queenbeelws

I voted no because I didn't really choose nursing, it chose me. I wanted to be a graphic designer or architect. However, I have learned some very valuable skills while nursing and I think it has made me a better person overall. I respect anyone in the nursing profession for their diligence and compassion. I am proud to be called "Nurse" even if it wasn't my first choice.

1. 30 years 2. MA Instructor at present 3. Middle Georgia 4. LPN 5. Well, I have been a nurse for a long time and I guess I'm just old fashioned. I love the white uniforms for nurses with name badges/pins/patches to distinquish CNA/LPN/RN although the caps can be hazardous. It seems like everyone wears scrubs nowadays and you can't tell the nursing staff from housekeeping or a daycare worker. Besides, I didn't start gaining weight until I started wearing those comfy scrubs. hehehehe JMHO 6. I'm open to new ideas on an appropriate "uniform" other than scrubs but unfortunately have no new suggestions.

I have been an LPN for 30 years and if I could challenge the boards, I would. (Because I passed 2 different NCLEX-RN test books without a problem.) I love learning and the higher rate of pay but I don't have the time to go back to school. Do I claim to know as much as an RN? Not really, but maybe enough to pass the board. Experience and a quick mind is a great education. A true desire to help your patients and a team spirit is the best education. I have always worked well with all of the medical team because title isn't important to me. I respect everyone and help anyone. And I continue to learn daily from my coworkers. Whenever I run across a cocky nurse or doctor, I just feel like it is a personal problem on their part. If there are duties that I am unqualified to perform, I simply trade off with someone who IS qualified. There is always something I can do to help them. We are all talented/skilled in different areas and I think we should focus on how we can best serve our profession. I am proud of all of the nurses and what they do. It is an admirable profession that I am proud to be a part of. Not just anyone can do what we do. I think we are ALL SPECIAL!!

I am a Medical Assistant Instructor in middle Georgia. It can be alot of fun sharing my nursing experiences with students. However, I'm considering going into Office Management in a Physician's office. 30 years in nursing has taught me valuable skills that would be very beneficial in a doctors office. More money too without having to go back to school.

I don't believe its selfish at all. There are MANY strains of the flu virus so even if you get the vaccine, you may become deathly ill with another strain. I think our best defense is to take the usual good health precautions and let our immune system will do the rest. I used to take the shot all the time and I still got sick. I haven't taken it in several years now and haven't been sick since. Maybe its coincidential or maybe I'm just taking better care of myself now. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

I worked Home Health in Georgia for 6+ yrs and I think you might want to get some experience and confidence before doing Home Health. Many times you will receive high pay for what you know rather than for what you actually do. BUT if something goes wrong with the patient, you have to know how to handle any situation. Trust me, that can be very scarey sometimes when there isn't anyone around to help you by even calling an ambulance. I worked alot with ventilator pts and there were some emergency situations that popped up occasionally that made me want to rethink about it. Not to scare you off but simply to let you know. Also, you aren't guaranteed regular hours with most cases so it tends to be feast or famine and most agencies don't offer benefits. I worked for 8 different agencies at one time to make sure I got the hours that I needed to support myself and 2 kids. One of my favorite reasons for choosing Home Health was the fact that I could chose what cases I worked, what days, and hours that I worked. That really helps when you have kids. Good luck, whtever you decide.

Sounds pretty much like my school too. We had to maintain a B average or we were dropped from the program and if we failed even one of the NLN tests we could be dropped regardless of your gpa up to that point. We could only miss 6 days over the whole year or we would be dropped. Whew, I'm glad those days are over but I think it instilled personal responsibility in all the students. The career we have chosen is not one to be taken casually in light of the responsibilities we have so our education should reflect what will be expected of us in the workplace.

Well, like you, I have worked in all areas of the hospital even doing relief charge on postpartum and Psych frequently. I've worked LTC, Home Health, Staff Relief, a prison and physicians offices. But now I am teaching Medical Assisting fulltime and I love it. My main goal is to teach good bedside nursing skills which are important anywhere you may work. And common sense. Its amazing to me how many smart people have so little of that, Anyway, the pay scale isn't too great in the town I live in no matter where you work.

I think I'm gonna share these with my students in documentation class!! TFS

A really good medical thriller takes my mind off my hectic day. I especially love Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs. Oh yeah, and Tess Gerritson and....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

In this state, one thing an RN can do that an LPN can't, is be a CNA instructor In GA, LPNs can be CNA Instructors. We are certified by the American Red Cross and I was REQUIRED to take the class and test for my current position as a Medical Assisting Instructor at a Post secondary school here. I agree with so many of you other nurses on that instructor being out of line in her comments to her students. (But I remember a time when the RNs on the floors DID sit around while the LPNs and CNAs did all the work. We had a med team of RNs who gave all the IV meds and piggybacks) Anyway, I tell my students that they should consider their long term goals and financial resources when deciding on the next step in their education. I have been an LPN for 30 years and honestly, there isn't much that I haven't done. Most people think I'm an RN for some reason but I have no desire at this point in my life to go back to school to obtain the title. Yes, I'd love to receive a higher salary and I could always learn something that I don't already know but being an LPN has been rewarding for the most part so unless I do it online, I will remain the way I am. I only wish that more people would show respect to LPNs for what we do. Sometimes its the RNs that look down on us but more times than not, its patients or their families. I had a patients daughter, who thought I was the most awesome nurse, until she said "you know, with you being a Registered Nurse and all." and I told her I was an LPN. After that, she stuck her nose up in the air and wouldn't talk to me anymore. I figure if you can't tell the difference, what difference does it make? Anyway, I have worked with some truly wonderful RNs who were kind enough to share their knowledge with me and I have done all I could to make their jobs easier for them in return so there is no jealousy here with me. I only wish that people and legislators would realize how valuable LPNs are and give us more opportunities. Until they do, I think its wise to obtain your RN and BSN asap whatever steps you have to take to get there. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my first post.