Where are the PD nurses

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I work in corrections in the UK, mentally disordered and personality disordered offenders. Where are you all, surely there are some threads about Borderlines and Psychopaths, any in Florida...thats where I intend to move in the coming months.

Claire

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lol...sadly borderlines & psychopaths abound everywhere it seems. I am not from Florida however I can safely say that I am certain you shall have no problem finding work in either corrections or forensic psych facillity in that state. Mind you I couldn't say what the going pay rate might be but there are these facillities everywhere & they need nurses just like everyone does. You might also try posting this question in the forensic thread, you may get more response.

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Clair,

I can't get too specific. I don't live anywhere near Florida. There is a foot of snow on my front yard. :(

Generally, in the US, borderlines will be treated on general psych units under a "mood disorder" axis one dx.

Sociopaths tend to be "treated" in the prison system.

Ideally you sould seek a "DBT" treatment facility. (dialextic behavioral threapy)

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Dear Charlie

Thats interesting because DBT is used in the hospital where I work and all the practitioners are familiar with the work of Linehan. Thanks for the information, incidentally there is a foot of snow here too...Lincolnshire Engalnd. i have posted my job alert and shortened resume on the allnurses site so who knows! Its similar in the Uk in that Borderlines that haven't fallen foul of the criminal justice system become the revolving door patients of the NHS mental health services..in and out of the acute units and a heavy drain on resources and their carers. so little is still understood about the disorders, particularly by the psychiatrists since they dont fall neatly into the medical model. can you do me another favour and explain what all the initials mean when describing nurses in the US. We have RMN (registered mental nurse, not very complimentary!), RGN (registered general nurse) and RNLD (Registered nurse for Learning Disabilities) When I look at the job sections in the newspaper and online I have no idea what they are asking for. E.g. what initials are used for mental health nurses. I got mixed up with mental health counsellors I think.

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Clair,

I'm an RN, registered nurse, a legal definition. I have specialties in mental health, emergency care and ethics but my specialties are not defined by my legal status. As far as the law is concerned a nurse is a nurse. There is also a legally defined catagory of LPN, licensed practical nurse. LPN's do treatments,gather vital signs and make observations which they then report to the Registered Nurse who is trained to and under law expected to interpert and evaluate the information so as to determin approapriate immediate care for the patient. LVN is an equivalent term to LPN, I think. In my area LPN's function in less acute care settings like convolesent or nursing homes. An LPN needs special advanced training inorder to medicate patients. There are also APRN's, these are nurses with advanced degrees and training in diagnosis and treatment. They function like an MD writing orders and prescribing meds over their own signature, but do so under the supervision of a fully licensed Medical Doctor.

You may also see mention of CNA, = certified nursing assistent, a nurses aid/orderly who has had formal training and has passed a course in how to take vital signs, assist patients with toileting and meals, bed making and body mechanics, etc.

Other initials: SN = student nurse. GN = graduate nurse (has completed school but not yet passed the board exams.) EMT = emergency medical technician (Ambulence crew) Paramedic = advanced EMT, starts IV lines, gives medication under the radio direction of an emergency room doctor.

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Thanks Charlie, that makes more sense now plus I can see the need for licensure, since the State is trying to attain a general standard. Our Registered Nurses appear on different sections of a Register; mental health is part 13 of the Nursing Midwifery Councils Professional Register. When you did your training, were your placements in all healthcare environments like surgery and medicine, midwifery, pediatrics, mental health for a while before you moved to a separate part of the course which focussed academically and practically on mental health? Thats what I did. We had a while to change our minds.

Claire

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Hi Claire,

I'm hoping to move to Florida soon also. I'm just curious - are you planning on moving on a Green Card? Where are you up to with the immigration procedure? Also, are you RMN? RGN? RNLD? Sorry if I appear nosey, just interested as we are headed in the same direction :)

Tina

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When you did your training, were your placements in all healthcare environments like surgery and medicine, midwifery, pediatrics, mental health for a while before you moved to a separate part of the course which focussed academically and practically on mental health?

To the best of my knowledge the registered nurse is considered to be a generalist at the professional level. Specialization takes place after nursing school and after you have taken the national board exams. The boards are supposed to test for us being safe and minimally competent in all areas. A word about board exams. I don't know what hoops they will make you jump through in Florida. Every state has its own board of nursing and the board exams are sanctioned by the state they are given in. The exams are nationally standardized but the Nurse practice laws are state laws, not federal ones, there can be and are variations state to state. Most states require that nurses take so many credits of continuing education to stay elligible for a licesnse to practice in that state. Vermont where I practice only requires that you be employed as a nurse a certain number of hours per year. :)

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To the best of my knowledge the registered nurse is considered to be a generalist at the professional level. Specialization takes place after nursing school and after you have taken the national board exams. The boards are supposed to test for us being safe and minimally competent in all areas. A word about board exams. I don't know what hoops they will make you jump through in Florida. Every state has its own board of nursing and the board exams are sanctioned by the state they are given in. The exams are nationally standardized but the Nurse practice laws are state laws, not federal ones, there can be and are variations state to state. Most states require that nurses take so many credits of continuing education to stay elligible for a licesnse to practice in that state. Vermont where I practice only requires that you be employed as a nurse a certain number of hours per year. :)

That sounds like a nightmare. In the UK we often complain about the governing body the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) but after reading this I'm quite grateful for one set of national standards.

