[Mermaid]

Hello all,

My name is Sally. I am a junior level nursing student at Kent State University in Kent Ohio. I have been reading the forums on allnurses.com for months now and finally decided to stop lurking and starting commenting on the great discussions that you guys have.
I am a nontraditional student (40) with three teenage daughters and a husband to care for while I finish my BS degree in nursing. THREE MORE SEMESTERS to go till I graduate..(Dec. 05)!!! it's been a long haul but I do so love this profession. I've been working as a nurse tech at Akron General Hospital since Jan and am getting a great taste of the working enviornment... guess what.... I STILL love it!!
This next year should be quite trying and interesting for me since we have one income and two full time students to put thru college. My oldest daughter heads off to college as a journalism major.(could'nt talk her into the medical field)
I look forward to getting to know many of you.
Sally (mermaid)

[suzy253]

Hiya Mermaid! Welcome aboard & with your very first post. Time to come out of lurking in the shadows!!! I too am a non-traditional junior student. Look forward to more posts from you! Cheers

[Energizer Bunny]

Hi Sally. Welcome to All Nurses!

[Whistleblower]

Hi Sally,

Nursing is a great profession but watch out for the pitfalls. Good luck in all your endeavors.

[Mermaid]

Originally Posted by Whistleblower

Hi Sally,

Nursing is a great profession but watch out for the pitfalls. Good luck in all your endeavors.

Thank you for the lovely welcome but...... it would be more helpful if you could explain the pitfalls that I am supposed to be watching out for.
Sally

[mai19]

HI! sally.
im new also in this board. im a student nurse in philippines. Hope to be your friend.. God bless you and your family..

[mother/babyRN]

Pitfalls can't really be explained until you encounter some...You know, long hours, politics, rude docs, staff, etc...You have teenagers and I have found if you treat rude docs like teenagers, lots can be accomplished. Welcome welcome welcome!

[Boo439]

Welcome to the board! Kudos to you for juggling so many things while furthering your education. You are an inspiration!

[RNKittyKat]

Hi Sally! We share the same graduation date. Glad to meet you. I'm in my 40's too. At least till October that is.

Welcome!

[Whistleblower]

Originally Posted by Mermaid

Thank you for the lovely welcome but...... it would be more helpful if you could explain the pitfalls that I am supposed to be watching out for.
Sally

Dear Sally,

Advocating for your patients can; believe it or not; be a major pitfall. I know because I was fired for doing just that and I'm not the only one. Ever heard of the famous Barry Adam's case in Massachusetts? Through his and other Nurse Whistleblowers efforts they were able to rally the Massachusetts Nurses Association in convincing the state legislators to pass the 1999 Massachusetts Healthcare Whistle Blower Act. I have currently a lawsuit using the protections in accordance to this act. However justice does not come cheap as I have lost well over $100,000 in lost wages and attorney fees.

As nurses we are legally morally and ethically obligated to advocate and protect our patients from harm either caused by an individual or an entire Hospital; but make no mistake; advocating for our patients is rewarding in itself but can also be costly in more ways then one.

I hope I didn't scare you. Your enthusiasm already tell me you are a great nurse.

Tom