Midwest4me

Midwest4me specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Midwest4me's Latest Activity

1. 

   What keeps you going? Why do you stay?

   Midwest4me replied to NCindasun21's topic in Psychiatric

   Thanks, Elladora, for sharing that. I think I need to memorize that! Our ward has been "high" lately....seems the patients' degrading, verbal abuse is on the rise(which I have ALWAYS taken personally--and even more so as I age.... I am more sensitive these past few months anyway due to financial issues, and husband's health issues) too. I stay at the job because of the benefits and because I'm nearly the sole provider since my husband is ill and on disability. I hope to retire in 5 years; I sure feel like I'm semi-retired now since I do my 40-hr work week in 3 days, but am getting really worn down by the verbal and potential physical abuse every day!
2. 

   What to wear on a unit where nurses wear street clothes and not scrubs?

   Midwest4me replied to tareija's topic in Psychiatric

   Go to GoodWill and invest in some jeans, t-shirts(inexpensive clothes). Then when you have to take a patient down and seclude him, or deal with those violent patients who throw feces on you, you won't be ruining good clothes.
3. 

   Behavioral Health Nurse- break from floor nursing?

   Midwest4me replied to Redder's topic in Psychiatric

   Our patients in the psych hospital have many medical issues too. However, primarily, we deal with strange behaviors, verbal/physical abuse from these patients. Sometimes they're hallucinating; most often they are not. It's a VERY CHALLENGING field and VERY EMOTIONALLY STRESSFUL. On my ward, there is not much physical abuse but there is an abundance of verbal abuse which can truly wear one down. Yes, it can also be physically stressful..as in when we staff have to restrain/seclude a patient while that patient is spitting at us, cursing, striking out. I have about 5 years left to work before retirement; I only hope I can make it through without pulling out my hair.
4. 

   Office nurse or LTC?

   Midwest4me replied to scrublifenurse10's topic in LPN/LVN

   I've been a nurse for over 27 years; most of that time was in LTC, some in a medical office, last 8 years in mental health. If I were you, I'd stay put in the medical office. Medical office basically has banking hours, weekends off, holidays off, no night shifts, etc. EVERY job has its pros and cons but the office job was my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, I left it for more money in LTC; wish I'd never done that. LTC was the hardest specialty in which I worked! No breaks, rushed when had to use the bathroom, no lunch and ALWAYS left late because of time constraints. For ME, LTC was the least rewarding because I just did NOT have the time I wanted to have to spend with the patients on a 1:1 basis, I was constantly running doing nursing tasks as well as assisting CNAs.BUT you have to do what is best for you; just know this: it's not always easy to return once you leave! Good luck with your decision.
5. 

   Working in a christian place while being an atheist?

   Midwest4me replied to mls4455's topic in Spirituality

   Well, speaking from a Christian point of view, IF you apply and IF you get the job, my guess is that God is truly LEADING you TO that job! He has reasons for all He does. May you hear His voice in the choices you make!!!! :)
6. 

   What to wear on a unit where nurses wear street clothes and not scrubs?

   Midwest4me replied to tareija's topic in Psychiatric

   Street clothes are common at our psych hospital in most areas. Some RNs still wear scrubs in the geiatric wards. Most RNs, LPNs in the forensic areas wear street clothes(jeans, t-shirts, etc), Clothing from Good Will stores is best since it won't matter so much when the clothes are ripped or shredded or damaged in other ways. Also jeans and t-shirts are best for when taking a patient down to the floor or to the seclusion rooms.
7. 

   Going bonkers!!!!

   Midwest4me replied to Yayamaya's topic in Psychiatric

   I am sorry you're going through this. Alas, in our mental health hospital, the administration runs things much the same way. I imagine many psych facilities(as well as others) operate this way. The supervising nurses get away with verbal abuse towards other RNs, LPNs, therapy techs. Some time ago during night-shift-to-dayshift report, Night Shift Nurse A made a comment about a patient(in the shift report area). Other nurses, techs on the day shift apparently didn't like the comment so reported it. The night shift supervising nurse(Nurse XX) told the night shift nurses who were supervising Night Shift Nurse A: "you'd better nip this in the bud, and talk with Nurse A, or I will crawl so far up your ass you won't know what bit you!" Of course NO ONE would EVER report Nurse XX for her abusive language because she's in management...(and if someone DID report her, it would get back to her and she would retaliate in some way.)but this goes to show you how our "managers" manage through fear and threats. It's unprofessional, rude, uncalled for. I hope you're able to find another job. It does sound like a toxic work environment. So many of us are stuck in such areas due to the economy or to our close proximity to retirement that we'd rather stay, and go home to vent, kick the dog, yell at our spouses, take anti-depressants, antianxiety meds than go through the trouble of trying to find another job. Life is hard enough; we should NOT have to put up with abusive "managers" but in this economy, there isn't much choice.
8. 

   Round 2 Interviews - how prepare?

   Midwest4me replied to Inori's topic in Interview

   Don't remind them to call you. If they want to plan a scxond interview they will call YOU.
9. 

   Are psych nurses allowed to perform therapy?

