slasher

Britt, everything is relative. 4.0 in what? Quantum physics or Algebra? You need to get over it. 4.0 gpa's look good on paper. When you're on the floor and make a mistake, no one cares if you had a 4.0. Yes Britt, most people in nursing who do well never had a 4.0. Your dreams aren't shattered because of your 3.7. Get over it. You're going to learn a new way of thinking and being prom queen or whatever else won't mean squat. Go watch 'Gladiator' (the scene when Russell Crowe dispatches 6 guys and yells to the crowd, "Are you not entertained?!") if you need some motivation.

No I don't. I'm still in school. I have done research on laws, nursing boards, nursing schools, etc. for years now. I knew when I applied and accepted into school that I was rolling the dice. I won't bore you with a 'god' story. Bottom line is, if I'm not supposed to be a nurse, then the best practical joke in history is on me. In life you will learn something if you haven't already Latasha...it's who you know. There will be exceptions however. I don't care if Barrack Obama is your uncle, if you commit murder you will not be a nurse. For me personally, faith in god is what will get me to where I need to be. Somewhere down the line, the "right place right time" thing will be in affect and I have faith I will get a job. I may have to apply to 1000 different places but I will get hired somewhere. As far as "who you know", networking is very important. Volunteer work, joining clubs(preferably pertinent to healthcare)and the like are good ways for people to get to know who you are today and not what you were in the past. You have to understand, computer software in many(maybe most, not sure) healthcare facilities look for key words on resumes, cover pages, applications etc. and gives the employer the best picks based on what the computer is programmed to look for. So even people without records have to have their stuff straight. People like you and I have to take things further. We need to put ourselves "out there" to be seen. You will come across the right person one day and who knows, they may be top dog/boss/owner/supreme court judge etc. and put in a good word based on the impression you leave. It's stressful at times but you have to keep the faith. You said you start school this year. So I assume they have seen your record and you are able to complete nursing clinical's. If these charges are not 'Absolute Bars' in the state of Louisiana then your okay...so to speak. It means they haven't said 'no' yet. If the school has accepted you and the BON, according to their state laws, have determined(it's already determined, it should be on the Louisiana BON website) that you are not an absolute bar, there is hope. The BON, in Ohio at least, tend to be forgiving if: you are honest and upfront, there is significant time lapse since the last time you committed a crime, and you accept whatever restrictions they apply to your license. The restrictions on an RN license can be a huge obstacle from what I understand. A nurse who isn't, by law, allowed to perform certain duties is almost pointless. (restrictions are usually for a probationary period which can last as long as the board deems necessary.

Every state is different. Different rules, criteria, whatever. I can speak on my behalf and tell you what I have been told by "people in the know". 1. Maybe the most important suggestion I can give to anyone...especially with a criminal record...BE HONEST. If you lie on applications, to their face, or whenever, then you have obviously not learned from past mistakes. 2. All the hype about expungement, sealed, etc. is what it is...hype. This is Nursing. Like other jobs, records being "expunged" or "sealed" doesn't mean squat. Most nursing schools now can see everything. If it comes up as "expunged" or "sealed", you will have some explaining to do...if you were honest. Which brings me to my next point. 3. If the application says, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony/misdemeanor?", be honest. Unless it tells you otherwise and states that you don't have to admit to crimes that are expunged or sealed. If it doesn't say, then tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god.(again, different states have different laws) The only way you will get real legal advice is from an attorney (preferably one who deals with nursing). The people you're sending your paperwork to are not stupid. They are "hip" to the whole "my record is expunged so it doesn't count thing." Don't lie. The second you lie the game is over. If you have changed then the thought of finding a loophole shouldn't cross your mind. I have 4 misdemeanors. Nothing super horrible, but I have a list. I'm a recovering addict (4 years sober January 15 2013) and did stupid stuff back in 1999-2002. Actually I did stupid stuff up until a little over 4 years ago...I just didn't get caught. Everyone on earth makes poor choices. Some get caught, some don't. Some learn their lesson, some don't. I was up front and honest with my school from the beginning. I had to sit down and talk with some people and give all the facts and variables. To sum it up, you will probably get different opinions on how the system works and advice on what Latasha should do. Don't listen to anyone...not even me. There are only 2 facts I can give you. 1. Lying is not good. 2. Only an attorney will give you the answers you're looking for. (nursing recruiters, Human resources, etc. can't give legal advice. The best answer you will get is, "We look at each case individually and take into account all the variables.")

