priorityjuggler

Thank you for the kind words. I did a spiritual exercise and just forced my self to be positive force out angry thoughts of the past, and keep on keeping on. A nursing home I had just showed up at to fill out an app called back for an interview. I said nothing negative, and fielded all the questions like a pro reflecting how what I learned in addiction medicine opened up my eyes on geriatrics and how my wisdom would lead to better care. I got a staff nurse position. 2nd day of orientation my interview struck a chord with the DON and she's upping me to management 3-11 supervisor, instead of just pushing a cart. Thank you again for the encouragement and kind words. Here's some proof to drop the negativity and keep going and have hope. This is actually a step upward in my career path. Also to all you managers, give someone a chance, you may just be shocked how hard that underdog will work for you to make you proud to have been given a chance.

I got laid off a gig I worked 3 years at, started per diem. February 2013 I was eligible for benefits as they gave me a staff position. I didn't start my benefits then as I didn't want to pay for health insurance I wasn't going to utilize so I decided to wait till open enrollment. July I start my benefits, August they lay me off. Now I'm distraught looking for a job. Any suggestions? I'm fighting not to feel inadequate and like crap about my self. I feel as if someone gave me the chance I'd go above and beyond. Am in Boston.

share how it goes please :) also time lines are great.

I applied, was nervous, and got handed a knowledge test, and never heard back from them. Based on the knowledge test I could see tons of things to work on, it'd be nice to not go in feeing clueless, then dumb after the test.

It can be a hard market out there, but it's all about persistence and positivity. Apply to any and everything you may be eligible for, and learn from your mistakes. Keep a journal of time lines of where and when you apply to places, what happened, what was asked, and assess your weaknesses and strengths. This will help you do better on later interviews, and or you'll notice different hiring trends. Attitude and persistence are key though. Some get lucky and or interview well and nail one of their first interviews, but an upbeat attitude is key. If you feel doomed to a bad market I bleeds into your body language and can be a turn off. Like showing up to an interview and feeling hopeless from the get go. Good luck.

Does anyone have a link, for information one could read to help prepare for working in the home health care setting? Topics that would be helpful would include: trachs and vents, g-tube, j-tube, things to watch out for, common problems, pediatric issues and common diagnosis... and anything else I may not have thought about? Other helpful information would be explanations of what common cases have entailed, and how you've enjoyed working in this field. I thank you ahead of time for any input or help adding to the knowledge pool.

Thought this may be a chance for guys to vent reoccurring issues and patterns as well as stories of experience. 1. Acceptance, everyone accepting you, then people getting ticked off at you because you're friends with the unpopular staff member (or you can see the skill set behind the issues). 2. Popularity in being asked for help, to other units, to take care of their patients... to moving furniture. 3. Funny stories. One of my jobs coworkers found out I was single and then tried to play match maker with me (I don't date coworkers), then after they give up... hearing the potential matches brag about how hard they were nailing baby daddy's for child support and tracking em with their taxes (like utter glee and pride in being thug like totally forgetting they were trying to get set up with you). 4. For all you ladies. Not as a dig, but I'm so glad I'm male. I can never understand how harsh it is being hit on and harassed by patients. I have had minor issues with old ladies getting fresh and or being ogled. One coworker pointed out one of her patients sat at the end of the cafeteria room so she could watch me do med pass then would get all faint if I was around like she was getting the vapors. I'd seriously didn't want more paper work if she had a fall :|

I worked with a kindred ltc and got fired. New management took over some medical group. I was wondering the chances and possible difficulties in trying to go back to get employment at that facility as it's really local, a few of my coworkers may still be around that loved me, as well as patients. The facility, I survived 11 monthes at was one that sent agency nurses away swearing never again and chewed through 4 directors of nursing I the 11 months I was there. I take it as a badge of achievement in surviving so long there. When the 4th director of nursing came in they had a reputation of cleaning house. Being there with the corruption, that I felt powerless to change I made the mistake of having a heart to heart with her. I was working nights 40+ patients with a lazy day shift that I'd beg to notify doctors of changes or concerns to update medication regimens on patients, as the doctors never wanted to hear from the nightshift (I know in hindsight I should have just pestered them anyways or left notes)... but I was repetitively told by a couple questionable nurses to just drop an extra trazodone or this and that in their gtube to "shut em up"... over and over. So I managed and kept the boat afloat. Until this new beacon of hope came in. I had a heart to heart, and she encouraged me to write down what I'd been told. With in 2 days the two nurses in question got terminated. I got fired a week later for giving a patient an extra strength Tylenol instead of a standard strength, a mistake that I didn't lie to cover... this was back in 2006-2007. now years later. once walking by a patient out smoking flagged me down and chit chatted with me about a year ago to catch me up with gossip and bemoan how missed I was. And more recently I a medical aid I worked a lot with(older guy with a calm demeanor that tons of nurses went to for talk therapy and wisdom) told me new management I should apply. I'm over honest. The place has enough stories that could spin off a novel series. I'm confident that if patients that are still there were asked I'd be begged back. But I'm nervous as to how to proceed. This Monday I think I'm just going to walk up the hill and apply. Sorry this is so wordy, and could be posted in multiple category headings, what I'm hoping is that fellow professionals will pick me apart as well as give me more advice. Thanks ahead of time, you guys are an awesome community.

Misery loves company. Don't give up. I'm an LPN. I'd be in the same group as those saying to go for your associates RN. LPN in mass was 1.5 years (including vacation), where as an associates RN could be done in 2 years. It seems like you get an incredible amount of extra value for that extra 6 months or it'd at least make further progression easier.

Try and go associates RN if at all possible, because if nursing is your passion it can be a pain to get over the hurdle. Tons of coworkers often would comment the scary stories of them doing away with LPNs. I've also worked in situations where I'd do all the work and run the show, but an RN surfing the web in the back office would be signing off on the claims to the insurance companies.

Hang in there. You're not alone. I think it's a phase or a process of developing coping mechanisms. Learning when to care, and when not to give a crap. I'm an LPN as well. Geriatrics and addiction medicine background, so I've experienced two different types of burn. My most rewarding years of employment have been when I was on a good team of coworkers. Coworkers that have 3-4 jobs and sleep (probably on the one they work with you) is still an issue I'm trying to come to terms with. I find and or my theory for my next job is to mind my own business, bust my butt to be the best I can be, and if getting dumped on too much (because if you're the one to do it regularly it becomes your job) with no raises... plan my next job transition. That's my theory at least.

I have worked in many toxic/high turn over environments, I find that in the medical industry the abrasive and or harsh people can sometimes be more valuable and trustable in your growth than people who are over friendly and are never critical of you.