HR department twice today because I want to know if I can be TOLD to be the HHA, because that wasn't the job that I applied for and I don't remember it being on my list of responsibilities that I signed when I was hired.

I've just advised someone not to buy the breast cancer edition Littmann because once something gets on it (pen) it doesn't come off. I've had it now for over 6 years and various substances have stained it all over. I've tried different agents... alcohol, windex, goo gone... and nothing has made an impact. While it makes me look "aged" I don't like it. Anyone have any advice on how to remove ink from the tubing? "AGED"- I'm 28, been a nurse for 6 years, and I often get asked if i'm "with the high school" on a DAILY basis, and i'm a home health nurse!

Let me add in, I wouldn't recommend the breast cancer edition, or likely any other light colored tubing. My pink is now a dingy bluish/blackish/pinkish color and I haven't found a way to clean it. My pens, nursing bag, and scrubs have all worn off on it in different ways. The other scope was the caribbean blue and it still looks great.