Agree with this! Only become a nurse if YOU want to do it. It's a tough job. nm
Posted By: Nurse MT on 2006-01-30
In Reply to: Gack! Is nursing your idea or his? Nursing is highly demanding and long hours. - What about clinical rotations? Some start at 7 a.
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I agree that it is going to be tough too--sm
I would also opt for a different location for your work space, particularly if hubby is going to have his parents visit, knowing that you are working or want to work. That alone is disrespectful, but that is another discussion. Anyway, try to choose an area that is away from all the talking, visiting, etc. or just have a particular area that is out of the way only when there is company. Otherwise, you DO have to get tough. My own mother happened not to like the kind of hours I was working and began calling me three times a day to *take a break*. I had to get tough and tell her not to. It hurt her feelings, yes, but sometimes you have to do that in order to earn a living. She got over it and now respects my wishes. just my thoughts.
Wow, that is a tough job, but it can be done
Thank you for caring AND for having that cat fixed. He sounds like a great pet! Making him an indoor cat is going to be difficult, but here is what I have done...Make sure he has something high he can sit on, preferably by the window. Get stuff to detract him - my cats like those cardboard scratching things REAL WELL - they aren't expensive and they last a long time. My cats also like catnip (which I put on the scratching thing) little balls of yarn or sparkly stuff that they can bat around the house (usually at night when I'm trying to sleep). I know all cats are different and it may take awhile (but not as long as your think) and be very frustrating, but you can do it. You have a lot of love in your heart. Extra attention and extra treats when he wants to go out. Good luck to you!!! Come back and tell us how it works out.
Boy that is tough
Avrage would have to be between 10 and 15 but in some of mine in a 30 minute tape I get over 1000 lines as there are a lot of consults and letter. But in acute care gotta be close to 10 to 15 depending on how many times they cough, huh, clear their throat and start over. Then sometimes on a 10 minute dictation I get only 50 lines. But I would feel safe saying an averge is 10 to 15 lines.
This is a tough one...sm
since the ports still work with your printer, then it has to be something with your foot pedal. Some foot pedals do not come with software, but mine came with the software for the digital player. perhaps, if that is the same with yours, you would have to uninstall your digital player, reboot, reinstall, reboot, and then try the foot pedal again. for some reason, your computer is not recognizing the footpedal any longer. I really don't think it is a port problem anymore because of the printer working from it. wow! I feel bad for you. the reason why I think it might be the software for your digital player is that NO foot pedal works. if it was just the footpedal itself, one of the others should work. does that make sense? my software for my digital player has to be able to recognize the foot pedal in order for it to work, so that would be my next suggestion is to uninstall and reinstall...don't forget to reboot. my son says reboot is your best friend. keep us advised. but I would be on the phone to the local computer guru for a housecall right about now. good luck.
Even if he's tough, if you keep getting him
often, you should be able to train your ear or make normals to help you. Do keep a notebook where you list his favorite drugs. When I was learning a Korean doctor, if I got her first thing, there were certain words she'd say that could stop me in my tracks. I wrote them on a board, a phonic spelling and then the word she meant. It cracked me up, but it also helped me in the early morning before I had my ears on.
It is a tough one for me. sm
I have a toddler who wakes early. I usually get to bed around 2-3am, sleep till 6am, then when daughter takes her nap from 1-3pm I just lay down and nap with her. I've been known to nap on the couch too while my daughter plays in the living room. Everything is kid proof and I just put up the baby gate so she has to stay in the room and she can easily wake me if she needs to.
I'm luckily usually pretty good with 4-6 hours of sleep though so it isn't so bad. It is hard some days when the neighbors all decide to mow lawn exactly at the time we usually take a nap. 
I know it can be tough, but
don't live paycheck to paycheck  . I've learned the hard way that if 2-3 days will kill your budget and/or cause you not to pay your creditors, then it's time to rethink your pay, how you manage money, and/or your career. I had to rethink all three and am resolving the issues so that even if my employer pays me a week late - which is illegal anyway - it won't kill my budget. Doing a little extra work on the side helps too. 
