Angie O'Plasty

I'm sure we all have them, especially those of us who have worked in LTC. Here are some of mine: climbing into other residents' beds and taking a nap...one time we found the resident sleeping in a bed that was already occupied by the resident it bel...

As far as FNP vs. ACNP for hospice/palliative specifically, I am not sure. Maybe someone in that field could chime in?

It really depends on where you work. I am in a hospitalist group and work only days and evenings...we have dedicated night shift APPs (the catch-all term at my hospital for NPs/PAs) so the rest of us don't have to do nights. That said, I started ou...

Agreed 100%. We all need to keep learning continuously as clinicians, even once we are past the novice stage. This includes reading, continuing education activities, seeking mentorship, and learning from the days/situations when we "suck" or realiz...

That is a gross overgeneralization...there may be a few for whom that is the case, but I don't think it is the majority. Frankly, your comment is insulting and uncalled for and I can't believe I am dignifying it with a response!

There is really no good solution, is there? Not with the customs we have inherited. I am getting married next year and am still struggling with this. I really dislike the idea of dropping any part of the name I was given at birth...I know some wom...

It's a long story. Applied to med school right out of college, didn't get in despite strong GPA, MCAT etc. Was all set to reapply, got to thinking that I might want to have a family someday and in that case wanted some balance in my life which is o...

Maine is independent after 24 months of supervised practice.

That's the best way to handle this issue--plan things so that the patients are taken care of before report. That way nobody has to wait around in pain, and report can be uninterrupted (I happen to be of the opinion that report is not to be interrupt...

Physicians go through residency when they get out of school...they are under the supervision of the attendings during this time. The two years of supervised practice for NPs seems, to me, analogous. That's why I think it makes sense.

It is interesting how different the states are. I am about to start working in Maine, where NPs are required to have a supervising physician for their first 24 months of practice and then can be independent once they have that experience. I think t...

From the description of the situation, I think the doctor's reaction was inappropriate--sometimes we all have to talk to grumpy/upset patients and it's just part of the job. I had to chuckle at the last part of your comment--I have worked LTC as wel...

Having worked agency in LTC facilities, I can vouch for this!! Extremely unsafe, especially on a unit where the residents are not alert and oriented (at least for residents who are A&O you can ASK them their name). Unfortunately this situation ...

YIKES. I give you a lot of credit for working in that environment--you're a braver woman than I!

Well, I haven't had anything all that bad (just the occasional demented patient taking a swing) but here's something bizarre and potentially dangerous that happened a couple of weeks ago when I was covering a shift at a LTC facility. I went into one...

That's how I've usually seen it done...why so many CNAs (and nurses!) smoke I do not know, but there always seems to be someone. This thread reminds me of one facility I worked in where there was a resident who smoked and the nurse had to give him a...

That's pretty much right on. The alcohol dries out the water so the bacteria don't have a chance to grow in a nice warm moist environment and cause swimmer's ear. I was on swim team for years and used just straight rubbing alcohol to get any water...

How about a better way to identify patients/residents on LTC units? I am temporarily doing agency nursing in these facilities and this is a huge problem--the residents very often do not have their wristbands on (they take them off, especially the de...

I'm surprised nobody posted this one yet...some people swear that Chihuahuas cure asthma.

So I suppose you never ate clam chowder...

I'm not sure how "nice" that tradition is for a whole month...the part about having the help and learning from one's mother sounds good, but not being allowed away from the house for a whole MONTH? That part sounds cruel and unusual!

I am waiting for the Maine licensing paperwork to go through right now, as well as the hospital's own credentialing. As far as the state licensing, you can get the forms from the state board's website and download, print and fill them out along with ...

I have just finally found an NP position almost a year after finishing my program...it will be a few months before I can start, because of all the credentialing paperwork etc. that has to go through first. I will be on the hospitalist service in a s...

This is true...we work under our own license but in some states are required to have physician supervision or collaboration. Should have clarified this in my previous post.

Sure can...there are hospitalist NPs in a lot of places, who work with the hospitalist physicians. I'll be starting on such a service soon, once the paperwork goes through for me to be licensed in the new state and be part of the hospital's medical ...