Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

ONLINE nursing program? Do you not care about the patient's well being?

Posted By: That should answer your question. nm on 2005-12-24
In Reply to: Has anyone ever done an online nursing program or know of anyone that has? nm - Wondering

/


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

Has anyone ever done an online nursing program or know of anyone that has? nm
/
same way in nursing - men in nursing make more on average than women in nursing and quickly
move into management. Just what we needed.
I inquired about that as my MD provides care at a nursing facility & assisted living, he said
that he just hand writes notes it is cheaper, and if patient has to be admitted he dictates a full note at the hospital. But basically he said it was up to the individual facility, so you might want to check into it.
Nursing homes/care facilities aren't all they are cracked up to be (sm)
I have a sibling who just lost their spouse. Every time the spouse was in the nursing home, they became ill to the point of needing hospitalization. Dehydration? They weren't giving the poor thing fluids!!! Kidneys shut down and then they died.

I think I'd rather die before being put into a nursing home and I think I will add that to my advanced directives living will.
Online Program
I've checked into Santa Barbara's program. (not bad). Would you mind sharing the name of the online self-study program you are using?
Probably something in patient care, maybe CNA. sm
They make about as much as I am making and with benefits on top of that at the hospitals around here.
How would an online MTSO know(or care) if
x
Do you think patient care will suffer any?
will treat the laptop like it is you, and ignore you, the patient.
I think the average patient would care and
would think, 'Wow, they sure don't know English.' And what about all the abbreviations a lay person woudl certainly not understand.
where did you get the idea we were involved in patient care?
We are typists with a specialized vocabulary. If we were doing this for NASA, it would not make us rocket scientists.

I am neither advocating, nor participating in, low quality - I do the very best I can with the experience, knowledge, and tools that I have. The fact that employers do not want to pay me enough to survive, thus making my trips through *QA* a little more thorough, ensures that I will get through reports as absolutely expeditiously as possible.

My bottom line is MY survival. Good luck with altruism - it doesn't buy much at Safeway.
vent on failure in patient care

My husband took my son to see the doc for a tetanus shot after he stepped on a nail.  I'm always transcribing and couldn't go there myself.  After coming home from the doctor's office, my son and husband tell me that his foot was never even looked at by even a nurse, let alone the doctor.  My son got the tetanus shot, and the paperwork said "do not give if a fever is present."  Woops, they didn't even take his temperature.  Rather than looking at his foot to determine if it was infected, they just asked my son if it was infected.  I called the office totally irate, and they reduced the charges from $88 to $7.  Wow, didn't expect that.  It's a crying shame that we're a society so hung up on paperwork and billing (HIPAA, etc.) that a doctor or nurse would not even take the time to actually look at a patient's wound.  What's really ironic is that very day I transcribed a report where the doctor states the patient shouldn't self-medicate with vitamins and supplements.  So, we're not smart enough to determine what vitamins and supplements to take, but we are expected to determine whether or not we have an infection?   


 


OR, instead of being funny, it could hurt patient care.
nm
A 2-day strike will not hurt patient care
it will give the physicians something to think about when they have to hand write their STAT H&P for patient's surgery tomorrow.
just like quality care for the patient is going out the window-nm
nm
Anything an MT can do when you have grave concerns about patient care?

Is there anything at all an MT can do when you have grave concerns about the care a patient is receiving? I know the answer to this is probably no, but I am so completely frustrated with my one of "my" doctors right now.  I know that one of his patients is not receiving the proper care, and I am really worried for this patient. I wish I could contact the patient's mother and let her know my concerns, but I know that is not allowed and I would be fired for doing so. I know that I'm not anywhere near as smart as a doctor, but my son has the same condition that this patient does and I know that the patient is not receiving the proper care or even the correct diagnosis. It is hard to go into all of the details for confidentiality reasons. I just know, 100% sure, that this patient deserves better care than he is receiving. 


Sometimes the virtual world that we work in is great, and other times it really stinks. If I were working in the doctor's office I could gently share my concerns (maybe I would still be fired but I could give it a shot). Here in this virtual world where the doctors don't even know I exist I can do absolutely nothing.


