RN Randy

For those unfortunate enough to have to work, not qualifying for a loan, school is tough, and even tougher based on the amount of work one has to do outside of school. I'm so sorry your life has been so easy as to make you think nursing is the toughest thing going. It isn't. Oh, and you're usually not the one making life/death decisions, it's a team effort in most places. To the point; I attended an ASN program at a community college and worked my way through. It sucked for sure and would have been much easier had I done it back when daddy was willing to pay for it, but I just call it another feather in my character hat. Anyway, our class usually starts with around 70 and graduates about 60. NCLEX passage rates are 98-100% with the average testee reporting 80-90 questions at exam. My NCLEX was 76 questions at cutoff, but again, I had a family to support and the only options were to work and try to make it, or just don't go at all. I chose to work and go. I suggest practice with the HESI, or similar exam as much as possible, as many times as possible. rb

I have to say that customer service is indeed an overkill, based on the fact that as mentioned before, people expect too much from anyone, or any agency, all the time. Not just hospitals. People who live 'normal/average' lives demand special/above average treatment in all things from not paying a lot for a new muffler, to healthcare. As someone else said "We're spoiled". This society has become so complacent and dull-minded that we watch TV shows like "Survivorman" and think that guy is "crazy" and doing "insane" things. Kids think meat comes from Wal-Mart or IGA, and that milk is made just like any other commercial beverage. To kill a turkey or chicken for dinner is ghastly and risking the wrath of PETA. If the technological world fell apart, people would be found lying in fields of grain and grazing cows, having starved to death. It seems the *demands* of the average person can be somewhat selfish and unrealistic. If we only had people in the hospital that *needed* to be there, healthcare would not be so lucrative a career. It's a hospital, not a hotel. You don't need 24hr observation for your hangnail, and you don't need dilaudid for your headache. But since your lawyer can prove that you *do* need these things, we all get to enjoy higher costs, higher taxes and the list goes on. It's the way things are. Changing them would require teamwork on an impossible scale, attempting mission impossible, and the end result would be lower costs, lower incomes, quality health care, and just enough money for corporate kings to live an expensive, posh life, but without all the world travel and private jets. So as you can see, it's a nice thought, but find better uses for your time. I've no trouble being kind, diligent, responsible, ethical, honest, advocate, etc. But I draw the line at pampering for the sake of ego and corporate America's fear of it's own subjects. To submit to that is to say I am willing to be an indentured servant to the masters of money. I'd rather volunteer in a third-world country and let them support my needs. It would be a better deal in the end. Sorry for the rant... lol...

Hmm... been reading this thread... sounds like any other day in the eastern appalachian mountains. LOL. However; when something needs said, it usually gets said... from both sides! Our families bring sleeping bags and blow-up mattresses though, and usually sleep in the lobby and various waiting rooms in every chair and corner. Sometimes it's impossible to even walk through a waiting room. They either hover like worried mothers or shoot each other in the head.

Get on the net or anywhere really, and find yourself a "non-disclosure agreement" form, and DO NOT EVER EVER EVER...even hint at your ideas to anyone that hasn't signed on the line. Then pray they steal your idea... LOL... Seriously, the guy with the submitted paperwork is the guy that gets credit, period. Also, I hear invention companies are mostly scams... they end up with the majority of the money and credit for "making it happen", as posted above.

Hi and thanks for the reply. Well, at the time, I was trying to find a way to get PICC's away from travelling IR guys. Most of our small hospitals use them. Hospitals all have their own Rad Dept, but not IR equipment. Hence, the roving road show. I was in the process of training and trying to get experience. Not something easily done in an area where people routinely confuse PICC nurses for residents; as *just a nurse* wouldn't be doing such a thing. You have to understand the mentality of local folks in the backwoods. At smaller hospitals, nurses still drop their charts and move out of the way when a doc comes in the nurses station looking for a chart or chair; and only when the doc finds what he wants and chooses a chair do they all then sit again. If someone doesn't notice; people will call their attention and point to the 'holy one', letting them know to bow out. It makes me ill just thinking about it. So, when a doc; especially a high-dollar IR operation with their own truck says "we want" well, They Get. As for PICC's, it's like any other skill; and you get out what you put in. I'm a quick study, especially on skills and equipment so it seemed a perfect fit for me. However; when the hospital says "IR will pull out if we upset them and we need their service. We're willing to take the loss or pay the difference in PICC insertion, if it makes the IR guys happy.", then whatcha gonna do?

