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:hrnsmlys::hpygrp::flwrhrts::dancgrp::ancong!:

UPDATE:: She quit! Today was her last day! She stated that she was too busy to work full time...

Thanks Everyone!

As an older nurse, I would like to weigh in on this topic of calling patients by pet names; i.e. "sweetie", "honey", "dear", etc. I have had waitpersons and sales clerks address me by each of the above terms and I find it VERY offensive. I have even told a couple of them that this is degrading to the older person and feels dismissive and manipulative... Usually I do not say anything but I am strongly considering telling them that these endearing terms are reserved for my closest one to call me if/when he so choses. I only allow my children and their spouses to address me as Ma, Mom, or Momma. The rest of the world may call me by my first name or by Mrs. (last name) as I will call them. In LTC I always asked my patients what they wanted to be called. I just see it as more professional and respectful. Whatever their present condition in life, the fact that they have attained their age should mean something, shouldn't it?

What makes a good manager? First, I have to say that I agree with what has already been stated by the other posters. Second, I will say that I have had several managers I considered to be very good, some were excellent.. I have also had some very poor managers. In addition to what everyone else posted, I like a manager who occasionally does check up on his/her people and what they are doing and the quality of their work, but does not hover. I appreciate a manager who recognizes when a worker knows his/her job and that he/she is doing it and lets them do it. Another quality I admire in a good manager is the ability to correct a person in private without making them feel inadequate or frustrated and without embarassment to the individual but giving encouragement and perhaps showing them a way to do it a different way that may be more efficient or productive. In order to do that, this manager has to know how to do the job better or how to delegate the task of helping this person with this process to someone who does know how to do the job better without putting the original person down. A good manager should be able to join his/her group in many different types of activities; including breaks and/or lunches sometimes without the group feeling as if they are in a glass fishing bowl. A good manager should be able to listen from outside a room and spot a potential problem between coworkers and step in quickly to difuse the situation. A good manager should always be available to help if the workload is too heavy for the staff available. I just started a new job last week and I have already seen many of these qualities in my new manager. Lucky me! I wish everyone a good manager...

Southeast CT Clinics 8-5 M-F, No weekends, NO OT allowed. $20/hr

Sashal2lady: Thanks for the kind reply... Today was much better....

Hi Everyone: Today I started my first LPN position after taking a refresher course and getting a license in this state. I have been hired to do a job that I am certain I am well-qualified to do and will be able to do it quite well once I have learned the computer system and the software being utilized as I learn quickly and am flexible and willing and able to learn new programs. The one fly, in what I otherwise found to be a wonderful, exciting day learning to do my new job, was a very patronizing and rude coworker who continuously gabbed about her personal life to everyone around, bragged about her accomplishments, completely ignored a younger coworker who also started today, asked me and others questions of a personal nature, and came off, in general, like a bully. I would like to think this is a nice person who is just very nervous, but I am having difficulty excusing her behavior in my mind as some of her words and actions were definitely patronizing. Today I ignored her as much as possible without appearing rude and I probably will continue to do so in the future. However, if there is some way I could help to turn this around it would definitely make a much more palatable work environment. I do not want to escalate her behavior. I just want to do the job I am being paid for to the very best of my ability. All suggestions gratefully received.:redpinkhe

Hooray! I am so happy for you! :redbeathe:hrnsmlys: Your perserverance and determination are wonderful! Now go get that job and do not be discouraged if it takes a little while... Things are starting to turn around. Best of luck to you! :redpinkhe

Hi HathawayToGo: I am beginning to see ads on CareerBuilder.com for RNs to be hired at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, CT. It is still difficult to find work as a nurse here in CT, but not quite as difficult as in the past little while. Good luck with your job search! :):redpinkhe

Thanks for your reply. :) I did check with the CT BON some time ago and discovered that you are absolutely right...LPNs have to work under an RN in the state of CT. This is not true for all states.

Trained in Michigan. IV training not provided nor required. Moved to another state where my employer required it so I went to a nearby hospital that offered training and certification. I can do everything except start TPN or blood. I can monitor them. Present state does not recognize any certifications. However, I talked to the BON here and they will allow me to utlize my training if an RN has seen me do the task and agrees I am competant to do it. Each state is diifferent so check with your BON.

