CatLVNRN

:deadhorse

With crappy credit, loans were out of the question so I worked full-time from the day I started the LVN program, until I graduated with my ADN. I continued working as a level two computer tech for a craptacular local internet provider, and after earning my LVN license, worked LTC (two 16-hour shifts every weekend) until two days before my baby was born. Then lived on tax returns until I started working agency when baby was 12 weeks old. I worked agency for several months after graduation, since I was planning on relocating. Overall, it's been a trip! You'd think I'd be a lot thinner after busting my butt for three years.....

Many hospitals do offer different shifts. We have 8 hour shifts, we have 11-11 shifts, we have the 7-7 shifts, we have 7-3am shifts, etc. I know of hospitals with 10 hour shifts as well as regular 8-or 12 hour shifts. 8-4 to me doesn't solve childcare related issues. I would still have ot leave early to beat traffic just to get to work on time. And then sit in traffic longer to pick kids up and get home after work...

:beer: Did we work together?! I had a resident that had similar bowel habits with a similar reaction to them. She'd come wheeling herself out of her room asking WHO LEFT THAT THERE. :roll

I'd like to see non-slippery sterile gloves. Why, you may ask? So when a 35-weeker decides to be born like a torpedo out of the chamber, the med-student catching her doesn't give her her first bungee cord experience..... Can't the gloves have some sort of material on them that would give SOME kind of traction, so docs (and med-students) can ....get a grip? heh..

We had jumpsuits like that with velcro fastners in the back, for our stripper residents when I worked with Alzheimer's folks. It was a life saver. If you can't get your clothes off, you can't poop your neighbors' bed and wipe with the curtain dividing the room!

This is such a personal choice, that it can elicit a broad range of responses. I'm the oldest of ten. I have 6 children. My opinion is, if one can provide for their family, is in good health, and desires more children, power to them!! The only time I feel someone should reconsider having more children is when someone is on welfare, has never held a job or tried to keep a job, and doesn't think twice about having more children because they know they have welfare to fall back on. I won't go into the welfare debate. It's there for those who need it, and there is no question that it is greatly abused at the same time. As humbly stated, this is only my opinion In response to the "over-population" debate, all I have to say is #1, China is taking care of that for us; #2, this is an excerpt from a small article I wrote years ago: "And then there's the people that look at me and are amazed that I had the audacity to produce five children. They look at me with contempt and utter scorn for having been so selfish as to have brought five whole new people into an already over-populated world. Yes, I admit it now, the over-population of the world is entirely my fault. The world was going just fine until I had my children. Then all hell broke loose. Crude oil became scarce. The ozone layer was depleted. Endangered species died out. Ice caps melted and caused mass flooding throughout the world. I would like to take this moment to humbly apologize for single handedly over-burdening the world.

In Texas, LPNs (LVNs as they're known down here) can take verbal/telephone orders. And write them out themselves. It's "medcations aides" who can not take verbal/telephone orders. I find that very strange that in other states it's not allowed. We all take the same boards. And yet the practice acts in different states can be so different! It boggles my mind..

I worked weekends, 32 hours in two days, to keep my insurance etc and get bills paid while I went to nursing school. I did that for 3 years until I got all my pre-requisites and my ADN. The last year of nursing school, I managed to squeeze in having a baby, too! *flexes* That said, I do NOT recommend trying it! lol

I think that was a rhetorical question.. :)

Wow.. that's an awesome offer! Not only for a new grad, but I have found that working in a magnet hospital offers a nurse more voice in the care of one's patients. IMHO, I'd say go for it! I work for a magnet hospital here in Austin, and am not a new grad, but only make about 40k. I love where I work and the people I work with, and wouldn't trade if for the world, but I wouldn't mind making 55k...

Of all the nurses and doctors Ive taken care of, not one ever gave me a hard time. I just went in, and did my usual thing, and I sort of pride myself that no matter who you are, you all get the same care from me. I was a patient last January, having had an emergency c-section. I assume the nurses looked at my chart and saw G6, P6, and figured I knew what was what following a section, though my youngest was 8, and I had never had a section before. I had an epidural, and my 7pm-7am nurse (the first nurse) came into my room and started an IV ABT, holding my plain IVF, and when the ABT ran out, she never came back in until the morning, just before her shift ended. (I was OUT thanks to the wonderful world of epidurals) Blood was backed up in my IV line and she PUSHED IT.. Needless to say, I told her it hurt, she said it was ok, and she forced it, and I felt a POP! I screamed and she decided to call the doctor and ask her if she can DC it and therefore dc my epidural! Less than 24 hours after my section. Great... The next nurse was nice and made she I was kept comfie. BUt then at 7pm, I must have been assigned to the same nurse, because she NEVER CAME INTO MY ROOM her entire shift!! Long story short, I didnt tell them I was a nurse, because I didnt want them thinking I knew everything, when it had been to long for me to remember a lot, and I had never had an epi, or section. I could go on and on, but Ill leave it at that lol My doctor (who also delivered my 4th child) was horrified.

I think I made my post too general and broad. I wouldn't dream of offending or implying that someone who chose to abort due to reasons such as genetic abnormalities or multiples were lacking in love for their child. I was focusing on women and their partners that think little of having an abortion simply because they "aren't ready" or because they didn't really want children in the first place and such. While I am pro-choice, I think far too many women abuse the option to choose, rather than use preventive measures (won't use the pill because they might gain weight, won't use a condom because their partners don't like them, etc). I apologize if I offended anyone in anyway, as it wasn't my intention to do so. This post was about *infants born viable, and left to die* (and not pro-choice/life or abortion in general) so I think the abortion comment struck a nerve and I typed without thinking. Not an excuse, just a reason.

First of all, if the parents chose to abort, then there wasn't a hope in their hearts for this child in the first place, and there wasn't an attachment, bonding, already developing to this child. Therefore why would they want to see it, and make their goobyes, so to speak? The parents held no honor for the life in the first place, so why would they choose to honor it after choosing to abort it from their lives? It's a completely different scenario than parents who hoped and dreamed for this infant, and tragically had their dreams dashed to the ground when the child was stillborn, or born with just hours to live.

Do you mean Reglan works great for migraines? Ive never heard of Reglan used for that. Im not saying I doubt you, just saying Ive never heard of it and as a migraine sufferer, I just might have to look into it! *new hope*!!