toekneejo

Meriwhen, thank you yes you are right and that's exactly why I have found myself becoming a bit anxious as the time comes to take the boards. I have always wanted to be an RN. Life had taken me down a few obstacle courses but I had my LPN secured by 1987 and I have went to 5 different colleges (Do to my husband's job moving us around the country) trying to obtain my RN. With each move I worked in a different specialty, LTC, Military, Ortho, OFC., Temp staffing, and now pediatric home care. I have enough credits to secure a BS but it wasn't until 2010 that I was accepted into RN school and was allowed to stay put long enough to complete it!!! Like I said it has always been my dream but I find myself now a little melancholy at the thought of discarding what I've always done to follow my dream! I'm sure this will pass. In fact as I write this, I'm realizing that is all I needed - Vent and get it off of my chest so thank you!

I will agree to disagree. I believe "when a man is hungry it is better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish"

And not to be disrespectful at all, but I too am glad that you are Canadian! :) I am also glad that you have noticed one of the aspects of Americans that make me down right proud to stand beside my fellow Americans' and root them on "to be all they can be" while maintaining my own right to do so also.

Thank you littlepeopleRNICU and cisindy, I had everything all figured out until I graduated and then I started seeing these posts by new grads and I guess nerves were getting the best of me. I have a lot of nursing experience like most ole time LVNs have. I am currently working home health peds and if I stay with them I am not even going to see a penny raise!!! (I'm in the suburbs of Houston Tx and making $22.07 on day shift) I guess I was hoping to move on to greener pastures but I will say good-bye to my LVN license and stay where I'm at, at least until something else opens up.

Yes they see the IV insertion site as possibly contaminated. The tubing is clean and like we all know - you never go from contaminated to clean. My mnemonic was intro assess I had another one for before I entered the room called warm iv W- wash hands A - allergies do they have any? R - Rx facts (what they were, common side effects, etc, M - Mnemonics written down I - I&O are they on it? V - V/S what are the baseline? (This was my only planning phase mnemonic) 20 minute check I- introduce self/CE N - names and numbers get theirs!!! T - Thank them R - Reiterate my purpose (let them know what we had to do) O - Output and intake explained A - asepsis glove up S- site check IV site S - sanitatize (remove gloves and gel) E - enteral, IV, O2 (check types, rates, equipment including tubing) S - Skin turger (mucous membranes or Fontanel) S - Skin contact points (not part of 20 minutes but only takes a second and I'm checking their O2 anyway AND I needed another step for this "S" :) )

I agree with you that not paying taxes is a "pipe dream". However I don't think we need to sit back and let Wash DC continue down the path they're on. Taxes on the Federal level needs to be interstate needs.(Defense from foreign and domestic enemies, infrastructure like, railroads, roads, dams, etc. and other federal issues). Taxes that affect a single group of people like schools, healthcare possibly (if the people see it as a need that they consider a priority), etc need to be at a local/county/state level. We have it backwards, I would much rather pay the same amount of taxes but with the bulk going to my state level to run the services that my state needs to take care of our sovereign state. It is a whole lot easier to fix a problem starting at the hub of a circle--where you appear to be standing still and the outer area is spinning with chaos. One easy way to see the advantage is just follow your tax dollars. You work for it, the employer has to figure your pay and then your taxes. Then your taxes get sent to Washington, Washington has a HUGE department to decipher and distribute the taxes to other departments. These departments then distribute it back to your state, who then takes your tax dollars and redistributes it back to your community. Each step money is lost thru the cracks (bureaucracy at it's finest). Just my 2 cents! :)

I will be sitting for the NCLEX-RN in 2 weeks and I have been reading over posts on this site. I am a bit discouraged due to the job market. My question for everyone is there a way to utilize my LVN experience to not be considered a new grad? I have worked in acute settings, Military, LTC, home health and temporary nursing as an LVN. I am scared that I am going to be starting over and not be able to get a job. If I am unable to get an RN position can I still work in an LVN position?

Well I guess I would go into your category of no sweat. :) Not really though. I do think it depends on the individual. You do need to be self motivated, you will have minimal guidance!! And I do mean minimal however, they do have practice exams to make sure you are prepared prior to taking the theory exams. I also found that they have a discussion board for all of the exams but I didn't know about them until I was studying for the CPNE. If you decide to go to EC you will need to figure out how to control your nerves during the CPNE many say it is the most stressed they have ever been. I wouldn't go that far but it is definitely right up there! Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

I started in Oct of '10 and only had the nursing courses to do. I whipped out 4 by the end of 2010. Then my mom was dx. with recurrent ovarian ca and I had to take care of her for 6 months, so I didn't take any tests. Then I paid my next annual fee and decided I needed to get back to it I resumed tests in Oct '11 and completed my 7th test in Feb '12. Waited for EC to get me the paper form of the FCCA (its now online) Received it on April 10th sent it back to them and waited for them to clear me for the CPNE. Was eligble for the CPNE on May 14th took until June 7th for them to approve all of my paperwork they require (background check, CPR, Health certificate, and something else that I can't think of right now) Took their workshop on July30th thru Aug 2nd. I chose not to go the last day and instead called the MPAC to see if they had any cancellations (I still had not been given a date for my test) They had on for the weekend of Sept 7th-9th. I passed!!!!!! The reason I wrote this out like this is to try to show how it is difficult to say how long it will take you. If I hadn't had to take care of my mom, I could have finished 7 months sooner. However, there are other obstacles like all of the hurry up and wait. (I would guess you have been familiar with this since you are in the military :) I was in the Army for 6 yrs.) But anyway what was frustrating was EC's timeliness. I was working during this time but it was home health and pretty laid back. I have no children and have 26 yrs of nursing experience. I wish you the very best!!!!!!!

