Level2Trauma

I will try to answer your question from my own experience. Prior to Nursing School I had TWO DUI's. When I first entered nursing school you had to list felonies. In my state three DUI's in 5 years is a felony...not two. So, I did not list them. However, when I went to write the BON for testing purposes I had to list all charges including misdemeanors (this included the DUI's). However, since I had completed an alcohol and drug abuse program fhree years before taking the boards and had remained sober for those three years (recovering alcoholic) I was able to take the boards, pass, and go to work. I have since obtained my BSn and was also licensed in another state and yes I have to tell each state about my past. I then continued my education and obtained my MSN and currently practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner and yes, I had to tell the BON in this state about my sordid past as well as sending court documents to all three BON I have applied for. I also had to send the state bureau of dangerous drugs and narcotics copies of the same court documents. In addition, I had to send the United States Drug Enforcement Agency the same doucments as well as a letter of explanation of what happened and what has happened since. The bottom line is be HONEST with the Boards, the Bureau of Narcotics, and the Drug Enforcement Agency and you shouldn't have any problems. I currently practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner with prescriptive authourity for schedules III through V scheduled drugs. For those who are interested....July the 24th will be my 10 year sobriety date....BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

Like I have said before....nothing like being united to improve our profession. Better yet though...let's backstab and nit-pick.

If your not a member of a union but other nurses are members then I beleive, that only those nurses who are members should benefit from the union, not the ones who will not stand up for themselves. That is what is wrong with our profession. So many stand in the shadows while others are out in the trenches working for reform. Yet, let the ones who are in the trenches gain some ground and increase their benefits and EVERYONE wants to reap the benefits. EVEN THOSE THAT AEREN"T MEMBERS!!! AND DIDN"T DO ANYTHING to help.

I would like to take this time to elaborate on your misconceptions of the ANA and the individual "traditional nurses unions". I have posted several things below which indicate that you have not accurately assessed the ANA or other union affiliates. There is way too much to post but these few should give you an idea of what the ANA and other "traditional nurses unions" are doing for the profession. However, being open-minded, I am willing to read what the Teamsters have done for the nursing profession if you will post it. MN, WA Govs Sign Overtime Bans 03/27/02 Governors Gary Locke (WA) and Jesse Ventura (MN) both signed into law within the last week bills that protect nurses from being forced to work overtime by hospitals. For more information on the Minnesota bill, go to http://www.mnnurses.org; for information on Washington's, go to http://www.wsna.org. Alaska RNs Sign First Contract 03/21/02 Nurses at Ketchikan (Alaska) General Hospital, who organized with AaNA/UAN last spring, have ratified their first contract. The two-year agreement includes strong union membership provisions and language stating that the hospital will cover 100% of health care costs for full-time nurses. For details, go to http://www.alaska.net/~dao/AaNA/LaborWebPage.htm. MN Mandatory OT Bill Passes Legislature 03/20/02 MNA nurses celebrated the state House passage Tuesday of an initiative that prohibits mandatory overtime when an RN knows she is unsafe to work. The state Senate passed the bill last Wednesday; it now goes to the governor for signature. For details, go to http://www.mnnurses.org. Michigan Nurses Ratify New Contract 03/15/02 Registered nurses at Allegan General Hospital, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, overwhelmingly approved a new three year contract last week that grants 19 percent wage increases over the life of the contract. To read more about the contract, go to http://www.minurses.org. WA Passes Mandatory OT Ban 03/13/02 The Washington State Legislature on March 8 passed a bill that will protect nurses from dismissal and discipline when refusing overtime work. Washington is the fourth state to pass legislation on mandatory overtime. The bill now awaits signature from Governor Locke. To read more about the bill, visit WSNA's website. St. Catherine's Nurses Approve Contract, End Strike 03/11/02 NYSNA nurses at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, NY, approved a three-year contract on March 9 that brought to an end their 104-day strike. The new contract provides strict new limitations on the hospital's use of mandatory overtime. For details on the strike settlement, go to http://www.nysna.org. First Contract for Staten Island Nurses 03/06/02 Nurses at Saint Vincents and Bayley Seton hospitals on Staten Island voted Feb. 27 to ratify their first contract, negotiated by NYSNA. The contract includes provisions to help improve working conditions and patient care. For more information on the contract, go to http://www.nysna.org. In addition, you may select the following link and read even more about what the ANA and other "traditional nurses unions" are doing for our profession. http://www.nursingworld.org In all fairness, I explored the Teamsters website and found no mention of the nursing profession. http://www.teamster.org Might want to reconsider!!!

