Michelle.

"The study was the creation of a vaccine to prevent HPV, which is usually what leads to cervical cancer. Studies all vary, but as many as 80% of the population becomes infected with HPV. There is no cure for it, it does not generally even get noticed by those who have it, but it increases the risk for developing cervical cancer. " This needs to be clarified a bit better..... HPV increases the risk for cervical cancer.. but from what i know and researched it doesn't CAUSE cervical cancer. Technically there is no cure for hpv, but i have heard reports that your body will destroy some strains in a matter of a couple years. Which i could believe since there is over 100 strains of hpv. An interesting fact i came across once.... the non-contagious warts that some people get-- planter warts? is also a strain of hpv.

I had dysplasia after my son was born, the biopsy hurt just a tad.. but more like a pinch.. its over in a matter of seconds.. very well able to go back to work afterwards-- but i'd take the day off anyways just for some "me" time lol.. I had laser surgery done to get rid of the abnormal cells. I decided i was going to be tough and not have any anesthisia-- you can opt to be put to sleep- but its only a 5 min procedure.. so i felt it was unnecessary- um, it was very painful. They told me most women compare it to be like bad menstrual cramps- but i've never in my life had cramps that bad- even the labor and birthing of my son wasn't that bad! lol. They showed me videos of it so i would be prepared. No sex for 2 weeks was all they advised. some spotting. i ended up having sex when my 2 weeks was almost over... and i ended up getting a major infection. ouch!

i believe in Missouri, they go by regional departments... this last facility i worked for tried to tell me that 1 cna, 1 med tech, and 1 lpn was efficient for state on a hall of 35 total care residents on the 2-10 shift... WE (us cna's) argued the point that we needed 4 full time cna's on that hall to get our work done efficiently. There was just absolutely no way we could with 3 cna's, let alone 2. I mean how does 2 aides get 35 total care residents up and ready for supper in one hour? especially if the dayshift crew leaves us 4 showers? It was a headache most days i was there. Im glad its behind me... I did hear that they were getting better staffed, but i wonder if it was just because all of us "dependable" aides had finally quit. The place i'm working for now- We have an area with maybe 80 residents, and most nights (midnights) have 3 aides on the weekends, but usually 4-5 during the week.

i was 17 when i got preg with my son, and my mom was 45 and also preg -which would've been her 6th child (she had 5 by the time she was 26...so a few years had passed) but she miscarried. I was 6 months along, and she was 17 weeks. I went to the ER with her and seen them hooking her up to IV's and she basically was going into shock, and i ended up leaving because there really wasn't much room for me... which was probably a good thing considering i was young and preg myself. But it didn't actually affect me... yeah she lost her baby while i was healthy, but honestly i knew she didn't need another child. So she had her D&C done, and was supposed to get her tubes tied, thought they were.. and ended up getting pregnant AGAIN! which also resulted in another miscarriage.. that time she actually got her tubes tied. I'm glad i had my kids young though... more time to enjoy my retirement years as i like to say... Michelle

i think the facility sets the day for it.

I had to laugh at that one.... I was getting prepped to go and have a c-section. 2 ladies come in to start my IV. I am so nervous, because when i was induced to have my son in 2000- i was stuck 5 times before they got an IV in. Well the one lady was instructing the other lady on starting my IV-- poking around to find a good vein, etc. You could really tell that the lady was nervous as well. It was probably her first time doing an IV. I have really small veins and they like to roll and burst. I stopped the first lady and i told her-- Can you please not have her do my IV? The look on the their faces were priceless. I understand everyone has to start somewhere, just as long as they don't start on me. Needless to say- the lady that was instructing went ahead and did my IV and got it on the first try.

I would say go for your RN. I'm also 23, with 2 kids, but i'm going for my LPN. Even though my husband makes good money as well, its not really enough to float us. We have bridge programs that will allow you to "test out" and do your RN in a year. Of course-- either way you look at it-- its still 2 years for your associate degree, or longer depending on how much time you have for school. And a lot of our hospitals, LTF, etc have tuition reimbursement programs and scholarship programs that will help me get to where i want to go. As an RN, you have better job opportunities and better pay, but you'll be going to school longer than an LPN. Weigh your options and good luck with what you decide. Also get pamphlets, check out your surrounding school websites, etc. to get a feel what the workload, atmosphere, requirements for admission will be like. Its a lot of work either way but well worth it in the end.

