ArusDobby

With all that has happened the past two weeks I have had folk ask "Why do I stay in the Nursing field." I decided to tell a deep kept secret....What made me go into Nursing. The true reason, that goes back so long ago. I never wanted to go into Nursing at first. I actually wanted to go into Physical Therapy when I was being given Aide after I got out of the Navy. I ended up on the streets of Boston from my Naval experiences (my family and wife knows about it. I will not go in...to it here). I was helped to get off the Streets at that time, and was given paid ability to go back to school, to make a career to bring me back from the brink. All I could get was Nursing. I went through the course and still did not want to be a nurse....UNTILL something changed my mind. A tiny lost child during my clinical rotation. I did my clinicals on a pediatric unit long ago in the past. I was told that I would be caring for a small child. I looked at that tiny little boy, curled up and afraid of everybody due to abuse from his parents. Something touched me deeply about him, growing over those 5 days. Watching that frightened child open up into a smiling little boy. And on the last day, when he ran to me and hugged me - I realized "I" was the one responsible for the smiling laughing boy in my arms holding me tight. I still had reservations, being a nurse. Then something close to home put me on the road that I now travel. My mom had lung disease. I moved home to try to comfort her. One night, being the dumb stupid young man in his 20's, she asked me to stay with her and I got angry....wanting to go to a bar. Today I would had given up all my nights going to party....if only to sit with her all night - to have her one more day. A few days later she went in to the hospital. I was told she then went to a Nursing Home from the hospital. The next morning when I got home my sister Denise met me at the door. She told me mom had died during the night. I went down to my room and just sat there on my bed. My family and my Mom believed I hated her from the past. They never knew I sat their alone crying for a long time. I cried because she died alone. While I was at another Nursing facility, my mom died alone. And I made a vow. A Vow that no matter what happens....if it is ever in my power to keep it from happening to another - Another person will not die alone and afraid. I will be with him/her....holding that hand.

Since Tuesday 10/21/14 I have been out-of-work. On Tuesday I went to work and found out the state was in the facility. I then was called into the office by the DON and was told that a big problem resident told the State while they were in that I supposedly yelled at him and slammed his door the evening before. I was kept in the office to do a "Statement" in which I vehemently denied such an accusation because it never even happened. While in there it was brought to my attention that a resident wasn't wearing a sling or leg brace on the day shift. I explained that on Monday it was on when I came in and wore it for almost 3 hours, and on Friday I applied both and both were worn for a few hours. Also explained that I initialed they were on "At That Time I did my charting." I never was told that I was suspended, fired, or laid off. I suddenly had another nurse ask me for my keys to give some needed meds. THIS was the way I found out I was not working that day. When I left Tuesday I was told by the D.O.N. "I'll Call You." From Tuesday through this evening my wife and I have been with our hearts in our throats. I called the D.O.N. and was told "I was suspended while the State still in the building," on Thursday, even though in regard to the splint/brace issue, the day nurse who NEVER applied them is still working. Today (Friday) I had to drop off another Statement in regard this time about a Splint and Brace. While there I was surprised to see that the day nurse, who NEVER put those on the patient, had been working all week. I have waited till 7:30pm to find out if working on Monday. I FINALLY had to text him myself and was told "We will call you Monday". I believe my work is "Rail-Roading" me....for something/things I am not even guilty of. As if they are holding me in Limbo, just in case the State wants somebody disciplined - and will use me as the scapegoat. Or they wont tell me I am fired because then they have to pay unemployment....instead holding out until I just up and resign/quit, then they aren't liable for unemployment pay for me. Since Tuesday my wife and I can not believe how I have been kept in Limbo in this situation....no real information. I have been putting out applications for alternate employment, while worrying if I can find work.

Before I married and moved to Texas I also worked in Boston (South Boston) LTC. Here are ways around that "Mandatory": Tell the Management early in week that you have prior plans the upcoming weekend and will be unable to work. If they tell you too bad, stick to it. What used to do is by tickets for something you want to do that weekend - even if just a pair of movie tickets. When they say you *have* to work, turn around and show the tickets and tell them * already paid for and no refunds* If they don't accept that - then find new job. You are not married to your job....though a lot of places act like you are. 2nd idea....turn your phone off or don't answer if work is one calling on the weekends. They can only try to *Mandate* you to work if they reach you. A message on a machine is not *Mandating*. They need to talk to you in person. BTW....all is true. I did Staffing in Boston facility.

