LilDolphin

First off Congrats! Senior year was the best for me...Way back when LOL! If you are struggling in some subjects I would definitely go with a community college before going to a 4 yr University. It will help you keep up with your studies no matter what field you decide to go into. It will also save you and your parents money in the long run. Secondly, You should really put more thought into what kind of career you are interested in. Yes, there will always be a need for nurses but it's not something you should jump into without being 100% sure it is what you want. If it's the money aspect that you are looking at then I hate to tell you this but it's not always that great. Nursing school is, well words can't explain how difficult and draining it is. You will have to spend your every waking minute studying, preparing for clinicals, working on case studies...the list goes on. The same can be applied to any field you choose to go into. Take some time and really THINK about where you want to be in the next 10 years. I know that seems like a long way away but believe me when I say, it is not. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do!

I do the same thing. Travel 35 miles to work. I don't even have the option for friends or family to stay with so I work weekend doubles. It really helps on the gas issue. I get my hrs and save gas. Working 16 hr shifts every single Sat and Sun is by far NOT the easiest but when I look at having the option to take Mon-Fri off to spend time with my family or work PRN it is totally worth it to me. Again, the hrs are insane and definitely NOT for everyone but it works for me. Maybe your employer offers that. Just make sure it is the Baylor Plan. Work 32 (16 hrs Sat, 16 hrs Sun) and get paid for 40 hrs.

ROFL I was going to post something very similar!

And I thought my weekend was insane. Your weekend tops mine hands down!

I'm sorry you are going through this. If I were in your shoes I would draw the ultimate line, They go or I go. And Yes, It will be before the sun rises on a new day and Yes, I WILL take my children with me, and Yes, the authorities will be notified of this situation. I have been in a situation where I have had to make that ultimatum and it worked out for the best. My situation wasn't involving drugs, but it was still serious. My license was the last concern @ the time since I was more concerned about the safety of my children and myself but it was something that I thought about later on. When push comes to shove you have to do what is best for you and yours. I wish you all the best soon.

The only one who has any right to be insulted is you! You should not have to justify your decisions to anyone other than yourself and for anyone to try to make you feel like less of a person or make you feel like as a CNA you are less important is unreal! The next time you face a nurse who questions you regarding your decision simply remind that nurse that without CNAs, nurses wouldn't be able to get anything done. I know! I was a CNA once too! Be proud of who you are as a wife, mother and CNA and remember that you make just as much of a difference as any LVN and RN in the lives you touch!

My husband has a saying for me that he tells me to repeat when I'm on the phone with him as Im heading for the car and it goes: "throw your hands up in the air and say 'Weeee!' b/c now your roller coaster ride has come to a stop for tonight" And to me, that is what nursing is like, a roller coaster ride. I have my ups, downs, twists, turns, and bumpy rides but like the fool that I am I just can't get enough of those roller coasters! Nursing is the EXACT same way! I haven't been a nurse for near as long as most nurses on here and no, I'm not a RN, yet. But it doesn't take long once you hit the floor to have your fair share of laughs, joys, heartache and tears and yes, There will be blood! LOL I hope this answers your question as it "Is it worth is?" For me, Absolutely YES!

I haven't really had any off the wall baselines before but I do have a family member who's spouse is on the vent. The family member ALWAYS freaks out if the pt's Sats are 96% and myself and the RT both explain to the spouse that 96% is fine. We explain that the pt is A/A, following commands, and is in NO resp distress. There is simply NO convincing some people that their loved 1 really IS in good hands.

rKitty, Bless you! I deal with death and dying on a daily basis, but it is expected. My pts have lived their lives. Hopefully they had a long, happy life, but atleast they lived it. You see pts of EVERY age range and background and know that a good portion of your pts have barely begun to live and are facing death too soon! I couldn't do that! I know for a fact I can't ever do that b/c how can I look a mother in the eyes knowing that her 6 mo old baby won't make it yet mine did. Yes, I had to look cancer in the eyes of MY own child. She was 2 weeks old when she was diagnosed c a brain tumor. 6 mo old when the Dr was able to perform surgery. She is (Thank God) a happy, healthy, and CA Free 9 yr old! So again, I applaud you and everything you do. I know for me personally I would have such a guilt in my heart being allowed to hold my personal miracle everyday while another family is burying theirs. Lots of love for all that you do!

I can't say that I get "mad, upset, or sad" for my pts because I focus on helping them and making them as comfortable as possible. Ofcourse I question myself @ the end of every shift while driving home. Did I do everything I can for this person? What could I have done differently? Better, even. The moments I get mad about are the times when I am trying to help a non-compliant pt who continuously refuses care when I know the care I'm trying to provide would help them heal or help ease the pain/disc. Or when I watch a pt suffer more than any1 deserves and I know that I have done EVERYTHING I can (and the MD has done everything s/he can) for the pt and NOTHING helps. I guess what I'm saying gets to me are all the things that life throws @ you that are beyond your control.

I have said before I love LTC. The place I work @ is perfect for skills b/c on my unit I ofourse do my assessments, VS, Accuchecks, but I also get to use skills that are lost in most LTC facilities such as vents, open trachs, IVs, and G-tubes.

I love LTC because you really get to know and love your Res. You are there for them and their family through the joys and tears. I have worked Med-Surg and ER and I enjoyed it very much. But I also found myself missing my "family" Yes, LTC is long hrs, short staffed, and simply not enough time in the day, but when push comes to shove, it's what I was really missing when I was working in other fields.

LVNs in Texas are req 20 hrs every 2 yrs. The 1st renewal is free. Save them to a folder. If you are able to renew online then it will ask you if you completed your hrs. If you are getting audited then you cannot renew online. You will have to submit your CEUs with your renewal app via snail mail.

I can't imagine being put in this position where the NMs encourage you to lie. I would tell them that if they want to put THEIR license on the line like that then go right ahead. But when it comes down to it, it is ultimately YOU who is the only 1 protecting YOUR license. You worked waaaaay to hard earning it to have anyone offer to put YOUR license on the line.

What helps my pts who get Rocephin IM is 15 min before I give the inj I give them Ibuprofen (if they have a PRN order for it) and then when I mix the Lido c the Rocephin I let it sit for 10 min before i inj the med. My pts have said that does help to ease the pain/disc.