2real

This is a long way past your post but...did you get the job??? This was good for me to read because I tend to get lax about keeping up with post interview follow ups. I forget how much people are awaiting a reply. Thanks for the reminder!

My ambulatory surgery center has a much smaller budget, and I sensed that the nurses were up to their eyeballs in tote bags and water bottles with company logos, so I asked around what they would like. Starbucks gift certificates won out and were a big hit! Go figure. Keeping it simple. And I use them occas to lure the nurses into picking up a spare shift in a pinch. And it works! They're pretty easy to please. I'm lucky.

do tell...what is your new job that you now love??

LTC facilities are in need of people just like you. And, a new grad has an opportunity to learn many things, and gain invaluable experience. Compromising your integrity and good nursing judgement is a CHOICE. You do not seem to be someone who will allow that to happen. Bravo for youto demand better for our ltc facilities. When more nurses like you are committed and willing to care for the elderly in ltc facilities...and do it RIGHT. Then there is POWER in numbers! The facility has the POWER to relieve the BAD nurses from employment, and REPLACE them with competent , caring nurses like yourself. The days of keeping incompetent staff out of desperation will be over. And, LTC will gain the respect it deserves. Our elders will get the care they DESERVE. And more nurses will WANT to work in LTC! I think you should give it some time before you cut and run. Many nurses start in LTC as new grads, and NEVER leave ...because they LOVE it! Those are the nurses I want taking care of my FAMILY when and if they need it! As timepasses, schedule a mtg with your DON. discuss your concerns. Especially if negligent care continues. She has the power to address the situation. HER license is at stake when this kind of care is overlooked. She/ or he, may not be aware of the practices, and be very interested in investigating it. Not all LTC facilities practice poor , substandard care. Some do- and always will. LTC's generally do not have anywhere the budget to operate as the hospitals you trained in. So it seems so archaeic, and to some degree- it is. Thank insurance, medicare and medicaid reimbursement for that~! But do not discount ALL ltc's because of a bad experience in ONE! Thanks for letting me vent! FYI...I started in LTC as a new grad- got lots of experience that helped me be a better nurse many times over. On the advice of other nurses I left my ltc job, so as not to"lose my skills". I worked 20 years in many areas of nursing. My next job from ltc was to ICU! Why , because I had experience... and a mgr willing to train a dedicated , competent nurse. Then ortho/neuro, then office nurse. Then 15 yrs of Emergency Dept. Now- I've returned to my roots. I HAVE SKILLS. And am nowDON of a LTC facility. And have made it my business and am DETERMINED to elevate the care in ltc's and will not tolerate substandard care in my facility! ....because THEY deserve it! OUR elders- and we'll be one someday too! So we better not drop the ball!

Can someone please give me the job description for ltc DON ? I have been asked to interview and consider this position. While in a Hospital HR dept, applying for another , totally unrelated position. I have 23 yrs of rn experience. Varied alot for awhile, but settled into ER medicine for 15 or more years. I mentioned that I am intent on returning for bsn asap, and feel qualified to teach, or manage the newbies coming in. But I'm not sure which road I want to go. l figure it out in school , which way to go. Then , possibly on toMasters if bsn isn't too much BS! They tell me I am qualified through my many years of experience and good practice. And that I would have an opportunity to both teach staff , and manage staff. Then I will be experienced when I graduate, and can choose best direction for myself then! Is this do-able? Learning DON position and going to accelerated rn-bsn program? I don't completely understand the job description. Why does there seem to be such a huge turnover of DON's and ADON's in LTC? I'm afraid this will possibly hurt my career rather than help it?Where does an older(48) nurse go to retire from the stress and aggravation of ER when they're MAXED OUT? I'm also interviewing for PAT 20 hrs a wk . And ENDO lab 20 hrs a week at my present job where I work in ER. TheyHave great tuition reinbursement. Will the DON job be well over 40/week, and if so, do you get comped later for it? I still want to have a life, but I want good monety too! What are you DON's opinions on your job satisfaction, and life balance?

Thanks for the suggestion. How do I find these jobs? I don't see them in the spectrum or journals. Do I just check known ins. companies' websites? Where do they advertise typically?