That is a tough one....sm
He should have more consideration for you than that. That is really inconsiderate. I was under the impression that it was the office's responsibility to load the reports on the computer and all that. Which I have never done tapes that is just what I assumed. I would charge him extra for that. Figure what you are worth per hour and however long it takes you to do this figure how much that would be. If 30 minutes half of what you are worth an hour. As far as turning around, no, gas is too high for all that. As far as waiting you have other things to do I am sure. Maybe he should spell out the doctor's names so you don't have to go back and correct them. I would wait in his office if he didn't take too long I guess. But he is expecting a little much. I think maybe I would mail a letter with updated price changes and say something like due to the time it is taking out of my day to do other work I am going to be charging a fee for loading work on the computer and such. It may only be a $5-10 fee but let them know there will be a charge. Let them know you will wait in the office for a certain amount of time. Say 15-20 minutes. If he doesn't come in by then you have to go because you have other work to do.
That would be tough...
You would have to do about 3300 lines per day, which means that 471 lph is the slowest you could do to meet $100 in 7 hours. VR is really unpredictable in what you have to change. I know there are MTs out there who can edit really fast. I would not say it "can't" be done. I would just say that it would be hard to do.
I buy it too, though will so much ESL out there it must be tough, and you must type a lot! -sm
If you only work 5 days a week that is 14 hours a day w/o breaks, so say a min. of 15 hours with breaks. Whew! I presume its just you and no family though as that is no life to lead if you have a family. When I was working more I typed about 7 hours during the day and another 3-5 at night and that was too much and I hardly made anything due to ESL, etc. I was lucky to do 800 lines in a day with that. Now though I am only doing some PT work and working 2-6 hours a day depending on the day/night of the week (and doing 3-6 hours over the weekend too) and how Jenny is feeling, doctor appts, etc. So my paychecks are weeny ($250-$350) right now but hope that one day I can at least break 10,000 lines per pay.....nice to know what can be acheived if you have all the right factors fall together.
No. If I have had a particularly tough ESL, I might relisten to
that paragraph but never a whole report.
Tough situation
I really think that what she is doing is wrong and like you said dishones and not loyal to your company. I would definitely bring it to your managers attention.
thats a tough call but he seems to be
attached to his routine which clearly centers around kids and your home. You could try taking him with you, see how he does but let a neighbor from your neighborhood now know that if he shows up back there to call you.
All the ideas are great, he may prefer the old hood but may be fine n the new. Cats are so finicky but mine transitioned from the old home to an apt just fine. Good luck, you have a heart of gold!
Tough choice, for sure.
Are you married? If so, does your husband's income pay the bills? If that is the case, then I would tell you without hesitation to go to Andrews. The mentorship might be a good option if you feel confident they will teach you enough to make you employable at other companies and not just their own. An Andrews education would ensure you employability with many different companies and would secure your future in a way that mentorship may not. Again, this depends on the company doing the mentoring and I have no information on this particular company so I can't speak to that. I do know that Andrews graduates are work-ready and that Andrews will help facilitate job placement as well. (I have no affiliation with Andrews, for the record. I am an MTSO that hires and fires and just know from experience that Andrews graduates are always well-trained.)
If you simply cannot afford to give up the job you have now and you can't work the mentorship around your current job, you still might be able to study with Andrews and work that around your current job since I believe with Andrews, you can work at your own pace. M-Tec is another good school that I believe also allows you to work at your own pace.
Good luck to you!
Psych can be tough.
Would they give you a training period in psych, a few months at least? Psych is no breeze, you would definitely need references, and some internet sites. It will take some getting used to. But it can be fun!
Tough decision
I have been an MT for just over 20 years. I don't think I would ever consider QA. Knowing the poor quality of many (not all) of the MTs these days keeps me from even considering it. Knowing that the reports that I personaly end up sending to QA are the worst of the worst, I would think that is what other seasoned MTs are sending.....which means YES you are getting nothing but garbage coming your way. Inexperienced MT work *plus* don't-give-a-crap-except-for-my-line-count MT work *plus* really tough stuff from experienced MTs *equals* NOT FOR ME!!!
When I get ready to sit down and work I HOPE there are some good dictators in my future.....being QA I could almost bet I'm going to have a crappy day. I for one could not take that day in and day out. Plus the money is so much better in MT. I am going to try ASR soon, so a mixture of ME and MT. We'll see how I like that. Good luck with your decision.
Another thought would be that I might consider QAing for a hospital that has their employees at home, NOT a national company. Like the university hospital where I used to work. If I knew the quality of the MTs was up there, and that the MT supervisor tries his/her best to get onto the horrible dictators.
