jlamb

I was a certified medical assistant before I became a registered nurse. I was a medical assistant from 1974-1979, have been a RN since 79, a BSN since 01, and now am in the master's program. I, too, was a single mom with two young children while working and going to school in the 1980's (I really wanted that BSN and was willing to do whatever it took.) Yes, there are lots of facilities that will pay for your degree if you work for them. The VA system is huge and does it. The hospital I worked where I got my BSN paid for it as long as I still worked full time. That is not what you are looking for now, I know, but in the future you may want to look in that direction. The March of Dimes offers scholarships as long as you are willing to work as a RN for two years full time. There are also service clubs that offer scholarships---junior leagues, service leagues, etc. When I worked I did send my children to an on site day care at the hospital. The workers were hospital employees, the care was wonderful. There was very little staff turnover. I could run down at lunch to check on them, and call any time. My kids were also very advanced when they entered school, and I think the day care had a lot to do with that. I did not consider my kids being raised by strangers, but rather friends who worked where I did, and really, truly loved kids. All of their teachers are still there and my last child left that center 5 years ago. The kids are still thrilled when they run into one of their "teachers." Jackie Lamb

You can still work. I am a CLNC and have had a palliative care certification. There are many health care providers who have to take narcotic pain medication. I personally know quite a few who are since I have worked in a pain management clinic. It is not true that a person would be under the influence just because of narcotic prescription use. In fact, there have been studies that show there are more mistakes made by those who are in pain and are distracted by that.

I am so glad that the two of you got accepted. You won't regret it much! I say that because I just got home from Research in Nursing class. I didn't really like that class in my undergrad, and it is not at the top of my list now. I really like the professor, however. She is great. A master's degree always helps broaden a nurse's knowledge, but further, it adds to the body of knowledge that is nursing. You are and will continue to be examples for others to follow. I also say you won't regret it much after spending 7 grueling days working very long hours attending to the evacuees we received into Camp Gruber in Oklahoma. We had 1400, and many were very ill. Two died, 58 went to hospitals, and we also have two brand new babies, a boy and a girl, one born just after the bus pulled in to the camp (Mom hadn't told anyone except her husband she was in labor and about to deliver, talk about stoic), and the other came the next day. They are cuties. The little girl born just as the bus pulled in is named Rainy Miracle.

The task force begins its work in Oct. Like you say, change takes place slowly. It will be interesting to see what comes of all of this. Our goal is to have a SANE center in every county in Oklahoma. In my area, the SANE nurses are volunteer. This is not to say it will always be so. In fact, we want to be able to compensate them in some way. At the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where I attend, we recently got into an ethical discussion of male on male rape, and female on male rape. To anyone out there who doesn't believe the last, whether you agree with it or not, it happens. Period. A female on male along with male on male rape took place this past week in our jurisdiction. I won't tell you the ages--it would astound you and make you ill. Making a living as a SANE nurse may not be accomplished at this time. Nursing isn't all about making money, it is about caring enough to give time and energy to care in which you believe. I have just spent 7 long hard days taking care of the evacuees of Katrina. We had 1400 of all ages, had a multitude of serious illnesses, two deaths, and two births. All of those hours for every medical person on the base were volunteer, and will be for the next year. If you really want to be a SANE nurse, when the training opportunity presents itself, go for it. Take all the other forensic nursing classes and law classes as well, then you will be able to make a living doing forensic nursing. Just remember, do it for the RIGHT reason, which isn't just money. Jackie

I agree with all of the above. I have been a RN for 27 years, a BSN since 2001, and am smack dab in the middle of graduate school. I also teach nursing.I want to add: get a decent PDA. I have a Jornada, and I really like it. PDA's are worth their weight in gold. 2. As an instructor, I require students to get shoes that do not have any holes, ie vent holes, on top. Think about all the body secretions and excrements that you would RATHER NOT think about that WILL end up on your shoes many times. This is to protect you. I like Nurse Mates and Klogs. 3. The watch, get one that you can easily pull off, and also clean. One that attaches to your pocket is nice. 4. A good attitude. Your instructor wants you to pass. Compassion because your patient needs it. Hardiness because you will need to work hard to learn, literally people's lives will depend on it, on YOU. Jackie Lamb, RN, BSN, CLNC

Thank you for listing the statistics. You are right. We have touched on a powerful subject. I will continue to advocate for male SANE nurses. I will also reverse my decision to stop posting about the need. To know there is need and not respond is tantamount to condoning it. On a personal note, I am very sorry about your experience in the military. My heart goes out to you. Yours isn't an isolated incident, and emotional healing takes much more time than physical healing. I am female, but a rape victim myself. The emotional healing still goes on. I was recently appointed to the Governor's Task Force to Stop the Sexual Violence. Our goal is to fund rape programs that address both male and female assaults, as well as other goals, including education, which according to these posts, is needed.

