jojo489

I took my pre-requisites one or two a semester while I worked full time and did well with that. I also worked full time while attending my LPN program. It wasn't easily and I luckily had a supervisor who let me be very flexible. I got a lot of my hours in on the weekends. And I know several people who have gone back to school and are working through their programs now. Mostly, nurses going back choose a weekend program at work where you work 16 hour days Saturday and Sunday and have off through the week to study. Like I said, not easy...but do-able. Certainly makes your cherish getting to sleep in, I can tell you that.

I actually found out this week that we have all the checkboxes, but there is also a narrative note included in the charting for each visit. The charting system is a lot different (I can't think of the name of it right now, but I will not be using OASIS for my visits, though we do utilize it for certain things) and will take some getting used to but it's not all that difficult to figure out. You're right though, Libby1987, LTC is all about the narrative. The only thing I was clicking off there were meds and treatments.

I recently started home health and I'm in training now. I can tell you that my agency is one of the good ones. I have talked to a lot of the staff and the feedback that I get is that management is very supportive and as an LPN there is always an RN to get a hold of to bounce things off of. We also have someone who specializes in wounds on staff that we can talk to or have come eval. Orientation is also very generous, it's very orientee centered and they want you to be comfortable before you go off on your own. I also got lucky and don't have to beat up on my car, the car is provided. I'm loving it so far. I'm coming out of LTC/rehab into this and I'm also in love with the fact that it's so autonomous and you get to spend time with and truly advocate for your patients. I can't wait to see what the next few months brings.

I could kind of excuse the taking 15 when things get hairy. Although, I wouldn't be happy about it. At all. But hiding in the bathroom when there's a code on the floor? I'd be careful who I admit that to. That could probably land you in some hot water.

Thank you! I've already got all my own stuff for vitals, a few different sized cuffs, pulse ox and thermometer. I have to see what all is involved in documentation yet, I know it's probably going to be very different than what I'm used to. But I'm thinking of definitely taking notes while in the home because I think my narratives for the day I'll probably do once I get home. That could certainly change though. And I've already got a GPS. I'd be lost without my good friend, Tom. Haha. Thank you for the tips!

Better late than never, haha sorry for the delay in my answer. When I have 30 patients, we try to assign med times by clusters of rooms. So one end of the hall will have 8ams, then another portion has 9ams and so forth. We generally follow the 1 hour before/after the scheduled time rule. It may be different with psych, but in LTC the residents are usually on a lot of meds. I get to work at 7, finish report at 730, and am usually on my morning med pass until close to 11am. Then we have before lunch meds, blood sugars and afternoon meds and whatever treatments/labs/orders to take care of. My day is generally very busy. But it may be different with psych, it's possible that they are on less meds, so your pass will go a little faster.

Hello all! I just recently became interested in home health. I'm an LPN with 3.5 years experience mostly working in LTC/rehab (heavy on the rehab) and I'm going to be starting a full time home health job soon. I've read some of the posts already here in the home health area of allnurses, but I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips for just starting out. I went and bought a Bluetooth headset so if I get any calls while in the car I'll be able to answer them. I also bought a weekly planner so I can jot down my visits and addresses so I can have a quick way to look them up while I'm out and about. I'm really excited to start working in this area, very excited that I'll actually get to spend time/get to know my patients well. The last 4 months I've been floating around a LTC facility full time and it's just been driving me crazy. Can't wait to start something new. Thanks in advance for any advice or tips anyone has.

That's nice, that the covering nurse would help out like that. See, where I'm working, we have 60 beds in the long term area but they're slowly integrating rehab patients up there. Which is really hard when you have like 20 LTC residents and 10 rehabs thrown in (usually a 1:30 ratio on long term) and then our rehab we have a 1:18 ratio which is much more manageable for me. My very first job out of school was on a rehab unit so I was kind of bred for that fast paced, more acute business and I prefer it to LTC. As I said before, I know med surg is a very different kind of stress, but lately having 30 patients has just felt like way too much. I can't wait for a lower ratio.