Best of luck with your decision.
This is such a tough question...sm
Yes, in a way I guess we should be responsible for our aging parents, however, I believe there comes a point when other options are necessary. When your parents raised and took care of you, they had options of other family members or daycare or babysitters to get some time away. When caring for aging and sick parents options to get away are very slim. My in laws are currently in this situation. They are taking care of my mother in laws mother (husbands grandma). She had a stroke and is bedridden. They have a nurse during the day while they go to work, but after work, all night, and all weekends, it is their responsibility to be with her and care for her. They have to do everything in shifts because they cannot leave her. They are missing so much of life and their grandchildren. All they do is take care of her. While part of me does think that is an admirable thing to do, the other part has to question do you give up your life to take care of an aging sick parent? She could go on like this for the next 10 years.. or more. I just think that maybe there comes a point when you should look for other options too. It is a tough question.
Wow, very tough situation.
If the relationship means a lot to you, maybe you can try talking with the husband and explain that he made you very uncomfortable and you really want to remain her friend and you would prefer that he make himself otherwise occupied or act like a gentleman when you go to visit. Explain to him that's the reason you are avoiding her. If he has any decency, he will respect that. If that is not an option....if she contacts you again, you should just tell her. Basically if the frienship is going to be over anyway, and you feel awkward about her wondering why, why not? You don't have to go into detail. Just say, you know, I never told you but years ago your husband made a pass at me and now that I'm newly single it is making me uncomfortable. If she doesn't believe you say I didn't think you would and that is why I never told you. That's it. That's what I would do. But that's me. Good luck!
I'm sure that is tough to find someone
bogged down by the end of the week. I wish I had a C-phone, I could probably help you. I work for a company on-line that I pick right up on new accounts with simply a sample report of any specialty. These types of MTs are hard to come by because they are usually the ones with many years of experience and as the poster states they are usually so busy themselves. I agree it sounds like you need someone willing to take off running say maybe even Thursday or Friday night to have the work back to you at least by Sunday evening. My experience, like yours, is you are better off starting with a clean slate Monday a.m. By Wednesday you are beating feet to stay within TAT if you have a lot of accounts. I'll keep my eye out for a C-phone. I've often wondered if it isn't better to have one on hand for these types of accounts. I still transcribe tapes with pick-up and delivery of printed reports, so I know where you're coming from, believe me. 
It's tough to balance it all.
I've got a very full life, too. DH puts in a lot of hours at his job, but he doesn't see that I put in just as many. When he takes a break at work, he gets to sit down somewhere and actually eat or drink a Starbucks coffee. I have to make my own coffee, drop a kid off, pick a kid up or swap out a load of laundry during my "breaks" just to keep up. He does put in long hours at his job, and he's too tired to help out with household chores. He doesn't have time to get his errands done during the day either because he's got a demanding job. The kids do help out around here, too, but they have really full schedules with school, sports, jobs and friends. We've got pets contributing to the mess. Even my relatives call during the day for help with stuff. Cooking, grocery shopping, errands, bills and finances all fall on me to do. It's a load of bunk. I told DH I wasn't going to do MT full-time any more because of everything else I do around here. Why should I make as much money (or more) than he does, work just as many hours, and do EVERYTHING else that is expected of me? I even got hired part-time at an MT job, but they're trying to creep the hours up on me again. Plus, I have a second part-time job that's pretty demanding and just not worth what they pay me. I've got people demanding of me from sunrise to sunset, and I'm sick of it all! I'd like to sit on my backside and watch a TV program or movie for a change. I'd like to be have time to pursue my hobbies.
You (we) gotta get mean! JUST SAY NO to all the people badgering you all the time. Don't answer the phone or the door. Use caller ID and put a "do not disturb" note on the door. Lock or close your office door if you have one. Stay focused. Set work goals for yourself. I type at least 30 minutes of dictation before taking a break to go swap out laundry and stretch, then I get back to it. Assess your life and see what you can cut back on or streamline. Make a list of daily chores that take less than 5 minutes to do, and do those throughout the day. Delegate, ask for help.
It's a very tough market right now...sm.
