Sheridan80

I think first and foremost I'm a nurse,I've never felt the need to qualify that by saying i'm an ER nurse or what ever area I might have been at the time. I also don't believe i've been "looked down on" because I'm a male in a female dominated field. If believe in yourself and your abilities it shouldn't make any difference. I don't agree with considering the male/female ratio as a bonus for anything other than work or friendships. makes for a difficult situation if dating a co-worker and things go bad, from my experience it wasn't an amiable situation. IMHO

yeah I would tend to agree 5-6 on the average rarely 1:7, with exception of one Hospital here in Tacoma,actually Lakewood. they often have an an acuity of 1:8-10. (well I should qualify that , with a Team leader Rn and an LPN,still with a high acuity, I really don't feel it's safe.)

Here in Wa state (seattle/Tacoma area) There are limited openings for LPN's in Hospitals, There are still some LPN's working, but many have been there for years. Last year there was a Mass RIF of LPN's from all three hospitals in Tacoma. What's interesting though is I'm an LPN and currently work Agency,and the majority of shifts I work are in Hospitals.

I never felt comfortable in L&D,on the few occasions i've worked there. I did my job and initially I felt things were fine,but for some reason the family, in particular the husbands seemed to take exception to having me there. While I just doing an assessment and vital signs, a few would just glare at me. luckily it wasn't a regular assignment,so I only briefly worked there. Why is it a guy can work med-surg and noone gives it a second thought, but work L&D things are different? Go figure and I'm a Dad also.

Hi Sue, Just a question,do you really enjoy what you do? I mean working LTC and specifically working with the elderly. you sound frustrated and although I know we all have been there, you can only work so long in that area without becoming frustrated. Do you take time for yourself outside of work? ie; exercise, meet with friends, go out with hubby. even considering you work pt. time, you sound like you need a break.

I've worked agency for the past seven years, (LPN for 23 years) and I find working here in the Tacoma WA. area ratios do often vary. There are two major Hospital Orgs. here, each with several hospitals. One has pretty good ratios 1:5-6 and the other with their Hospitals averages 1:8-10. guess which one I prefer to work at?