You are not becoming dirty due to touching the patient. In other words, as long as you are working with the same patient and have not touched any of their body fluids you would not have to re-clean your hands. You must wash your hands prior to touching them at all to protect them from you contaminating them. However the only part of your mnemonic that bothers me is where you check the hydration staus and then remove your gloves. Once you touch the iv site (there is a possibility of bodily fluids at the insertion site) you need to remove gloves and gel before touching the patient anywhere else. I just passed the CPNE on Sept 9th and I truly believe the CE would call you out of the room if you don't change that one little part. Best of luck. You can conquer this beast!

I totally agree!!!!! I think many people need a course in consumer math followed up with an explanation of "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs". I know it is frustrating to work all week and not be able to "treat" yourself to something but it seems that many in our society have lost the meaning of sacrifice and of "all things in moderation" Just look at walmart and the huge amount of total junk they sell everyday. Next take the issue of refined sugar, 40 years ago kids saw candy for Easter, Halloween and some nasty hard stuff at Christmas. Cakes and pies were also only seen for special occasions. Water (many times drank from a hose) was the main source of beverage, with milk for meals and soda as a special treat. Car pools weren't a public service announcement but every family in my neighborhood knew the concept (out of necessity). Everyone I knew had a TV but many didn't have color and most didn't have cable. New clothes were bought before each school year and 2 pairs of pants was to last until they were replaced at Christmas! (considered your big gift) It goes on and on. No we don't want to go back there but that's the difference. Wants are only wants. Yes healthcare is important and should be just about the second thing to be paid every month right behind housing that one can afford. Ok done with my soapbox

I totally agree they need to get themselves insurance. It's not very good "consumer math" to be able to afford insurance and yet still be paying as a self pay. Whether insurance is available thru the workplace or not does not necessarily mean it is going to cost less (especially once the ACA has totally been initiated). If they can afford it, they need to go shopping around and find a plan that meets their needs. If they look into various organizations they may even be able to get into a group insurance plan. In addition, if there are so many people that fit into this category then they can call up BC/BS or fill in the blank insurance company and actually "create" a group plan. Sort of like what the small business org has done for self employed people. A back yard mechanic who is self employed and yet is barely getting by or maybe he is the most successful one in town. Either way they both would qualify to open a policy that has group rates and bargaining power.

Well, I don't think any of us can answer that question within the confines of this DB, however, as to your question regarding the young person who is barely making ends meet but doesn't qualify for assistance; How does taxing that same person more to pay for those who do qualify and then fining the same young person for not being able to afford the government mandated insurance going to help them? How are they supposed to afford what they can't afford now with less take home pay?

Couple of quick questions......First, where has everyone gotten the idea that just because they have worked and been able to secure a "nest egg" that it shouldn't be used for LTC and then once depleted, the society will pitch in and assist? What I am trying to ask is why are we striving to have a "nest egg"? Isn't it supposed to be used for a "rainy day"? Yet when the rainy day comes, the proponents for the ACA use this as an argument for needing the ACA. I hate when bad things happen to people including catastrophic healthcare but also a family home burning to the ground or maybe the primary bread winner is in a fatal accident or even the various natural disasters in recent years. I even hate it when someone loses 3/4 of their savings (IRA's, money market, stocks and bonds, etc) when the economy collapses like it did back in 01 and 02. But what I don't understand is how this translates to everyone needs to buy into this healthcare scam (AKA a ponzi scheme sponsored by the government) My second question is that I don't understand how the proponents can justify forcing a large percent of Americans, who happen to be the "bread winner" of this program and who oppose it, to concede and go against their grain!? IMO those who want it can have it but somehow we can not allow the opponents to be disenfranchised. I look forward to anyone who can answer this for me. Thank you in advance

I agree as nurses we should care for patients without regard to social stigmas. However, as an American I am against pooling resources for the greater good. However, once a patient is being treated we as nurses do what we do best. The dilemma we are being faced with, is not whether we treat or not. It is, as a society, how do we wish to meet the needs of individual healthcare. IMO I am able to supply myself, family, and various charities with subsistence and still maintain a living style that I have decided is within my means and is deemed "middle class" For me, I am opposed and will continue to speak out against the ACA, because.... 1. It allows the Federal government to oversee the implementation and they have repeatedly shown, through their track record, they are inept at managing social programs. In addition this is a problem that needs to be kept in a regional area. I've posted previously how Alaska's needs are not the same as Hawaii and same with New York compared to Texas. 2. It requires me to put into a pool of resources, in which many people will abuse. (Look at SSI) In addition, many people who are working hard to meet the needs of their families are going to find themselves unable to qualify for the subsidy and yet with not enough of discretionary income to supply their own insurance and they will be fined by the government. (supposedly this is to offset their emergency care in the event they find themselves needing care while not insured. However, who has the crystal ball that says they will need care prior to being able to acquire it in the future?) 3. It will cost me more by me having to keep my private insurance (which premiums will sky rocket due to not only the new regulations like no pre-existing and carrying family until age 26, etc but also because of the staff the insurance companies are going to have to hire in order to ensure that they are in compliance) and then on top of that, it will increase my taxes to pay for people who do not have private insurance. This will keep me from being able to assist my family and the charities that I've always given to and know they put my resources to good use.