I applied for a case mgmt position at my hospital. There are 7 or 8 new openings, so I figured they would be willing to train at least a couple of them! My dilemma is that I have mostly ER, out pt urgent care, and recent PACU experience. I have not worked on the floor for 18 year, and that was ortho/neuro and ICU. Are there new positions for Emergency Dept case managers? It seems to me I recently overheard one being assigned to ER for management of pts. with chronic illnesses, and frequent fliers, and/or drug seekers. Maybe I misunderstood. At any rate I have 23 years experience and have tried many different areas, including some OB office, surgeon office, nursing home--long ago- but mostly ER stuff. Am I out of my league? I'm afraid I'll be a fish out of water, but I really need to get a less stressful job than ER. And I hear so many positive things about case management. I can't say I really understand it completely though, but I'm alwayswilling to learn new skills! Any input or advice , recommendations? Would an Ins. co. be a better route for me?

+I hear ya! It's not that we're just staying in it for the money- it's that we have built a life, and have responsibilities, and bills according to what we've made for the past several years. And to go back to close to minimum wage, or even half-- is huge! It doesn't just impact us- it impacts our families, children as well! For caretakers such as we are, it seems "selfish" to make everyone suffer for our needs,wants, and desires. Guilt is BIG for alot of nurses. How many nurses are Co-Dependent? And Rescuers, or Martyrs even? When have we been encouraged to "put ourselves first"? Unless you've been in counseling, I'll bet these things are foreign to you! That's how burnout begins though. Not taking care of ourselve , til we get to the point that we couldn't take care of someone else to save our life. We just hit a wall-- of putting others first- and we must take care of ourselves or wither away! It becomes survival. I liken it to the football star who should be aware that you get to a certain age, or number of years playing-- and then simply cannot compete any longer at the level once enjoyed. So, those with a back-up plan fare much better than those who grandiose that they are going to be "the exceptional one!' Many are, and continue along just fine...What if you're not one of the those ... in the end , you realize you should have had "a back-up plan"? + I guess my point is "HAVE A BACK UP PLAN; just in case you happen to be the one who needs one! God love the ones who don't need it, but it seems far wiser to consider the possibility! Nursing is a very rewarding, fulfilling life. I don't regret having done it at all. For as many horror stories to tell, there are equal, possibly more, fantastic encounters that overshadow any negative point. But--- "THERE BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD GO I"... we don't know when our time will be up and it's time to move on. Maybe it's our cue that we've done enough , and God is giving us permission to take care of ourselves now, as well as we took care of perfect strangers!

Well, I sympathize completely! I too am a right brained person. working in a left brain world! I also have 22 yrs nursing experience, mostly ER, and tried other positions to mix it up a little. (oh, the stories we could tell) I am presently on a stress leave- for 3 months- desperately trying to muster the courage to go back in 10 days! I want to transfer to another dept. , but HR says I can't apply for another position while I'm on leave. I want to paint!!! I want to create , I want to decorate things, I want to rehab houses! I don't want to take care of other people anymore--- We need to take care of ourselves!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! On finding your way to your new self! No more swimming upstream! I'm happy for you and know you will make it. If you can do nursing for as long as you did- and do it well--YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET OUT TO DO!! Luckily you know what it is and have an option. It's what many of us are praying for. Bless you, good luck,

My ex-hub quit his job in the middle of my second semester of nursing school. He said I would have to drop out and get a full time job to support us. I was devestated, and had children, and finals looming. I stuck it out, finished the semester- worked PT nights at a nursing home to cover necessities. Then I enrolled for the LPN summer course. On completion I could at least work as an LPN and make a little more than a grocery clerk! I did that for a year. Then the next year rolled around , I was on the waiting list for RN classes. An opening came up and I signed up. My husband was furious! I told he he would just have to find a job- any job! He ended up getting a roofing job! Oh well! ... I knew I had to leave the manipulative, verbally abusive , insecure jerk sooner or later. So I decided to increase my odds of survival as a single mom--- And I finished school--with honors! I just knew my life would be better in the end if I just kept plugging. He threw every monkey wrench in that he could muster. I know his insecurity at the prospect of me being able to support myself--- and that it appeared that I was smarter than him---burst his tender ego, and he tried like hell to stop it. He was afraid I would leave him if I was financially able. I suspect your ex may have had the same thoughts. Oh, and they're very big on thinking that "now we're going to hook up with a DR. and leave them in the dust." We can thank the soaps for that! Please don't let anyone stop you! You must be able to support yourself and your kids! Keep the priorties in order. Like they said--food stamps, ssi , loans--whatever you can get , take it. You can pay it back later when you make decent money. It will be hard , but keep the end in sight! It feels good to know it is temporary! You'll feel so GOOD when it's over. And proud, and secure with your ability to persevere and make it through anything life throws you! Nobody can take that away from you! Good luck to you! I wish you the best. (and see a lawyer!)