I'm just so frustrated at the doctor and so very worried for this patient.


I agree that if it hurts the patient's care you should speak up.
s
And all this time I thought the bottom line was patient care. nm
nm
Could your hubs become a patient of a home health care agency and then you could work for them
s
The hosptial administrators aren't interested in safe patient care.




I venting as a patient! No doctor cares if I live or die--could care less in my eyes!!!

Study found that electronic health records did not boost patient care. sm

Link to article on yahoo news stating that electronic health records fail to improve care, study says.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/records_dc;_ylt=AsT2t1nasUEaoOxgIsyoMUOs0NUE


 


 


Point of Care Program
Hi: I worked for a clinic as the only Transcriptionist with eight full time providers. My clinic opted to go to Point of Care program and I lost my job. I could have stayed working but not as an MT. The "point" of these Point of Care programs is to eliminate the MT job. That was about four years ago. I still hear from friends at the clinic who tell me the docs are not happy with the program, some of them are continually two weeks behind on dictation. It is a lot of extra work for the doctors but they are now stuck with it because of the high cost of investment!! Beware of Point of Care programs. I would go immediately to your supervisor and ask exactly what the plans are and how you as an MT will fit into those plans. It is your job on the line and you have a right to know. Good luck!! Chris
Gack! Is nursing your idea or his? Nursing is highly demanding and long hours.

I'd check with a college counselor/advisor on programs they have for women over 30 to return to academia and enter new careers.  Then I'd ask to take some career tests to see what your interests are and what you'd be be suited for.  Also, there is scholarship money available for women over 30.  Ask about it.  


Since I've already raised my kids, I'd also like to state that jr. high and high school are the years our kids need us at home the most.  Those are the years they can get into the most trouble if left to themselves.  If he's already 9, why not just enter college part-time to finish in about 6 to 7 years?  But definitely go talk to a college counselor.


Bare Minerals IS available at ULTA online,Sephora online...(sm)

...and you don't have to sign up for a makeup "club," or anything. I totally agree with you that this makeup is great for all the basic purposes (coverage, lasting), but their slogan is "Makeup so healthy you can sleep in it." There is a delay in time between when you can apply your powder after moisturizer, but it is really worth it.


To go with your powder I recommend the "pump brush" offered at some of the cosmetic online stores. You fill the handle with your powder mixture (I mix two different powders, changing it up or down according to how much sun I've been getting) and the pump brush will distribute some to the bristles, tap and have at it! This is great for carrying it with you to minimize the loss into the lining of your handbag!


I cannot recommend Bare Minerals enough. I used to be a MAC convert, and have tried everything from Chanel to Maybelline--this product does not disappoint.


Putting patient versus The patient (sm)
When did this "rule" come about? I've been an MT/Editor/medeical records tech/ART for 30 years - Never, ever was I told to put that. You cannot make the sentence be "The patient sent to Radiology" but you can put "Patient sent to Radiology."

Thats just insane.
I have never found a program shorthand does not work with, it works outside the program (I think tha
nm
PRD is a DOS program. I don't think it work with Word, a Window's program.
x
It will count everything if you go in the settings and program it to. Good program!
Sylcount is an awesome and accurate counting program also. That will count everything if you "tell it to".
Kinship care versus foster care/adoption
Having been placed in a position where I now have custody of my 3 YO granddaughter and going through the legal system, I sought an online network of relative caregivers for children. I would encourage you, especially since you are in Georgia, that if you take any children into foster care with the idea of adopting them, there is federal law that requires the state to take certain actions in a specific time frame. When a child is removed from it's bio parent(s), the state is required to investigate any possible relatives who can take the child before foster care is considered, but even before that, reunification with the parents is the priority. Once a child enters the system and is in the system for 15 out of any 22 months, the state is required to find permanent placement for the child.

