JoBug

I would like to add, shirt pockets that everything doesn't go flying out when you bend over.......I HATE that...I carry what most do, pens, sharpie, steth, notebook...

Hi Janice, I too think you have a great possibility in getting the job, and remember, getting your "foot in the door" with a position will help you down the line transfering if you chose to. For the suit, I don't see why not you couldnt wear the same one, if you feel very uncomfortable about it, try going to the local thrift sores, yo would be AMAZED at the alomost NEW clothes you can get for a GREAT price. Good Luck JoBug

I can totally relate! Me, I am a cereal eater...it fills and gives me the vitamins and energy I need..good luck JoBug

Thank you for the charting info, it will be VERY usefull to me, as I will be working on that wing this weekend. VERY much appreciated! for our facility, we are a 80 bed nursing home, with two wings, one wind has 50 residents, with 4 CNA's and one nurse, the other wing has 30 residents with three CNA's and one nurse. This is for second shift, on days they have one more CNA on each wing, a bath aide, and a "float" nurse, who does the treatments and takes the orders. Our charting prior to this was a chart by exception type charting, no real charting type so to speak. I suppose we have had things very good prior to this, and proboly spoiled by not being medicare certified, but, now we are and are trying to muddle through it, I just wish we had more knowledge prior to it, because I wouldn't want the facility not to get reimbursed, and it be my fault, and I know all us nurses feel like this. So I suppose the years of not being medicaide certified, and not having all of this mandatory charting that we are not used to will be an adjustment to us all. They have decided that they are going to put the "certified" residents on the 50 bed wing, because it is the "newer" wing that is all handicaped accessable, being in rural Iowa, things are different proboly than the newer up to date facilities across the country. They do want us doing shiftly charting in great detail, and I guess it will be hard to get used to, but no the less we will thank you for the site, I will check it out. JoBug

Okay, trying to keep our heads above water at work. The LTC facility I work at applied for, and recived a "skiiled" status, with Medicare number to boot. Now, our DON, administrator told us that we would have all the training we need, and knowledge, BEFORE they took any "skilled" residents, LIE nuber one, they have taken now a total of 3 "skilled" residents, and we have had nothing but a 1/2 hor meeting on charting for these residents. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind about the skilled aspect, the things I mind is the more work we have to do, with no more staff,and no training so to speak. We are trying to band together as nurses at work, and we want a raise, as we are pretty low paid, but not of course to management, even though we did our own survey in town and know we are, we want the use of med aides, now they let us use the one or two we have, but they are working on the floor as CNA's also, so it is harder for them, and with out additional pay...so...has anyone else gone through this transformation, and how did it go, any advice??? 99% of us nurses have not worked anywhere else, and therefore it is more difficult for us to make this transition. They told us at first we would not have more than ONE skilled per wing...lie #2...HELP.... thanks! any advice is appreciated. JoBug

Class of 12, one male...and he has gone on, mind you, I am speaking of LPN classes and graduation...gender stereotyping, unbeilevable it still goes on in our world... JoBug

Your at home and you reach for the keys to get into the fridge......

Thank you all!! I SO NEEDED these laughs tonight...here is mine.. you know you have been working too many hours when your kids, husband says, "will you look at this " and you reply "you can't aford me" I am off the clock... JoBug

These are GREAT! I am so happy to see that some of you are taking care of YOU!!! Woo HOO!! Now for me to find time too...hehehe... JoBug

I would like to commend you and your coworkers friends for helping, if one door doesn't open, knock on the next door, my mom always said that, and in fact, I got through nursing school with this saying. Keep going, them people NEED all our help we can offer, and if the Red Cross, or anyone else says no, keep going, SOMEONE NEEDS, NEEDS, these items. I am sure your efforts will pay off for those in need JoBug I too, was turned away for my nursing help from the Red Cross, but our job site managed to raise over $5,000 and a GREAT amoundt of clothes and food, given to local churches that were driving down to assist in any way

Oh how scarey it is to go take the exam, I can remember as if it was yesterday, and TRUST me, it has been many a years since I have taken the test, I think you are "over" thinking, go take it, heck the WORST that could happen is you don't pass, so, then you go take it again, I am sure you will do fine good luck and let us know! JoBug

hey, go ahead and let it out! That is what I find great about this site. it is a SHAME that gender stereotyping goes on in our world yet today. My advice, ignore her and "be all that you can be", heck, in 5 years, she isn't going to remember you, or you her, unless of course it is to think " I wish she could see me now". I know it must be very frustating, but do not divulge into her distraction tecniques..keep a going, ignore her JoBug

I work in LTC, and tonight in fact I had a hospice death. Normally, the family will call us to the room and say " I think mom is gone", and then I will go assess and determine, if soandso is in fact gone. Family members can often be wrong, if they have no knowledge of apnea, ect.. so here in Iowa in LTC, us nurses, even us LPN's, call TOD. It gets charted as vital signs ceased, no BP, Resp, or AP. And we then call hospice, or the doc on call if needed to inform themn and get the okay for release of body. JoBug

