karengr

Sandy, I used to wear Reeboks, but then developed hip/heel pain - tried inserts but they only made the heel pain worse. Anyway, I wound up going to the local BIRKENSTOCK store and voila! - no more pain! They lowered my heel which ended my pain, and they feel like you are barefoot! Suggestions: Do not buy them on the internet - you MUST be professionally fitted in order to get the most comfort. BTW, the toe box is wide so your toes do not get crunched. It takes several wearings to break them in - so don't give up! I now have 3 pair: 2 for leisure - and the worst part is breaking them in to mold to your feet. Wear a few hours - then take them off. You'll have them broke in in no time and its definitely worth the effort. They are expensive, but buy the care kit and USE IT! This will extend the life of your shoes. Since Birkenstocks can be resoled (~$35) every couple years if necessary, and the cork inserts can be replaced as well on most models, I've personally known people who have had their Birkenstocks for 10 years, so they are cheaper than buying new Reeboks every 6 months. Also, don't leave them in a hot car! I LOVE MY BIRKIES!:yelclap: :yelclap:

Birkenstocks - I wouldn't wear anything else!

I couldn't agree more! I've seen some of the most heartless behavior toward fellow nurses and it leaves me with this knot in the pit of my stomach. Nurses are absolutely HORRIBLE to work with! I know, because I've been in the business for 22 years as an LPN. I worked with a nurse from England (an agency nurse) in a nursing home, who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was always an upbeat person, but as she was leaving she stopped to hug me and another nurse. It was as though she didn't think she would live to return. Anyway, she quipped, "Well Ducky, I'm off to get my titty zapped!" Again, her humor was covering the fear I saw in her eyes as she left to get her radiation tx. after work. Well, one of the hateful nurses complained about her hugging us, stated she couldn't stand that nurse, was glad she hadn't tried to hug her or she would have pushed her away, and was going to complain to the DON to ensure she could never come back. I stared at her in amazement and pointed out the obvious - this woman was absolutely terrified - covering her fear the best way she could - had a 12 yr old son - recently divorced - and all her relatives were in Enlgand! Furthermore, I pointed out that she was always nice! Well, this nurse not only complained about that nurse - but me as well! I have many other stories as well and have been treated very badly on many ocassions myself. I'm hoping that becoming a NP or CRNA will give me greater autonomy and allow me to avoid being knifed in the back so much. There are so many "nurses" who should have been weeded out in nursing school.

There is no reason to get this upset merely because I disagree with you. It's okay for me to disagree. Might even happen again someday so brace yourself. :chuckle A simple, "I don't know, (point to desk) ask them, they are working and I'm not. Excuse me," then turn and walk away... that would have been a whole lot easier and faster. I'm a person that prefers the path of least resistance. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to bring a slew of emotions into this, get everyone upset, and then watch it to being blown out of proportion as it turned out. I guess the million dollar question now is, was it worth it? Did the behavior/words in question bring about anything positive? >>IF SHE HAD BEEN IN UNIFORM. SHE WAS NOT! Feel better now? Pickles, what's up with telling her to point to the desk, when she obviously knew where the desk was? Your attitude and approach to this situation illustrates perfectly all that is wrong with management - you are determined to make the nurse into the bad guy, while overlooking/ignoring abusive behavior from the grandmother. Your posts were very offensive to me - and don't write that you have a right to your opinion (and to voice that opinion). It is your attitude toward this sick, off-duty nurse that is utterly vile to me, as well as your sarcastic question, ". . . was it worth it? . . . Did . . . bring . . . anything positive." You have NO business in management!

