joanna73 BSN, RN

geriatrics

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All Content by joanna73

  1. joanna73

    Vacation scheduling

    joanna73 replied to Tingle6's topic in General Nursing

    When you're working in unionized environment, seniority rules as far as vacation requests. My current position is non unionized, out of scope so requests are generally first come first serve....
  2. joanna73

    Roaches At work

    joanna73 replied to Shany1312's topic in General Nursing

    Roaches lay thousands of microscopic eggs. Inform your DON and maintenance
  3. joanna73

    Assertiveness

    joanna73 replied to 11joinson's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Assertiveness can be learned with maturity and experience. Knowing how and when to be assertive is essential. Emotional intelligence goes hand in hand here......knowing how to pick your battles and...
  4. joanna73

    How many jobs/units until you found your "niche"

    joanna73 replied to Michellelove's topic in General Nursing

    I was fairly certain in nursing school that I wanted to work with geriatric patients which is what I've been doing ever since. Currently, I'm a unit manager in a 500 bed LTC. I have anywhere from...
  5. joanna73

    Depressed New Grad

    joanna73 replied to relizabeth's topic in Canada

    Unfortunately, the schools have been deliberately misleading students since 2008. It's a business and they want your money. Nurses have been laid off for the last 7+ years across the country. New...
  6. joanna73

    EPIC CHANGE IN CANADA NURSING FOR US RNs?

    joanna73 replied to JustCheckin''s topic in Nurse Registration

    Aside from the BSN, you will also need to study for and pass the jurisprudence exam that is now required in many Provinces. This exam is in addition to the
  7. joanna73

    As a single nurse were you able to buy a home?

    joanna73 replied to pixiestudent2's topic in General Nursing

    As many posters have mentioned, make sure you research all the costs involved in buying a home AND you have a solid emergency fund prior to signing for that mortgage. Many people become house poor...
  8. joanna73

    Depressed New Grad

    joanna73 replied to relizabeth's topic in Canada

    You personalize cover letters by linking some of the key phrases in the job description with how they apply to concrete examples in your clinicals and work history. How does the organization's values...
  9. joanna73

    As a single nurse were you able to buy a home?

    joanna73 replied to pixiestudent2's topic in General Nursing

    I'm single and I bought my first home last year. It depends where you live and cost of living. No way would l be able to afford a mortgage on 25 an hour. I bought for 180 and I make just shy of 50 per...
  10. joanna73

    Depressed New Grad

    joanna73 replied to relizabeth's topic in Canada

    It is time consuming to personalize your cover letters, but competition is fierce. If you want to increase your chances of actually being called for interviews, it's worth your time. As a hiring...
  11. joanna73

    What's to complain about?

    joanna73 replied to guest449786's topic in General Nursing

    Unions create issues for the workplace, but a major advantage is fair and equal pay. Most Canadian facilities are unionized, and those that are not, the wages are comparable. Nurses make 30-50 an...
  12. joanna73

    DON salary

    joanna73 replied to Lovanur's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Depends where you live. Unit managers make 95-105 k per year. As a floor nurse I would average the same pay now. My DOC makes approximately 115 k per year. I'm in
  13. joanna73

    Long Term Care / Nursing Home

    joanna73 replied to kmcasey0124's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Usually 3-5 years experience is required as a unit manager prior to successfully working as the DOC. You'll need to understand everything from basic care to performance management, MDS and all the...
  14. joanna73

    RNs experiences in Manitoba (Rural)

    joanna73 replied to VikkiPink's topic in Canada

    The challenges that exist in every rural workplace are the limited staff and resources. You're expected to be able to function well both independently and in a team. Bullying? I haven't encountered...
  15. joanna73

    Nurses and Financial Freedom

    joanna73 replied to Soliloquy's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed. Don't buy unless you are ready to settle down. Home ownership can be more expensive than renting, depending on your interest rate, down payment amount, and principal. Invest the funds and buy...
  16. joanna73

    Depressed New Grad

    joanna73 replied to relizabeth's topic in Canada

    Sorry to hear that you are discouraged, although this is not uncommon for nurses in general. Experienced nurses have been losing jobs for years as a result of layoffs and unit closures. You're not...
  17. joanna73

    Patients allowed to go outside and smoke???

    joanna73 replied to JackiRN's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    As Fiona said, they need to be able to safely go outside on their own. I don't worry about these patients when they are off the unit. However, smoking is not encouraged for people who cannot go...
  18. joanna73

    Any RPNs from Ontario joined ONA?

    joanna73 replied to loriangel14's topic in Canada

    Well hopefully you won't need your union for anything during the transition period. I'm out of scope, so no union anymore and it really hasn't made a difference, not yet anyway. Good
  19. joanna73

    Ready for nursing in northern Canada?

    joanna73 replied to dearohdear's topic in Canada

    You could consider Select Medical Connections. I have a couple of friends working with them off and on. It's unlikely that your pay will be 15k monthly. They pay around 50 an hour plus housing and...
  20. joanna73

    how to write a letter to director of nursing reguarding nurse manager

    joanna73 replied to brifitzzzy11's topic in General Nursing

    You will need to have documented factual accounts, dates, times and who was involved before contacting the union rep as
  21. joanna73

    About paying off student loans

    joanna73 replied to Libby1987's topic in General Nursing

    Some areas will not allow people to default on student loans anymore because many people had the same idea and stopped paying. Where I live, student loans will follow the borrower until the very end....
  22. joanna73

    Nurses and Financial Freedom

    joanna73 replied to Soliloquy's topic in General Nursing

    Exactly. Very good friends of mine make over 100 thousand combined. Not a lot, but they have no children, no loans, no mortgage, no car. They are always paying off debt because they both spend...
  23. joanna73

    CODE TEAM NURSES?

    joanna73 replied to snown9's topic in Canada

    I work LTC and the managers are the code team. We had a code called last week and maybe 10 people attended. We also take turns carrying the emergency response phone for a week at a time. But it's not...
  24. joanna73

    How far do you drive to work?

    joanna73 replied to pittnurse24's topic in General Nursing

    If I drove it would take 5 minutes but I live and work downtown so I walk in 25 minutes, door to door. I have commuted an hour previously and I hated it. Some people don't mind that
  25. joanna73

    Nurses and Financial Freedom

    joanna73 replied to Soliloquy's topic in General Nursing

    Agreed. Starbucks is close to 6. Even if it was 4.50 per day let's say, it still adds up and I don't do