ceebeejay

No, like all areas of life, there are good and bad. A lot has to do with how much they value respect and teamwork and promote that through policies and benefits. Look around. I found mine by world of mouth from parents I'd worked with in private duty.

Try calling someone in your states oversight office. Here in NY it would be the OPWDD. They can give you better insight.

Regular clothes if your are in the houses; the nurses at the programs where scrubs.

I have the same question for a person in one of my houses. It's making me crazy seeing them sit all day in the chair. We change the lean from sitting to reclining but it's just not sitting well with me. Please let me know what you find out. I am staring with PT and my ADON.

Congrats, jojo489! I just started recently and I love it. I come home exhausted but I feel great. It's the first time, in my life and I am not a spring chicken, that I feel satisfied when I come home from work. I am trying to figure out how to keep track of things. I feel like a squirrel right now - ooh look at the shiny light, oh wait, there's that other shiny thing! Um, what was I doing? Just when I feel like I have it coming under control, it all goes up in smoke! I have had a death by fire experience so far, because everything that can happen is happening! ARGH! I don't even mind the on call. My husband thinks I am nuts. But, when you have a passion for what you are doing it doesn't feel like a chore.

I sought out this group, because I kept hearing good things as a private duty RN in the community. I had been on several interviews and always observed that the employees seemed happy to be there. DDNA is definitely on my list of organizations to join and I glad to see members that endorse it.

Depends highly upon the office/location. My experience has been very good with them, but this office is great. Just one office over and not so great.

Signed my acceptance papers today! I'm hired. Looking forward to this experience.

Good Luck! I feel the same way. Hoping to get into this area myself or in a school for ID/DD children. I have two interviews behind me, both are checking references. Hoping!

Get the BSN. It will save you time and money in the long run. To become advanced in practice, you will need the hospital experience. It's much harder to get work in a hospital as an ADN unless you have connections or are a known entity. Hindsight is 20/20 for me.

No. I just resent the fact that my interest rate was 1.5% when I began and now it's around 7%. It's higher than my mortgage interest. Federal student loans should be less than 3% interest and the interest should not begin to accrue until you graduate. The interest rate combined with the yearly tuition increases is killer. Especially, for part time students like myself who take longer to graduate and therefore amass larger loans.

Choices! Yes, choices! And, everything else said. Good luck to you. I am sure you will do well, because you are already invested and care.

I am your aspiration twin, just one year older. Also, working in home care - largely peds and school RN. I hope someone with wisdom answers you. For myself, I hope to finish my BSN this summer and then get my ACLS/PALS certification. By that time, I should also have enough contact hours with pediatric patients to apply to obtain CPN credentials. It is my hope that it will show my interest and dedication to this area of practice and get me at least an interview with peds units in hospitals. As aside, my happiest nursing days are the day I substitute for a school nurse. Kids in schools (no matter what age) are funny.

If the hospital where you are working is chipping in for your ADN, they will likely hire you to recoup their investment. Otherwise, don't count on it. If you have a way of going right to a BSN, then do so. If you don't, then there is really no question of what you have to do.

Oh no. I am trying to get into peds. I guess I have no hope being a middle-aged, kinda plump, brunette! Time for a serious diet.