5FrSilastic

(hiding, knowing someone will be enraged by this) No. CNA's are not "nurses". They ASSIST the actual "nurse"... hence the title....."Certified Nursing ASSISTANT" keyword "assistant" (LPN/LVN)....Licensed Practical /Vocational NURSE, yes, that equals a nurse. (RN)...Registered NURSE , yes, that equals a nurse. (NP)... NURSE Practitioner, yes, that equals a nurse. (CRNA)... Certified Registered NURSE Anesthetist.... , yes, that equals a nurse. (CNA)... Certified Nursing Assistant........ equals someone who assists a NURSE!!!!!!!

What did her post have to do with delegation?

I think you are. The point is , that, the BON in each state decides that an RN is qualified to do this task. Rn's dont decide this, the facility doesnt decide this.The state government decides this. Why would you expect the same level of responsibility with less education/credentials? I have a question, for all LPN/LVN's who have similar questions such as xmaxiex: In your opinion, which limits should be set on your scope of practice as an LPN/LVN, vs an RN? Do you think you should obtain less education, but perform equal tasks? Please do not read this as sarcastic, I am asking a serious question. I ask because every LPN I come across, and I realize this is just my experience, gripes about these issues, however, to me, it seems cut and dry. In my area, there is one LPN training course, the next state over, the total length of the program is 8 months. All nursing programs are 3-4 YEARS in length, with at least an associates degree obtained, except for Diploma programs, which have 3 full years of clinical as well as college coursework. Where is the frustration/confusion coming from? Please help me understand your point of view........!!!!!!!

Just a thought. We all have the opportunity in life to further our education, if we feel devalued, or whatever. For instance, I am a nurse. For me to complain that I cant diagnose and bill patients directly, perform surgery, etc. , as MD's do, is sour grapes. I lost that right when I completed my education as an RN. The laws are the laws,(licensing) and they are in place for reasons that are apparently beyond the thought process of some posters here. It could go on forever........ if everybody was qualified to do everything, at every level, there would be no credentialing.We could all hang signs on our front doors and claim to be what we want to be. So, good luck with changing these credentialing levels, and , if you decide to go back to school to further your education to be at the level that you think you should be at in your profession, I wish you even more luck!!!!!

No she did not.......... Call in sick for 3 days and then never call or come back after that from a job she truely loved and practically cries about at least weekly.....it was me... any suggestions?

Exactly, its their job to do the staffing, not the nurse's. Things happen, people cancel shifts, and thats the nature of an agency. They dont think the same way when they have to cancel you, now do they? This poster got a bee in her bonnet simply because she has to staff.....Agency is agency, it always will be.... has pros, but just as many cons.

Catalog is best, most will ship for free....

Lastly, I can literally hear how much you want to get back to the NICU. But don't come off as desperate or whiny. That is a huge turn off. Present yourself professionally, and you will get there eventually! Exactly, I dont want to sound like I did here, and like I really am, heartsick and desperate to return.A big reason why I came to this board for advice. Ya know when your too close to something to think of the right words to convey? Thats how it is with me. I will contact the nurse recruiter, as soon as I get those things together.... As far as a peds position... this hospital is a specialty hosp for women only.... onc, ob/gyn l& d, hi risk ante partum, and NICU. Thanks for the insight re: HR influence on hiring, I actually thought managers had the last say in ALL hosp/units, since they are the best in knowing the qualifications needed in their unit......(of course excluding people hand picked, but thats another issue) .. And about the advice against jumping in to any NICU. I must confess, in my mind the decision was made up to take ANY position in ANY NICU, because I told myself I dont care what the conditions are, I will do it, and be lucky to have it.I just want to get my career started again. Seeing you actually write that, makes me understand it is not so smart to do that. A big hug to you, sincerely. Your posts have given me alot of inspiration, ideas and insight that I could get NOWHERE else. If I knew you, lunch, at the least, would be on me!!!! Thanks again. I'm sure I will have more to discuss in the near future...... lol

