fireflyLPN

No kidding... Comforting to know that when they recycle machinery they are thoroughly cleaning it!!! An update to my story; I recently was chatting with this Respiratory Therapist. We started talking and she told me that she normally works in the ICU & was floated over to my unit. I had to leave the room to go do something, and when I came back she was talking to the pt's family. Anyway, she was telling them how her SO had recently came back from Iraq. The CDC says that this disease is somehow linked to soldiers returning from Iraq... I was like WTH? I know its a bit of a stretch, but I went ahead & told my boss anyway.

In Dayton there is Rets Center & Miami Valey Career Tech Center. Those are the only 2 I know of....

Let me first off say that I am sorry that hospitals in your area are not LPN friendly. In my area all the hospitals hire LPNs (6 total). I believe that the trend towards not hiring LPNs is simply that, a trend. I once sat through a conference held by the esteemed Registered Nursing Advocate Linda Aiken, and she stated that all hospitals should go to a BSN only practice. This is because studies indicate this lowers the patient mortality rate. While of course I think this is VERY important issue... This is not fiscally responsible action (IMO) in a day and age when the health care costs are spiraling out of control! In my area there has been discussion about a large insurance company that is no longer willing to send their pts to a particular hospital. The reason? They are too expensive... I would not be surprised to see more insurance companies taking a stand and only covering the less expensive hospitals. As a result of this I think you will see the RN only trend reverse, and the hospitals will hire a larger share of LPNs, to cut the costs of operating. To Daytonite, I strongly disagree that "The fact is that acute hospitals have to have RNs doing most of the things required on the patient charts..." I work as an LPN in a major hospital in a critical care unit and the only time I to ask for intervention from an RN is when I have a pt with status changes within a pre-defined parameter, or when I have IV meds that need to be done. This usually only occurs once or twice a night, and they are certainly not doing most of my work.

I looked into finding an LPN program and i can't find one.... all I can find is nursing.. I think you meant Registered Nursing? The difference between an RN & an LPN varies state to state, and even by facilities. If you check out your BON website, they will be able to give you detailed information as what you can & cannot do as an LPN (Scope of Practice). Most Boards of Nursing will have a list of accredited nursing programs on their website. Yours ( http://www.nh.gov/nursing ) does as well. It lists 7 programs: New Hampshire Tech College Claremont-Nashua http://www.ncctc.edu New Hampshire Tech Institute http://www.nhti.net St. Joseph School of Practial Nursing http://www.stjosephhospital.com Health Career Training Assoc. http://www.hcta.net Skill Med Services, Inc. http://www.skillmed.com Holden Health Career Training Center http://www.holdenhealth.org First Choice Training Institute http://www.firstchoiceschool.info

I'm not in a psych unit, but we have a "Code Violet" (Violence)... When this code is called all the men in the area are supposed to report & so is the lift team (a group of thorough strapping young lads :redbeathe :) ). As to whether or not they are specially trained I am not sure!

It is unlikely for an agency to hire a new grad, but it is possible. Most HH agencies in my area say that they will not hire a new grad, but I know of several people that got hired straight outta school. As far as putting your school experience on your resume, go ahead. That is what I did, but honestly I am not sure it helped me that much. As to when you should start you search, I would recommend you begin right away... I think your chances of getting hired at an agency as a nurse would better if you already worked for them as an Aide. I think you might consider the negatives of coming in, straight out of school, as a Agency nurse. Frequently they get the crappiest assignments, and this is not an easy thing to deal with as a brand new Nurse. This is besides the fact that you will have to deal with all kinds of unfamiliar paperwork, and adhering to the rules/expectations of the facility you are at! So while I admire your determination, I would really recommend you get some good experience before you follow through with an Agency. Best of luck with your pursuits!

Ahh, ok. Gracias!

Siri, Just out of curiosity, why the MICU (mobile ICU)?

Just a little FYI... It seems like most BSN programs will accept "Diploma" grads, at least in Ohio. This includes grads from schools that are not "accredited" through the higher education councils (I'm not talking about the BON). FWIW Best of luck to you two in your decision! For my LPN program I went to a pricey private Vo-Tech, and I have no regrets!

