LadyAscheRN

LadyAscheRN's Latest Activity

1. 

   How to deal with constant calls to come into work?!

   LadyAscheRN replied to magn1jes's topic in Nursing

   My first job out of LPN school, I worked at a county nursing home that was chronically understaffed, and they had no problem will calling at all hours of the day or night. To make matters worse, it was written into the union contract that employees were REQUIRED to return any phone call within 90 minutes, or face disciplinary action - up to and including monetary fines. I started out screening calls, and after second time I got fined $75 for not returning a call (I had pneumonia and was asleep for literally 20 hours - I didn't even hear the phone ring!), I finally quit. The reason I stayed at the facility so long? Like you, intense guilt. I'd say you've gotten some pretty good advice here - unless it's a situation like mine was where you MUST return the call, I simply wouldn't. I have a friend who had the same issue at her current job, so what she did was got a phone number from Google Voice (it's free) and gave work that phone number. She has it set to where it doesn't ring, just goes straight to voice mail that she can listen to (or read via email) at her leisure. That may be an option if you don't want to hear the phone ringing all the time.
2. 

   New Grad RN CAN'T FIND WORK!! What should I do?

   LadyAscheRN replied to Aubrey88RN's topic in First Year

   I'm running into the same issue - and here in AZ, some of the programs are telling me that New Grad is 6 months or less - and I graduated in May '10! When I ask them what happens if I apply and I've been out of school more than 6 months, they say they cannot consider me. So I ask what I should apply for, and there's this long pause......followed by "I'm not sure you would qualify for an RN position with our hospital, then".
3. 

   calling ALL newly licensed NURSES.......[3yrs<]

   LadyAscheRN replied to NURSESrMEAN's topic in First Year

   Update for Nov 2nd: I just sent out my 201st application this afternoon. To date - 4 interviews, no offers. Total turndown letters: 82. I have relocated to Tucson, AZ, in hopes that the job market would be more forgiving..but still no luck. I did attempt to consolidate my loans, but was told I didn't qualify due to a poor credit score (of course it's poor, I'm out of work and living on credit!!). In 13 days, I will have been out of school 6 months, and still no work as an RN in any capacity.
4. 

   Medical Assistants at Doctors Office

   LadyAscheRN replied to southern_rn_brat's topic in Nursing

   I don't think anyone is doubting that many medical assistants have been trained to be skilled, compassionate caregivers. THAT BEING SAID: As a former legal assistant and now an RN, it really, REALLY gets under my skin when I see MAs on this board and out in public representing themselves as 'nurses'. You are not a nurse. Just as I was a legal assistant, NOT a paralegal, not an attorney. This is not meant as a "diss" on medical assistants or their profession, but as a demarcation between the legal role of a Nurse and the role of unlicensed/unregistered persons such as MAs. While I am aware that some states do offer MAs the opportunity to become "Registered Medical Assistant", the vast majority do not. Why is this? A profession with the title REGISTERED in front of it is held to a very exact legal responsibility, just as professions with LICENSED as part of their title are held to another set of legal liabilities. In the state of NY, claiming to be a Nurse if you are not an LPN or an RN is against the law, and yet every time I would call my daughter's MD office, and would ask to speak with a NURSE, inevitably some MA would tell me, "Yes, I am Dr Nobrain's Nurse!". Deplorable. Seriously, the issue here is - it doesn't matter if you're a ditch digger, a gigolo or a public servant: Get your d@mn titles straight. The law (and common decency) demands you represent yourself correctly to everyone you come in contact with professionally! /endrant
5. 

   Any overnight nurses?

   LadyAscheRN replied to lpn-ny's topic in Nursing

   I admit, I'm the opposite when I work nights. Last night job was 11p - 7a, so after my 90 min commute home (grrrrr) I would sack out about 9 am and get up in time to get my daughter off the bus at 4p, then stay up for the remainder of the day. That's just me - I have type2 diabetes, so I had to play around with what my body was happiest with and that is what seemed to work. Once you find your groove, you'll be fine.
6. 

   Staying late without pay

   LadyAscheRN replied to coolpeach's topic in Nursing

   I worked at a facility like this for a few weeks (before I smartened up and left). It was EXPECTED that you would 'donate' time at least 2 shifts a week, and no one was exempt from this expectation. I'm told that the week after I left, one of the CNAs was helping a resident back to bed while they were officially off the clock and 'donating' time, and hurt her back, and there was a big to-do over Worker's Comp refusing to pay because she was not "on the job". Just don't do it. I don't care if your time management skills to blame or what - NEVER work off the clock. If you need help, ask for it. Beyond that, stay safe and legal.
7. 

