Now I know

Hi All, I guess I didn't know this was here. I have seen Rusty's name on the main board and remember hearing about this board, but never came in, how is the nursing community today? I work in a community hospital in Columbus, Ohio and I am an RN. I work as the Risk Manager here. I was a REAL nurse for 27 years, serving in critical care, intermediate care, and management. My last assignment was as nurse manager for a large stepdown unit and an 8 beg open heart surgery unit. That was four years ago. That was when God answered my prayers and I got a phone call asking me if I was interested in Risk Management. The rest is history. I love it! Suzie Open RNY 7-18003

Hi Suzie, Welcome to our forum. The more the merrier. We seem to having a difficult time getting this forum up and working. 'Spose other nurses don't feel the need to be somewhere that certain amounts of information are understood? You're in Risk Management? Wonderful! I was always hoping to get a job as a telephone triage nurse...never got it. My dad used to ask me if I was going to be a "real" nurse when I started teaching at the university. I had a heck of a time convincing him that I was still nursing...supervising 12 students, each with 2 patients...I essentially had 24 patients! And now that I write? Oh brother! That can't be nursing, he says. Someone needs to write for nurses and to the public to inform them about new developments in health. So, as long as we're doing something related to nursing and using our nursing knowledge, we're "real" nurses. If I stay at home and raise kids, I'll be using my nursing background. Right? Cheers, Rusty

So happy to see other nurses catch Rustys post. I work in a pediatrics office. I am proud of the work I do. It is not as important as hospital nursing and I guess I have to admit a tech could do my job. But, I know my nursing education and experience bring something more to my job and i enjoy the respect and trust of my Dr a tech never would get. My Dr is young and asks my opinion on certain things. Welcome. Laurie

Wow, haven't been to the site in a while and stumbled on the the RN site tonight. Horray for us. I say to all you fellow nurses who are fighting insurance companies and waiting for your surgery dates, keep praying and don't give up hope. My BMI was 54 and my insurance approved my surgery the first time around, however it took 5 weeks from the time I got everything ready for my surgeon. His office is the one that submitted all the info to Ins. company, not my PCP. I had my surgery Jan 16 of this year, I consider that my "re-birthday". I am 8 weeks post op and have lost 39 pounds as of last week. I only weigh once a week, otherwise I would be neurotic with the scale. I have been a RN for 33 years, spent most of that time as Med/surg Manager, but also did Administrative Supervision. I am currently the Clinical Services Supervisor on a 20 bed Acute Rehab unit in our local hospital in Fort Walton Beach, and I love it. Nurses are wonderful, but we also develop health problems and obesity like any other person. So, we're human. But now we have found something to help us and I say, Go for it. Everyone at my work place has been more than supportive. I had no negative comments before or after surgery. And I have had to complications (you know, if something bad is going to happen, it will happen to a nurse. Right?) But we are here to reverse that myth. Best to all of you and whoever started this site, horray for you!!