nursel56

Your account of things is difficult to follow, so I feel it's much better if the person describes their experience themselves. Above all else though, I would advise against going to a community meeting to share my personal problems in an open discussion. If he was falsely accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by multiple people he needs to fight back. Having anything of that nature stay unresolved would cause questions to follow him, as well as unnecessary anxiety. Working as an exotic dancer isn't usually a crime, nor is this the first time that topic has come up among nursing students facing severe financial hardship.

I think in general when you're not completely familiar with the personalities in any group, including when you start a job, to avoid things containing a strong opinion or position on anything you even suspect might be controversial. I don't think it means someone is wishy-washy or not wholly committed to the sentiment displayed there. I'd call it "enlightened self-interest" to avoid the potential of offending anyone right out of the gate when it's perfectly avoidable. This concept comes up when people think they must be true to their chosen fashion choices when going to an interview. If you want to maximize your chances, you can change out of the boring clothes when you get home.

For the sake of clarity here: There's no degree in LPN. There's no degree in RN. All the "N"s refer to a person who completes a program of study and passes a standardized test spelled out in a state Board of Nursing who regulates and administrates the laws in that state pertaining to that professional license. All prospective nurses in the US take the same licensing exam, but each state has quite a lot of differences beyond that. For example, my state BON doesn't allow Excelsior graduates to take the NCLEX-RN, most others do. Although most LPNs may graduate with a "diploma" rather than a "degree" it's certainly possible to attend a community college that may offer an associate degree and there are still a few RN "diploma" schools who's graduates pass the NCLEX-RN, without a formal degree. The ANA has been trying to get rid of ADNs and LPNs for decades, but they do not have the authority to "phase out" or " phase in" anything. Unless a state decides to obliterate the LPN or ADN licensing pathway, the final say in the matter is the policy of the healthcare facility itself.

Sounds like an extremely stressful situation for this person, not unlike other diagnoses where someone is too often met with skepticism. Migraine and fibromyalgia pain come to mind on that, and the prevailing attitude that one must provide proof via diagnostic testing to be taken seriously is cruel. I was unaware of this issue until now, also that this condition happens frequently enough to merit it's own acronym (SIRVA). Unrelated to the case here, I think it's worth mentioning the vaccine in politics angle issue because it suggests the vaccine is the problem, and not the improper injection technique. If technique is the problem, it follows that other injectables must be reported in like manner. It appears that the SIRVA is reported as an "adverse vaccine event". As we await part 3, I'm hoping proper training is mandatory and that "flu shot" is not without risk, even if you can get one at the mall or a booth at the county fair

Great article, Michael! It amazes me how many people are shocked when an ill-advised Facebook post nets them dire consequences. It's worth noting that schools and employers care what is written about them because they care about their reputation just like we do and also really don't want a student or employee prodding the HIPAA monster. I had to laugh at this one, I think MySpace figured into this somewhere, too. I remember my daughter and her friends being so enamored of AOL Instant Messenger - I'm thinking isn't that why telephones were invented? So you didn't have to write everything out? :)

Respect and reverence for who?

I feel certain that Jesus can handle the vagaries of conversation, with it's shorthand and euphemisms. He knows what is in our hearts so we don't need to get offended on His behalf.

The Catholic system who's high sxhool I attended and hospital where I first shadowed a nurse and worked as a volunteer was founded by an order of nuns who's call is to serve, as Jesus did. The only shame would be to turn someone away because they wern't the right religion.

Those things are unprofessional and I hope nobody here would engage in that behavior though all of us have probably witnessed it. Please understand we're not knocking your faith or your freedom to freely express it. That is clearly full of meaning that those who don't have your background can never fully understand...this is something included in my nurse's training 38 years ago. We meet the patient where they are in spiritual/religious care and refer them to the appropriate clergy or chaplain services.

Or they are too sick or stressed to say anything. Why any nurse would interject their personal religious beliefs in such a situation is beyond me, if the patient didn't indicate a desire to talk about it. Should a patient come here and compare such an intrusion to living in a totalitarian theocracy? Obviously not, but it is no more absurd than saying that doing one's professional duty to put the patient first in religious matters is comparable to persecution of Christians. I'm not seeing where anybody is saying you can't pray silently because that would be pretty pointless . . .mind-reading not part of most people's skill set.

I agree with you, Jade. One thing I will do, if asked to by the family is join in prayer by closing my eyes or joining hands with others. I've found that, especially in cases of home health or other specialties that involve long-term contact with families whether or not we are of the same religion takes a back seat to the emotional/spiritual tenor surrounding those present.

. . .and let it be said that young and inexperienced does not equal *perky*, either! My 23 year old daughter regards text message spelling, smartphone obsession and perkiness with equal disdain, lol. Good kid.

And on a related note, the article posits these changes, as she said, as an experiment. The theme would be that x, y and z, specific strategies they've already tried did not result in an improvement in their Press-Ganey scores, but since she noticed the trend in appearance and experience (excluding new grads) in nurses already hired, the hospital created a somewhat isolated variable that may serve to fine tune what it is that patients really want. I don't think she's announced to everyone the pattern she observed so nobody needs to get their feelings hurt (over that anyway).

Those who don't like this thread are welcome not to read or participate in it.

I just read the OP's article for the third time. I just can't help but wonder if some of the replies indicate they either haven't read, or haven't comprehended what she was saying.