   Entering A Women's World..........

   LadyAscheRN replied to Just1Question's topic in Ob/Gyn

   I just wanted to share with you that when I had my daughter back in 2000, I had a male OB nurse, and he was FANTASTIC. In fact, the experience I had, as a patient (long before I even thought of being a nurse!) was one of the things that eventually convinced me to become a nurse myself nearly a decade later. While I won't say they are common, I personally know 3 male L&D/OB nurses. And while I am sure there are people that will give you grief for your gender, I will say that they will probably be the minority - just as I have the ocassional patient who refuses to allow me to care for them because of my size (to put it bluntly - I am fat. Some patient find it offensive.) I wish you the best of luck in your career! You are fortunate to have found a field you are truly passionate about, and your patients in turn will be fortunate to have you.
8. 

   Nurses Deserve More Respect!

   LadyAscheRN replied to natasharostova's topic in Nursing

   What a delightful way to explain the difference! I wish someone would have explained it that way to me when I was trying to make my choice.
9. 

   what area of nursing is 9-5, no w/e and whats the pay like? NY

   LadyAscheRN replied to rnintwo's topic in Nursing

   What area of NY are you in? I did a brief stint at Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown - they generally work 8-6, 4 days a week. Some work 5. Depends on the hours your assigned MD is in office. They're pretty open to part-time and reduced hours as well. Yes, it's a physician's office, but you can get some interesting experience there. Best of luck no matter what you decide.
10. 

    No jobs for new grad nurses!

    LadyAscheRN replied to trin22's topic in General Career

    I am one of those unemployed RNs. We got the foreclosure notice for our home today (the agent from Chase showed up with the local sheriff - I'm sure all the neighbor's tongues are wagging), so continuing to hear the local ads on the radio about the "nursing shortage" have been particularly hard to take. I graduated from an ADN program in May, with 3 glowing letters of recommendation from my clinical proctors. I have 3 previous years of experience as an LPN. This is actually a second career for me; originally, I was a webdesigner, but all my jobs kept being outsourced to India and the Phillipines, so I went back to school for nursing in 2006, thinking that I could turn my passion for caring into a living. It appears I was wrong. For the first 4 months after graduation, I applied to every medical facility I could find in 75mile radius from my home. I applied online, in person, made cold calls. To date, I've had 3 interviews, and no offers. When we expended the last penny of our savings 2 months ago, I started applying all over the US, to any hospital and acute facility that appeared even vaguely interested in "new grads". As it stands now, I have been out of school over 5 months and my skills are leaving me. I am told I am overqualified to be an LPN (believe me, I've applied for those and CNA jobs too, just to make ends meet!), but underqualified for RN positions. The 'career councelor' from my school tells me it would be better to be unemployed than to take a job outside the field, but that is the point I am reduced to. When I cashed in my retirement 2 years ago to go back to school, I never DREAMED that I would be in the position I am today, packing my house, having no idea where I will be next month, all because there simply does not seem to be jobs for new RNs. I am desperate to work. I feel like a failure, both as a nurse and a person.
11. 

    Need advice for night shift

    LadyAscheRN replied to TinaL29's topic in First Year

    I've been working nights for almost 4 years now, and I can say that the big difference for me was NOT switching back to days when I had time off. I stay as a "night owl" every day, no matter if I'm working or not. As a type 2 diabetic, this became a crucial step towards helping my body not shut down on me... I'm pretty sure my CNAs wouldn't want to find me passed out on the floor somewhere! lol And another thing, whatever you do DON'T take melatonin...it reinforces your circadian rhythm, which means you'll be even MORE tired at work and more awake when you need to be sleeping...doh! Good luck to you
12. 

    CNA disrespecting new grad.

    LadyAscheRN replied to JillFRN's topic in First Year

    I want to start by agreeing with the other posters, and then adding on my own experience... As an LPN, I had a CNA who would do exactly the same thing: refuse to change residents if she had "just done it" 3 hours before, go on her 15 minute break for 45 minutes at a time, etc. It was a county-run facility, and she had worked there 22 years as an aide, and felt she 'ruled the roost'. She would often joke (within my earshot) about how she was going to put that "new fat nurse in line!" I used to be a CNA myself - I always go out of my way to help out my aides when I'm not passing meds or buried in paperwork, but I think it's a reasonable expectation that if I do my job, they should be doing theirs, too. So about this CNA, I talked to her several times and finally went to the night supervisor about it, which turned out to be a BIG mistake - the aide in question was her goddaughter! I presented the issue professionally to the supervisor (who assured me that "the problem would be addressed") and then went home for the night/day. When I came to work the next night, I was told I had been fired! ***! I only found out later about the relationship between the supervisor and the aide. Moral of the story - be careful who's feet you tread on
13. 