I have considered the Opah Show numerous times myself! I think if Oprah did a show on the nursing shortage, and what "Real Nurses" have to say about it--- We would finally get Someones attention! Maybe a lot of people-- maybe the entire nation! I say do it!! Big name nurses- wont tell it like it is, I'm afraid.They need to hear from us peons working in the trenches! But I'm sure there may be retaliation from employees- who won't want their employees to be associated with it - because it will make them look bad. They will probably find a way to "terminate your position" Similar to what happens when word gets out that someone is talking about unionizing!

TNTC...Rectally inserted vibrator , unable to retrieve - spent 4 hrs in ER, surgeon finally called in- tried for another 2 hrs. Pt was finally taken to OR to remove under sedation. Spent 5 hrs in pacu--- ON CHRISTMAS EVE!!! He was too tired to go home -- since he'd BEEN UP ALL NIGHT!! I finally sat hi up - tossed him his clothes and told him to SLEEP AT HOME! I missed my family Holiday celebrationfor this yutz. He was too embarrassed to go home - his family was in the waiting room thinking he had some tragic accident--- nobody told them! HIPPA>>gotta luv it! Another day- a man with rectal pain-- bic razor in bowel. Looks mighty impressive on xray! He " got a little carried away while masturbating" WITH A RAZOR??? A pt from the mental health institution was sent for PRIAPISM. It seems his favorite passtime is masturbation. This time the blood clotted and it could not drain-- and became excrutiating! The urologist stuck needles into it all over like a pin cushion! What a sight--( nightmare) then he(urologist) began to stroke up on the shaft of this rather large , swollen , bulging member to try to push the clots out todrain thru the needles he inserted. I told him that i didn't want to tell him how to do his job but... in my experience, pumping a member like that is just gonna keep it in the stae it's in! We chuckled,. Finally he decided to remove the needles and wrap with a pressure dressing and coban. All the while the member is still quite erect and enlarged. Now the patient is in restaints, because whenever his hands are free he compulsively wants to masturbate all the time. So he's flat on his back with this large protrusion. Now I have to transport my patient thru the halls to be admitted! The halls are aflutter with visitors, children, administration this time of day. So I throw a sheet over him and there's no disguising THE THING. THIS IS NO LIE, NO EXXAGERATION-- THIS WAS ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE DAYS OF 15 YRS OF WORKING IN THE ER! I still get razzed about it . I have others but these are some of the most memorable of the top of my head.

I hear cardiac cath lab is a nice dept to work in. They're in big demand, and pay is good. There is call though-- but good $$$ when called in. Other times, procedures are pretty routine--- occas **** hits the fan--- just to keep it interesting! Anyone have comments? I hear the docs are pretty tame since they have to work together so much and get to all know eachother pretty well.

I was hired into ICU fresh out of school. I graduated with honors so I thouhght that was sufficient reeason. I lasted 2 months. I hardly knew what was normal , let alone abnormal. If someone's abdomen was distended I was sure they were bleeding into their belly. An experienced rn pointed out that they were only constipated from all the narcs! Go figure. Plus I rotated all 3 shifts w/in a week and barely knew if I was coming or going. Plus they tried to get me to start all thr HIV pts IV's--- so I could "get experience". Finally I piped up and said, if I fumble an IV start due to lack of experience-- I get AIDS, let's let the "experienced RN's start those" after that I was not there long. I really wanted to work in ER, and I thought ICU would be the next best thing. I was wrong---- there is a world of difference! I have since, finally after getting a couple yrs of "floor nursing " under my belt- worked ER > 15 years. Go with what you love- not just the "impressive" job to get!. Good Luck

I have no answers for you, but am relieved to hear I am not the only one going through this! I thought I was going crazy at age 47! My MD put me on Zoloft last spring-- it was the worst summer iof my life_ I drifted along in as fog all summer - It's a wonder I didn't kill anyone -at work I mean. Simple things that used to be second nature to me, suddenly I have to Look them up- to be sure I'm not mistaken. I'm so forgetful! And yes, the younger versions roll their eyes like I'm crazy- where's the 23 years RN experience you say you have?is the message I read in their eyes! Lately I too have considerd a leave of some sort -til I feel human again. Hang in there, I'll be waiting vicariuosly for a good option along with you!