Thank you so much for the replies! It all makes sense now.

Hi, The other day I took an VO order from our Ortho CNS. I usually deal with PA-C's, so after she finished giving me the order I asked which doctor she was with (thinking that I would have to make a notation of that on the order) she said she wasn't. So now I am wondering if CNS can work independently, or is it just a situation where the Doctor they are with only audits their charts/orders from time to time? Thanks for your help!

Hi Puglet, Yeah I absolutely have my doubts sometimes. But its more like I really wish I would've taken the job in that Drs office!!! Running around my entire shift while others are sitting at the nurses station (and not offering help, or getting snippy when I do ask) takes its toll emotionally. I can be very stubborn though, and I am determined to get through this (but maybe you should ask me how I feel again in another couple mos LOL). You absolutely may use that quote. Just a note, the author of that is Mary Ann Radmacher. Best of luck to you Puglet! :icon_hug:

I hear ya puglet. I had 2 bad days this week! I got bye by not thinking about my mishaps at work, when I was not there. Go out and see a movie with your friends in your free time, or do whatever it is that you enjoy. I have a magnet on my fridge that helps me keep things in perspective too: "Courage dos not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow' ". And pretty much I think that is all you can do. Every one makes mistakes, and going into Nursing whether you're a new grad, or just returning is very difficult. Anyone that tells you anything else is full of it!

My first pt as a student was a tiny, blind 104 yr old lady. She had met the president before, neat lady. My first pt as a Nurse was a guy (inmate) that broke his back playing football in the yard. He had his own locked & loaded guard & everything!

Hoosier, This probably isn't of any help to you right now, but when I was in the OB part of my LPN program I would practice skills on a teddy bear I had. Things like taking a temp, checking for hip dysplasia, etc.. Just FYI, I worked as an Aide before I went to LPN school, and some of those skills didn't come very easily to me either. Stay strong & don't let your nerves get the best of you!

Are you talking about the nurse doing the precepting (the trainer) or the trainee (or preceptee)? If you are referring to the trainee, yes, at least some hospitals do that. I am currently in a preceptorship that is paid regular/hourly.

Wow! Thanks so much Cheri!

All in all, I think you did a good job. Besides the advice that was already given I would see about getting an order for Accuchecks. Where I work it is protocol to do Accuchecks when the pt is on Decadron.

Cindy, I am an LPN looking to attend RN school. While trying to figure out where I want to go, I contacted several universities (both 2 & 4 yr), and I got the same response (your school is not accredited). I thought what the heck, I know they are!!! After asking a administrator @ my LPN program I found out why. They are not accredited in the same manner that the 2 or 4 yr institutions were. My school was nationally accredited & the RN programs are regionally. Its the difference in accreditation types that makes them unwilling to accept the transfer credits. It has nothing to do with being NLN accredited. Hope this helps!

At my facility they do hire LPN's in OB. Even in L&D. They are not many in that department, however.

I've got a couple *ss, grass, or gas nobody rides for free! - unknown You can get more with a gun and a smile than you can with just a smile - Al Capone I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. -Winston Churchill Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas That dog just won't hunt... and of course the one that's currently my sig line

I've always loved the sciences & people fascinate me so I'd say an Anthropologist ala Carlos Castenada, but I think I would want to study the ancient Celts. Also I always dreamed of being a Volcanologist.

Good resource - thanks for posting it!

Yes they are available on a Sunday. That's how I found my results. Best of luck to you!

Jnette, I'm not an expert either, just a small potatoes neuro-LPN. I had a situation like the one I described... The pt came in through the ER, sent up to my unit, and got a dx for possible stroke. Something didn't sit right with me about the situation... I looked through his chart, no family contacted... Pt was unable to relay any family info, so I started going through the white pages. Got ahold of the family & they stated a pmh of PTSD. They ended up pink slipping the pt, but again, I was still very surprised that this is what it actually was! To me it seems like PTSD is very under-diagnosed. I think its incredible that this situation happened, especially while undergoing tx. I felt rather helpless while trying to communicate w/ this pt. It was very distressing for me. Because of my lack of knowledge I do not feel that the pt received the top notch care I like to provide.