rouqie

I know it's been almost a year since anyone commented on this but this is a place that I often find myself. I believe I am refered to as middle mangement. I get to know what all the big wigs are talking about and sometimes put in my opinion but I also work along side the floor nurses and techs. My job is just to keep peace is a crazy, crazy place but after a while. Peace makers can feel like they are going crazy. A few things that help I do that can help: -Remember that you did the best job that you can do with the resources that you have. No woulda or couldas, here. They don't help so try to stop. -When you go home with it all bottled up and you can't talk to your family about it write it down. I don't mean HIPPA violations. I mean just get your thougthts together and write it out. I help you organize your thoughts and deal with them instead of bottling them in that just makes you numb. -Also find a co-worker that you can talk to who will listen and help you brainstorm for a solution to your problems without adding their problems to yours. -Also most work places offer vacation and sick time, for God's sake take them. Even if it's just an extended weekend, it's something to look forward to.

Long term care is very tricky and difficult. I have been in longer term care for over 10 years. I have lost many good nurses and been left working with some nurses that you want to wonder "how did you actually pass nursing school." Also the fact above is very true. I have talked to the HR department in my facility and they have told me the same two questions. I actually was fell into love with long term care but the great idea of nurses running is far from the reality. I learned years ago that you never quit one job til another one is on the line. I learned that being an nurses aide. So I would stay at your current position, just make sure that you know what is in the scope of your practice and what isn't. Also if you don't get anywhere talking to the usual chain of command in these situations there are a few other options. If your facility gets money from Medicaid/medicare whichi odds are they do. You can notifiy the state department and they area responsible by law to look into your complaint. If you ever feel a patient is being mistreated there is also Adult protective services and they have been great whenever we have dealt with them.

I recently have been also been looking to the MD. I am currently a nursing supervisor and feel that I am burned out from nursing and I'm not even 30!!. I like the science part of nursing and figuring out how things work, so if thought I would look into what it would take to get my MD. You need a masters degrees in a scientific field plus on top of that you will take 4 years of med school. During those 4 years you can not work a second job at all they almost inforce it and give you so much work to do that it's impossible. As if you fail out of med school there is no just picking up were you left off. You are done. Even if you are in your last semester, most schools will make you retake all of med school. Just what I have came across in my research. As I researched on this allnurses.com earlier in the year and found a link to blog posting that some med school students were posting about nurse's and it wasn't flattering at all. It was down right nasty. So if you are preparing to go this path just be prepared for what your in for.

I am looking into Wound educators.com. It's a on line 6 month course and they offer free consultation resources after you graduate. Also you don't need to have your BSN

My facility has went to all online inservices. No classroom time required, unless it's for something clinical.

I have to agree with an earlier post that stated it was how society views the elderly. My sister and I are both Rns we were long term care nurses for years but recently she left to go work in the ER. Everyone tells me I am settling and that my sister is "doing something with her degree." I ways tell people we just work with different people. Now I am a supervisor and people still tell me that I am "wasting my degree." But I tell them it's what I wanna do and it makes me happy so it's not really a waste.

I found that relating the different to situations in the questions to real patients that I have encountered to be the best help. I can't remember facts very well. but when i look at a patient I can remeber what they looked like and what caused their body tolook that way. Also in fundamental remembers you ABC's it save my butt a few times.

I deal with patient census a fair amount. Your facility, I assume is a LTC facility. Has a # of LPN, RN, and aides that it has budgeted for working per patients. If the patients arent' there their isn't any money coming into pay the salaries. My place of work has threaten to cut hours before accross the board and lay off new staff because of census being low. Because most facilities are funded by medicaid and medicare, the government controls the money we have coming in based on the number of patients. My advice to find some place that isn't having the census problems, if you can?

I was thinking of going for my NP, but after reading this thread I realize that as the steady income of my family that I need to reconsider. I am all for more education and have been changing around several nurse's aides sch. to help them go through nursing school. But what is the motivation, besides to increase my base of knowledge, to go back to school? Not more money, or being able to take care of my family better as far as I can see.

What state are you in? I am working in Michigan right now and planning to move to north carolina or tennesse in a few years.

It all depends on your employeer. But if you are going to be a lpn, you may want to look into LTC, because most hospitals, at least in michigan, have stopped highering LPNs.

I would look at your facilities. Policy and procedures as a guideline because no matter what a web site says you must always follow the policy.

I would have them talk to a sex therapist or talk to a mental health specialist. Also I would tell them that their are other ways to have get sexually aroused beside having intercourse. I have seen and heard about so may different sexual things that nothing is suprising to me anymore.

I think someone needs to do a study and come up with a solution to all the depression in LTC nurses. I have been at my current job for nine years. first as a CNA, then LPN, and finally this year RN. I thought that getting my RN would make things a little better and I could get treated a little better but it didn't. I now just get more fustrated and burned out every time I go to work. I talk to my fellow nurses at least every day during my break so that i can vent. I also focus on the patient and what I can do for them. I have learned to try to focus just on the patients and not on all the bull that is flying around. In my job I have approx. 6 different supervisors all telling me different things and telling me not to listen to the other supervisors. So I understand fustration at the job. Also my new boss can't start IV's and has only been a nurse for 2 years. I have learned that in long term care that you need to keep your self educated or you get dummer by the day. I have only been out of school for approx. 6 months and I now feel like I need to go back because everything is changing.

I just wanted to post and thank everyone for the information. I am an LPN who actually loves doing feet my place of work has been having me do all the diabetic foot care trimming and monitoring in between podiatrist visits. I love it. Thanks for all the information and for letting me know that it's normal to like to take care of feet. I was begining to think I just had a crazy pruely non sexual fetish.