hotomalis

What is the technical difference between an LPN, LVN and BSN? I know about their responsibilities but are BSN nurses considered technicians if their scope of practice is wider? I too am writing a paper and I'm not too clear as to what the differences are. I work with a lot of LPN's who are super caring, bright and extremely smart. They do get paid the same differencials as a nurse but the salaries are not the same.

Well, I'm not a ED nurse but because I have this training, I could be called to the ED and assigned to a victim. These exams may take (depending on the degree of the assault) up to 8 hours to complete the test, the paperwork, the conversations with the rest of the team (especially law enforcement) etc. Some people draw a contract where the hospital calls them when there is a victim because this is all they do and some are considered expert witnesses in a court of law. It just depends on your area too.

I guess it depends on what state you are in. For example, in Maine you have to be under supervision for two years and then you have independence. In Rhode Island you have independent practice (no MD on site) but you can't write prescriptions, In other states you may not be able to diagnose and yet in others you may not order diagnostic tests. So it basically depends on where you are. Also the word "collaborative" practice has different meanings in different states. In CT (where I'm from), you have no need for the MD to be on the premises, you can diagnose, you can prescribe but you have to have a contract with very specific instructions of what you can and can not do. That includes what medications you may give, etc. Check your state statutes and the Pearson Report for which someone put a web link on a prior post. Check it out, is very informative. http://www.webnp.net/ajnp.html This may help.

Perhaps we should open a forum of nurses who have been greatly dissappointed by hospitals and medicine. I love being a nurse but I really don't like the way nurses are being treated. Tell this other nurse that I am proud of her for being a fighter, courageous and a true grit woman. There has to be a place for us somewhere, where we can practice without prejudism. The reaction of the MD does not surprise me. Thanks for your post GILF. It makes me feel better I'm not alone and there are people like you who understand our situation.:loveya:

Thanks BBFRN! I think that the kindness I've seen in this forum allows me to pass it on to someone (anyone) else. However, I have to say (and you probably heard this before, I know this is the disease that will eventually put me underground and until I get there, I would like to know that I did something good for someone (you know, not as a job...) Your heart is filled with goodness:redbeathe. It oozes kindness toward me. Thank you. :heartbeat

I am in my graduate studies and the SANE certification was an elective. I was actually in the Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist track but I just switched to Adult NP. The Forensic field allowed me to see a little into the window of the investigation part. It is amazing what we can do when we are prepared appropriately. Kudos! in your studies. Stay the course and persevere!:wink2: It is very difficult to deal with this population but it is very rewarding to know when a perp has been caught :argue: and you helped .

Thanks Lupin. It does take a certain stomach to do that but I specialize in adults not pedes . I, like you, can not stomach that stuff. However, my professor who is from Oregon has had 14 years of pediatric sexual assaults and thanks to her a lot of the perpetrators were able to keep their hands off these kids:argue:. We need someone out there to protect our kids and I thank God every day for people like her . She is actually considered expert witness in several states, and she is brilliant! I can only admire her for her courage and thank her for taking the task a lot of us are unable to do . This certification just opens the doors for me to help another population and I feel priviledged to be qualified to do so .

Good luck with that. Seriously, I hope y'all get the independence you deserve. I do have to tell you that I went to a very small town south Dallas (about 1 hr away) and there was no MD, no where to be seen. The statement from the MD I got was during my intership. I don't know if he was kidding or whatever but he did make that statement. I have been praying for NP's, all NP's to get independent practice. Y'all are strong, proud and extremely full of knowledge. You deserve it. We have "collaborative" practice (so far) in CT and also going in front of legislation this coming fall. It will happen, is just a matter of time.

Thank you Heron: I am proud to say that it's been 1 year since my last chemotherapy and doing well. In regards to the legal action su suggest, it was not the insurance company that dropped me, it was the hospital who "let me go" because I couldn't do my job. It was the way they worded the document they gave me "unable to perform the duties for which he/she was hired" that made it legal. I consulted an attorney and she told me that we could go after them with the disability card. However, because of the legal "resources" they had, it was a huge gamble for not much money and a system that is already in so much need would become worse. I didn't sever the ties with that hospital but I have made my mission to help change the way they treat nurses. Now, they are offering short-term disability and they have a separate document that obligates them to disclose any discrepancies in healthcare after the extended leave runs out. Thanks for your well wishes Heron. I'm so glad we are nurses... :redbeathe

I received a call from the State Attorney asking me in more detail about my case. Since the hospital did nothing wrong, nothing was ever done. The press actually called me to talk a little more about it and then I never heard back from them. I keep writing and telling anyone who will listen about the treatment to nurses in general. I have gotten a lot of criticism from other nurses but in general, most will celebrate this crusade. I had to lighten up a bit because I'm going to school now and my free time is dedicated to my studies but I will not forget the terrible time we went through and the wonderful words I found in this forum. I am amazed of the kindness of other men and women whom I don't know but the positive oozes from their typed letters. Thank you and I'll keep posting for as long as I can.