The problem with this is that there are case workers who may favor a foster family and do not seek out relative care. I have a good friend in Georgia who had to fight all the way to the state level to get custody of her grandson after the child was placed from the hospital into a foster care home with the promise that the foster parents would be allowed to adopt. She has now adopted her grandson, but it was a long, hard battle to get the state to admit their own interests were placed above those of the child and/or family.

If you get a child placed through the state, please make certain there is not a relative who wants that child before you get your hopes up. The courts are now favoring return of children to relatives even after a child has spent years with a foster family who hoped to adopt them.

States get bonus federal funds by complying with the time lines and being able to close the case, so some states place children in foster care because it is easier than trying to locate relatives.

Didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I can't imagine my sweet bella going to someone outside her family.
If it was a clinic, it might have been urgent care, but it was NOT acute care. sm
Acute care refers to work in an acute care setting, a hospital, doing at least History and Physicals, Discharge Summaries, Consultations, Surgery notes, Emergency Department notes, and much more, including GI procedures, Cardiology procedures, Neurological procedures, Pulmonary Function Studies.  It goes on and on and it means and acute care hospital setting, not a clinic.
You can use Shorthand in ANY program, it works outside your program
I have never found a platform it did not work with and I have worked on several different versions of Meditech. Just start using it.
or maybe nursing? lol. j/k nm
nm
Nursing to MT?
Has anyone gone from being a nurse to being an MT or know someone who has? Someone asked me about it and I am not sure what to tell them.

Thanks.
I'm looking into nursing as well...sm.
Already have the basic A&P, terminology, medications and proper doses and welcome the chance to try a hands on job now. Plus a recent confidence boost gave me the kick I needed to finally make a decision. Good luck in whatever you decide.
Nursing...........
My brother in law has 3 degrees (in medicine), is 51 years old, and is in nursing school..

Niece is 30 and just finished up nursing school, as did her fiance, who is 33.

Never too late if that's why ya wanna do!! Good luck to you!!!
nursing..
How about medical research as an RN? That sounds good to me.
Nursing is your problem

Nursing, well there is your problem.  I have interviewed and tested many nurses who wanted to change careers to MT and not one of them could do it.  Nursing is way different than MT.  Nursing terms and medical terms are different.


Way more notches than I will ever see, LOL..whew..well, guess I better just step back, hun..dont want to mess with a super-super-duper-duper MT.


 


When I looked into nursing ...
When I looked into nursing, you had to get at least your LPN or RN training at a real school where you could get the hands-on training. The part you could do on-line would be the more advanced book parts, like getting your BS or masters.
Does anyone know if Nursing Homes have MTs? Thanks.

Nursing Homes
I used to work for a clinic consisting of 6 doctors and they dictated their nursing home visits along the rest of their dictation once a week. Good luck:)
Nursing school
I am a RN. I went to school with a lady in her 50's. She did just fine. I taught aid classes for a while and always encouraged my students to get LVN first then go for RN so you are on the right track. Besides, RN just do alot of paperwork.
I am in nursing school right now...

to get a BSN. I've been in the health care field, including paramedic, medical assistant, etc., and doing MT off and on throughout the past 25 years.  However, seeing the handwriting on the wall re: the future of MT, I decided not to wait until I didn't have a job to try to find one. I own an MTSO, so I make plenty of money now, probably more than I would make as an RN, but I'm not stupid-- that's only going to last another 5 years...so in the meantime I'm in school! I am in a four year program, it was extremely competitive to get in (1000 applicants, took 70). If you didn't have a GPA of 3.5 you didn't get it. So you will have to take that into consideration. There are long waiting lists at all schools though If you go to a community college 2 year program probably the grades won't be such an issue. You will also have to take plenty of prerequesites, which will keep you busy for 1-2 years. The good news is hopefully your MT job will be flexible enough so you can work around a changing school schedule, plus it's not like you have to drive somewhere to work. With your experience in medical records, you will be very strong in charting and every one in your class, including your teachers, will ask you how to spell words. You will at least be familiar with drugs and their uses, i.e. Aricept is for Alzheimer's.


