August RN

"Is it true or not true that once I take my NCLEX I cannot work as a tech any longer?" I don't see a reason why you could not unless you have temp RN license or your facility or state boards specifically states one has to refrain from any healthcare jobs pending results of exam. Those are, if you can work on temp license and are there any restrictions not to work in healthcare until finding out exam results, the questions I would inquire about. All the best as you reach your completion of school and sitting for the NCLEX.

An old discussion....

Glad to hear I was not the "only" nurse who took vitals, when I ended up on a cart when the LPN called in, before cardiac meds or did not seem right to me. I took them myself. In some LTC, LPNs aren't allowed to call the MD. There are many variable to any setting of work and no matter where you work, some, cna, LPN, RN, will do great nursing and some will not. Period.

Wow; that many patients in LTAC the poster that said ten to fifteen? No way in world would I receive a patient load every day I work as such in LTAC. When I worked LTAC, our ratio was 1:4 with charge not taking an assignment. The thing that made we walk away was one night many call ins and we had nine or ten apiece. Prayed my way through that entire shift and never looked back. I was PRN, but worked full time hours, so never gave anymore days and went on to full time management in LTC. No, LTC and LATC are not actually the same but let me tell you that the residents in LTC are more sicker than ever too. Many come straight from the hospital, needing to go to ICU let alone LTAC but are put in the nursing homes and less than a few minutes on their way back to the hospital. There are complex patients in the nursing home. Vents, IV and not peripheral IVs either, extensive wound care with multiple system failures that circle the drain even though chronic and becomes acutely quickly. Vent patients are accepted that can be weaned but many aren't. It is, in lots of LTC, hard to be the nurse on any level but as house supervisor especially due to several can go bad at once and usually that house is the only RN in the building, needs to know the LPN she works with, critically thinking is a must to see the most needing patient first. Have the LPN, within scope of practice, do those things and calling the MD and nine one one and so forth. Remember, LTC gets those patients time has run out on funds, and just need to be removed to needing that bed in the acute setting and not that they are "well" enough to go home or nursing home. Some Admin and some DONs and some Admission nurse accept patients in nursing home to fill the house knowing quite well that their facility and some of their staff is not capable of helping those patients. As long as nurse settle for what someone other than a nurse, usually, think we can and cannot handle, we will remain in the same state of our profession.

Got to love life and people. Every single one of us will take away what we want from any discussion and then do what I am able to do, reflect the difference of opinion to make their points valid. Since the second and third parties comments are hidden within the Original Poster's remarks, I will say, think less of what others feel about you and think more of how you feel about yourself. Carry on....

Your humor lends it hand to some realistic truth. The sad part is the patients see and hear more than what is realized. I have seen so much in my years as a nurse too and wished for those days of long ago. Were things happening about 15 years ago or so, yes, but it was not as much as it is today. I will believe if we stop trying to be liked and just RESPECTED as members of the nursing arena, things would fair much better.