I don't think anybody goes into nursing to clean up **. I didn't. There's nothing wrong with that. I accept it as part of the job and I do what I need to do. Im not planning on being in a specialty that requires doing this so no...I am not becoming a nurse to clean up messes all day. Did anyone here? No, I didn't think so. You take the bad with the good. The trend on these sites seem to be that if someone comments on something that doesn't "go with the flow" they get lynched. Threads are boring when everyone has the same exact opinion and state the same exact comment the post before them stated. Lot's of inferiority complexes. Try explaining the realities to the person to give a clear picture of what they are getting into. Lastly, when one person starts busting chops, it doesn't mean that everyone has to jump on that band wagon basically repeat what was initially said. Grow a spine people. Alpha Male? Insecure much?

It is fun working with me CrunchRN. You will see me around here in the future also. I will walk softly though...not sure how many warnings I get before the eyes in the sky kick me off

Yes! You are correct! See, we have all agreed the entire time and didn't know it! I am going to learn how females communicate on this site. The tongue lashing will only make me a better communicator and nurse. It can be tough to grasp an understanding of where others are coming from when the communication being done is on the net. I love this thing. I wish the tongue went in and out of its mouth without stopping.

Sweet. Ok. Everytime I post and make people mad I am going to post this tongue flicker thingy. BlueDevil, since I have deterred the flack from you I am stealing your signature mark. The smiley face that looks like he is...well...nevermind, is mine.

Thank you.

You're comparing what is understood amongst healthcare workers vs. the average person on the street. Second, a BM is a BM but the point being they aren't all necessarily the same.

Ok. Point taken. Did you understand the point I was making? MA's shouldn't be called nurses. LPN's and RN's are nurses. I think I have covered this already. Are they the same? No. That was my point. I also explained that when someone simply states, "I am a nurse", the average person hears this and thinks of a person with the skills of an RN. When somone says, "I'm a doctor", the first thought most people have isn't, "I wonder if this person has a Doctorate in NP." They assume this person is an MD. Again, I see your perspective now you see mine. We are talking about semantics and using them in certain circumstances. Now that we are all on the same page, how do I get that smiley face with the flicking tongue that BD had. I want to use it when I post something.

You don't have super powers? What's wrong with you? Just kidding. I don't either.

So we agree to disagree, you dislike the way my posts are written, and I don't care for yours. The way I see it, we break even.

So...we agree to disagree?

I know CrunchRN, I am going to have to word things very carefully from now on. At least I diverted the attention from BlueDevil for a while.

The only other thing I want to know is how do I get a smiley face that flicks it tongue, like BlueDevil has, on my posts?

"...when they need her assistance..." So all nurses are female? No, the majority are however which is why, instinctively, you used the word "her". Being a male, I am not offended, and understand. This is the point that I was making. When someone thinks "nurse", they think more along the lines of RN. You work with LPN's day in and day out so the perspective is much different. Just like if you said, " your nurse will be with you", they probably visual a female as opposed to a male. The fill in the blank quiz you just gave me is irrelevant to the point being discussed. What does getting a nurse to assist have to do with what this thread is about. LPN's refer to themselves as nurses which is a term, outside the work area is very specific. When someone says, "I'm a doctor", nobody thinks, "Oh, you're an NP with a doctorate." They think, "Oh, you're the MD." No one had a problem dishing it to BlueDevil but their seems to be an issue when it is being dished upon yourselves. I see the perspective of everyone else. If you don't see mine, you are: A) lying and just want to keep the thread alive or B) You don't have the sense to understand what you are reading.

I agree limaRN. I hope I work with nurses like you.

SaoirseRN, please stop with the "lose your attitude", I never had an attitude. Did you read all the posts of this thread? I suppose anyone who disagrees or doesn't side with you or the majority have attitude problems. With your train of thought, I figure I will last as long as you if not longer in my career. If an NP with a doctorate answered the phone and said, "this is Dr. so and so", would the M.D.'s not think in the same manner as everyone here posting about MA's being called nurse? Bottom line, MA's, LPN's, and RN's are 3 separate titles. The skills required increase at each level. Did this clear up anything? LPN's are nurses. Ok, I get the point being made. Nurse is in the title so they are a nurse. Are they the same as an RN? No they are not. NP's with doctorates are doctors. Are they MD's? No they are not. I will make the assumption we all understand each other's perspective's now.

