indiechic LPN

I got in!!!! I called as you all did and Mckenzie said letters probably didn’t post until Monday, but she gave me the verbal that I made it! Such emotional news. Have been an LPN for 8+ years, am a single parent to two young children, and have felt s...

Fingers crossed!! ?? Unless there were a lot of applicants with straight A’s and who had the rollover point, I’ve got a good feeling about admission chances!!

@nurseuhlisuh Yes, the repeat deadline extension worried me too. I’m glad more folks got the chance to apply, given the seriously last minute notice they gave in the first place. But, selfishly I also want the best chance possible of getting in with ...

Hi! I got in in 2012, but was dropped towards the end due to my own lack of focus. Now, years later I’m way farther in my career, have two kiddos, and also applied for the 2020 cohort. I wish I could remember what score got me in years ago! Although,...

That just depends on your definition of "hard"... I can only speak from working in LTC and having done clinical rotations in the hospitals. I find LTC much more challenging as you generally lack a lot of the support staff that hospitals can provide. ...

That's rough, but a common problem. I'd recommend getting on top of your time management and organizational skills now if you want to survive. The only way I function working the floor is by having a checklist of sorts to remind me what I need to do....

Look up your state regulations on your scope of practice as an RN. In Washington state, RN's can pronounce death, but LPN's cannot. EMT's may not pronounce in my state either, the paramedics generally call the medical director on call for the area an...

For an RN, I wouldn't work in a SNF for less than $27-28/hr as a newbie. As an LPN, I made $21/hr just starting in an ALF and knew LPN's making $24/hr in SNF's.

Welcome to the world of LTC! Most nurses have no idea the difficulty this field presents on a daily basis until they are in it. Hope you find a more satisfying situation!

I would recommend calling your state's elder abuse line. If he is a danger to other residents you have a right to protect them. Also, I'd give a discharge notice. As long as you have plenty of documentation showing you've tried interventions for his ...

I have dealt with administrators like this before... It's usually based on wanting to keep their census up and not lose money when the resident is out of facility. Very sad... It wouldn't hurt to call adult protective services. They keep your identit...

Oh wow... I'm so sorry to hear there is a nurse still working with that attitude. I would have a discussion with your DON about these events. They aren't acceptable and would be considered abuse and neglect. As you already know, we are all mandatory ...

I found myself in a very similar situation when I first got into nursing a couple years ago... I gave it a solid year because I know that changes often have ripple effects for many months. It was exhausting, frustrating, and crazy every day, but I'm ...

LPN here in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Starting wages were $24/hr as agency in a clinic and $21 in LTC.

In Washington, the starting is generally $20. I had two jobs when I first got my license, one paid $24/hr and the other $21/hr. In my experience, confidence in the interview translates into higher starting wage. Almost two years later, I'm over $31/h...

I think that is an uncommon happening, or I just haven't run into it yet... SNF's can change to rehab only by grandfathering in their LTC residents and then relicensing those beds as they transfer or die. But, that is false advertising what you're re...

Good luck! AL is a peculiar environment to work in, very different from SNF's. I'd highly recommend that you get a copy of your facility's disclosure of services to understand the services you can offer and then get very well acquainted with your sta...

That's tough... I like to write job descriptions or required shift task sheets for them to sign and place in their employee file so I have documentation that they have been informed of their required duties and any further slip-ups will be grounds fo...

It sounds like you want to dive into "nurse delegation"... Your scope of practice differs from state to state, but I would ask your nursing director if they offer nurse delegation or extended training. If they don't, you have to switch jobs or wait u...

I'm lucky that my facility still has many of the "grandmas and grandpas", but we also have a few younger residents with developmental or chronic health issues. As a rule though, we try to keep the younger ones as rare exceptions. In my experience, th...

I don't know about all states, but I'd sure hope it's the same as mine... In Washington, all healthcare workers are mandatory reporters for abuse, neglect, etc. and these issues can be called in anonymously to the state department of health. I would ...

You're perfectly fine! The DON is only correct if it is an emergent situation or there is not documentation that you have made reasonable attempts to contact the MD for the Rx. Writing the script later in the day and waiting for the meds is fine if i...

I've been there... Hang on! Assisted livings have such vague regulations (at least in Washington) that coming from any other nursing environment, it appears to be a madhouse. And sometimes, AL is an easy trap for nurses to become lazy since it's a ve...

Awesome!! I got my acceptance letter yesterday too! Yay!! Looks like we will be classmates! My name is Alana... I'm so excited!

Awesome!!! Please keep us all updated on your progress and how you like the program!