I will continue to encourage male nurses to go into SANE nursing if they choose. My fmale friend who was raped many times through incest and is now a well known psychologist and speaker says he would talk to a male nurse over a female nurse for a variety of reasons. More importantly, a child abuse victim, he points out, will often allow the opposite sex of the abuser to examine him or her. Don't make the mistake of thinking male rapes are few, because included in that category are the child victims--who are often male. After all, most people wouldn't first suspect a young male was being repeatedly raped. Those are some of the worst cases I have seen due to the anal damage. In one legal case I have worked with, the child was raped anally over 150 times (the mother of the child actually kept track of oral or anal rape in a diary discovered by DHS when the abuse was discovered. She knew the abuse was happening.) It is a sickening and sad case. The child had severe sphincter damage as well as mucosal tears and scarring. Multiple surgeries have been and are planned to correct the damage. I won't post any more about this subject at this time.

The University of Oklahoma has some on line classes, but no, there is no on line only MSN. I just mentioned that is where I attend, but I wanted to say that Walden and Graceland were good.

You are right, it was a harsh judgment. The man who my soul mate is 50 lbs overweight. He says he doesn't take care of himself the way he should, and neither do most of us in some area or another. Her measurements are an indicator of problems. Sorry if I offended anyone.

I was a MA many,many years ago. I graduated in 1974 from the Medical Assistant Program at Southeastern Comm. College in Iowa. I became a RN in 1979. An MA is fine in a doctor's office, but they are not a nurse, and should not state they are. I have called the doctor and his assistants' attention to that. In a court of law, the doctor is held responsible for his office staff actions most times. A nurse should be identified as a nurse and wear a name badge (even if just first name and title), and the same goes for the assistants. The patient deserves to know who they are talking to. Patients are getting more savvy about their care. BON also have rules about who is licensed to do what, and their title. I do not know of any BON that says a medical assistant can use the title "nurse."

Timothy, not all rape victims are female. I am respectful and grateful for what you said about female rape victims-I am one myself. However, there are male victims of rape. I am a forensics nurse and have worked ER and ICU as well as in an attorney's office and as an independent consultant. I have seen them come from jail, from frat parties, and worst of all, cases of child abuse that are male, some in their teens. In these cases, and it would be case by case, a male SANE nurse would be appropriate. What is said during a SANE exam is able to be used in court, and during this time, the victim may recall important details. The male victim may be more comfortable talking to another male, especially when detailing the violence, the anatomic structures, etc. I have friend who is a psychologist now and has spent his life in educating teens and those adults who work with them about teen issues, especially in the sexuality area. He was an incest victim of both parents and one grandparent from his earliest memories until he was 13. He said he advise people who work with the male rape victim that the victim be asked if he prefers a male or female examiner. The SANE exam and forensics go way beyond the ER, and the goal is to gather ALL information we can to convict the perpetrator. Please don't automatically rule out a male SANE nurse. They are needed.

