fltopp1

I understand peoples feelings for her because of our line of work, however we take an oath of a very serious career. Homicide may be extreme versus Manslaughter because the definition of homicide shows more intent versus manslaughter being more of a mistake type charge. Nursing is a difficult job and yes sometimes the pressure can be very overwhelming. we also need to consider that the Pt puts their life into our hands and our license tells that patient that they can trust us to know what we're doing. I don't care if she had 6 months as a nurse, if in doubt ask another nurse. Giving a lethal dose of ANYTHING is not acceptable in ANY case big or small. I saw a response from someone that said "If I would have known this was possible I wouldn't have become a Nurse". That's ridiculous. If you cannot handle the responsibility of keeping people alive (or NOT killing them), then go be responsible for a Slurpee Machine at 7-11. This is a case we should all keep in the back of our minds next time a med that has clear warnings on the vial is to be issued that we could possibly take for granted. Im sorry but I don't feel bad for the nurse, I feel bad for the family that trusted the Nurse to do her duties correctly.

I am thanked every day by my Veteran patients here at the Veterans hospital. I am so happy to work with and for them that I almost feel I should pay the hospital to allow me to work here. :)

Regarding your questions, I am a Male Nurse ("Murse") and have been for 5 years now. I am a retired Marine of 21 years and after military retirement I became a deputy Sheriff. I didn't enjoy being in law enforcement as I was in what was at the time the "Meth capital of the country". I got out of it and decided I wanted to start helping people instead of take the abuse by them. So, I became a nurse. One of my main reasons was because I wanted to help veterans and felt I had more to contribute to my fellow service members. We have a big Veterans hospital in my area so I knew I could do some good there. I am now certified as a surgical nurse as well as work in the Opthal. dept. My first two years I worked in the Emergency room, 2nd two years were in our Pops unit which is "Pre-op, Post Surg recovery". Now regarding your questions. Are there stereotypes for male nurses? very much so. Our they a detriment to us as males? No. Yes when I see a female patient I ask if they are comfortable with seeing a male and if not they go to another nurse. Simple as that. Maybe since our patient population are ALL veterans I have never had an issue as of yet. Could one ever come up? of course, but so far so good. I am lucky enough to have the gift of gab and can ease about 99% of the patients I have ever met. And the extra 1% came in with issues so it wasn't anything I had done. Is it detrimental to be a male in this profession? not at all!!! As a matter of fact I have been told by numerous HR depts. at local hospitals that they are hiring more and more men basically because we don't "break" as easy as female nurses. The workmans comp claims by females compared to males (percentages equalized regarding numbers) is much higher so many facilities are hiring males because physically we can handle the most fat country in the worlds population that comes into our facilities. Regarding any other questions feel free to ask. All in all I love being a nurse and have no regrets. The only issues I had was the fact that I am a retired Marine and am not always politically correct in what I say. I have a habit of being very straight forward with people and its not always welcomed. But happy nursing and enjoy the profession!!!!! Don't be afraid of it.

I was a Deputy Sheriff before I became a nurse and depending on your state they can send a ticket in the mail. It happens all the time, just like the van that takes your picture in an intersection and they send you a ticket. There is nothing legally that states they must write you up on site. And if you don't get a ticket be extremely appreciative that you didn't just ruin your future career. A DUI in my state will make you lose your license or at the very least put you on probation with your state nursing board. A responsible nurse cannot afford to be irresponsible when it comes to patient care so a DUI reflects your being a responsible person.

I wouldnt quit. Its no big deal. I heard our facility is going back to issued scrubs that cannot be taken home due to studies of bacteria brought from homes of nursing staff. (ie; dirty house, pets, kids sick, etc.).

Do nursing students have a life?? Do you procrastinate? Are you lazy? Do you have good study habits? It all depends on how you are with your time management. When you get hungry enough you'll find time to eat. When you get tired enough you wont be able to productively study you'll get some sleep. If you want to be a NURSE, then you have to earn it. If it scares you that much than maybe think of another career.

Im an LPN currently going to school to get my ADN. I work with tons of RN's AND BSN's in a hospital and everyone tells me through their experience that the only difference between the two is the extra classes of underwater basketweaving that are required just to get the credits.

