nurselabrat

I see some very good advice here. We all make poor career decisions sometimes. Have you considered using the time you have to be off work to take classes towards your BSN? Or take some classes that could help with supervising the CNA's that you will have to work with. It could give you more options when you apply for jobs. Or consider a physician's office or clinic. The hours would be better. Best of luck to you. Take care of yourself and the new baby.

I actually was a daughter that did something similar, but it was in the daytime, about 7AM. My mother was in rehab, I went in early before I went to work, passed the nurse on the way out and she told me my mother had a good night and slept all night. I guess so, my mother was non responsive when I went in. I work for a physician, I called him and he told me to call an ambulance and have her transported to the hospital in his care. They told me I could not do that. I did it anyway. The EMT's had to start CPR on my mother before they left the parking lot. My mother survived and lived about 5 more years. She had a UTI because of the catheter and was septic. Her quality of life was awful after that. I'm sorry but over the years I've had some pretty bad experiences with LTC for my mother. There usually is not enough staff to care for the patients or residents. I don't think anyone would intentionally cause harm to a patient, but I think the system is broken. I thought I wanted to work in LTC once upon a time. Thought I might make a difference. But it didn't work out that way. And when I think about it, it still breaks my heart. My poor mother, I only wanted her to be taken care of as well as possible. I ended up staying with her as much as I possibly could. I was there before work, after work and at every break I could get. I would get up at 1, 2, 3... in the morning and go stay with her until I had to go to work. And it still wasn't enough. So you see, I understand how the daughters felt when they thought their parent wasn't being cared for. I also know that when patients don't get the proper care, they can die.

Oh, let me tell you, I have nothing but admiration for LTC nurses. I was sent as an agency nurse to a LTC a few years ago. It was a nightmare I can not even begin to describe. Day shift, 38 patients on 2 different wings. It was the first and last time I ever want to try that. At the end of the shift that I thought I would die on and they would find my dead body in one of the hallways, I went to the supervisor to talk about my concerns regarding the patient care (or lack of it). I was really concerned about my performance and worried for the patients. He just said, well you made it didn't you. And I said yes I did, but please don't ask me to come back. That was a day straight from hell and I never want to do it again. I wanted to report it to somebody, but I didn't know what to do.

:down::down:

I know. It certainly has changed over the years. I know as a nurse now, I would never put up with some of the stuff that was expected or tolerated years ago. I've quit several jobs due to the harassment. But I got older and things changed, for the better I think.

I guess the cleanliness part really depends on the person wearing them. I have one for every day that I work and at the end of the work week they get washed and bleached. I work around blood and crap all the time, so I like to keep my clothes and arms covered. I usually wear a lab jacket, not a long coat, but I don't get to sit down long enough to get too many wrinkles in them. LOL. I do cringe at the thought of wearing a nasty lab coat though, and I have seen a few of them. I guess we just see them as functional not fashionable.

I was very young and pretty naive when I heard the docs talking about that. I couldn't believe they really said it. But that was about 46 years ago. They wouldn't dare say that now. Right? So I agree- ewwwwwwww.

I think one reason for wearing white is because you can use bleach if necessary to keep it clean and white. I worked in the day when nurses wore all white. White stockings, shoes and everything. When I started wearing scrubs and different colors, I guess I felt liberated. Scrubs are definitely a lot easier to work in. I work in an area where we use a lot of bleach now, and unfortunately my scrubs get the white dotted look way too often.

There are practical reasons to wear the white coat. Especially in a lab, to protect your clothes and body. I've also heard male doctors say they wear the coats for practical reasons when they examine an "attractive" female patient for example. I don't think that the "white coat" was meant to be a fashion statement. It was meant as a garment to protect your clothing or cover your clothing when you are in a professional environment.

It really doesn't matter what anyone says, you will be "freaked out" for a little while. You really never want to have a needle stick but it does happen. Just follow the policy and procedure for testing and try really hard to never let it happen again. Accidents do happen, just try to protect yourself. The doctor knows his patient, so I would try to not think about it until the results come back. I'm 61 years old and I've been working in the medical field since I was 16. We were exposed to things years ago that you just would not do now. I "freak out" now if I think about all that. But just try to relax and if there is something else to deal with as far as the exposure, you will deal with it and do what is necessary.

