the reality of transition from MD to RN

[Irina CT]

Hello!

I am a new person here. I would like to get some help. I am a nursing student doing well at Excelsior college. I wonder is it real to graduate from Excelsior, being a foreign MD? I have many years of practising internal medicine in Russia and I was a very successful in my field, but it looks like it means nothing here. The scary stories about failing CNPE made me frustrated. Any inspiration would be a big help for me.

Thank you.

Irina.

[phengro]

Hi Irina.

The only inspiration that I can give you is that "you are not alone!" I know your struggles. I am a foreign MD too, and an IM too, only I took subspec after IM. I am now preparing for the CPNE. Good luck to you!

[Irina CT]

Thank you very much. How you are dealing with a lab station part? I have a very little experience with IV and I have never had wound care ( I was an internist). I am not worry about the calculation and medications but the technical part is frustrating.

[phengro]

Hi Irina. I have just began studying CPNE and just like you I almost have no experience with IV and wound care. Of course, we weren't trained to do that. But, that is expected, there are stuff that nurses are trained for that we do not know, that is why MD and RN are two different professions. Don't get too nervous, and do not be too hard on yourself. I understand your fear but every body else had to face it. Excelsior students have different backgrounds, none of us have had IV training and wound care training in the past, not the LPNs, not the respiratory therapists, maybe except for the paramedics. It is for the nurses to do, we are nursing students now, and we should learn them like all the other students are doing. You may e-mail me of your experiences and worries, I tell you, you are not alone. My e-mail, [email protected].

Thank you very much. How you are dealing with a lab station part? I have a very little experience with IV and I have never had wound care ( I was an internist). I am not worry about the calculation and medications but the technical part is frustrating.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I understand your fear but every body else had to face it. Excelsior students have different backgrounds, none of us have had IV training and wound care training in the past, not the LPNs, not the respiratory therapists, maybe except for the paramedics. It is for the nurses to do, we are nursing students now, and we should learn them like all the other students are doing. .

Correction, wound care was most definitely a part of my nursing school curriculum as a practical nurse. Many PN programs include IV therapy also, I know mine did. Medics learn field dressing but not true wound care due to the type of practice environment that they work in. IV therapy for paramedics is generally emergency medications not therapeutic medications like antibiotics.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Medics learn field dressing but not true wound care due to the type of practice environment that they work in.

Actually, we did more than field dressings in my paramedic program -- my class learned quite a bit more than that. I suspect that is because we did a lot of clinicals in hospitals with RN preceptors. :)

To the others, I suggest you take a workshop to help with these technical skills. Another avenue would be an RN clinical refresher -- yes, you are not RNs yet, but they may let you do parts of the course if you explain your situation. I would check your local colleges for RN refreshers.

[phengro]

To the others, I suggest you take a workshop to help with these technical skills. Another avenue would be an RN clinical refresher -- yes, you are not RNs yet, but they may let you do parts of the course if you explain your situation. I would check your local colleges for RN refreshers.

Thanks, Lunah, for the suggestion.