Well, unfortunately I work at the largest "Rural Hospital" nationwide (or at least I have been informed so). It is a >500 bed hospital (not counting the OB/GYN or Psych). We have a 42 bed ER (level 2 trauma) with 12 of those allocated to Fast Track. Annual patient load at this facility is 60,000 to 75,000. WHEW!!! Is a right to hire (fire)state. Always short-staffed (not according to the PR officer in the media though).

If such programs do exist, I doubt that the individual would be able to become certified by the ANCC which would put an awful lot of limitations on the individual.

I just have one question! What is underwear?

You could take this message; place it on a bulletin board on the side of roads in all the states, and there would me the majority that stll "JUST DON'T GET IT". Excellent post!!!

Brandy, It is a known fact that males, Never engage in premarital sex, UNLESS PROVOKED (LOL).

While obtaining my ADN degree, I made President's Scholar 2 semesters, Dean's List 2 semesters and graduated with a 3.65. I was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa and was inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame. I took all of the prerequisites such as A & P I & II. Microbiology, General Chemistry, Into to Organic Chemistry, American History I & II, English Comp I & II, Speech, Psychology, Pharmacology etc. etc. I then went to work for two years and returned to get my BSN. While obtaining my BSN, I kept a 4.0 throughout the course. I received an Academic Acheivement Award for finishing at the top of the class; ranked #1 out of 337. I am now going to enter into a MSN FNP program this August. I hope I can maintain the high academic standards that I have set for myself. You said to "TOOT" my own horn, well I am blowing (LOL). This may seem trivial to most. However, since I am a recovering alcoholic (8 years without a drink or drug), this is quite an acheivement for me. It is only by the Grace of GOD that I have 2 brain cells left after drinking for 20 years. I give all the credit to GOD. All I did was suit up, show up, and do what GOD asked me to do. May GOD bless you all!!!

OK, I agree, However, if you don't want to recognize the ANA as being the voices of all nurses, then you must not engaGE in any of the workplace rights they have fought for. So when you get stuck WITH a needle, do not use the legislation they fought for to cover youR A#$. DO NOT USE ANYTHING THAT THE ANA HAS FOUGHT FOR OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS AND SEE HOW LEFT OUT IN THE COLD YOU REALLY ARE. I cn't beleive that people with this type of IQ is even allowed in the profession. MAKES ME WONDER, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRANCE?????????? [ May 10, 2001: Message edited by: Level2Trauma ]

OK, I agree, However, if you don't want to recognize the ANA as being the voices of all nurses, then you must not engaGE in any of the workplace rights they have fought for. So when you get stuck WITH a needle, do not use the legislation they fought for to cover youR A#$. DO NOT USE ANYTHING THAT THE ANA HAS FOUGHT FOR OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS AND SEE HOW LEFT OUT IN THE COLD YOU REALLY ARE. I cn't beleive that people with this type of IQ is even allowed in the profession. MAKES ME WONDER, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRANCE?????????? [ May 10, 2001: Message edited by: Level2Trauma ]

Now U Really See Everything!!! Wouldn't think of doing anything else!!! [ May 09, 2001: Message edited by: Level2Trauma ]

It seems that the only replies you got so far are from the anti-ANA nurses. I am a member of the ANA (NO BETTER OR NO WORSE THAN THOSE THAT ARE NOT A MEMBER). However, to answer your question; ANA membership is $240 per year. However, you don't have to pay all at once. You can have it come straight out of your checking account and they will withdraw $20.33 each month from your checking account. This is the route I chose. I only have to be give up one fast food meal a week in order to pay my dues. A small price to pay for the benefits of ANA (JUST MY OPINION).

You had better perform more research before placing your mouth in gear. Some areas only require a high school diploma for police officers and correctional officers. Have you ever heard the ole cliche "Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes" The same goes for you, "don't even try to act like you know the responsibilities, duties, and stresses of a nurse until you have become a nurse. By the way if you would like to follow some of the other professionals you listed around all day, you might see the reason for the happiness in their pay and benefits. I bet you won't catch any of them missing breaks or lunch, or staying after their shift is over to complete unfinished business. Then we get to go home and wander if everything was done. ZIP IT, UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!