I have 8 years experience and have been testing left and right for the last 3 months. I have passed several tests only to hear about the company being put on a hiring freeze and I am added to their waiting list. I have also tested and done very well and not heard anything back. I finally made the decision that I am going to go to nursing school but right now is not a good time either (my husband has been out of work since April of 2008). He finished his degree and STILL cannot find a job.
Keep faith..it will come through. Maybe instead of having to drive into town, you could send your resume to all the local doctors, dentists, veterinarians, eye doctors, anyone who maybe has been thinking they are too busy to do their own notes. I have heard that this has worked for many people. It is always worth the effort. If you are a good general Transcriptionist too, don't just stop at medical. Send you resume to insurance businesses, lawyers, whatever might be there.
Good Luck and God Bless.
Actually, I was never a nurse.
However, I was a certified lifeguard (among other things) before I got into MT. I do well enough at it that I quit my fulltime federal job to stay home with my kids. They fly around the house while I type.
<img src=http://www.mopspace.com/flying%20monkey.jpg">
I was a nurse and became an MT...
without attending a formal MT school, however, I had a mentor who was a small MTSO. She gave me the tapes (the 80s) and I muddled my way through it. But it was not office notes, it was hospital work. Big big difference. And, it took me 2 yrs to be up to snuff with all the accents, dictation styles, and vast range of hospital reports. It was by no means a "snap."
Does this look like Ask-A-Nurse? These are MTs here, and
lots of them aren't even good at that, let alone doing triage over the Internet for your son.
I have a nurse
that says "just put" before every sentence...I've considered typing "just put" LOL.
I also have another doctor that says "At the present time" every other sentence.
Oh and then there is one that likes to be cute and say 78-year-young patient
but the most annoying thing to me of all are the doctors that dictate half a report and then start over at some random spot for absolutely no reason but say everything differently so you have to retype the whole freaking report!
If they could hear the garbage we make into nice pretty finished documents they would definitely pay more! I guarantee they don't ever listen back and see what they are saying!
Oh one more...
the doc i'm typing right now leaves words out. "Attempted (to) contact Dr. SoandSo (he) could not (be) reached."
*sigh*
how old is too old to become a nurse...sm
I have been contemplating my life and was thinking about going back to school to become a nurse, but I will be 48 this year and I was wondering at what point a person is getting too old to go into nursing due to the physical strains. Just curious. 
Nurse....
In my bio class (prereq for nursing) there is a woman who is 50. I don't think you're ever too old. Another thing, not all nursing jobs are physically demanding. It just depends on where you choose work.
why not ask a nurse or two?
x
Tough situation. Have you searched the ads and
applied with the companies who have been advertising ER accounts? I know I just saw 1 this past month or so. I do believe there is a good place for you; it'll just take digging and time. I would absolutely refuse to do so many different unless in the same field. Right now I have probably 15 different docs but all in the same field so it is not bad.
I have no idea how anyone makes 50K+ unless they are tied to the computer day and night....not my choice or my life.
Good luck and I hope you find some sort of resolution to this.
That is a tough situation ONLY because you know the account so well. sm
WOW! I think I would put up with A LOT if I had an account that was easy to me, but then again give it to me and treat me that way and see what I would do...From my experience, it is hard to come by good accounts. That is the problem. These MTSOs know that if you are lucky enough to get a good account or if you are familiar with an account, then you won't want to lose it, therefore treating you like doggy-doo. It is a total shame the way this industry has taken into shape.
If it were me, I would just suck it up IF it is easy money, and go along and ignore them. Hey, at least you are at home and you can say bad things to them or make mean, funny gestures at them...lol.....without them knowing...
Tough call with no contract, but
dictation you have in your possession until the previous balance is paid. Sometimes offices do not even realize they have done this. I have waited to be paid as well. If this is a pick-up/drop-off whereas you go into the office, I would mention amongst those office workers that your mortgage company is really on your back because you haven't received your paycheck. I know that sounds really cheesy, but it works. The physician will definitely not want his/her office staff thinking he/she does not pay their staff. Puts a "stink" through the office. Now, you have to be classy about this when you are there though, real tactful, and even sort of make a joke about it. Laugh, laugh, laugh... while saying the mortgage company just does not want to hear it. But it does sound like you have already given notice, so I guess it will not matter for future endeavors. JMO. This is why contracts are so important because I do not really think you can even take the doc to small claims court to recoup because of the lack of a contract. If they desire your future services, then you need to draft a contract. 