I am so very sorry for all the distress you are going through. I too, am an LPN, studying for my RN, and working in home care through an agency, so I know first hand what your life is like. Families can be cruel and vindictive, thinking nothing of lying and slandering your good reputation, while all too often, agencies facilitate this abuse. And yes, it IS abuse! I've had a couple ugly situations in the past 8 weeks, that have just left me shaking my head in amazement. The most recent one being a single mom moving with her disabled son, and taking it for granted that I would carry the heavy boxes, etc., down a huge flight of stairs in front of a Victorian house, walk through mud in my white shoes, and climb into the enormous truck to place the boxes. I work for a nursing agency - not a moving company! Fortunately my agency backed me on that point, but the mom began setting me up and making statements that I was neglecting her son and being verbally abusive to me. My DON did not back my plea to leave (to protect my license). Finally, the witch ordered me out of her house - Thank God!:) I thoroughly documented everything and sure enough - the ***** lied and said I had seriously neglected her son in various ways! Unbelievable! Fortunately they are moving out of state after a couple weeks w/her sister and the poor agency in Tampa has already been given a heads-up, since she's caused trouble for years w/virtually every nurse sent out there. BON's need to be aware and take into consideration that some of these family members and caregivers are hateful, vindictive, ungrateful monsters, who think nothing of abusing the poor nurse who is there to help. Sounds like you made an honest mistake to me - not anything worth having your reputation tarnished over. If I were your DON, I'd go to the BON and back you. BTW, our timesheets are actually our nursing flow sheets. My problem is that I forget to put my time down, but I have the times in my nurses notes. This has helped when I need to fill in my hours worked several days later. Good luck! You sound like an excellent nurse and we need more male nurses in our profession, so hang in there! Karen LPN

Check out the Charleston Area Medical Center (CMAC School of Nurse Anesthesia) at www.camcinstitute.org/anesthesia/admission.htm . They require a minimum overall GPA of 2.8 and are located in West Virginia. They require a minimum combined score of 860 on the GRE. I'm an LPN who is going through the Excelsior RN program with the intention of earning my MSN, so I'm keeping my GPA at 3.0 or above. For the last two years my GPA has been hovering around 3.4. My GPA 20 years ago was only about 2.0 - but then, I also had to work FT while going to school FT, since there was no part-time program in my area at that time. I've always thought a 2.0 was pretty darn good given that I was working 40+ hours a week, only slept 3-4 hours a night, and had no life!:rotfl: I used to hear pt. call lights while lying in bed at night! I studied by folding my notes into my pocket and reviewing them while standing in elevators, waiting for a pt. to use the bedpan, etc. I'm so glad we have more options for getting an education today! I also work for a nursing agency, giving me greater flexibility as far as my work time is concerned. I get A's and B's today because my life is totally different than it was 20 years ago. Oh, I almost forgot - I'm also not having to deal with an abusive boyfriend these days! I've spoken with graduate schools and have been told they wouldn't even consider my grades from 20 years ago, if my GPA for the past 2 years or more has been 3.4. They only consider your most recent work. I recommend people take a couple classes, show they can get A's or B's, and bring that to the forefront during the application process.

If you are already an LPN, have you considered Excelsior College? It's an online program and I'm currently enrolled in their ADN program. They are in Albany, NY and have been granting external degrees since the 70's and are fully accredited. Check out www.excelsior.edu for more information. I did my electives at traditional brick & mortor schools (just completed Microbiology at Tidewater Tech in VA) and transferred the credits, although you can do them online also.I've been quite pleased with Excelsior, as have other nurses I've spoken with. You have no trouble reaching them by phone, they send out material (FREE) in a timely manner, and everyone I've dealt with has been very kind and supportive. Their study guides for the courses come with a list of recommended books, so you do have structure as to what to study for each exam. They now offer practice exams, which are retired exams, that help you target weak areas. I plan to get my BSN and was looking to transfer to Drexel University's (Pennsylania) online program because Excelsior had too many expensive clinicals for their RN-BSN program. I spoke with Excelsior a few weeks ago though, and now you can do that work locally, so I may go ahead and get my BSN at Excelsior after all. I guess too many other nurses were shying away from the cost of those BSN clinicals! BTW, there are also MSN online programs out there as well. Just make sure the online program is well established and fully accredited - you can check programs out with your state BON. Good luck! Karen LPN