These posts are encouraging, but my orientation will be only one day. I'm not sure what kind of situation it is yet, but it is a state prison. I'll be sure to check in here after my orientation though. I think one of the things I'm concerned about is my age. I'm 61 and I'm probably not as energetic as a younger nurse, although I can pretty much keep up with them in the clinical setting. I just wonder if I will get negativity because of my age and lack of experience outside the physican's office. I've worked with doctors since I was 16 years old so that doesn't bother me. I rarely get upset or shook up about anything but this will be a different environment. I know when I was working in hospice I was too personally and emotionally attached to the patient. It was not good for me emotionally. I am kind of relieved that won't be a problem in corrections and that I don't have to be personal or friendly.

I have questions too. I work for an agency and they are sending me for orientation in a corrections faciltiy on Sunday. I am nervous but very excited to be doing something different. I've been working in a physcian's office for the past 25 years and I work for the agencies on the weekend. I have very little experience in LTC and about 2 years hospice continuous care experience through the agency. I'm IV certified but never start IV's were I work. I am proficient in phlebotomy and lab procedures and testing. I have a lot of physician office experience. But I'm scared because I always feel I don't "know enough". Any advice or insight would be appreciated.

Sometimes staff nurses have a resentment for agency nurses. I guess there are plenty of reasons why, but it doesn't make our jobs any easier. I would tell her that I respect her position there and appreciate any useful help she has to offer. I would try to turn it around so that perhaps she would not feel threatened by me. This gesture would be an attempt to try to calm the situation and improve the working relationship. I would try to take a different approach than an all out confrontation. If you have to work with somebody you don't want them trying to stab you in the back at every opportunity, and if you make her mad, she will. I would also let my agency know what was going on, perhaps they could intervene. The agency should be made aware of the working conditions for their nurses. I had a terrible time recently at a facility and I decided that I would not go back. It was obvious to me that the other nurses didn't want agency nurses there. During my time there I was polite and courteous. I didn't cause any conflict and I removed myself from bad situations at every opportunity. That is the good thing about an agency nurse, you don't have to take a bad assignment.

I was a hospice crisis care nurse. And there seemed to be quite a lot of lifting to be done. I never knew if I would have help, and there were plenty of times I didn't. I think you need to do what the surgeon says and you need to let the employer know what you can and can't do so that they can work with you.

Consider this also. If you were to become a Medical assistant, your supervisor in most cases would be a RN or LPN. Why not go to school for LPN or Rn so that some day you could be the supervisor.

I worked for the first time last Sunday in LTC. The agency called me about 11:00 the night before and asked if I could take the 7-3 shift. I let them know I had no LTC experience. They assured me if I took the case I would receive orientation and help. that did not happen. I went early for that orientation. I should have left then. But I've never left a job. They did not exactly welcome me there and there was minimal help. Couldn't even find the CNA's. I had 32 patients. about 12 Bloodsugars, Insulin, feeding tubes. 3 very bad patients. One was sent out to the hospital. Worst experience of my life, and I will not go back there. Unfortunately now I am afraid to even try it again in any other facility. This should not have happened. Not only did I feel like my license could be in jeopardy, I was terribly concerned about the care the patients were getting, because this is the norm I was told and as I understand it. Something needs to be changed. There should be laws that restrict the number of patients a nurse is responsible for. There should be something else done. When you have a patient that is about to code, you need help. I don't know where to start with this but I do know something needs to change. In medicine you are suppose to help alleviate human suffering. Not cause it. These people are trapped. They are at our mercy. Our society needs to do more than try to sue the nurses, or the facility. They need to change the way the facility is managed and make sure the residents are taken care of. I am extremely upset about this. My mother was in LTC for a long time years ago. I wasn't a nurse then and did not understand why they couldn't take care of her. I am a nurse now, and I understand, and it haunts me.

The EKG/Phlebotomy course is usually a pretty short course and it will get you a job and give you skills you can use if you decide to go on in nursing, whether it be Medical Assistant, LPN or RN. It can open doors for you. Someone that is good at phlebotomy is an asset. You may decide to pursue a career in the laboratory, who knows. But it will give some options and direction. I wish you the best for your future and your career choices.