A Graduate Nurse throws up when the patient does. An experienced nurse calls housekeeping when a patient throws up. A Graduate Nurse wears so many pins on their name badge you can't read it. An experienced nurse doesn't wear a name badge for liability reasons. A Graduate Nurse charts too much. An experienced nurse doesn't chart enough. A Graduate Nurse loves to run to codes. An experienced nurse makes graduate nurses run to codes. A Graduate Nurse wants everyone to know they are a nurse. An experienced nurse doesn't want anyone to know they are a nurse. A Graduate Nurse keeps detailed notes on a pad. An experienced nurse writes on the back of their hand, paper scraps, napkins, etc. A Graduate Nurse will spend all day trying to reorient a patient. An experienced nurse will chart the patient is disoriented and restrain them. A Graduate Nurse can hear a beeping I-med at 50 yards. An experienced nurse can't hear any alarms at any distance. A Graduate Nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds. An experienced nurse doesn't want to know about them unless the patient is symptomatic. A Graduate Nurse spends 2 hours giving a patient a bath. An experienced nurse lets the CNA give the patient a bath. A Graduate Nurse thinks people respect Nurses. An experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse. A Graduate Nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it. An experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anybody. A Graduate Nurse looks for a chance "to work with the family". An experienced nurse avoids the family. A Graduate Nurse expects meds and supplies to be delivered on time. An experienced nurse expects them to never be delivered at all. A Graduate Nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient. An experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter. A Graduate Nurse always answers their phone. An experienced nurse checks their caller ID before answering the phone. A Graduate Nurse thinks psych patients are interesting. An experienced nurse thinks psych patients are crazy. A Graduate Nurse carries reference books in their bag. An experienced nurse carries magazines, lunch, and some "cough syrup" in their bag. A Graduate Nurse doesn't find this funny. An experienced nurse does.

GOOD JOB! Wonderful News! :balloons:

I'll clear the confusion up for you-- for Tiffany. Tiffany and I work together in the same LTF. We have an area called SCU- special care unit for alzheimer residents. A CMT is able to work in the unit as a "charge nurse". Of course there is Lpn's and Rn's on our shift that she would have to go to for the things that she isn't able to do, and the licensed nursing staff makes their rounds over there for the residents that they're responsible for. I'm not a CMT but i appreciate the work that they do. well.... some of the CMTs anyways....

hmmm... i didn't see where she said she was a nurse... can you point it out for me?

At my LTF, the med techs are the ones that have to take the daily vitals on the residents that have conditions changes, falls, new meds, etc. During the first through the 5th of every month, we have to take ALL vitals and weights for every resident on our hall-- i believe that's enough for any aide. Of course, if i believe a resident has a temp- i'll grab the therm. and take it and report it. We have a lot of responsibility and a heavy workload for the amount of pay that we recieve as it is. Instead of griping... maybe you should HELP the aides!!! You are able to take a BP too. Sorry to vent, but as a CNA i KNOW how rough it is and can be. Its not always OUR fault.

well said Tiffany!!!

We sometimes have the same problems. I'm a Cna *assuming its the same as a stna* going for my LPN this aug. We tend to have 3 aides on my hall with a few more than 30 residents. My suggestion is-- if this girl is new, You should make one of the other 3 partner up with her. She shouldn't have to work by herself if she isn't comfortable with it. And any insuboridination would require a write up. We always make the new girl at my job partner up with one of us to make sure she is taught well, and to tell her certain aspects on a paticular resident. Usually we end up letting her do residents on her own with us in the same room, in case she comes across a problem. Hopefully this suggestion will help with your current situation and any others that may arise.

i just had my physical. The doc did the basics-- lungs, heart, throat. Checked vision, height, weight. You'll have to have an up-to-date TB test. You'll need proof of having the chicken pox or the vaccine. You'll have to list all your immunizations. Any major or minor surgeries. hope this helps.