Jolie, I thank you. You have no idea how much you helped me with your opinion/advice. What I think I will do first, is research how I can take NRP without being affiliated with a hospital. (mine has expired) , and also look into the S.T.A.BL.E program to . Then, if I get an interview, I will be open and honest, per your advice. I have had the strength part of the interview in my head for a year now, lol, but had no idea what to say about the work history. I would deffinitely work per diem , casual, etc, heck, I will take what I can get... but my findings have been that employers want the nurse to have experience of 2 years or more,and combined, I only have about 9 months. I will get these things squared away before I even apply anywhere. I have yet another question..... I found out that the 2 nurse mgrs have left the 2 NICU's I worked in. When asked for names of supervisors, who should I give? My intuition tells me, that with my issues already, if I dont give them names, that raises more suspicion. But they can verify that they indeed leave, if they call those hospitals... but I am not sure what a previous hosp can say in a reference call......Also, when I realized what I had done, I called my mgr from the first NICU.( a month or so after) She said they were worried about me, sounded genuinely concerned. However, I asked if I could possibly return, she said she would find out ,as it was not just her decision.... she called back, and said she was sorry, but I couldnt. I learned I was in their system as a "do not rehire" , but is this negotiable,based on circumstances, or written in stone? If I could get back to this hospital, I would not desire to relocate. This is the ONLY NICU in my area. Should I attempt approaching them again, or do you think thats beating a dead horse, looking like a stalker, LOL, etc. Should I send the current mgr a resume and cover letter directly, bypassing HR?.... or forget this particular NICU?

OK, sorry, but I have a more basic question.....( not that I am any where near doing this, but I will be in the future) How does one become a NNP? Do all univ/colleges have a NNP program with their BSN/MSN programs? How long should one expect to go to school for this?

Thank you Bittybabygrower, Jolie. It honestly didn't occur to me that ANY manager would be interested in a verified chronic absentee. One question, Jolie, since you seem to be in a position of hiring...... HOW do I demonstrate this, other than the fact that I have been employed for almost 2 years. Since I have not worked in NICU since, all of it would be lip service, or so it would seem..... to the interviewer. How do I convey to them , not only my ability to focus on my career, but, in addition, in those two units where I did work, I learned Sooooo much. The units were large high acuity NICU's, with an in depth orientation with each of them, plus the fact that I took responsibility for my own learning. But now that I think of it, it really doesnt matter what I learned or not, because they hire new grads all the time with no problem.!!!Another factor is, I dont want them thinking that I am not sure IF I even want NICU, when thats the farthest from the truth.It is ALL I want. As you can see, I put myself in a position where I am not confident. I know I can be an asset to any unit, just from the sheer devotion I have to this area of nsg, I just dont know how to prove it. Keep the opinions coming, guys. I really appreciate it........

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HI managers, EXPERIENCED NURSES, ANYBODY ELSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS!!! I really need some advice/input. Here is how it is. I graduated nsg school 3 years ago, went right into a NICU, loved it, dove right into being responsible for my own learning of about this area, did excellent on my orientation, did well on my own for about 2 months.2 months plus the 3 on orientation. This was a top notch facility, and I knew it. Well, my personal life/ emotional issues (nothing to do with NICU nsg) forced me, or I should rather just say, I called in sick for about 4 days, then just never called back or went back. I was running from my problems in my personal life, and I was embarrassed to contact my managers. I actually left the state, to live with my friend. COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL. I realize. I regretted it the minute I came to my senses. A few months go by, and I get a position in another NICU , in the new state I am in. I am there for 3 months. This situation , now, was less than ideal. I was commuting back and forth, staying at my friends on my days on, and driving back home to my family 3.5 hours away on days off. All the while, the plan is to permanantly move there. Well, this place was an absolute terrible place to work, they had every issue under the sun, and with my current situation of going back and forth, being tired, comparing it to the place I used to work at , etc.... well I left there too. So, I went home, took a position w/ a home care agency, taking only pediatric/preemie cases. I have been there for a year and a half. This is my problem: NICU nursing is the ONLY thing I went to nsg school for, It's all I want to do, ever. I cant even to stand to go near that first hospital, I start to cry, literally. I cant believe what I did, and I dont know how to fix it. I know I can never work at that hospital again.... BUT, I reallize I had issues to overcome, and I DID. These issues had nothing to do with any substance abuse, no performance issues, nothing like that. But I am fully aware that being a job hopper , or whatever I am, appears UNRELIABLE and UNPROFESSIONAL. I need some advice on how to overcome this . I need to get back into NICU and re-start my career. How do I do this? If you were a manager, interviewing me, how could I say/demonstrate my ability to now focus on my career in your unit, to convince you I am not a risk, but someone who made some mistakes but is ready to go back? What would make you want to even take a chance on me? This is such a big part of my life. I cant stand not being in an area of nursing that I love, and UNDERSTAND very well. I am simply a mediocre nurse in any other area. I was an EXCEPTIONAL NICU nurse, given my short time there, so I had been told. I take ceu's in that area almost daily, I am always reading and re reading the textbooks, clinical guides, etc. In my mind, its like I never left. My heart is there. I live in a small state, that first nicu is the only one here. Me and my family are hoping to relocate. How can I relay this to a future employer/manager ? Do I tell all, like I did here, and come off as a real nut job who has many issues? ( I DID, I dont now!!!) Or should I just feel lucky I have a nursing job at all, and forget NICU alltogether? Please, give me some advice. As you can read, I am desperate, and I dont know what to do about this. Thank you so much in advance for whatever advice you offer.....

