Kell Arellano

I started out in the Army as a Vet Tech but I didn't pursue nursing right away (after I got out), you may find you are leaps & bounds ahead of all the other nursing students. I would say your experience & education as a Vet Tech is at a higher level than any of the Nursing Assistants/CNA's in your classes. get your RN! you're earning potential & opportunities for advancement will probably triple in most markets compared to a registered/licensed vet tech.

I haven't worked in 2 years (Aug 2008) after leaving a job in an extremely hostile work environment as the night charge nurse(LPN) in a SNF. A few days ago I received a notice of complaint issued by my former employer to the BON in Washington State. Cited were issues of patient abuse & antagonism, failure to give prn medication documented and suspected narcotic use (all of which are false). I had only been employed at the facility a year when I quit. I was the sole LPN with a census of 80 patients on nocs, most of the time only 1 or 2 aides showed up, some nights none. I had to scramble to find replacements (most of the on-call staff were less than helpful). I was already pushed for time as it was, regularly putting in 2-3 hours OT just to complete my duties (and I am extremely organized & efficient). I filed an anonymous tip with the county health department during that time after losing nearly 1/3 of our patients in a three week period due to "illness", they found out about it. I informed several patients of their legal rights regarding the 800 abuse hotline (which I was informally reprimanded for). Most of the prn's I administered were requested by alert patients and I had several witnesses present in regards to other patients (most of which are dead now). The complaint that I abused a patient was in regards to a known disturbed patient who attacked other patients without provocation, I was attempting to come between the two and got bit. They did initially report me to the Impaired Professionals organization but since I had no drug use/abuse and have heard horror stories of co-workers (some impaired, some not) being railroaded by the organization I turned it down. I did offer initially to take a UA but walked off the job (after my day was finished) when my employer demanded to search my bag. I have no money to hire a lawyer and now no hopes of returning to employment in the near future. Any suggestions?

Who has the cheapest & fastest online training for Medical Billing & Coding?

What agencies don't require testing as part of the hiring process?

What agencies don't require written & skills tests before hiring?

In a posting by loricatus: Interfit was mentioned, having flu shot clinics in both NY & TX...Are you licensed in both states? It seems years ago I contacted a "temp" agency that specialized in health screenings and immunization clinics interstate(as an LPN from WA state). Do those roving companies work like that?

At one of the local hospitals I found several listings for hiring LPN's...the other had only one opening...there are lot's of openings for MA & CNA's at our 2 local hospitals.

I would like to go back into hospital nursing(L&D,Med-Surg) after working years in LTC. I last worked in a hospital back in 1994. I'm worried my skills may be out of date/inadequate. Any suggestions?

I need to take a few LPN Online Competency Exams before a certain agency will hire me. (haven't worked in a few years) I reveiwed for a pharmacology test-30 questions/30 minutes. I need to also need a (online)skills check list and competency test which are also 30 minutes each. Has anyone had a similar experience? What areas/subjects should I be reviewing? What is covered in an online skills check list which isn't a demonstration type test? The testing is through a national(private) online testing site.