Bluesky, you fill me with joy and happines that I can count on my fellow nurses without even seeing my face and this is the joy that makes me feel better day after day. I am happy to report that I just celebrated one year after my last chemotherapy. I'm still having some issues with the surgery but nothing I can't handle. In regards to money, I have the perfect way for you to make a difference. There is an organization that takes care of nurses which have the same issues I had. http://www.nurseshouse.org/ This organization was founded by a nurse and left all her money for when we nurses are in need. Make a donation! Tell your fellow nurses to contribute. Ten dollars buys milk and bread for someone out there and this is how we can help each other. The Nurse's House was not able to help us because by the time my application was looked at, my husband had returned to work. But nevertheless I am grateful that this organization is there for us. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you, thank you, thank you for ever! Your kindness is what I strive to give everyday to my patients. For that I will ask God everynight to give you everything you wish. You're the best!

I just celebrated my first year of clean and free of cancer!!! and the fight continues. I wanted to say thank you for being so kind. NY may be the place to be but I am going to school to get my master's degree. I'm very disappointed with the way nurses are treated but love the profession. So the best thing I can do is become a NP and work in a clinic where I will make a difference and will give my patients the care they deserve. :redpinkhe But always in my heart and year after year celebrating health, I will keep you and your words very close to my hear.:redbeathe Travel is helping me to pay for debts but I can't leave the state because of school, family and my husband's work. Otherwise, I'd be there in a heart beat... I:redbeatheNY! Stay cool and sweet dear Angela!

Isn't that funny? I can't trust MD's telling me the truth about my own practice, hum! aren't MD's the ones that regulate what NP's can and can not do? don't they also delegate? I wonder why this guy told me that? I did go to that clinic (while doing my rotation for Community Nursing) and I never saw a doctor there and I was there for 12 hr days...weird.

Guys, what is the difference between a nurse midwife and a nurse practitioner specializing in women's health?

In reality, 1 or 13 years don't matter if you are a bad healthcare worker. I've known MD's who do not care what they do or who they do it to and they are veterans at their profession. I know the program you are talking about. Is not that they require a BSN, is just that if you have a BSN, you have most of the requirements needed to enter the PA program. I am recovering from cancer and all my healthcare team is female, MD, PA and NP's, oncology, surgery, and plastics. My favorite is my oncology NP and that's just because she listens to me and my worries. Not because she has 19 years under her belt. The surgeon had her intern come in and he was dismissive and callous. The day of my surgery I was in tears because of my disfigured breasts. He didn't say his name, he didn't introduce the PA student, the conversation was just between the PA student and the intern. The intern asked me to lift my gown to see the surgery. I asked him for his name and he said it and without losing a beat, he asked me again to lift my gown. I told him to get out of my room but the student could stay. The intern said he couldn't do that and walked away. The PA student apologize and wished me well and also stated he understood why I did what I did. I asked him to come back and would tell him everything I knew about my surgery. It's not what letters go after your name or what people call you professionaly. It is really how your patients see you, and how safe you feel with them. I, for one, did not feel safe with the intern but my Onco NP, my plastics NP and the general surgeon were very good at their jobs and were kind. The PA learned not to be a pompous ass like that intern and got more information. The PA ended up coming back the next day before going home. We talked and I begged him never to lose his humanity. I actually complained to my general surgeon about this intern and told her about the PA. On my last visit she thanked me for having referred the PA to her. He now works in that practice. By the way, does anyone here know nurse practitioners do have complete independence in 13 states? and it's growing people...very soon we will have primary care in every state... Also, can someone tell me about education? When a PA graduates, how many years of education can he/she achieve (at the most) before practicing (hands on patients)? How many years before a BSN? MSN? Anyone care to write it down somewhere? We need to educate our fellow HC workers who may be a little confused about our capabilities. Did you know that NP's can have independent practice in the rural areas of Texas? Because most doctors (MOST) don't want to practice in a rinky dinky town. There is not money there. Yep! This was something a doctor working at Baylor University Medical Center told me... I read the Texas statutes and behold, it was true! :typing