That's tough, I think I'd try it thinking I could get another job back in MT if I had to.
It really sounds like too good an opportunity to not at least give it a try. If it doesn't work out, it would still be a great experience I think.
nope...makes it tough.
`
Iam sorry to hear that, Pauline. I know it is tough right now. sm
I am sorry this happened to you.
Hmm. I'm making 0.095/hr., but the work is tough
That's because the daily minimum # of lines required to maintain employment takes not 8 hours to complete, but more like 12-13 hours per day, 6 1/2 days per week.
Registered Nurse or registered nurse
I think I am just tired. The patient is a Registered Nurse. Should that be capitalized?
School nurse
I was really stupid about them. My child was complaining that something was in his head, and I actually took him to school nurse, she said he did not have them. By the time I actually caught on, we had a terrible infestation, and I have been obsessed with them ever since. Even going to the beauty shop, the hairdresser will pick up the same hairbrush she has used on everyone and use it on you. I am hypersensitive to them after the infestation we had. Probably not smart to treat beforehand, but gosh, we had a horrible time several years back, you could not even find that stuff (Nix) in the stores, they were sold out.
I did MT before becoming a nurse, return afterwards. sm
Hated nursing. It wasn't all that I thought it would be. I found I could make more being an MT and with a heckuva lot less stress and backbreaking labor.
First you think we're Ask-A-Nurse...
then you blame some of those who actually did try to help you. Hello? What an idiot. Truly.
With the help from a mother who is a nurse. nm
x
If MT got me 50k, I wouldn't need to be a nurse. lol sm
But I am about a quarter away from an AAS in HIM but am dropping and moving to nursing. I'll have to do all the science prereqs, which are the hardest, so it will still take me about 3 years too for a 4-yr degree.
CNA is not a nurse and should in no shape or
form be performing anything other than assisting patient with ADLS, doing vitals, etc. I can't believe a reputable medical facility would allow her to perform such duties without proper education/certification and this needs to be brought to the attention of management. If indeed this is true she is a major liability. If the facility accepts Medicaid/Medicare they would lose their license, not to mention possible lawsuits.
Oh and by the way, being a nurse in no way qualifies you to be and MT. SM
That was my point.
Nurse practitioner
Does anyone have a good website to find Nurse Practitioner addresses?
TIA
Stacy
Work as a nurse? Ugh, ugh, UGH! sm
You have to really be a "people person" to want to be a nurse, wipe old people's butts and clean bedpans and patient vomit. (AND have to deal with the doctors in PERSON.) I give total credit to anyone in that profession, but it's just not for me. And still, school-wise, there is a lot of remedial math, science and biology I'd have to take before I'd ever even be considered for nursing school. I guess that's the price I pay for being an English/Art major. I had MANY office jobs, plus a small business of my own, before I ever even went to night school to learn MT. I got so tired of dealing with callous, power-hungry management people, back-stabbing co-workers, reviews, meetings, politics, dress requirements, pantyhose, unmanageable hair, you-name-it. Working with words and voice-recordings was my cup of tea, and back in "The Day", we were valued (as human beings, not just extensions of machinery) by our employers. Sometimes "progress" isn't as good a thing over the long haul as it looks initially.
That is when you either call for a nurse to come in and
help explain, ask for another physician, or leave. There is no reason for a physician to be working in the U.S. and not be able to understand the citizens that he is trying to help. In that situation the manager or someone would be notified, whether I decided to stick around.
nurse anestis
Anyone know what a "nurse anestis" is? Not sure that is the correct spelling . . . thanks!
Nurse anesthesiologist is
The one that stays with the patient's once the anesthesiologist puts them under..They for the most part monitor and advise if there is a problem...
My husband had a nurse tell him
she tips her hat to his wife doing MT. She could not do it. She thought she could, but when she sat down, she gave up in about 5 minutes. She stated that she didn't know how I understood what the doctors are saying; they talk so fast. Yes, we are highly underpaid for the skill set we have as MTs. I also had a physician tell his resident students that he was mentoring that they should transcribe for about a year before they have finished medical school and they might just learn something. LOL
well, I stand corrected, he's a pretty tough guy to please.
.
Goodness! That is just awful. Seems to need a tough skin to
xx
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