:redpinkhe:nurse::hrnsmlys:

Hi Marshall1: Could you continue working at the doctor's office to assure an adequate income and less stress while searching for a better position closer to home? In the meantime, is there a nearby free clinic where you could volunteer for one day a week to utilize your nursing skills? Would this help you feel better and more like the type of nurse you are accustomed to being? Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Hi: I am an older nurse who has recently done a refresher course and had to take another NCLEX because of being out of active nursing for more than three years...The NCLEX was at a center and was very closely monitored. It is NOT given online.. Due to the economic times, I am finding it difficult to find a paying position but while I am waiting I am changing articles and nursing information that I gathered over the years into PDFs and putting them onto my EREADER... This will help me while I am working as a volunteer at a local free clinic for the homeless/uninsured population. I do not think you could use an electronic device to pass an employment test. However, I am discovering that the ability to know your way around various technology is a plus... Each facility will have their own parameters regarding the usage of electronic devices.. Good luck with your quest... :redbeathe

Hi Johnny: I need to take a Micro class too. Could you please tell me more about where you are taking it online? I don't recognize the name. If you cannot tell me in this thread, please send me a private message? BTW, did the doctor(s) you approached for information respond favorably? (I hope they were good to you). Thanks, Betty

When I first started in nursing years ago, I had the opportunity to go into the operating room to observe as a student nurse. I loved being able to dress in scrubs, shoe and hair covers instead of our starched white dresses and caps. While I was in the operating room, the surgeon's pants slid to the floor and the circulating nurse motioned me forward. I bent down, picked up his scrub pants, slid them up and held them in place while he finished the operation. He never missed a beat and did say thank you to me after we both left the operating room. As a nurse, I later worked psych wards as well as Med/Surg. On the psych wards we were required to wear street clothes. That meant keeping extra clothes in my locker in case I was pulled from one to the other. Now I see scrubs everywhere and they seem very practical to me. JMHO

Hi: First, please take a deeeep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and let it out very slowly... There now... Your post sounds like you are very stressed and about to panic... What you need to do is calmly sit down, look at the classes you have taken, the grades you have gotten and decide which ones you did the best in.. Then, write down on a sheet of paper what it is that you truely love doing. I mean what you would like to do if money were not an issue.. Next, go to your counselor at school and talk to him/her about your possibilities.. Not everyone likes being a nurse but everyone likes something... Find out your passion and go for it... Best luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing.

:):redpinkhe:yeah::redbeathe:balloons::yelclap::yelclap::hrnsmlys::clpty::flwrhrts::dancgrp::anpom::hpygrp::ancong!::hotchocolate: What wonderful news! Enjoy and please let us know some details when you have a minute!!

In these times it is very hard for newly graduated LPNs or RNs to find work whether they are younger than 40 or older than 40. It is also hard for older nurses returning to active nursing after more than three years away from active nursing to find a paying postion. I belong to the latter group and have a lot of work experience but, unfortunately, it is not recent experience. That means I will volunteer and also will find whatever job I can to get that year of experience... I intend to work for a very long time and one of the things my maturity has taught me is to go with the flow and adapt to the circumstances...

Hi johnny depp23: From my experience, doctors are humans. Some will gladly help you and others will not. If you run into the latter kind, do not take it personally... Maybe they had a rough day, etc.. If you are fortunate to get the former kind, please be sure to say thank you and let them know how much you appreciate their help.

Hi TonyaM73: Here's hoping all of your tomorrows are MUCH better and less chaotic. {{{{{{{{{{TonyaM73}}}}}}}}}}}}}} :heartbeat

Hi: http://www.drugs.com/pro/lactated-ringers.html This link will take you to a site that will give you information on why Lactated Ringers' solution might be ordered instead of Normal Saline solution postpartum. You will have to scroll down a ways to find the section for Labor and Delivery. Good Luck :heartbeat

Call your state board and ask them. Some states take longer than others, but don't give up. Good luck to you on your job search! :redbeathe

Hi: Although, I have a lot of nursing experience, it is not within the last three years. Now that I am licensed in this state, I have been asked by the family of a 75 -year-old woman if I would consider doing private duty with her. I have talked to the woman and she is very enthusiastic about this. It would be private pay to start until I could complete my training as an RN. In taking this case, I would work with her doctors in order to provide the necessary services to bring her back to optimal health and functioning. This would be beneficial to me as well as her because I could charge less than an agency would charge. I know I would have to have a contract outlining what services would be provided by me and when; allowing me access to her doctors so I could provide optimum continuity of care; and the amount of monetary compensation for my services and when it was to be paid; and the terms under which the contract would be null and void on either parties part. I know that I would also be well-advised to continue to carry malpractice insurance and perhaps to increase the amount. Does anyone know of anything else I would need to do to be compliant with regulations from either the CT BON or the IRS if I did take this job as an LPN? All input gratefully received. :heartbeat