DeBerham

1) Yes, the VA hires LPNs... That being said the VA system is somewhat difficult to get into, so much so that I stopped bothering (both as an LPN and RN). Go to usajobs.gov to look up VA jobs in your area 2) Army, 91C then 91WM6 (LPN) (ETS'd in 2006) 3) Couldn't tell you, my LPN course was AIT 4) I got my LPN because I didn't know what I wanted and my recruiter made it sound pretty cool, but it turns out that I really enjoy the this work. After being an LPN for 8 years I went back to school for my BSN because there is such a narrow difference between the two licenses but a significant pay increase. Now I am working on my MSN as a FNP. I would SERIOUSLY consider skipping the LPN and going right for your BSN, especially if you want to do flight nursing or the ICU...

I work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. Generally I'll pick up 2 or 3 extra shifts/month for extra $$$$. To handle it I compartmentalize. I keep my work stuff at work and home stuff at home. What results is you absolutely develop a work family, with all of the associated personality quirks and dysfunction. The ER is an interesting area because you see A LOT of self diagnosis which I think certainly contributes to the "apathy" and "rude" impression that may be given. You're in the ER for N/V but demanding to have your chinese food.... let me get right on that. There is also the time management issue to deal with. We exist to get you stabilized and either up to the floor or out the door. We're not there to hang out with you. We need specific information and when that is not given in a direct manner I may begin to direct the conversation so I can find out what I need.

I'd suggest a WIRED network LASER printer. You don't have to worry about wireless configurations and you can plug it directly into your wireless router. With the laser option (as stated above) you get more pages/$. Also, if you have the money to pay up front you might look at business class printers vs consumer. Long term they tend to last longer and the ink is cheaper.

I say own it

"Thank you my *****" after starting an ultrasound IV on a sickle cell patient

Medication errors occur when when of these things occurs during drug administration: Wrong pt Wrong route Wrong time Wrong drug Wrong dose Now I'm unclear as to if you'd recapped the needle or not. If you were you may be written up for that, and you should regardless of if you were injured or not. Still, that's not a medication error by any stretch of the imagination. Protocols are in place for a reason and there is no reason to ever recap a used needle. As I interpret it though you were throwing away the needle and the cap when you accidentally got stuck. If that's the case your shift supervisor is an idiot and suggesting that people get written up for an accidental on the job injury is asinine. These things happen, and you cannot realistically remove all risk from this job. Her type of attitude only serves to not have staff report these types of injuries, and if a lawsuit comes down from an employee who gets sick because they feared that they would be fired if they reported this type of injury your facility will be paying through the nose in court. I PROMISE you, odds are that anyone who has been a nurse for any length of time HAS been stuck. I stuck myself once several years ago... it sucks, got checked and moved on. If you get written up for it, file the incident away as a thing to be careful about. I would also seriously consider moving to another floor/hospital as this type of attitude is dangerous.

LOL, yes.

Jenni811 hit the nail on the head, it's about $$$. Shockingly, inexperienced nurses (those with 1-3 years of experience) are cheaper to hire than an experienced nurse. Additionally, those coming out of nursing school are typically young and attractive as 22 to 25 year old females are apt to be. What I'll also say is that as a male I never had to deal with the garbage that the more... experienced... nurses dealt out to these new grads. That isn't to say I didn't hear about it, probably since I wasn't viewed as any type of threat to the pecking order. I even had one nurse tell me that the nurse manager was purposefully hiring attractive people to work the floor. That made me chuckle a little bit. What I'd suggest is to get over it. NOTHING good will come from being so superficial. Is it their fault that they're attractive? No. Is it their fault that they are young? No. Are you liable to let your jealousy over SUPERFICIAL things ruin some potential relationships? Yes. If you see that they are not acclimating the the job/culture (ie cell phone use while patients need something) let them know. I'll say though that you may need an attitude adjustment just as much as these new nurses because your feelings will translate in to actions in how you treat/interact with them... and then we'll get to read new posts about how we continue to eat our young.

I worked antepartum for a few months (assigned by the military, def not my choice) and that was pretty miserable. Currently work ER. I've also worked on a surgical floor and psych. You can find males just about everywhere except the above mentioned units.

This will come with time, and you will likely not get a really good grasp of this until you are actually hired on at your first job. Part of it comes with knowing the routine of the floor that you are working on, and part of it comes with getting knowing your own routine. When you master both of these things you'll be able to manage your time. You're a student, it's expected. ASK QUESTIONS and expose yourself to new situations. If you're able to practice a skill, do it. Start IVs, place foleys, do assessments, and get feedback on those skills that you attempt. You're not going to be perfect the first time, and maybe not even the second. Given enough experience though you will get better. Also, don't think that this is going to stop when you get out of school. You will be expected to use new equipment and learn new skills... get used to it and have fun. Don't be intimidated by new knowledge, look at it as a new skill that you can bring to the table when it comes time for an evaluation or for you to move on to another job. Hmmmm, I think this is the hardest thing to address. What I'll say is that those who GENERALLY fear being incompetent rarely are in my experience (just like the patient/family member who says they don't mean to be a bother rarely are). Refer back to the first two points that I made. Put the patient first, put yourself in their shoes and treat them accordingly. I think if you do this you really don't have to worry too much.

I failed several classes in high school and was very close to not graduating (had to take summer courses between my junior and senior year). I went into the military, was given some discipline that was sorely needed, pulled my s*** together, went back to college and received good grades. I got into a bachelors of nursing program and am now working on my masters. I was young, foolish, made a LOT of mistakes, and if anyone asked me I would admit as much. The grades that you have earned in college should redeem whatever mistakes you made in high school. If your school asks you explain how you've changed since then and that your grades reflect that.

Not a new nurse, but have had some experience with this on the other side... As a one time LPN my advice is to talk to the LPNs. There is nothing worse than coworkers who think they are superior than you. Make an effort to treat everyone as a human being. CNA, LPN, housekeeping, everyone... They're all people. You will be respected for it and it may in fact effect a change. Be their friend. Foster an environment where they are comfortable with you. You said it yourself, you are there to work together. Start by creating the environment that you want to work in.

Not sure, but I think I would call that a 3 lead in Maryland...

The BVNPT is a bad joke. They are traditionally the slowest board to send out license information to requesting agencies when I file for reciprocity in other states. They also sat on my (and the other California resident's) application for 6 months post graduation. When I say sat on, the application sat on someone's desk because my school failed to stamp a page. Apparently calling the school or us was too difficult a task so there it sat. I lived in Sacramento so I was doing weekly trips to their office to see what was taking so long. Good luck

nevermind