Nursing is both an art and a science. The art is the human compassion. Science is the evidence based good quality care that you give. To be a nurse is to experience a CALLING, meaning that if you can envision yourself doing anything else, you probably aren't supposed to be a nurse. You will give up nights, weekends, and holidays. Functions of the members of the team: the doctor sees the patient, evaluates the data, and forms a medical diagnosis. The nurse collects another set of data, often overlapping the physician's with lab work, xrays, etc, but then forms a nursing diagnosis, goal oriented time based outcomes, nursing interventions, and evaluations, followed by revision of any of the preceding. All must be done WITH the patient. If your goal isn't their goal, you probably won't get yours accomplished. Nurses teach as well as monitor the patient condition. Teaching is a big part of nursing. You are also the eyes and ears of the doctor. Nurses aides give baths and tend to the more unskilled type tasks. However, as a nurse of 27 years, I like to help my aide, because we can make assessments together, turn the patient together, etc. The aide can then find out my expectations of them for the day. That is delegation. The ancillary departments also see the patient--lab, xray, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social worker, chaplain, minister. You should read all of their notes and coordinate care. YOU are the advocate for your patient. Five tasks I perform: In my clinical area I: make nursing assignments (I am charge) Review my own patients charts quickly to look for labs, etc. Make patient rounds and examine each patient, comparing my findings with those of the others. Perform tasks throughout the day that are ordered for that day. Teach the patient. I use lots of teachable moments--just the little few minutes when I am giving new meds, rubbing a back, fluffing a pillow, etc. In my teaching job I: review my students papers for safety first, care plans, meds evaluate my student for their preparedness for clinical, and if they are not ready, they go home. Make rounds with each student and check off their meds, watching them give and teach about the meds, and observe for side effects of the meds. Hold a post conference each day to discuss new procedures seen, what we did that was good, and what we could improve on. I check all of their charting. I want it done right, and I want them to learn it right. ANA, Oklahoma Nurses Association, American Pain Society, American ssociation of Legal Nurse consultants. Benefits: learning sources and political action. I am very involved in politics. I have always done one CEU every month. It is just something I have done. I was a diabetes educator, I am certified in end of life train the trainer care, I teach ACLS The Nurse Practice Act defines the scope of the nursing I can render. It is different for each level of nursing and for many states. The ethical code of standards I live by daily. I am an advocate to my patient, I protect their privacy, I long ago decided I would not judge a lifestyle different than my own because this person trusts me for their care. That is difficult when I have taken care of child abusers, murderers, rapists, etc. I have been raped, and I am a victim of child abuse. I had to make a conscious decision that these people still had dignity and worth and needed the care I could give. I am not afraid to sit at the bedside of a dying patient, in fact, I love to do that. I stay in a patient's room in order not to restrain them. I would rather be in the patient's room that the nurses station. Our charts are kept outside the patient rooms, so I take them in, and stay with the patient. I also consider it very important to make rounds with the doctors. Some nurses don't. That is their choice. I find that doctors teach if they know you are interested, they learn to trust you and you them, and over the years, I don't mean to brag, but I have been told by many doctors they want me taking care of their patients. I think that is a direct result of me wanting to be present with the doctor and present with my patients. You will do well if you make a decision to do that. Good luck. Write back. I expect to hear how this assignment went. (That is the teacher in me and you can consider this a brief assignment since it is 3:04 a.m. and I am doing this for you just before I go to bed. You can look at my profile: Please use the private message feature (send me a PM) if you would like to talk more. I have 1 husband, 3 kids, 2 granddaughters, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 sugar gliders. I also run a free clinic for the working poor on Thursday nights. It is staffed by volunteers--doctors, physicians, dentists, lawyers, nurses, and lay people. I believe in giving back that which I have been given.

You will be able to do many of the skills check off with a broken arm. Ask if you can have the kind of cast that can get wet amd then dries very quickly. The school has to make accomodations for you as well. Once your arm is stabilized you should be able to start the check offs. I have had students who did it. Tell the surgeon. They may elect pins over other techniques. The school needs to give you a little longer, too. Go to the associate dean or dean of nursing or academics if they stick to the two weeks. There is nothing magical about 14 days versus 18 days or 21 days. You may have to make up a clinical. Many do. If you have a good GPA, they should work with you. My university would.

I am a forensic nurse. Yes, you should pursue it. SANE nursing is only part of forensics. Check out the medicolegal Death Investgator Course through St. Louis University. It is excellent. I attended there. As far as SANE nursing, I think you could do male rape victims who are often from jail or are children, and certainly males who are the victim of domestic violence. You would probably not be allowed to perform the kit on a female. Speaking as both a nurse AND a rape victim who was raped by a stranger 1 year ago, I would not want a male RN to do the rape kit. I have nothing against male nurses, my husband is one, but at that time I was very fragile emotionally, I could not identify my rapist who has not been caught, and having another male besides by husband look at me was beyond what I could do at that time. You would probably ride 3rd rider with the police to some crime scenes until you learn the ropes about not contaminating crime scenes. They feel about their scene the way we do about sterile fields! Best of luck, have fun. It is a tough job to comfort a victim or a survivor, and to look a man's inhumanity to man that should not happen. I think nurses would welcome male SANE nurses and so would doctors. Doctors have a really tough time knowing what to say to a rape victim. You would learn that in training. They did not.

