islandhopper

I just completed a 13 week contract in Maine...there wasn't a day that went by that my accent wasn't commented on at least 20 times a day. Some of my co-workers and patients dealt with it; the true Yankees let their true colors show a little too much to my likin'. As soon as I opened my mouth my Nurse Manager treated me as though I was the dumbest thing walking. She and a co-worker asked me about makin' grits for a breakfast the office staff was having...I told them "Sorry I don't eat nor make that junk. We only feed that to the stupid Yankees who think we are all "Beverly Hillibillies"; the same ones we say "Thank y'all now y'all come on back and visit usins any 'ole time yeh hear" as we laughed all the way to the bank (after the tourons left our great state). In all fairness, when I worked in New York and Chicago my accent wasn't an issue...they respected the fact that I am a skilled professional and treated me as such.

I have worked with more than my fair share of 'Real Nurses' who considered themselves too good to wipe butt....or provide a patient with a drink when they were asked. :angryfire My response? Its time for you to get out of the field before you are my nurse or my family's nurse. No matter what the title we are there to take care of the patient and if that involves a "code brown" then so be it. Personally, I would rather clean up a patient's crap that put up with a RN's crap with an attitude like that.

Where is the hospice unit you work at? Do they have any openings for LPNs?

I agree but the RN I was working with must test good because that is the only possible way she could of passed board. She is not knowledge even in the basic nursing knowledge. She is a good paper pusher but that is all. Even in an emergency, she refuses to call the MD if it is after midnight. We have had three patients who have almost died because of her refusal to act...all have ended up in ICU courtestly of another nurse willing to act.

I am currently interviewing with the VA...your position sounds like a dream. Where are you located? How long have you been there?

Vet techs where I live is anyone hired off the street who loves working with animals for min. wage.

I must be working with his sister. If I hear one more time "well at the nursing home" I just want to say hey you aren't at the nursing home and you haven't been for almost a year. Apparently, these people test well because heaven knows they have no common sense or ability to put theory into action.

I checked with the Labor Board and was told that if a meeting is mandatory it must be offered on each shift. I don't respond well to threats. If its an informative meeting great I am all for it...if its a ***** session I prefer to sleep in thank you very much.

All nurses need to remember a good CNA can make or break a nurse. Although I am a nurse I started as a CNA and the day I think I am too good to wipe butt is the day I quit.

With the shortage AZ has how do they think they will be able to operate without LPN's? Sometimes management's logic escapes me. Some hospitals in TN thought they would do the same thing a few years ago...of course it didn't work.

I have a BS in Business and Management; an AS in Data Programming; a diploma in nursing (LPN). My two degrees are with Dean's Honors, etc. My nursing diploma was without a doubt the hardest of the three.

I am an LPN with 14 years experience. I began my career as a charge nurse on a skilled unit in a LTC. Due to my lack of knowledge when I graduated I thought working in a LTC was a step down from working in a hospital. I am so grateful for the year I worked in LTC. When I began working as an agency nurse I had skills that RNs did not have...you guessed it...they were skills I gained working LTC. I am now a travel nurse---a large number of the travel positions for LPNs is in LTC. I will soon begin working on my RN but I would not of had some wonderful opportunities had I not had the experience of working in LTC.

I work as an agency LPN and I make between $20 and $24 an hour depending upon what facility I chose to work at.:)