   Midwest4me replied to sakiohma's topic in Psychiatric

   Our "therapy" at our mental hospital consists of many, demeaning things. In the geriatric program "treatment hall", I've witnessed the patients making a "quilt"; this is accomplished by selecting various colored duct tape and putting on a large (36" x 36") piece of construction paper. It's supposed to be a time for socialization/teamwork, but several of them felt belittled by it. When I've pointed this out to supervisors, I'm told that most of the patients are NOT feeling belittled or offended by the task so the task continues. Other activities for these seniors consist of watching movies. The younger(20s-40s) patients also get to watch movies, play games, use watercolors to paint various pictures on construction paper. If the general public only knew how those tax dollars are being put to use!
10. 

    After 1 Year I am SICK of Dialysis

    Midwest4me replied to SuperStarRN's topic in Urology

    I sympathize with you, SuperStarLPN. I worked in it for 5.5 years until I had to get out of it. Very challenging but rewarding work BUT the noncompliance(and there IS a lot of it) gets tiresome...yet I would probably be the same way periodically if I were in those patients' shoes. The problem with being an LPN is there aren't many options out there. As an LPN for 27 years, I've done lots of LTC, MD office, HD, PD, and psych nursing. My favorite was in the MD office environment but had to quit due to low pay. I wish you the best of luck with future endeavors. It's always nice to TRY an area for a year or so.
11. 

    Getting Hurt in the Units

    Midwest4me replied to HolyPeas's topic in Psychiatric

    There isn't any recourse at our facility. It's understood that we hire on with the understanding of the "potential"(which is actual, not potential) violence(which includes assault, rape, etc); because these criminally ill patients are mentally ill; they've committed horrid crimes and are not responsible for their actions...so how can we possibly place police charges against them? And when most of the patients have 30+ years to serve, what difference does it make? It's frustrating to say the least. Some staff have lost their jobs trying to stop patients from injuring other staff, despite the fact that these staff have been cleared of wrong doing by the police. It doesn't speak highly of those in administration lending us the support we need, does it? You must expect injuries..it's so sad...but with this economy, at least it's a job.
12. 

    don't know what to do

    Midwest4me replied to mibrow81's topic in LPN/LVN

    While LTC is definitely much more stressful(and more distasteful) than clinic nursing, you use your nursing skills much more as well as more time management skills in LTC. It might behoove you to get a little experience in LTC since you are brand new, but I definitely urge you to look for the clinic jobs too. You will like them better...trust me, I worked LTC for many years and LOVED the change to clinic nursing. I would've stayed with clinic nursing if it had paid more. Just my opinion...from many years of experience.
13. 

    Quick question

    Midwest4me replied to Dulce29's topic in LPN/LVN

    I worked as an NA(nurse's aide only; there wasn't certification back then) before nursing school. I feel it helped tremendously.
14. 

    Dialysis PCT Scope of Practice in AZ

    Midwest4me replied to SkinnyLatte's topic in Urology

    I agree with the above poster. I worked 5.5 years in hemodialysis many years ago for Gambro as an LPN and loved it. Though I am not in AZ, our PCTs did not have to be CNAs; they just went through the 8 weeks' training that we nurses did(then we had some more extensive training). Six of the 8 weeks were on the floor training. Two weeks took place out of state in theory, etc. We typically began on the floor for a few weeks, then went out of state for a week, then back to the floor for a few weeks then one more week out of state. The PCTs have to take a state/national exam every year to maintain their credentials as I recall. As nurses, we did not. Our licenses are the credentials. It is very hard work physically as well as mentally. They are long work days(at least 12 hours) but you only work 3 days a week typically and it's every other day(i.., M-W-F or T-Th-S). One must become very fast at "setting up/tearing down, testing" the dialysis machines. One must be pretty quick at cannulating(sticking the large bore needles into their arms) patients. But the speed, understanding of the procedures, etc comes with time; actually at the end of the 8 weeks the employee is expected to be able to handle a group of 4-6 patients, supervised of course by an LPN or RN.
15. 

    Do you love being an LPN?

    Midwest4me replied to rdr75's topic in LPN/LVN

    There is no such thing as job security in ANY field. I've been a nurse for 27 years; wish I'd done something else but bills just became larger and larger. For the most part I'd say that it's been an interesting career, at times even rewarding. Most of the nurses I've met have genuinely cared for and about their patients and coworkers but I've seen the back-stabbers and retaliation for standing up for what is right, and for what is legal. From what I've read over the past several years, nursing is NOT a career to depend upon for financial security; many are laid off; employers are just not hiring like they did 5-10 years ago. If it is a career you are desperately determined to enter, then by all means do so but have a back-up plan or rather a back-up career in place first.
16. 

    Is this how work really feels like? Have you felt like this before?

    Midwest4me replied to sydneyxmoon's topic in LPN/LVN

    I can certainly relate to what you're saying...and I've been a nurse for nearly 27 years. Many(if not most) of skilled nursing facilities are short-staffed, have overwhelming med passes, and mangement that changes nearly as often as you change your socks! If you want to keep your sanity, begin the job search and find something else NOW. That job is not worth that kind of stress and most certainly not worth your life! I know the economy is bad and no doubt you're fearful that you won't find ANY job for awhile; however, if you don't like the job and it is causing you so much stress that you're nauseated, etc, you really need to find something else. Keep in mind ALL nursing jobs are stressful; they only vary in the INTENSITY of the stress. Try MD offices, hemodialysis clinics, home care, hospice care.