I'm glad it all worked out for you, OP. I just wanted to mention something I didn't really see anyone else mention (I could be wrong, though). The healing process for the tattoo. If you are getting it on your forearm, you may want to get it at a time where you won't be in clinical for a few weeks, like before school starts or during a break. I have several tattoos (all have always been covered by normal clothes by my choice) and it took at least 2-3 weeks for them to really heal and close. My only concern (seeing as your school isn't worried about a visible tattoo) would be having an area on my forearm that opens me up for infection. If you're not fully healed up before clinical a start, maybe consider a dressing on it while at clinical for a little while.

Thank you for the insight. I was wondering what the ratios were like as well. Anything has to be better than 1:18-30. The med passes are what kill me right now. I want to go back for my RN because I want that med surg experience and I also want my job to be more than a med pass taking up half my shift. I think I'd welcome a different kind of crazy.

I'm currently an LPN working in a LTC facility with a rehab unit, and I float all over. I'm also working towards my RN. I was hoping to get some insight on what a med surg position is really like, what the ratios are like, and if you prefer either over the other and why. This isn't a homework question (the only class I'm taking right now is an evil math course), but my inquiring mind would like to know as I understand it's pretty important to do some time on a med surg floor as an RN before finding a specialty. Just wondering what I'm in for in the future. I'm in PA if that matters. Thanks in advance for any replies. :)

I was standing in line at the pharmacy of my local WalMart last week, sick as a dog waiting to get my feel better medicine, and no lie, I heard a wound vac beeping and couldn't pinpoint from where. I took two rushed steps before I stopped myself realizing that I was definitely not at work and that definitely wasn't my patient.

My SO is not a cop, but he works in metal fabrication. He also used to be an EMT. But- half of my family is in law enforcement. And I've got to say, it's kind of funny because I'm pretty sure my family is supplying all these cops and teachers that are marrying nurses. Too many cops to keep track of, 4 or 5 teachers and three nurses, myself included.

Me too. We had a white scrub pants burning ceremony after graduation. If you tell me white pants are required, it's a no go.

I've seen people throw hot coffee. Nope, I'd rather not get burned. My go to is that I should've become an accountant.

See now, I can place a bedpan with the best of them...it's the taking it out that I have trouble with. Inevitably there is urine (and most often something else floating around) and when I go to take it out from under them, it's super glued to one butt cheek. Splash splash. Jo's having a bad day.

Love this thread! Wish I had some furries right now to add to it.

I love wounds, and I don't even mind applying a wound vac. What kills me is taking the old foam out of the wound...when it's sticky. Gah it makes my skin crawl.

I think it depends if the force behind them is equal when they are thrown.

Yeah, see this is what I was afraid of. Since I won't be in this position for a little while, I guess I should start saving money now.

I think that's what I've got.

Thank you. I always wondered about that.

Question for all of you.. I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the career advice forum, sorry if I put it in the wrong place. Now for my question: Is it ok to continue to work as an LPN when you have a registered nurse license? I have asked my state BON and the vague answer that I got was that as long as the LPN license is current, it's okay. My issue is with scope. Say I'm working as an LPN at a LTC after I'm licensed, and that facility currently can't bring me on as an RN. In the interim, I choose to stay in my position and continue making money as I search for an RN job, which could take months. While on the job, do I just stay within my scope of practice or what? Is that left to facility policy? Any insight from anyone who has experience with this would be greatly appreciated.

A little off topic here, but I'm gonna ask anyways, because I'm curious. When they do these as a pre employment thing, as opposed to a random drug test, is the process the same? Do any employers ever decide not to bring someone on because of the medications they take?

I've noticed it mostly with the few younger ones I've had. One kids mom bought a 15 inch flatscreen and brought the game system in just so they could play it while in in-patient rehab. I also had a girl who was attached to her phone (who isn't, I know) to the point where she wouldn't even go to the therapy room without it even though it just sat on a shelf while they did PT. I don't know how much research there is on the topic, but I definitely believe it can be an addiction. I know an incredible amount of people around my age who have excessive video game habits. It got worse when they could go on live or whatever and talk to each other as they played together.