Thank you so much for remembering. Well, I went to the new doc, she didn't say a WHOLE lot, but to focus on me getting control of the pain for now, I am schedualed for an epidural steroid injection in my spine on the 29th. This is a "maybe it will help" situation. She didnt want to talk about much long term effects or anything for "now", not sure I am impressed with her or not. She DID give me Flexeril for bedtime, and darvacet N100 for pain, I have been taking the darvacet and it helps a bit, I just can't take anything too strong and work. I will keep you updated, thanks so much for the replies, and caring, it means alot to me. JoBug

Here in Iowa, I know there are more differences than I KNOW, I work in LTC, nursing home..on top of what I see mentioned, we also can not "stage wounds" measure them, an RN must do the initial measurements, then we are able to follow up, also we can GIVE a TB shot but can not READ it... me, I believe as long as we all came to the field with the same intentions, helping others, we are all great, CNA'S, CMA's, LPN's, RN's, BSN, you name it, it should be about team work... go for your heart desire, we would welcome you into nursing! JoBug

Great post! See we have a NEW DON in our LTC facility, and she wants to start a "mentoring" program, I feel as you do, plus more, first off WHO picks the "mentor" and then, isn't that a degrigation to the rest of the hard workers....just my thoughts..

A BATH, now that would be the ULTIMATE for me, but, I live with 3 MEN, ages, husband 42, son 23 and son 14....it seems they NEVER need the bathroom, until I am IN it...then it is holy terror...they NEED to go NOW...seems like I am at work, knowing another employer is awaiting the bathroom just as I sit to urinate..lol..maybe that would fit family time AND a bath into one..hehehe...nope, door is LOCKED NO ONE can enter.. keep them comming, I LOVE this..the wrestling match, GREAT story!! HUGS JoBug

Oh GOODNESS, now I HAVE "almost" heard it ALL!! I can NOT believe anyone could POSSIBLY give out that info and think it is "okay" Glad you could vent...shame shame on anyone who would give out such info, wow, think of all the ramifications..a new mom, with postpartum...oh gosh, the list goes on in my head... wrong, way wrong... JoBug

Congrats!! It IS the BEST feeling ever!! Give your self a great big hug from me to you! JoBug

so, i have been sitting here reading posts for the last hour. i guess my question, and do fogive me if it has been asked before, and i haven't yet run across it, but here it is.. what do you do for you everyday to keep your self "balanced".. i am just attempting to work on a "normal" "healthy" balance.. any suggestions..anything you do..we all know we are in one of the most stressful jobs there are, if the not the most stressful... so help post what you do every day to try and keep that healthy balance.. thanks! jobug or am i nuts??? maybe one can't possibly find time for "me" every day....:uhoh21:

81 PT's ,3 on Hospice, one family, "she isn't DYING fast enough" for, 2 insulin reactions, one fall, one death....somedays Prozac isn't enough....

Hello Alen, I am going at 9am in the morning to get my FINAL MRI results....scarey, I wonder what kind of symptoms you are having? JoBug, who NEEDS to TRY and sleep before this appt...

Mine is BIB'S!! Urgggg, can't they call them "aprons" "Clothing protectors"!! Good grief, they are elderly, NOT babies....just one of mine, I have submittied it, but you know how traing an old dog to do new tricks goes....:angryfire JoBug

:uhoh21: I have been facing horrible horrible hip pain, went to an ortho doctor x's 2. First time recieved a cortisone in jection, in my left hip, second visit, pain was worst, I told him politly, I am not leaving until he can help take away the pain. Explained the pain, he did a more in dept test, testing my reflexes, and more. He stated in his opinion I have lost 50% feeling , nerve damage in my left leg,Well, he went and did the second injection, which I SWEAR I could feel it going up my spine. Okay, so he was unhappy about that, he ordered an MRI that day. Well, I went and did it, late for work, but I got it in. So they call me the next day to inform me that it isn't actually my HIP, it is in my spine, I have spinal stenosis in L5 and S1, and have a buldging disc, and also mild degenerative vertabra problems. He got me into a diffenrent doctor who seems to specialize in spine problems, I go to her in the morning, I am a bit scared. Why, I don't know if I can handle any limitations, will my job allow it? Am I covered at all IF I will have to have limitation, such as lifting, what the treatments are for all of this, I KNOW I can not live in this continous pain, oh the unknown, the worste feeling in the world for me now, I have been a nurse in LTC for over 15 years, at this facility I love now for almost 3 years. I need some encouragement, and if anyone has gone through this PLEASE share with me your hints, stories, it will help me, I am a wreck, haven't been able to sleep since Tuesday when they read some of the MRI results to me on the phone....thanks for all and ANY input. JoBug note edited the font size-

Hi Anna, I too work in rural Iowa. I would like to suggest you talk to your nurse manager, and I am sure she could set up a meeting with The Hospice Team in your area to do an inservice, all of the ins and outs of Hopice and the guidlines. I work in LTC and we have a couple Hospice inservices a year. I am a FIRM beleiver in Hospice, and I feel they have a great deal to offer the families of a dying loved one, both with medication help for the suffering and family coping and bereavment of their dying loved one. I hope this helps you, I bet your not alone. Ask for an inservice, the worste they could do is say no, and then if they refuse to , you could also contact the Local Hospice, and I am sure they would be happy to meet with you one on one. JoBug