Wow, just skimming this thread... Looks like it should have been titled "Are you a punk, peckerhead, or both? Please let us know!" Sheesh. I'll tell ya something, it's "guys" that give us men a bad name. To the OP, See all those punk posts? Those are the people you don't want to be if you want respect. Those guys mistake people's flat indifference or preference not to 'engage' a cocky punk in dispute, for respect. I'm middle age, average Christ-following, ever-so-human, laugh-at-everyone-and-everything kind of family man. I've never had a real problem at work because I make sure I know my job, and always offer respect to most of my colleagues. (There will always be a few that you just get tired of hearing, and write off.) In the medical field, you'll be respected for who you are and what kind of job you do, no matter your gender. I've never worked for a place that offers salaries independently; meaning "here is the pay for this job, take it or leave it.". when dealing with hospitals and organizations. It may be different for private docs and what-not, I dunno. Anyway, the point is, do a good job and you will have no troubles. Offer respect, be respectful; generally receive it in return. Usually co-workers and patients are your friends and appreciate you. It's the bad apples, crazy families and most of administration that make you want to pop the top section of an IV pole and start bashing skulls, (much like any other job I assume). LOL.

Yup, looks exactly like the uniforms the females in WV wear.... The school denied the petition for scrubs; saying that scrubs were not only confusing for the ID between nurse/student, but also unprofessional in appearance. However; I believe they did give in to a long white waisted top and white slacks as an 'option'. I think they looked less vintage than the good ol' stereotype. Then there's this: Be thankful you aren't required to wear a cap!

Hello, just have a quick inquiry: I live in a rural area and I'm interested in PICC insertion. I'd be happy doing contracts. I'd be happy starting PICC teams in a couple small hospitals and "make" myself a job. I have access to several small hospitals, say 100-150 beds each. ALL of them appear to use a contracted IR service that rolls in a mobile unit, once/twice a week or so. The IR service does the PICC lines for the hospitals. When I contacted the IR service, in regard to either employment/contract or to just get basic info; they pretty much told me that they don't feel a nurse should be dabbling in the physician's arena by inserting central lines, and that if I thought I could take anything from them, to have at it. Seems they will threaten to cancel their IR contract with the facility if anyone tries to muscle in on their turf, so to speak. Yes, I just said they suggested they'll drop a multi-million-dollar contract over [the 100 PICCs] they claim to do per year. And it does exactly what they want it to do. It makes the administration say "no, thanks, go away." when I approach the hospital about saving money. Second problem is even worse... Contacting the local LTC and SNF operations netted this: "Um, we mostly use LPN's and we certainly won't let them touch deep lines. Besides, why would a patient have a PICC outside of an ICU? Certainly not here." So any advice on how to approach those massive problems? It looks like a sewn-up, po-dunk, slam-dunk to me.... never gonna happen, unless I'm missing something really silly. However; there is the hope of one city hospital that might be a candidate for a PICC team if I can show them how to make it work. Any help appreciated! thanks, rb

Huh? Ok, so how about what chair was she sitting in? The charge nurse's? Was she hindering the CN from doing something, and did said CN give her a dirty look, which caused her to lose focus and not really realize what time it was? SO, the real question is: what do you call a boomerang that doesn't work....? A stick. Now if I only had a dead horse... :)

Well, I usually agree with your posts, but I'm gonna call you on this one. It was a newbie mistake with a rude dude, not a rude nurse. [if she did this continually, yeah, maybe he could be frustrated or whatever, but STILL... two rudes don't make a right.] It's just plain childish to have fits like that. You can say anything you want to convey your desire to be let alone, but this yelling/tantrum thing I just don't get, and never will. rb

er..... did you even read the OP? A new nurse said it was 'policy to clarify meds on admission'... HOW do you get 'policy to call the doc immediately, regardless of the hour' out of that... ?? The rest of us got: 'I'm new and we have to do a med rec on new admits and I was afraid to not fill out every box because [insert reason]'. You know, new-nurse-ophobia... ? It's pretty common. Sounds like any other facility admit. Do a med rec.... find the missing pieces. An old nurse would have just snagged it elsewhere at some point. A simple noob mistake that happened to fall into the lap of an emotional moron. Either way, it's not even the point or the question, so let's not call the kettle black so quickly.

