CaronRN58

lori999' Thanks. I learn something every day.

Why are you flushing a JP? They are usually attached to a bulb or hemovac primed suction.

Still have 2 of my original caps. They are tricornered and made from old sheets from the hospital where I trained(diploma)by our pediatric nursing instructor in her spare time. We were capped after the first 6 months, 1 diag. black stripe after 1 year, the second stripe the second year and the third stripe the third year. After graduation we had three black velvet stripes horizontally on each edge of the cap. The cap represented the three hospitals that combined to become the hospital that I graduated from. The pin is also thicornered, gold and has the hospital logo on it. Also has my initials and the year that I graduated on the back. Don't wear it for fear of loosing it.

How nice to see all of the replys to this question. I have always been proud to be a nurse. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse and still love it, warts and all. I keep reminding myself of this fact after a rough evening at work.

Here's the address of her web site. Hope it helps. http://www.preemie-l.org/ CaronRN58

1. Survey surrounding hospitals to find out what they are paying med/surg nurses and pay comparable or above. 2. Staff according to acuity. 3. Affordable medical benefits. 4. A retirement plan comparable to that of any other business of your hospital size. 5. A chance for advancement at the bedside or into management. 6. Tuition reimbursement 7. And last but not least. A caring environment to work in. IE: Nurses helping nurses and good communication between nursing and management. Just some thoughts, CaronRN58

Leah, Here's the chamber of Commerce site for Fort Kent, ME. http://www.fortkentchamber.com/ I think that the cost of living is low and pay may be comparable. It's farming country, close to Canada. Beautiful in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter. The sky is huge and the stars are brighter then any other place I have been. A Maineiac, CaronRN58

quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Chuckie: How do you deal with people like this????? Kindly. You will be old someday and probably still working. We all need to remember to treat each other as well as we treat our patients. An old nurse, CaronRN58

journeyy, I returned to nursing at 42 after taking 20 years off to raise my children. Have been back for >20. It's been a good 20+ years but I'm ready for less stress at this point. CaronRN58

As far as I know there is no age at which a nurse has to retire. In fact the average age of nurses now is between 40 and 45. 65 is my goal,which I will soon reach. Am still working med/surg but only work part time, and will stay per diem after retirement. Good health and a strong back keep you going. Also there is always teaching, management and administration etc. to move on to. Many choices out there for nurses.

I'm from the old school and I wear white most of the time. To me and to most of the patients it says "this person is a nurse". There is something very professional about a crisp white uniform. It makes it easy for the patients to tell the nurse from RT,OT,PT,aides,MD,and the housekeeper etc. Even with a name tag sometimes it hard for them to tell. As for caps. They can stay on the shelf. They were nothing but a nuisance. CaronRN58

This is my first post. Have been lurking for a while and have learned a lot. I think it's called: "Misery loves company". Have had many the same problems at work(hospital)as you are all having. Wish I had a solution other than more nurses to carry the load. We have been looking at using Clinical Ladders to advance bedside nurses who do not want to go into management. Would like some input. Pros and Cons. I did pick up on Brownies(Brownms46) post under the topic"Could this be the Cause of the Nursing Shortage?" Here's her quote: "I feel that clinical ladders would be the best way to go. Many people understand career development levels, as you have associate managers, assist. managers etc. Why not the same thing in nursing? Make the techincal level the start of nursing, and then allow those who want to continue on, the advantage of having a income, while they pursue advancement." CaronRN58