That's the reason. Also coumadin should be taken at the same time every day. We have patients that do take their coumadin at 4:00

I find that most places require too much personal information before hire or before an interview. It makes me uncomfortable too. The last place I applied was a LTC facility. I had to leave my info with a receptionist, plus copies of my SS card, driver's license, my nursing license and so on. I can understand the nursing license, but I don't know why they need the other infomation before there is any consideration of hire. The still haven't let me know anything. Allthough I know they have been checking my references. It's been 3 weeks now. I've left that information in just about every institution I've applied too. And most of the time you never hear from them.

Unless you only want to work in a physician's office then you need to go ahead with an LPN program. And if you decide to go school to be a medical assistant, just realize that your pay will not be as much and you will be limited as far as employment. Medical assistants have to go to school almost as long as LPN's (I think), and you would have more options as a LPN and the pay could be about twice as much.

I was 59 when I graduated from LPN school. One of my classmates was 70. Was it hard? Yes it was. Will I bridge to RN? No I don't think so because of the expense and my age now (61). Are some of the jobs I take now hard and stressful? Yes they are. Is is rewarding personally? Yes it is. Financially I have a much better life now, and I have to work until I can't anymore. Being a LPN gives me a lot more choices. Was it worth it? Yes, yes, yes.

I don't have any real experience in LTC and I'm definatley not a DON. I will be interested in these responses though. In my very humble opinion , I think the guardian should be contacted and informed that the physician will be contacted to get an order for meds that can reduce the patient's anxiety. It is terrible that this patient is in such fear. It needs to be addressed for the patient's benefit. Also what is the facilities policy and procedure. I would think that the physician would want to know his patient was in distress.

Oh BTW although most of my classmates were younger, one of my classmates was 70 when she graduated and another was 56. The older one works in drug rehab and the other works in LTC. The one that works in LTC is overwhelmed and wants to get out, but right now she has no other choice either. She needs the experience. That was the only job she could get after she graduated. So I actually feel fortunant because I've been at my full time job in the physician's office now for 25 years. I do think that older nurses have a lot more compassion for the LTC patients because they realize that that's where they could be very soon. But we do have a great disadvantage physically.

"Fiona59" You don't sound harsh, you sound truthful. I lost the idea of a dream job a long time ago, but I have no choice but to work as long as I can. I work in a physician's office 5 days a week and do the agency work on the week ends. I was doing hopsice crisis care 12 hour shifts on the weekends and physically that was easier, but the agency lost the contract, so it was on to other things. I wish I didn't have to do what I do, because the work load is heavy. I need to find a way to work as long as I can and in a good situation. Surely there are other older nurses having to continue to work. And you are so right - now LTC scares me to death and I am afraid to try it again anywhere. I feel I need more experience outside the physician's office, because as you probably know that experience is limited. So I am looking at all options even a local coffee shop. Unfortuantley right now my confidence has been shot down and I don't even feel I could do that. Thank you for your insight and the truth. I feel a lot of empathy for Need2Care because it takes a lot to go right back after the loss of that confidence. I feel the place I was sent to knew about my lack of experience, and if they truly wanted help from the agency they should have been compliant about the orientation and perhaps put a more experienced nurse on that med cart expespecially since the nurse the day before walked out because of it. That's why they were seeking agency help. But I did what I did, I didn't ababndon the job and it was definately a learning experience. And I know that physically it was almost more than I could do. I was pretty tired and sick when I got home, or maybe it's just sick and tired.

These comments have been particularly helpful to me tonight. I work for an agency that sent me to a LTC facility for a shift another nurse left. they called me at 11:00 the night before to ask if I would cove the 7-3 shift. I told them I had no LTC experience. They told me that I would receive orientation and help. Well that didn't happen. It was horrible and I know that I didn't and couldn't do that med pass the way it should have been done. They even told me they knew I would not be able to do it yet no help was offered. There were so many bad, bad situations and critical situations that day. I just wanted to leave and I will never go back there. I've been feeling like I should never have gone to school to get my LPN, because there are not that many options for LPN's other than LTC. I am 61 and I've been working in the medical field in some capacity since I was 15 years old. I started in the hopsital where my mother worked as a RN. I was a volunteer and then later a CNA and on and on. It's been a long tough road for me and I thought when I got my LPN at age 59 that I would be able to work as a licnsed nurse for once and actually be paid for being a nurse. Anyway this has been very helpful.