kaleeh

I work for a hospice company that was purchased this summer by a larger healthcare group which also owns many nursing homes in our area. Upper management is requiring those nursing homes that they own submit to us (hospice) a list of patients that they feel might qualify for hospice. This has been a push since they bought us about six months ago. Of course, in theory, the patient's and families have a choice as to which hospice they chose if they met criteria, however, in reality these families are actually told "well, there are other hospices but we always use XYZ Hospice." Is this legal? Ethical? Medicare fraud? In addition, this company changed our benefits when they acquired us on July 1st, however, we were just notified of these changes this past week. This specifically affects paid time off which we though we were accruing at 10 hours per month when in fact, we haven't been accruing any. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

nt

I'm graduating in May and am interested in eventually going on a mission type trip to provide medical assistance overseas, preferably in Africa. Anyone know where I can get information on doing this or know of any reputable organizations? I've searched the internet but there are thousands of organizations and I don't know where to start. Thanks! karen

I'm starting nursing school in one week (!!) and currently work as a tech on a med/surg floor. My short-term goal is to work as a labor-delivery/post-partum nurse. Long term goal is to become a women's health nurse practitioner. So here are my questions: The hospital I work for is getting ready to open a new post-partum wing in the near future. Jobs haven't been posted yet but I'm considering talking to a recruiter in HR and asking about getting a tech position on that unit. My thoughts are that it will give me the apparently needed L&D/PP experience needed to successful get a job as that kind of nurse when I graduate. Is that true? Also, am I giving up vital experience as a tech on a med/surg floor if I can switch over to PP? I'm asking because my floor currently gets overflow PP patients and they are not nearly as complicated as our med/surg patients. No chest tubes, drains, etc. Lastly, since my long-term goal is to be a nurse practitioner...is it better to get critical care experience (ICU) when I graduate instead of trying to get an L&D position? Or would working as a L&D/PP nurse prepare me for entering a WHNP program? I'm sure these questions may seem a bit premature since I'm just now starting the program, but it's a 14 month ADN program. So really by this time next year I'll really be looking for jobs and want that experience under my belt. Anyway, I just found allnurses recently and have LOVED reading the forums so I'm hoping some of you have great advice! Thanks! karen :)