My experience was that RN school was too long and too expensive for me. Its also extremely competitive. So I went the LPN route. I graduated in 2011 and am currently in an "LPN 2 RN" program. This program is much more conformed to what I needed because its all online except for the last two months which is also the term when I will do my clinicals. I work fulltime at a hospital and cant afford to quit work to go back to school. Plus, by getting a job at a hospital I was able to get my RN paid for.

I had no issues at all using my Post 9/11. Maybe I was just lucky, or maybe your schools Veterans assistance person is very out of touch with the system. Thank you for your 3 years service.

Im currently an LPN getting my ADN. The reason I didnt go for my BSN is time. Im 50 and own a home as a military retiree so can't afford to not work while Im taking 15 credits a term. Im doing the ADN currently because my work will pay me back for my ADN and I can finish much quicker than if I went for the BSN first. I can work as an ADN and make 15 to 20K more than I do now once I get my ADN then it will go up a little more once I get my BSN which I can take my time for. If I was 20 something and this was my first career then it would have been no big deal to do a 4 yr degree. But Im old and time and money is more scarce.

My opinion is that it comes down to the school itself. I believe we all take the same NCLEX so the school itself IMHO doesnt really matter. Yes the BSN has many more credits needed and lots of NON-nursing courses that need to be done to complete the BSN, but the NCLEX is still the tell all as to whom is prepared and whom is not. If I was in a crappy program and didnt feel prepared for the NCLEX its for me to have to take the initiative to ensure Im confident I will pass, no one elses.

OMG I so needed this today!!!!!!! Thanks for the truth/laugh.

I have received nothing but letters of recommendation and praise as a nurse which I also did my studies and passed the NCLEX on these meds a few years ago. If my abilities are impaired, then it was for the better.

LOL, if no one disputes them as nurses then why be classified as something different. The VA is slowly weeding out LPN positions for only RN's. Its sad because I know of a lot of LPN's who are in many ways better "Nurses" than some of the BSN's Ive worked with. I was giving the info because I dont want anyone that may be attempting to get a non nurse position with the VA to assume they will get 8 hours of vaca per pay period.

LOL, typical, its all Bush's fault. And your comment " it is hard to really have any concern at all for the outrage" is maybe true for you and anyone too ignorant to open your eyes, however my insurance did go up a high dollar amount, and my parents both lost their coverage due to the "ACA" beginning. The current ACA is a joke and should have been better planned by both parties together instead of the politicians working on making money for their owns pockets and not the public they work for. Both parties are to blame for all political garbage that has happened. As you blame Bush for 9/11 and the Iraq war, dont forget that the decision was a majority decision by Dems and Repubs to go to Iraq. Quit blaming eath others party and blame all the politicians themselves.

IM retired military and now a nurse. The process to get in is a little tedius but if you do it correctly and have all your info together its easier than many think. I love my job here and the benefits arent bad at all in comparison to other hospitals. And if you were in the military at all your active duty time all goes to retirement if you choose it to. For those looking at VA jobs go to http://www.usajobs.gov

They do have medicare however as we know it doesnt cover nearly enough on the retirement income they are on. The plan they had then lost was much more helping in prescriptions which is what they need in their late 70's. I am attempting to get them on to my plan so they can get better coverage.