I have worked LTC for 29 years. A few times I have tried to get out of the LTC grind-house, by trying to get into Acute Care hospitals or Home Health. Each time you meet the same barrier - many do not see or accept the experience and years put in doing long term care. For a lot of the Nursing/Medical employment LTC is looked down upon. A typical day/shift has the nurse coming into the building already *Drowning* lately. You either have work thrown on the next shift by the prior shift, or by the Nursing Managers, or simply because the day itself has been a mad house. Lately it is the 2nd shift ( 2-10pm or 3 -11pm) that can get hair pulling crazy. Yet - understand, this is only via my personal experience. On the evening shift you get Admissions which can come in any time during your shift - up to the time your shift ends, you have doctors/FNPs coming in during the evening and writing orders, you have family members underfoot. Then you also have the support leaving you after 5 -6pm ( ie; Managers, etc). Some will see their staff struggling and stay alittle longer to aid you if able. Sadly though many notice and just walk right out the door. Toward family members many are actually very nice and caring toward the LTC staff. Still it is the one or two that come in, believing NOTHING you do is good enough, that can break the work day. And though you want to just tell them to take their family member home sometimes inside....you put on that warm caring smile, bite your tongue and again try to appease that family. Then in the past several years you notice CNAs you are getting want the paycheck but try to do as little as possible, so you have to play Warden....having to chase them continually to get things done. Then you have Managers telling the nurse "You need to really stay on top of your aides," when you are already doing the best you can. When you finally get done at the end of your shift, a day that was so busy you could not take a break, had to sign out for supper but had work through it to get done on time, you now have to wait on your relief nurse. It is now 30 minutes after your end time, no call or anything, and your relief saunters in late habitually. So you know the next day you will get called in to the office for working late because at your facility *There is NO excuse for working late accepted*. And at least where I work LTC.....this is considered a GOOD day ( LOL).

Actually as a male nurse, many times the floor goes better when there is a male nurse on duty. Over the years the longterm care facilities are getting younger patients, and more hair trigger personalities. Having a male nurse on duty gives a female nurse/CNA's added help if one of them has agitation/combative/physically threatening behavior. When a patient falls many times it is a male nurse called to help with transferring. Once it was male orderlies that female CNA's and nurses called for help...now it is the male nurse and male CNAs. Just my observation.

I have been an LVN/LPN for 29 years, AND it has been a crazy/heart wrenching/heartwarming/loving ride throughout. I never wanted to go for my RN for varied reasons over the years, the main now being that the 29 years experience as an LVN would mean nothing when you get that RN now. Being a LVN/LPN is not for everybody....yet- for those that stick it out, it will turn out to be a career where you get to go home and think proudly many times "I made a difference in that persons' life!!". Yes, compared to many other jobs the pay stinks, the hours can be long and stressful, and frequently you feel pulled from all four directions. But, most importantly the biggest payment you will ever receive is a patient, with true gratitude in her/his eyes, saying they are glad you are there. And at least to me....this make all the stress worth it.

When I was in school I did agency, then it shot me up to LVN openings. Agency is good starting out if needed in the way it gives you a taste of varieid types of nursing .....giving you a chance to see which type of nursing fits you the best. If possible...try to get into hospitals or homehealth. For many the "Long-term facility" nursing gets you stuck ( a lot of other types of nursing do not see Nursing Homes as nursing experience - yes, I found that out when trying to change nursing type).

I been an LPN/LVN for 29 years. I work Long-term care/Rehab. I tried to get into homehealth once....for some reason it is very difficult to go from Longterm care to home health....would not get hired. Almost went bankrupt when was doing Crisis care while trying to break into the Home health aspect ( which is what I really want). Oh well.

I been working in the Dallas area for almost 20 years. Right now I make $21/hr and when I started I began at $18/hr. Not much in 6 years, but that is because many times you would get "pay freezes" that would go for several years.

I have been working at a long-term care/rehab facility in Texas I have been there for 6 years now, and am starting on my 7th. The problem is I am noticing a glaring problem there. The job is predominantly black employees while I am white. No problem for me. The problem is advancement. I was told by a Staffing Development Coordinator years before that though I have ample experience to be in Nurse Management, etc....she told me because it is mostly of black employees that they only want black nurses in management. I tried to think and believe such reverse discrimination could not be. Over the years, seeing every advancement opportunity go to somebody of black persuation, I have become low in work moral - feeling stuck now. though I stay only for the patients that have become dear to me, though I can not *prove* the reverse discrimination at this particular job, though I am constantly told by CNA's "I don't have to listen to you..." when I try to get things done, I am pondering giving up. And I have tried once to voice my concerns to higher ups only to be told I was being a problem nurse. My wife has noticed what happens and repeatedly tells me to say something to the State. Thing is what are my Rights in this case. Any ideas are deeply appreciated. I don't know what to do.