SineQuaNon

Long term care, home health are both areas where I was able to get employed with a felony record and active probation. I always used to joke that the thing I looked for most in an employer was desperation. I was always very upfront about my issues. I think it was quite obvious I'd moved past them as well. After getting my foot in the door things really took off and many opportunities opened up for me. Something will give, hang in there and good luck.

I'm in New Mexico. And I was just offered a pediatric NP position at a clinic. I'm off probation and have been for a bit but I was still able to get a job while on it. Try LTC, home health. That's where I was able to get my foot back in the door.

It's time to fight fire with fire. A lot of these types of arrogant assholes simply will not respect you until you ramp the dialog up a notch. I recall a memorable conversation with a doc where I ended up saying "Hey! ***! You DO NOT speak to me in that tone of voice and you better do the job you are being paid for. Grow up and act like a professional adult!" I literally never had a problem with him again.

I would be very clear with her. If she says she has to work on staffing while you have a patient with acute respiratory issues that you need help with, your response should be "I'm sorry but that won't work for me. I need your help now in the best interest of this patient's safety. Or can I have a written note confirming your refusal to help with this critical patient?" Document everything with dates, times and witnesses. Write it in an email and send it to yourself. That way it is time stamped. If necessary you can then forward these emails to management.

I had surgery and they cleaned up my meniscus. It is just now beginning to feel better and it's been six months. And I don't know if the surgery had any effect or if it was just time that did it. If you can ramp up the PT I would try that first.

I think it's going to be a madhouse for bit. Eventually you will get a system down and will find ways to maximize your time. In the beginning you will constantly forget things or just not organize well. For instance, go and deliver the AM meds and forget to also do the CBG sticks, so you'll go back to get the glucometer, and then forget someone requested Tylenol and then go back for that. Give it a few months and you will be a well oiled machine. Ask the other nurses how they manage med passes, there are tricks that make it go faster. It does get better.

Is it an opioid overdose? Could it be a benzo or something else that won't react to Narcan?

Because I have a felony for prescription fraud, I feel it's best to get it out in the open as soon as possible so that I don't waste their time or mine. When they run the background check they will find out about it for sure. And I was a horrible addict. But now I'm not. I don't really want to downplay it because I've come so far. And I didn't choose to get help, that decision was made for me when I got caught. But I think you're right, depending on the circumstances saying less may be better.

I said the same thing in a previous comment. People keep saying an ADN is a 2 year degree!?!?!? As if! Seriously the ONLY difference between an ADN and a BSN is a few theory courses. And I can tell you as a Master's prepared NP-C. I don't remember a damn thing about any of those theory classes. The OP seems to not realize that the 2 years of prereqs and general ed classes she took in her 4 year school are still required of the ADN, they just don't get any credit for them. I do believe that ADNs should get BSNs, but only because they've spent 4 years in school studying to be a nurse so they may as well get credit for it.

I actually want to provide service to DOL certified patients. Those who used to work in uranium mines or at Los Alamos and have radiation exposure. There is no billing through Medicare, just the Department of Labor. After we get our Tax ID # the next step is to register with the state. I have to disagree with it not being the time to start....this is one of the few industries that will continue to need employees. People don't stop needing help/services just because of the pandemic. In fact, they are probably more in need than usual because so many of the accessory industries aren't able to provide backup. For instance the oxygen company is no longer delivering oxygen (can you believe that!?) so nurses have been having to retrieve them for homebound patients. It's a bit overwhelming as my business partner and I don't even know what we don't know at this point. We actually already have patients who are approved by the DOL and are willing to move to our company when we start it......just what exactly we need to do to get to that place is unknown. I'd encourage you to move forward with your plans. With the elderly not being able to, or not wanting to, leave their homes I feel the market for having an NP do home visits is really not right now. You've actually just given me an idea as I am an NP myself.

I realize you posted some time ago but I am also interested in starting my own Home Health business. I actually applied for my LLC last week. Also, FYI, NPs do not work under the license of an MD. We have and work under our own licenses. Depending on thee state they can even open and run their own clinic with no MD oversite.Have you moved forward at all with your business idea?

I think you should try to do an LPN to RN bridge. Not because I don't think LPNs are awesome, you are! My aunt was an LPN her entire career and I've had many LPNs guide and mentor me over the years. But I think you deserve the pay and recognition of your skills that is just harder to come by as an LPN. You were smart to get your LPN first. If you play your cards right you can get your employers to pay for you to get your RN and you won't incur nearly the debt I did. There is more education that comes with the RN that I believe may become helpful, particularly if you want to move out of LTC. And, at least where I live, RNs make about $15 more per hour than LPNs. That works out to $30,000 more per year. Over a lifetime that really adds up.

Every time I still feel as if my heart jumps into my throat but I just take a big swallow and go ahead and do it anyway. I think there are more than we realize, both among nurses and the general population. I'm so glad active addiction is no longer a part of my life.

I find that university associated hospitals are sometimes more accepting. That said, don't mention your disability until the in-person interview, if you feel you can perform the duties of your job with reasonable accommodation. There's no point in shooting yourself in the foot if you've found it to be a non-starter until now. Often once people can see you, they see you as a real person and are willing to make accommodations they may not have been willing to do beforehand. I'm not quite in the same boat but I have a felony, which obviously gives people pause. I do disclose quite early but if I can have them meet me in person so I can tell them in person first, or send them an email, I find I often do get the interview and even the job offer!

I've found being an NP to be much safer than being an RN. But then I was an ER RN and moved into family practice as an NP. Easier, safer, more respect and more money. No one has ever tried to throw a punch at me or throw urine on me in the clinic. That was a weekly occurrence in the ED.