    Attention Yuma-ites!

    LadyAscheRN posted a topic in Arizona

    I was looking through some old (2007 and earlier) posts and saw it mentioned that Yuma is often hiring New Grad RNs - does anyone know if this is still the case? I've applied a couple times but not heard anything back. Thanks!
14. 

    calling ALL newly licensed NURSES.......[3yrs<]

    LadyAscheRN replied to NURSESrMEAN's topic in First Year

    I am currently in New York state (Ulster county), but am looking to relocate to Tucson, AZ in 2 weeks. My stats: Graduated with ADN May 2010, took boards late July (I was second in my class to get a date...the state made us wait forever!!), got my registration August 4th. To date, I have submitted/hand carried/mailed 168 applications and resume packets. 112 of these have been for jobs in NY (in every conceivable location - hospital, nursing home, public health, home care, etc) with only 2 interviews and no offers. 56 have been for employment in the Tucson vicinity, with a couple of call backs, but no interviews. As my loans are now due ($592 a month, thank you very much Uncle Sam!), I am desperate. I was an LPN prior to graduating RN school, and now I am told I am overqualified to be an LPN, yet underqualified to be an RN. I have considered lying and saying I didn't graduate with my RN...but you know how that goes when they find out.
15. 

    New Grad RN CAN'T FIND WORK!! What should I do?

    LadyAscheRN replied to Aubrey88RN's topic in First Year

    I currently live...well, in the middle of nowhere, NY! I would say my closest "cities" are Middletown and Kingston, and, like you, I graduated in May of this year, took my boards at the end of July, got my paper from NY with my number on it in August...and have been beating doors ever since. The real kicker is that I was an LPN before I went back to school for my RN, but it's as if it never happened now...that experience counts for nothing. I have, as of today, filed 172 applications since August 4th - hospitals, home care, nursing homes, public health, flu clinics, you name it. I have had 3 interviews, and one of them was in Albany, which is unreasonable to commute to for any period of time. I have a stack of 68 turndown letters, many of which telling me either that I am underqualified or having returned my resume with "No Grad Nurses" highlighted in yellow on the response letter (thanks, Orange Regional!). My favorite are the LPN jobs I've applied for where I'm told I'm OVERQUALIFIED. Being that I still have to make ends meet, I have been working at the local grocery store for $8.90 an hour as a clerk. I am beyond dismayed that I kicked and clawed my way through nursing school, passed my boards with flying colors, and now can't even get an interview. When I went to apply for unemployment, the clerk all but laughed when I told her I was an RN and said, "Honey, have you tried writing a resume". Oh my gosh, evil woman, what a unique concept - I never would have thought to! **sarcasm** In short, it's sucking bigtime for all of us. If you come across any solutions, let me know.
16. 

    Help with some research questions: Migration of Mexican Nurses to the USA.

    LadyAscheRN replied to tanyaalmaguer's topic in Nursing

    1. approximately how many patients a day receive medical attention? (in a regular american hospital) our hospital services between 1300-1600 patients per day, on average...so i am told 2. how many of these patients are hispanic? i really don't have a way of telling - these numbers are not released to us. personally, i would say probably 1 in 7 or so would identify themselves as hispanic 3. how many of these patients speak only spanish? i get 1 or two patients a week that speak only spanish. now yiddish on the other hand...i get patients that only speak it often 4. how many nurses do currently have? (in a certain hospital)our current nursing staff is 226 rns, according to published literature 5. how many nurses do you think are needed per patient? i personally think it should never be more than 8:1, but our state (ny) has no laws either way 6. do you believe there is a shortage of nurses in the hospital? absolutely not - the "nursing shortage" is a lie of epic proportions. we have grad nurses who have been out of school since last (2009!) fall that are beating down our doors trying to get a job as anything, even taking jobs as cnas and techs to try to get a foot in the door. 7. what percentage of your nurses speaks spanish? about 25% of our nurses speak at least 1 language beyond english for the last 3 questions, us law prohibits discrimination for employment, hiring, pay and promotions based on race, sex, religion, etc. i think that nursing is all about the person, not the culture behind them, and you can have good nurses and bad nurses that have a similar cultural background. good luck on your paper.