ARNPsomeday

JR, It's great that your parents are giving you their input. I think it is also important that you get to know yourself. Take some quiet time alone and think about both occupations. Being a surgical tech means interacting a little less with patients' personality. Being a licensed vocational nurse means interacting alot with patients plus coworkers. Are you a people person, or would you be happier dealing mostly with instruments and a small team of coworkers? Here in south Florida they are paid about the same.

Hi, Goodyear. I had to wait and looking through the quick vocational courses my community college offered, I chose phlebotomy. It took only one semester. In clinicals I did about 140 sticks and earned my certificate. The best part is knowing how to draw blood the right way and the experience working on different floors and inside the lab. It's very valuable stuff for a nurse.

Hi, Califlower. If you yourself have a disorder, please realize that if you want to specialize in psych you must work very hard on your own issues first. That's what the experienced nurses have said.

:uhoh21: Oh, no! Why does the title of LPN exist if they do the same things but are paid less, why on Earth, Tweety? Is there a historical reason? (I'm ignorant about this.) Perhaps years ago there used to be a clear distinction between the duties of both ?I spoke to the coordinator for the LPN program at my community college. She does not recommend changing from RN to LPN. She says here too in South Florida LPNs are being phased out of hospitals. Oh, my. :stone Will team nursing ever come back? Wouldn't it be the best arrangement for both patients and nurses?

How funny, soulsearchin, my case is the other way around! I fought hard to get into the RN program (just like everybody else). First I did two semesters in one in the Accelerated program. Nearly got sick. Changed to the regular full-time RN program and finished up Med/Surg 1 clinicals. BUT I made the huge mistake of taking chemistry at the same time and did get sick. This semester I'm taking a break and thinking of going into LPN instead. For me personally the stress of being a RN is just plain too much. I also like to give patient care and all I see RNs doing is passing meds, charting, and stressing to the max. But that's just my personal take on things. I agree that since you already have your spot, go for your LPN. Entering a transitional program from LPN to RN should be easier. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Hi, Caligirl. I did a search and found this site: http://www.healthjobsusa.com/ They list job vacancies by position (LPN, Allied Health, RN, etc.) and by state. Most of the listings I think are agencies. I found several agencies offering jobs full-time, part-time, or per diem as an LPN in Florida. The wages offered are $21/hr or $41,600 plus benefits. I have no idea if it's true or too good to be true. Does anybody out there know? Have you ever worked through an agency?

It is common that patients need a change in medication because the one that did the trick for years no longer works. Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) targets the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine= fights both depression and anxiety. Maybe ask your psychiatrist? Whatever you decide, do follow up and take care of yourself. As others have said there are free meds, samples, and a psych consult can be paid off bit by bit as you can afford to make small payments. Best of luck.

I was lucky to have taken my community college A&P with a professor who just happened to be the head of a local university's cadaver lab. The cadavers had already been dissected by medical students and the inner organs were kept in sealed plastic bads in a separate refrigeration unit. We only went once. Ours had its face covered. I just had to look at the face, sort of as a respectful gesture, before seeing the body as an object of learning. It was a woman. She had prepared well for her final mission. Her finger- and toenails were nicely manicured and sported the same shade of pink!

Thanks for explaining! What is VpG? Does your hospital treat psych only?

(This quote is from another thread right here in Psych Nursing.)Hi RickRN, In your local state hospital on your psych floor, are the patients in custody? Is that what "state hospital" means? This is a beginner's question and I would like to learn. Thanks.

If someone wanted to sell their house and land, then take the money and move someplace affordable (heard there were homestead incentives in North Dakota), are there buyers? How do they qualify for such exaggerated prices? They cannot ALL be millionaires! WHO are these people who can buy? In Miami, corporations are buying adjacent houses and building condominium buildings. There is insufficient parking, streets get backed up, supermarkets are full, and everyone is grouchy.

frankiebrina, You made choice by replying "yes". Since you mention you feel that you let your family down in a time of need, how do they feel about it? Do they support your decision to become a nurse? Are you the breadwinner?

Hopefully some good will come of this. I'm praying she will get enough professional help to stop this behavior, her husband receive treatment, and the children a better living environment.

CharlieRN, so with your employer someone whose illness has been in remission for five years but must continue medication therapy, would not qualify for employment?

Oh, I get it. You mean the COs can be soft-hearted. I thought you meant they could be like a danger to you as a nurse. Guess I'm a little bit slow. Thanks, psychonurse.