Although it will be very difficult, know that at least you have a future ahead of you that can't be outsourced to India. My friend just finished the same program 2 years ago and she is working 32 hours per week, 3-11 shift at the community hospital and making over $50K plus benefits. That ought to help you get through school!


 


I am in nursing school too...sm
I had an associate of science degree from community college, but then had to take some more prerequisites, including developmental psychology, nutrition and organic chem. I am going for a BSN initially. It took me 2 semesters to get my pre-req's done, then my program is 5 semesters (no summer school). However, I would caution you-- the admit to nursing programs can be quite competitive esp at university level. We had 1000 applicants and they only took 70. If you didn't have a 3.5 GPA, you didn't get it. In addition, nursing school is GRUELING. They only have a full time program. I asked about part time and they said, if you don't want to go full time, get out of the way because 933 other people want your spot. Although all my classmates are straight A students (which you would have to be to get in), some are even failing classes -- that's how hard it is. Not only do you have to attend class, you have to write papers and do a whole bunch of other work outside the classroom. I study all day when I am not in school. My husband does all the cooking and we just skip cleaning for now (LOL). I will be going on for my master's straight out of the BSN class because I already have medical experience (was a medical assistant for years and also a paramedic). So good luck to you and email me if you have any more questions...
Transcription to Nursing
My mom went to nursing school after a divorce when she was in her early 50s.  She was afraid she was too old; I pointed out to her that she was going to continue to age whether or not she got her degree.  She had quite a good career but retired to take care of her (new) husband when he became ill.  She's in her late 60s, and hospitals are offering her incentives to come out of retirement.
Transcription to Nursing

Steph, I had the same questions you did. I am 43 and returned to school this past January to pursue a career in nursing. I posted on the nursing board, check there to see the answers I got. I have decided that it is never too late to do what you really want to. You are only going to live once. I too worried about the future of MT. I decided that if the profession did continue for another 20 years or so that I needed to work, the direction things were going were not for me. I won't kid you, going to school is harder when you are older. The memory is not what it used to be. However, I guarantee you that you will have a better attitude and better study habits because of your age, and your experience in transcription will give you an edge over other students. You will be amazed at how much you really know because of your transcribing. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.


Where are the nursing forums?
I cant find them :(
rethink nursing
Went from MT to nurse in the 90s only back to MT because made more as MT.  Hopefully for you sake things have changed.  Wasted a lot of time getting my RN (plus got hepatits from a splash).  Not tryng to discourage you - you're young - go for it.
Why I didn't go into nursing!
..
Nursing Notes

I have been having an awful time getting straight with my company whether to use parenthesis for (Please see nursing notes.) etc.  I get corrected back and forth whether the word "see" has to be involved or if "per" is enough or even just (Nursing notes.) because it is implied to look there.  (No matter how I do it, eventually someone says it should be done the other way.)


To top it off, now someone else has totally not answered that part of the question but has said it has to be more specific, such as (See nursing notes dated 02/12/2008.)  That, see nursing notes is too vague, so not to used (  ).  I switched to doing it that way, and got corrected again!!


I end up feeling like a pain in the butt because I keep trying to get an answer, but I get so stressed out by constantly being told by a different QA person to do it a different way.


Anyone else with an issue like this?  And, how do you all handle this particular issue? 


re nursing notes and QA
That's really the pits.  My suggestion would be to document all of these ridiculous inconsistencies.  Another idea might be a source such as this board.  While I don't know who you work for, another thing that may be worth your time is to inquire to find out if other MTs are getting this mess as well.  Geez, nothing like feeling like a human yoyo!
nursing notes and QA

When I was told by QA to do it one way and the next QA a different way, I copied the e-mail and sent it to the other QA and the QA manager, and asked them point blank, which way is correct.  So from then on they asked everyone to save their messages from QA to make sure everyone was working on the same page so to speak, and that stopped that, because they were told do it this way.   Because, found out different QA people have been taught one way and the next QA person the other.  They all have to get on the same page, choose one way or the other and not stress anyone out.  Hope this will stop for you.