drkolie

This question is a real bag of worms. After being in multiple states as a RN, I can say that even within the cities, it can be different, especially with the states that have a freedom act ( which is becoming very small now). In california, I could utilize many differend massage and bodywork therapies under my RN scope of practice. But in one city they req. only a RN and business license and accross the street in another city, they wanted, police station test, more money, chest x-ray, etc, regardless of my BON scope of practice. When massage was used in my private practice, same thing. But in the city I was in, only if you had massage tought in your Nursing program, which I did. Like the other poster said...I went to hawaii as well and everything alternative is off limits for an RN. Had to go to massage school again. I went in california just for a refreshier but only for 150 hours. No good in hawaii. Then off to NC and a whole different ball game. Had to go get 650 more hours of massage, take nationals, get art of healing licence, and business licence and FBI clearence. But the BON here states, if it is in a nursing private practice, and you are not practicing medicine and you have had some kind of training for it, it's ok, minus massage and bodywork. But cupping is ok, reiki, reflexology, ultra sound, vibration with electrical machines, TENs units, ect. Having said that, raleigh has some different laws that cary does not...so go figure. and here there is no licence for ND and homeopathy...egads..... So untill every BON and every state of massage and bodywork, come together, there will always be loopholes and different rules for every traditional and alternative thing we healers do...just have to do no harm, know what you are doing, know the rules for each state and each city and go from there...

I never thought about the look you mentioned for the standard uniform. But it just might work. Many people still look up to the police and the firefighters and the way they have kept thier identity and professional look.. I would be willing to work with that. If we put our heads together, we can come up with something that we desperatly need...............

Amen.................Plus when they do have them on, and there is not stickers all over them, they are turned the other way. I went on an interview for management last month and I mentioned about the name tags because everyone I was introduced to had the tag in a different place on thier body and the tag was on a lanyard and turned over so no one could see it. I mentioned this to the ANM and was told. it's ok, the badges are a pain and we always introduce ourselves. OK, what is wrong with this picture? If I were sick, and the nameboard at the foot of the bed was not kept up, like many are'nt and I could not see your name tag and I was medicated on top of that, I would not feel too comfortable. I only hope I have a good memory for names and faces...........

Congrads!!.......I grew up in southern california, spent the next 23+ in northern california, 2 years in hawaii and now in Raleigh, as of 4 months. We love it here. Changing of the seasons, a slower pace for most, mild winters (compared to some places in north CA) ..... Have yet to experience the summers which I hear are more humid than hawaii. But at least they have enough sence here to install air conditioners. Most of hawaii depends on ceiling fands and the trade winds. And when the winds shut down, there is no A/C. The area is beautiful, the housing reasonable and medical healthcare is expanding into alternative and holistic care all over. Welcome and best of luck.........

I was just noticing that you are at one of the "magnet" hospitals. How are they treating you? CRNA........wow, early congrads. Sounds like the same emotions that most of us have when entering nursing school.....you made it through that and this will be a peice of cake, right? Like I mentioned to our other newcomer, you have to remember to take care of yourself as well in the process. Do something nice on a regular basis and your body and mind will thank you for it.......blessings on a wonderful journey!

congrads and welcome to motherhood and pre nursing............you will not regret either...........there will be times you wondered why but overall they are both blessed events. Stick with the nursing even if it is a little a a time. I tryed doing my graduate studies with a child. It can be done but you have to keep a burning desire. Make sure you take care of yourself in the process!

well, they actually do inforce the caps in some hospitals. As far as 5 years ago, I know of many in the mid west and now the east. They are mostly priviatly owned hospitals and they actually are able to staff nurses with no problems. There are many of those "old fashioned" nurses out there that are willing to make good money, enjoy our jobs and the respect and wear our "old and outdated" uniforms. go ahead and laugh:rotfl: Nurses can be our own worst enemys. We don't do it for the fashion. I understand many of these hospitals have a high senior and elderly population, are owned by doctors and they took the time to learn what the population in thier area wanted. What they did for the men? I don't know. It would be interesting to find out. So if any of you that are reading this, are working in one of those "special" hospitals and would be so kind as to let us know, I am sure we would be interested. I wonder how that was handled? As far as the cap is concerned, I know they are all different, but there is a way to attach them with a hair comb on top, that secures them. I never have had mine fall off and when I put it on, I do not touch it till I take it off. Except for an occational tap on something, I will straighten it,,just as I would rub my head, if I hit my head on something. I do belive it pays to be short in this respect. well so much for my 2 cents.............All I know is that we need to make some kind of a change for our paitents and for our respect as well.

excellent............you will not regret quitting. Your food will taste better, you will most likley be healthier and you will live longer, so to enjoy all those years ahead of you in your new profession. (from a x-smoker from way back when). You will not regret becoming a nurse as well. I've been in nursing for over 30+ years and can complain about a lot of things, worked in all kinds of settings, been there, done that attitude, but I know I am blessed to be a nurse with all it's caring, the base of why we became one in the first place. You will forever remember in you mind and heart the special times that make this profession what it is and who you are. keep up the good work.................

