JLBLPN

Sorry about that Donna. Try http://www.nurselearn.com and then from their homepage select FREE GAMES AND TIPS! Good luck let me know if this does not for you and I can go to the site and email you the page. Have a good day!

Donna, Here is a site that I stumbled upon on the internet. It offered puzzles for inservice time. I used the BBP one. It includes a crossword puzzle and word search. Hope it helps. http://www.nurseslearn.com/free_games_&_tips.htm

I'm very surprised the number of people that replied that work evenings and actually like it. I worked it for 2 years and hated every minute of it. It always seemed like I was woking when everything was going on (ex. school functions, parties and gatherings). I take my hat off to those who can work that shift. I am very lucky that now I am in administration and can basically work any hours that I want to. I usually go in at 6:00 a.m. just so that i can get the staff off to a good start by addressing problems including staffing ones. I do however work the "off shifts", as we call them where i work, I don't mind as long as its when i can arrange it around my schedule. I salute those people who can work the evening shift that had children in school. I'm just not an 3-11 person. Love my day shift!

Tim..........I could not agree with you more. I was an employee at Chase Memorial Nuring Home in New Berlin, NY in 1991 when Dr. William Thomas the medical director and I have come to realize that the Eden Alternative, as you said, was funded and started with grant money. Therefore, who has the rights to sell something that everyone that was an employee at Chase participated in. I researched the home page at EdenAlternative.com and found out some information that is very disturbing to me. Here is a quote from their home page. "Dr. Thomas transformed Chase Memorial, beginning in 1991, from a sterile long term care facility that was on the verge of being closed due to serious deficiencies to a human habitat with plant, animals, children, and life." I believe what Dr. Thomas did for Chase was a good thing but on the other hand the facility was in no way on the verge of being shut down. In the years that I have worked there they always had good surveys. Anyone who has any doubt should contact the DOH and check into it for themselves. To me it seem like "someone" has to smell like the Rose.

Kimhua I would suggest applying for a temporary permit so that you can work (if this is allowed in your state). This would give you a chance it get some hands on experience under direct supervision. Its easier to understand when you have actually seen things. At your school did they offer you a NCLEX practice test? this test will give you a % of passing. IBelieve it or not i have seen people only have a 50% chance of passing and still pass. Another suggest may be to look into refresher courses before you test again. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I am looking for PYXIS managers that can help me figure out how to get my staff to use the pyxis correctly. Each morning I go to work I have a list of problems...from I didn't know what it was listed under to it said there were 10 and there wasn't any. Had they looked in the correct pocket it would have been there. I have had numerous meeting explaining the importance from a billing stand point but it keeps going on and on. I work in a LTC facility, fairly small less than 100, so not a large number of staff members use it. It is amazing to me and the other PYXIS manager how many mistakes and cancels can be made in a 24 hour period. PLEASE HELP!!!!! [This message has been edited by JLBLPN (edited February 05, 2001).]

I have worked in LTC facilities for more than 12 years. Those topics are good but i would also consider brushing up on prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, fall prevention, stroke and rehabilitation, geriatric lab values, sundowning syndrome, hip fractures and hip precautions. Good luck with what ever you do

terriv..........It sounds like the ship that you are on is sinking....maybe you should consider getting off before you go down with it. I am an LPN but work in Inservice Education. I handle, manage, investigate and track all medication errors made in our facility. It sounds like your facility needs to have set guidelines for handeling all med errors so that all are treated equally. I currently use a point system. Every error is throughly tracked and depending on the the type, route, time and drug class of error points are issued....(omission, wrong dose, wrong med..if med was po, IM, IV, and the amount of time before the error was caught...etc.......) Then i keep an ongoing flow record for all med errors for each nurse and as the pionts are obtained are certain levels there are steps to take to correct the errors from happening again. I educate on every error made. Another step is to change the process your facility has about checking new orders. We have every nurse check all new orders and sign them until 3 nurses have checked them and signed that they are correct to prevent transcription errors fron happening. Good luck! Keep in touch and let me know how you faired..including with your survery. [This message has been edited by JLBLPN (edited January 27, 2001).] [This message has been edited by JLBLPN (edited January 27, 2001).]

I am from upstate New York and work for a wonderful facility. I am an LPN and I have been at my current facilty for more then 5 years. The starting pay for LPN's at our facility is around $12.75. However, the paycheck is not all of it. Be sure to check out the benefits. I have wonderful bennies - nice vacation time, sick time, holidays and a good health insurance plan that is nicely priced. I have noticed that some places in the area are currently offering 12 hours shifts.......just think you, only work 3 days a week. All in all not to bad.