Ok, let's try this one more time. -The original point I was making, pertains to the point originally made on this thread: giving the same title to everyone even though the skills/education is not the same. -Nurseel56, I will answer your question with a question. Since when do people think "LPN" when they hear someone say they are a nurse? The hospital, the clinic, etc. where everyone has a similar understanding of the term? -If an LPN and an RN are standing side by side in a patients room and the LPN tells the patient, "we're the nurses that will be taking care of you." The patient will think they are both of equal "status" when in fact they are not. -People verbally beat on BlueDevil about MA's being called a nurse and then began to give reasons why. I then explained that everyone throwing the stones have not taken a look at themselves. LPN's and RN's are both nurses. I get it. Because the term nurse is in the title everyone thinks they are the same. They are not. If MA's had the word "nurse" in their title everyone would still be crying because their education, training, etc. is not the same.

You are talking about the word "nurse" that happens to be in your title vs. the idea people get when you use certain terms. I think it is safe to assume no one caught on to that.

I had a feeling this wasn't going to go anywhere. I didn't insult anyone. There was no attitude. SaoirseRN, you simply repeated what I already stated. It is possible they may be doctors...they may be astronauts also. Both "they may be" scenarios are beside the point. ColleenRN2B, Ha!, you got me! I had no clue they were nurses. It will serve you well to comprehend what you read before you work side by side with these professionals. Bringonthenight, I am serious. You, like everyone else, took my comment out of context. When people hear the word "nurse" LPN is not exactly what they have in mind. It does not mean an LPN is not a nurse. Did you people read my comment? Did you read it and not understand what I meant? Did you read it, comprehend it, and decide to get emotional anyway? You are the one's who get straight A's on tests but don't have any people or communication skills aren't you? Please, please if you are going to comment further, read my original comment again and try to digest it before flipping out and getting crazy. If someone says they are a doctor the first thing that comes to mind is M.D. Not someone with a Ph.D in (insert profession here). They are both doctors. They are different however.

I understand BlueDevil's point. In a few months I will understand the other side of the coin as well. No offense to LPN's (I am a nursing student just for the record), but when I become an R.N., it would be a tad irritating for the LPN's to call themselves nurses. I can't recall how many times someone has said, "I'm a nurse", and come to find out they're an LPN. Again, I am a student, I am not bashing anyone so don't flip out. Point being, which can be applied to LPN's as well as MA's, when someone tells me they are a nurse, there is a specific "visual" you get in your head. R.N. is what comes to mind. So, in BD's defense, if we call one out let's call them all out. Nurse Practitioner's can be seen at their private office instead of someone going to the doctor...they still are not doctors. Being a male, I pray that this type of drama is vented on sites like this one and not on the floor.

I somehow get the sense that maybe he isn't the moron.

Male's can have a rough time when they become R.N.'s in a female dominated profession.

Latasha, I have a history myself so I understand how you feel. We have to get a few things straight to give you the best chance at succeeding and becoming a nurse. First, as I read your statements, I notice grammatical errors. I'm not the "grammar police" as they say on FB but I am not in your shoes at this time so this doesn't apply to me. I'm not insulting you; im trying to help you. Second, you mention the BON a few times as well as "The school I'm going to attend...". Are you just starting school? Does Louisiana law require you to send records the BON before you are finished with school? You said "They tell me...". Who is they, the school or BON? If you send the application/paperwork etc. to your school there are only a few people who will see the information: 1) whoever is in admissions (not the whole department just whoever uses the information for legitimate needs.) 2) the Dean of...whatever. The person who looks at criminal offenses and makes the final decision. 3) possibly the Dean's assistant. There may be an additional person here or there but your teachers aren't going to know anything. It's not something that the powers that be walk around discussing unless it's necessary. Every nursing school in the nation has "criminals" who apply and sometimes get accepted. Check Louisiana's BON website to see what the criteria is for someone with a criminal hx is who want an R.N. license. I talked to a paralegal a couple years back and she said there are 3 hoops to jump through: 1) getting accepted into school 2) getting the BON to allow you to take the NCLEX and 3) finding a job. #3 will be the biggest challenge.