Dobieb2009

I have often found bruises on my body after working, and had no recollection of any trauma. But if you bruise easily , I do, you can get bruised very easily, say, from doing transfers from stretchers to beds. But it certainly bears watching, and continues, you definitely need to see the doctor again. Varicose ties are a possibility, clots, too, though they usually start in the lower legs. And yes, compression panty hose could be helpful if they're varicosities. Perhaps a hematologist would the one to see, since you say you've had this before. Good luck!

Hi Ite, there's really a lot I don't know, sorry. I do know the starting pay is good, but not how much. When I left, I was making $43/hr. It would have been higher, but I spent the first 9 yrs as an LPN. It's all 12 hr shifts, actually 37.5, but after 3 pm, you get evening differential. If you are " full time", which is a .7 or more( that's 5 days every 2 weeks, you don't pay anything for your health insurance, which is pretty good. You do have to use their facilities, in or outpt, for routine procedures, otherwise they pay 80%. Working conditions are good, depending where you work. I worked as a med surf float, lots of good experience, then found my home in telemetry. Management is management, they expect a lot. The environment is nice because the hospital is only 5 yrs old. All private rooms, we use Epic for everything. A new med school just started up nearby, I didn't get a chance to work with the students. You can find anything you want in town, and were surrounded by natural beauty. So while it was very hard at times, I stayed there my whole career. Having a BSN is a bonus, as they are looking to hire BSN. So look up their webpage, Orange Regional Medical Center, in Middletown, NY 10940. Sorry I can't be more specific, but it's worth a look into.

The hospital that I retired from in 2013 , in NY State, wanted to achieve magnet status eventually. So they would hire an ASN , with the understanding that the nurse would become BSN within 2-3 yrs, I forget which. If you were ASN , and had worked there less than 5 yrs, you had to get your BSN in 2 yrs also. If you were there greater than 5 yrs, you were exempt. Many chose to go on anyway, even if they didn't have to. I didn't because I was so close to retirement. Both of the suggestions above are valid; I think you need to plan on BSN if you want to work in a hospital. If they don't require it now, I believe it's just around the corner, everywhere. Just my opinion.

Most I've seen leave move to another facet of health care, such as case management, or teaching. My sister just got her Doctorate in Nursing; she will be teaching. I see many more coming into the field, after having had a different career. That kind of works out well, they only have to put in , say, 20 years, as compared to a 23 yr old newbie, who's looking down the barrel of 40 years.

The staff to pt ratio on that type of unit is not doable. You don't mention the frequent discharges and admissions, but I'm sure it happens, so that you can start with 5, and by the end of the day, have 3 discharges and 2 1/2 admissions( I say 1/2), because sometimes it's just impossible, and you have to hand off half the admit to the oncoming nurse, just so you can get out at 10! I worked in a medium size city in tele, with 52 beds, split into 2 units, North and South. Our ratio started at 1 to 4, quickly went up to 5, and when I left, we were at 6. I too, could not give the care I felt the pts deserved, and they and their families did not understand that. So , yes, I think your ratio is too high. Great for learning, but can burn you out. People would say" tele is always the hardest". Having had experience in other units, I must agree. On the other hand, I am a stress junkie, lol, so I took it as long as I could. If it doesn't suit you, move on, it won't get any better. Good luck! [emoji27]

Orange Regional Medical Center, in Middletown,NY , has excellent pay and benefits. It's about 2/12 hrs from Albany. Don't know the particulars, but worth looking into, depending on how you fare at Albany Med. I worked there for 24 yrs , the hospital itself is new, about 5 yrs old. Good luck in your search! [emoji3]

Horseshoe hit the nail on the head! Personally, I would put it through the shredder! You owe them nothing.

My grand daughter has gone to the nurse 15 times this year already. The nurse and I both know she gets bored easily, and wants to get out of class. My daughter and I had a little chat with her, and the visits have stopped, for now. It's either a sore throat or stomach problems. Argh!! She always comes up with something her teacher can't ignore. I feel for you. By the way, she gets plenty of attention at home.

I think nursing does have to have a degree of "calling" to it. It is hard, demanding, physically and emotionally exhausting. You will see, and smell, and handle things you wouldn't believe. But most who do it, love it. I know I did( I'm retired$. The adrenaline rush of a code, preventing a code, making just a little difference in someone else's life; these are just some of the rewards. But if you don't have a strong stomach, and even stronger sense of duty, it's not for you. That's bedside nursing. There are many other ways to practice. Think it over carefully, it's a big commitment. Good luck!

Ellkpark, I was referring to both. Though the 3 yr diploma schools are excellent, and produce great nurse, where I live in NY state, they would be passed over for a traditional 4 yr bachelors degree, as would the German nurse.

I have worked day shift only during 24 yrs of nursing. But your comments are hurtful and so wrong regarding night shift nurses. Doing 12 hr shifts, they come in at 7, and have plenty to do! And they do it! I have seen nights that got more admissions and transfers than day shift, without the support staff available on days. There are lazy or incompetent nurses on both shifts. Sorry, but your remarks have insulted a large group of hardworking nurses.

I agree with dishes. The 3 year programs(diploma) programs, are not accepted now. BSN requires other courses besides straight nursing. You would do well to investigate further before she gets a rude awakening over here! Hopefully you can find a German nurse that took the same type of education and see how she fared. Good luck!

We have had to do this too. I liken it to double bedded rooms. Is an admission interview private when there's a pt in the other bed? We used to pull the "magic" curtain, and pretend they couldn't hear. They also see one another as they go to the bathroom, or testing. One way we treated at least the privacy problem was to have curtains installed outside the nurses station, where we parked the pt's. No good answer; haven't had any HIPPA complaints

We recently had an incident at our local health psych unit. A well respected, experienced tech was killed. As he was rounding, doing bed checks, a pt was hiding behind the door. Tragic. He never had time to call for help. You say the person was big; if the techs had joined in immediately, that would be 3:1. So either they were too afraid, or didn't know what to do, both unacceptable. Definitely needs to be written up, and different arrangements for a safer office!

I assume she had some blood work done. If not, she needs it. This could be due to renal or liver failure, or septicemia from a UT. As you know, the elderly often don't exhibit the classic symptoms.