HI managers, I really need some advice/input. Here is how it is. I graduated nsg school 3 years ago, went right into a NICU, loved it, dove right into being responsible for my own learning of about this area, did excellent on my orientation, did well on my own for about 2 months.2 months plus the 3 on orientation. This was a top notch facility, and I knew it. Well, my personal life/ emotional issues (nothing to do with NICU nsg) forced me, or I should rather just say, I called in sick for about 4 days, then just never called back or went back. I was running from my problems in my personal life, and I was embarrassed to contact my managers. I actually left the state, to live with my friend. COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL. I realize. I regretted it the minute I came to my senses. A few months go by, and I get a position in another NICU , in the new state I am in. I am there for 3 months. This situation , now, was less than ideal. I was commuting back and forth, staying at my friends on my days on, and driving back home to my family 3.5 hours away on days off. All the while, the plan is to permanantly move there. Well, this place was an absolute terrible place to work, they had every issue under the sun, and with my current situation of going back and forth, being tired, comparing it to the place I used to work at , etc.... well I left there too. So, I went home, took a position w/ a home care agency, taking only pediatric/preemie cases. I have been there for a year and a half. This is my problem: NICU nursing is the ONLY thing I went to nsg school for, It's all I want to do, ever. I cant even to stand to go near that first hospital, I start to cry, literally. I cant believe what I did, and I dont know how to fix it. I know I can never work at that hospital again.... BUT, I reallize I had issues to overcome, and I DID. These issues had nothing to do with any substance abuse, no performance issues, nothing like that. But I am fully aware that being a job hopper , or whatever I am, appears UNRELIABLE and UNPROFESSIONAL. I need some advice on how to overcome this . I need to get back into NICU and re-start my career. How do I do this? If you were a manager, interviewing me, how could I say/demonstrate my ability to now focus on my career in your unit, to convince you I am not a risk, but someone who made some mistakes but is ready to go back? What would make you want to even take a chance on me? This is such a big part of my life. I cant stand not being in an area of nursing that I love, and UNDERSTAND very well. I am simply a mediocre nurse in any other area. I was an EXCEPTIONAL NICU nurse, given my short time there, so I had been told. I take ceu's in that area almost daily, I am always reading and re reading the textbooks, clinical guides, etc. In my mind, its like I never left. My heart is there. I live in a small state, that first nicu is the only one here. Me and my family are hoping to relocate. How can I relay this to a future employer/manager ? Do I tell all, like I did here, and come off as a real nut job who has many issues? ( I DID, I dont now!!!) Or should I just feel lucky I have a nursing job at all, and forget NICU alltogether? Please, give me some advice. As you can read, I am desperate, and I dont know what to do about this. Thank you so much in advance for whatever advice you offer.....