Wthlyne........Now, that is what I call a website! I am impressed. It is not only pleasing to the eyes and the inner soul, but so many links and information. I never got through it all. You look like you are one busy massage RN. I had my small holistic nurse practice in calif. , mostly out-call for seniors and had an office at a DC's. But since moving to hawaii 2 years ago, I had to go back to conventional nursing for financial reasons. I miss my practice. I am now in North carolina and have to take almost most of my massage education again before i can set up practice. It is frustrating that it is not covered at all under my RN licence here. I noticed that the rates for the 500-600 hour programs have gone up considerably. One priviate school here is asking 15K for 600 hours. What a rip off. I could get my masters or Ph.D. in nursing for that kind of money. I am a perpetual student like you, but I was greatly amazed at the amount of alternative classes you have taken. Keep up the good work........... Can you tell me approx. waht it costs to have a website like yours to be set up? Did you like what they did and did you assist them or did they do all the research? For those of you that are still thinking of starting your own nurse massage practice, I can tell you again that there is nothing like it in the world. It is the roots of nursing and a complete nursing!

I really think it is the area where we work, but here in hawaii, I work as a DON. in a Assisted living as well. We did not go out and ask the residents what they wanted to see. That was our first mistake. The corp. management of our facility decided on thier own that all cna's would wear their own white pants and the aloha top provided for them.They then decided that the LPN's should wear nice street clothes to "make it appear that the nurses were more like family" instead of that "hospital" look. They were told no white dresses, no scrubs. The residents hated it and wondered who made that rule and why were'nt they asked. The outcome-----The LPN's were given an option to vote for white pants and an aloha top. Guess what? they did and the residents are thrilled. Me? Nursing over 30 years, RN, Ph.D. and old fashioned, just the way the residents like it, here at this facility anyways................go figure?

If I were a male, I would think the cap idea was pretty stupid as well, and so: as with any professional, there is always a double standard. I am not ging to wear a jock stap if someone said you are doing a mans work and therefore, put this on. I personally do not think the uniform or cap are weak. Most people look up to firemen, police and the military. And you will find that many still like the white jacket on the doctor when they come to see him. There will always be those that do and those that don't. I don't see an easy answer, but I agree.........wear your nametag so we can see it and introduce yourself. And even if everyone is not for the angel look, let those that do, the comfort of thier own choice.

MY point exactly.............wear the cap!

Well in my experience, every state is different and with some, even the city is different. You should call your local board of registered nursing to find out if massage is under your scope of practice or if it is not allowed and is under a massage licencing board. In northeren california, I was covered in one city with only an RN and a five dollar business licence. However 2 blocks away, I was not and needed at least 200 hours of MT training, finger prints, testing by the local police dept, etc. plus $$$$$. So that is where I would start. Then I would ask yourself, do you feel safe providing MT in any situation. Most Nurses training does not provide long clinical hours in MT. Some do and some have none at all except for telling you what it is. The same exists in Medical schools as well. Good luck to you in your goal............

you won't regret it........wonderful addition to an already great calling. Just check out the schools carefully. Went I went in san jose, many of them were on the police watch list. I called them because I was getting mixed reviews from friends. They cound not tell me which was best, but when I gave them some different names of schools, they did tell me which ones they would not go to themselves. I attended a one day, free class at one of the schools to see if I like it and found that the whole idea was to have everyone as naked as possible and teach that a proper massage could not be performed with sheets and towels and such. I am no prude but this was a little too focused on skin..........good luck in your search. SF Had quite a few a couple of years ago.......enjoy!

you won't regret it........wonderful addition to an already great calling. Just check out the schools carefully. Went I went in san jose, many of them were on the police watch list. I called them because I was getting mixed reviews from friends. They cound not tell me which was best, but when I gave them some different names of schools, they did tell me which ones they would not go to themselves. I attended a one day, free class at one of the schools to see if I like it and found that the whole idea was to have everyone as naked as possible and teach that a proper massage could not be performed with sheets and towels and such. I am no prude but this was a little too focused on skin..........good luck in your search. SF Had quite a few a couple of years ago.......enjoy!