This I will agree with you on. The government has been messed up for a very very long time. I have no problem with healthcare for all. I do strongly have a belief that this current mess of a plan should have been thought out much more. Why could the government change rules a few at a time instead of force "all to pay for ALL" like a tax. I hear so much about preexisting conditions and its made so many happy. Thats great for those who were effected by preexisting conditions. But why couldnt the government changed rulings on those conditions? or why not hit the insurance companies with stringent pricing and gouging fines? We all know the government can and will do whatever they want, but I think this was done poorly and too radically. Rules definetly needed to change, everyone agrees on that. But change the biggest rules that are screwed up a few at a time and continue from there until all are happy. This drastic policy has hit many like you and I who work, in our pocket and has placed financial stress on many who didnt deserve the problems. In my case I am retired military who is now a nurse at a VA hospital. I dont make a ton of money but work there because I am still serving those who deserve my respect as well as it being kind of therapuetic to me to still be around those who served in combat as I did. I have seen so many on a daily basis who no longer can afford health insurance and have no income so get all their care at the VA. If anyone wishes to know the qualifications to get care at the VA ask me and Ill be happy to tell you. And no not anyone who was in the military gets free care here. Most beleive it or not pay for all their care if they didnt have a military service disability connection. My father worked at a truck plant for 36 years and was retired for 20 and now he nor my mother have any insurance at all because of this new "policy". No I dont like it and have seen graphs and heard how none of this is Obamacares fault all day today. If anyone else works at the VA please let me know if Im the only one who has seen this on a daily basis and I will shut up. I am now struggling to gte my parents on to my insurance to get their care covered. So if you think I am biased than I will tell you yes I am. Obamacare has effected me in nothing but a negative way and yes my premiums went up drastically in the last two years compared to how much it went up prior. So state what you wish that "I was do for a higher increase", or that it was coincidence that this has happened to my family, but I see it one way. This is Obamacares fault in my families eyes. Im done commenting on this subject.

No my parents were not in the military. I was in the military and am now a nurse. My father worked at a truck building plant and retired after 36 years and has still been covered until last year when his plan suddenly is no longer offered. If Obamacare didnt begin to take money from all those who pay taxes, then the corrupt insurance companies would not have canceled their plan. So yes in a round about way it is Obamacare. You wont change my mind.

How ironic because liberals seem to think everything is Bush's fault. Its sunny today. Thats Bush's fault too.

You are correct, it is easy for me to blame the people who squeeze our system dry of the money that you and I have to put itno to pay for their free handouts. Its easy where I live to see these people. I live in Portland Oregon the city of the free liberal hippies who stage protests and destroy the parks by living in them and having drug overdoses over a 45 day period to get their point across how we as humans are destroying our forests. Am I biased? ya probably. Because these same people who play drums in our parks and blame everything on the system have rarely worked a day in their life except for the occassional gas station or record store. I have a family member who lives this lifestyle and I have never approved and have never been successful to change her ways. Since I served 21 years in the military and been in law enforcement , and am now a nurse for the "government".....I am to blame. It didnt "take me this long", Ive just remained quiet until now it is effecting me and my parents. I live by the phrase........."dont **** with my family".

My increase Was majorly significant when Obama care kicked in. My increases prior were viewed by me. Im not stupid and know when my prices for coverages go up. My age of course goes up but there was no significant changes to my health or lifestyles. I run marathons and am a physically healthy 40 something with no major family history of illness. My parents insurance through my fathers employee union he was with for 36 years working and 20 years post retirement informed my parents the plan they were on no longer existed. And my parents being way up there in age now have medical issues they cannot afford to manage without insurance. Again I tell you I dont care what you may think, my family had no issues until Obamacare took over making me the American worker have to pay for those who wouldnt or couldnt get insurance themselves. I dont care if you are a liberal or a conservative, Obamacare is negatively effecting a very large percentage of Americans whether you want to beleive it or not. I dont care what party started it or who is to blame for making it happen. Again, I and my family had no issues having coverage until this ACA garbage kicked in. So you can ride your happy unicorns over the rainbow to work everyday and beleive all is hunky dory in the world, but I promise you it isnt or all. Those are the only facts I need to see. My insurance bill being $200 more a month and still fighting to get my parents on my plan. Preexisting condition? it wasnt even an issue for my family before they lost their coverage, so at least its not an issue now. Gee, thats all I got out of this?

Ok, so reading your "Dept. Of Labor" attachment is supposed to make me feel better about my $200 increase o my parents loss of coverage? I understand per your attachment employers can do what ever they wish, but isnt it ironic that it didnt happen until Pbama care started? to coincidental to me, sorry.

Of course it has to do with Obamacare. My insurance didnt go up at all until Obamacare started and my parents had insurance for 30 years after retirement until Obamacare kicked in. I see patients everyday who now have to come to the VA hospitals because they lost their insurance so where do your facts come from?? Let me guess, Obama?