There's a saying about buying a flashlight to carry in the prison, and I always have to laugh when I see those super-size Maglites... It goes: 'When choosing a flashlight, try to imagine what it will feel like as it goes up your a$$.' Same goes for personality. Good advice is to imagine who around you is most likely to end up with a flashlight in their butt during the riot, and don't be like them. rb

I just got here, so don't blame me... lol. If it matters now: 1. Who cares what they're there for? Usually, knowing will only serve to either cause you to show sympathy or bias. But for completion... federal is usually drugs, and lower levels are usually assault, theft, drugs, prob. violations, etc. 2. The acronyms. HIV/AIDS, TB, MRSA, COPD, IDDM/DM, Hep/abc, etc.... 3. I guess that depends on the facility... but clinic is clinic anywhere. 7-3, 8-4, no weekends or holidays. 4. Again, per facility. It will depend on what 'level' they are, or choose to be, whether they have an infirmary and how staffed they are for docs/specialties, and the pop. will be admitted to suit. Some take only bandaids, others might take stage 4 decubitus. 5. Pay depends as well. Figure most inmates you see 'working' make less than a buck an hour, unless they're doing something special or part of a specific program, then they can make 2 or 3 an hour or there about. 6. Comissary works like any other store. Some track inmates and what they can/can't buy based on various criteria. [ie; inmates in the infirmary cannot purchase OTC meds, or whatever, until released back to GP, etc.] Things like that. It's far from complete or applicable to every facility, but hope that helps.

LOL, Sharon... robi-d... wow. Two words come to mind... "eaten alive." My life's experiences have taught me that when someone begins yelling - decrease your tone and remain calm, and most of all, know which common items make the best weapons! :) rb PS: I always call physicians 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Doctors reap what they sow. [Having a doctorate in medicine doth not a physician make.] Respect is *earned* not owed.

Sorry, then. Let's just call them all the "I'm suffering" face. And Sometimes? When is withdrawl not.. at the least.. uncomfortable? What bugs me here is the hipocracy... The only way to stop withdrawl pain [in the mind of the addict] is to administer the required substance. Or is it? So... suffer through or get the drug... You patient says he's having 10/10 pain... quick, grab your narcs before he loses consciousness... Thus far, Several people have posted as witness to placebo effectiveness.... Oh, that's right.. I was responding to a question about a placebo being useful or ethical... how did we get here? Again? ... And here, you are correct, we part ways like celebrity divorce. Dependancy doesn't equal addiction? Sorry, but that's about as clear as mud. HOWEVER; you make my point crystal clear; the need is relief.... and if a placebo relieves... GAME OVER. ..... we would STILL have seekers. .... nothing to argue here except that the ethical use of placebo's is the topic, once again, not addiction and defense of drug dependancy. Finally, the point. And yep, we disagree. I said, and will always say, start at the bottom and work your way up. Saline and M&M's can save lives if the recipient believes they are life-saving. Yet another reason I prefer the DO over the MD, but that's another topic too, isn't it? And for violating trust...? The pt trusts me to fix the problem. If I do [whatever] to fix the problem, where's the violaton? So I guess you've never told a patient in trouble that "Everything will be alright."?? I know you have; and my question is, who the heck do you think you are???? You don't know that, and you can't promise that. [reference your own comment about being the Almighty] Talk about violation of trust. That's like you saying "I would *never* steal." Sure you would. You just haven't been presented with the right circumstances to rationalize your decision. Holy moly... I agree! haha. rb