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Hi Claire,

I'm hoping to move to Florida soon also. I'm just curious - are you planning on moving on a Green Card? Where are you up to with the immigration procedure? Also, are you RMN? RGN? RNLD? Sorry if I appear nosey, just interested as we are headed in the same direction :)

Tina

Not nosy at all! its nice to know there is someone who is in the same boat. i am RMN, and my area of expertise is personality disorder although I care for and treat mental diorders of all kinds (most of our guys have co-morbid axis 1 disorders like depression or severe anxiety disorders, many have OCD traits, almost all have been physically, sexually, psychologically abused and I never met one who hadent abused alcohol or drugs. I have also worked in the community and with the elderly though never in acute (dont think i'm missing much according so some of my friends) anyway we see plaenty of action. I am still investigating the various routes into employment in the States. My family lives there for 6 months so they cant sponsor me. I already have a job offer in a nursing home type facility and like many employers (large ones anyway) they are willing to sponsor my Green card through employment. There is also the option of signing up with an agency and I still havent found out whether my degree and other certifications would be enough to allow me to practice. I have an excellent job at the moment so i'm not in a big hurry. Any information we get could be exchanged though. I am waiting on an email for the Florida Board of Nursing so I will let you know the outcome. What is your qualy? i gather if you are general trained with a nursing degree the pathway is a little smoother.

Kind regards Claire

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Not nosy at all! its nice to know there is someone who is in the same boat. i am RMN, and my area of expertise is personality disorder although I care for and treat mental diorders of all kinds (most of our guys have co-morbid axis 1 disorders like depression or severe anxiety disorders, many have OCD traits, almost all have been physically, sexually, psychologically abused and I never met one who hadent abused alcohol or drugs. I have also worked in the community and with the elderly though never in acute (dont think i'm missing much according so some of my friends) anyway we see plaenty of action. I am still investigating the various routes into employment in the States. My family lives there for 6 months so they cant sponsor me. I already have a job offer in a nursing home type facility and like many employers (large ones anyway) they are willing to sponsor my Green card through employment. There is also the option of signing up with an agency and I still havent found out whether my degree and other certifications would be enough to allow me to practice. I have an excellent job at the moment so i'm not in a big hurry. Any information we get could be exchanged though. I am waiting on an email for the Florida Board of Nursing so I will let you know the outcome. What is your qualy? i gather if you are general trained with a nursing degree the pathway is a little smoother.

Kind regards Claire

Hi again Claire,

I'm an RGN here in the UK and I have made quite a lot of headway down the Green Card route. I'm doing it independently, no agencies, and I can give you the benefit of my experiences to date if you would like. It's not been easy up to now, been very frustrating at times, mainly due to communication. I'm waiting for my ATT for NCLEX from Florida Board of Nursing at the moment. I have a job offer at Florida Hospital and they are petitioning for my immigration.

If you want any info on how to get started I'd be happy to help. Perhaps you could PM me

Tina

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Hi again Claire,

I'm an RGN here in the UK and I have made quite a lot of headway down the Green Card route. I'm doing it independently, no agencies, and I can give you the benefit of my experiences to date if you would like. It's not been easy up to now, been very frustrating at times, mainly due to communication. I'm waiting for my ATT for NCLEX from Florida Board of Nursing at the moment. I have a job offer at Florida Hospital and they are petitioning for my immigration.

If you want any info on how to get started I'd be happy to help. Perhaps you could PM me

Tina

Hi Tina

i've just had an email from the Florida board with details of how I apply to have my qualifications evaluated but thats not the problem at the moment as I think they will measure up OK. Its the NCLEX that will be the problem. I have had a look at some practice papers and the questions are largely general based! I would need some coaching and some appropriate literature to swat with. its a bit deflating actually, I am aware that they are looking at a minimum standard but its been a long time since I did any anatomy, hpysiology or biochemistry e.g. Want to know the best way to prepare for the exam, is there a package or a course I can join. On a more positive note, I would appreciate any info you might have about the immigration process. What about private sponsorship? Or is it best with an employer? Have you had to swat for your NCLEX or are you a bright spark!

Claire is PM private mail, i'm a bit thick at the moment.

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