Hey Rusty, WOW...you certainly have a lot of credentials! That's awesome. I was particularly interested in what you had to say about sign language. I too know ASL that stems from my high school integrating the deaf kids into our elective classes. I knew the alphabet since 6th grade and when I had art with one of the deaf girls, I would spell out everything the teacher was saying. She started teaching me the words and we of course became friends and still keep in touch to this day via email (she lives in Alabama). I also got to know the other deaf kids in school from hanging out with her and still see one of the guys often. My sign is a little rusty, but I am able to have a conversation with him and it comes in handy every now and then when we get a deaf patient. After I graduated from Nursing school (the hardest thing I ever did), I swore I'd never go back to school. I have an ADN and work in the acute hemodialysis unit at a local hospital. Lately I have been feeling the need to get my BSN because I can't see myself doing clinical work for the rest of my career. I never have liked floor nursing and almost quit until I found dialysis. I have been doing dialysis for 6 of my 7 1/2 years of nursing. I found my nitch and think I'm pretty good at it. Patients always say I'm a good stick. But prior to going into nursing I had always been more of a business/banking person and think I would like the "paperwork" side of nursing. Unfortunately, so many of the positions I'm interested in require the BSN. But, I think I will wait on that until after I've taken care of my health. I turn 40 in April of 2005 and hope to be happier and healthier then, than I was my entire 30s. Then perhaps September of that year, I will return to school. Thanks for writing...and I look forward to hearing more from you and the others on this board. I'm trying to get it rolling....... Mary

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

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

I'm ready to kick my journey into high gear. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since my referral was first submitted and I'm tired of being patient and sitting back waiting for my answer. I have not made a nuisance of myself thus far so as not to **** off my insurance company. I have only called about once a week to follow up. But I am tired of hearing, "It's still under review." How long does it take to read my height and weight, figure out my BMI and then say yes or no? I assumed they would say no right away, which is fine cuz I've had my grievance letter ready since before my referral was submitted. I had applied for the surgery in 2002 and found my denial letter a few weeks ago before I submitted my current referral. I started writing my grievance letter because I have until October 22, 2004 to grieve their decision. After attending a seminar at Henry Ford Hospital given by the surgeon I will have, I got a chance to speak with him afterwards. He told me to just re-apply because if I have a BMI of greater than 40 I'd be approved. (my BMI is 54.6) So I thought what's another week to wait to send my grievance letter if HAP denies my new referral? Well, that little week has come and gone and we are coming up on 4 weeks. When grieving to HAP they get 30 days to respond. They may have an extra 15 days if they need to collect more info. As of today, I would have been 7 days away from that 30 days if I had sent my grievance letter in back then. GRRRRRRRR So if they deny me now, I have another 30-45 days to wait!!!! I am ready for this to happen....I guess I'll have to make it happen!

Hi Mary..I am a fellow nurse with knee problems too. I have had once knee surgery and am facing another. Because of my weight I have developed osteonecrosis of my knee. Psych is my specailty but I am currently working as a school nurse. No lifting thank goodness but the getting up and down from my desk 100 times a day is really stressing my knees to the max. I'm still waiting for an appointment with my surgeon. I hate how long this process takes. Debbie....Peekskill New York