Kasper1014

It is a bacillus and not a virus....d'oh! LOL I know I kep saying this...but one day I WILL learn to proof read my posts! LOL

I am an infectious disease nurse. You can NOT spread TB through your scrubs!!! LOL TB is spread through airborne droplets. And UV light and sunlight DOES kill TB. It is also harder than you think to spread the TB virus. At my facilty, all patients have to have the diagnosis of TB to be admitted. None of our employess and staff members have contracted TB in the last 10 years. Hopefully I have put some of your minds at ease! : )

I am a nurse in a LTC TB hopsital. The majority of our pt population are homeless. THey can be admitted anywhere from three months to 2 years and sometimes rarely longer depending if it a court order or if they are multidrug resistent. So our pt's can leave on work passes during the day to work or see family if they choose to. We also have SW's to help assistpt's with finding jobs or home arrangement upon DC. We have some homeless pt's who do work everyday, some several jobs. Still can't make enough money. Then we have pt's who all they do is sit in the lobby and their main goal is to get on disability. I have seen both extremes and most in the middle. Some of our pt's are extremely intelligent, very educated. Yet they choose to remain homeless, and they will tell you flat out they want to be on the street. And we have pt's who are mentally challenged and really don't have choice if they are on the streets or not. We also have pt's from Honduras. In America they are working several jobs, still not making enough and living on the streets. Yet they see nothing wrong with it and is it still more luxurious compared to Honduras, where they come from. We had one pt that had a job, he had several "Will work for food" signs on his bed side table. Every morning he would leave for "work" with his lunch, and come back in the evenings with his "paycheck". Ha! And we have the pt's the do work several jobs because they do have a family to support while they are in our hospital. I have seen all types and situations. Some I do feel sorry for, others I can tell are trying to milk the system for what it's worth. Kassy : )

I work in a TB hospital. On my unit, it is 28 pts to 2 RNS, 2 LVNs and 1 CNA. But the stress load is very low.

AT my facility it is two nurses, Rn and Rn or Rn and LVN. At another hospital I worked in, in was two Rn's. Kassy : )

There is a lot of paper work. I work in a TB hospital. I chart on about 28 patients per night. Plus the 24 hour census, the 24 hour report, the sign in sheets and MAPS. Plus all the LVN check lists I have to sign. It really isn't bad, since I don;t mind the paper work. At another hospital I worked, it was all computer. Depends where you work, but still lots of documentation. Kassy : )

We wear informs at my facilty. RN's--Navy Scrubs LVN's- Some bright blue Scrubs MA---Light Blue scrubs Unit Clerks--MArron scrubs And of course any white shoes. Our uniforms are provided to us. We get five uniforms per year. Kassy : )

I understand your frustation. I am a new grad, graduated Dec2004 and passed NCLEX RN Feb 2005. I was working as a nurse extern in a VERY popular Specialty Hopital here in South Texas and immediatley accepted into the internship program. In order for me toget into that position, my NM wanted me to do backflips and run through hoops to prove myself that I "belonged" there. I really wanted to work OR so I was willing! Then I graduated.....it ALL went down hill from there. My NM was literally looking over my shoulder at everyturn and corner. One time I innocently asked how long she wanted me to scrub in before I could start circulating? She tuned around and screamed at me," Why??? Are you too good to scrub in? You made your self out to someone who really wanted to be here, I think I am now wrong about you! Get out of my face!!!!" So I ran out crying, thinking maybe something was said wrong and maybe I misunderstood!. Another day my scrub tech and I were in the breakroom taking an early break before our surgery. My NM walked by my and pinched my arm. " In my office, NOW!" We all looked at each other and I followed my NM to her office. She tuned around and tore right into me, " What the HELL gives you the right to take a break!!! You think you are too good for us now you are an RN! What....Are you trying to snag a Dr.???? Ahhhh....Are you Crying????? Get out of MY FACE!!!!!!!" At this poin I was stunned!!!!! And that point I made sure to stay away from her at all costs! Then I heard from the grapevine there was a female scrub tech who did not like me and "report" to the NM how I was nortrying and "really" didn't want to be there. Of course the NM never took me aside and ASKED me. There were other verbal attacks. I would literally have panic attacks drving closer to work and start getting sick. I finally couldn't take it anylonger, called and QUIT!!!! I had never felt soooo relieved in my life. And I still have not made it back to clean out my locker and I DON'T CARE!!!! LOL I have all my surgical caps and my Dansko's in there and I don;t care! :balloons: When I started applying for another job, I was honest up front about quiting without notice. I have it in my resume. I do not try to hide it. I am now working for the state of TEXAS as a night charge nurse and I am SOOOOOOOO Loving my job!!!!! I never would have found it if I had not quit my previous job. I keep hearing about the Texas do not hire list. So far I have not come across it. You have to do what works for you. Your health and wellbeing is more important!

I have just started night shifts two weeks ago, this week will be my third week. Before that I was always working days and always swore I would NEVER would a night shift. Never say never! LOL:chuckle My schedule is 11pm to 7am, Monday through Thursday, Friday and weekends off. The Sunday before I actually worked my first night shift, I took a late afternoon nap, for a couple of hours. Then my Dh and kids went to bed, I stayed up all night, watching movies, playing on the internet, reading. The night actually flew by pretty quickly! Then my DH and kids woke up for school. I took my shower and I went to bed. I try to sleep bewteen 8am,9am to 5pm when my hubby gets home from work. So far it is really working and I am really enjoying my nightshift! Kassy : )

I understand what you are going through. One of my friends in nursing school, we graduated last Dec 2004. She had to apply for a declatory order for her past offense. I actually had to reread your post as your post sounded soooo much like my friends. She commited her crime when she was 19. Now she is 25. All I can suggest is to go to the school in person and tell your side of the story. They may readmit you at a later date or try for another nursing school. I know of several people who applied for declatory orders. Some for drug offenses and one was exposing himself....don;t ask on THAT one! But each time the board has heard their story and made a decision based on that person. Kassy : )

I work at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease in San Antonio as a nurse. We had to prepare our empty unit for the state employees from Corpus Chrisit State Hopital. The patients were being transfered to the San Antonio State Hospital. So they just evacuated both patient and employess together. Still not sure how I would feel about it. I know if my family were evacuating, I would want to be with my family. Kassy

I should be going to bed but I am scared now!!!! LOL Also giving this thread a good "BUMP" to keep the stories coming. Kassy : )

I am in San Antonio, but really can't give you much info on the OR perspective. I am starting the OR internship Jan 10th, 2005. i have been working as a nurse extern since last August, but not enough experince to give you any info from a nursing perspective. I am working at methodist specialty and tranplant hopsital through the methodist healthcare system. It is a great systen to work for and I really enjoy it! Kassy : )

i would guess so. to be honest i have never been further south then corpus christi. i do know in san antonio, i don't even think it is asked if yo speak spanish. i could be wrong though. lol i noticed that you are in denmark? will you be moving to texas in the future? kassy : )

i am not an rn yet, i graduate this december. :balloons: but i live in san antonio. right now i am working as a nurse extern in the or and will be hired on when i graduate for the intership. i do not speak spanish. added, it is a bonus. but i have not had any problems with wanting hospitals to hire me due to my not speaking spanish. i hope this helps at least a little. :) kassy : )