Get into a good Associate Degree in SCIENCE (important SCIENCE not ART) nursing program that has a career ladder. I mean you can take your LPN test after the first year, then work as an LPN while you finish your ADN. Then, bridge from ADN to BSN. Several universities in Texas do it. University of Oklahoma has a huge class of bridging students. It is a good and economical way to go. I did it. I was also a single mom for awhile. I have been a nurse 27 years, but finished my BSN 3 years ago with three kids at home--young kids--and then started the master's this year. Good luck!

IF NO ONE POSTS, CALL A HOSPITAL JOB LINE OR A HOSPITAL RECRUITER. THEY COULD HELP. I VISIT D.C. QUITE OFTEN, BUT I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA. I know when Iworked ER I would give my eye teeth for a good ER tech. Heck, I live in Oklahoma, I would give every other tooth to have a good ER tech!!!

I haven't tried those, but I have heard that Walden in very good, as well as a college named Graceland out of Lamoni, Iowa. I attend University of Oklahoma, as well known for its football team as its medical and nursing schools!! GO SOONERS!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the article. It was good.

I have heard that Walden is good. So is Graceland out of Lamoni, Iowa I believe. I go to OU...........GO SOONERS!!!!

I have been accepted as well. I took 6 hours in the spring and worked full time, 3 hours this summer, and 9 hours now, plus teaching. I am going to order a shirt that says" Been to nurses training, done it all, got the t-shirt, back for more!" God help me, I'm 50 and a grandmother who still has a young child at home as well as a daughter in college and a son that is married. I have a RN husband, too., plus 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 sugar gliders. The first person I am going to talk to in heaven is ERMA BOMBECK. I said that tonight in class...and half didn't know who she was. Damn I feel old tonight!! They didn't know Johnny Carson, either, except one said he was the old guy that just died, right??

You will need a RN degree. The American with Disabilities Act REQUIRES nursing programs to make reasonable accomodations for those with disabilities. I know from experience. I have 2 disabilities. While I have had to fight at times, the ADA is a powerful ally. Go for it. I know two doctors in wheelchairs, one who has 1 leg, another who has the same diseases I do, and several nurses who practice with auto-immune diseases. You could work from home in research, but you would need the RN to do so, and there are ways to get it.

I hae taught three years in a hospital and one year in an ADN program. I am now in graduate school finishing hours 10-19. I still found your posts interesting and relevant. I am now a graduate teaching assistant. I plan to keep your posts to help. Thanks.

In most states only a RN, LVN, or LPN can identify themselves as a nurse legally. To do otherwise is to "impersonate a nurse" which can lead to serious results if the office help dispenses information that only a nurse should be answering questions about. That is a huge problem in a very large clinic in my town. I want to pull my hair out. I had one "nurse" tell me my HCT was "doing great at 342,000" Inspires confidence in the practice in my physician's office.

Pain Management Nursing Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator Student Nurse Association Magazine (It's good to know what other students are thinking as well) Imaginative Classroom teaching like : Sugar, Sugar or Sugar Shack playing when the diabetes class is taught, The Lab Sucks when discussing chest tubes, NG tubes, ETT suctioning, etc, and Granny Got Run Over By A Reindeer for multiple trauma unit. There are a few for the burn section, too, but I won't mention too many of them here..think "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" you get the drift. It makes clinicals fun.

A good drug book Small pocket assessment guide so you can refresh yourself if you think you are forgetting something, and in case the clinical day doesn't go the way you had hoped...which is usually what happens. You have information at hand. Get one with blank pages in it somewhere that you can write on. Doesn't hurt to have a few spanish translations, either. A good pocket protector. Mine has velcro which attach to scissors and a hemostat, had a place for coins, and for the 1000 alcohol pads you will use when you clean your stethoscope, scissors, etc, between patients. Merrill's are great shoes, and nurse mates makes a comfortable clog type shoe. I have worn mine two years and they still look new. Good luck. I have been in nursing 27 years and still love it. You in just a couple of years will be the smiley!