[challenged annie]

Dear all new starters,
wellcome to not the most wonderfull of professions. Tips for survival
1. Let your hair down after each shift
2. Dont be used as an extra pair of hands
3. Be dedicated
4. try and leave early where possible, you wont be able to when your qualified
5. have a sence of humour
6. enjoy coz if you don't its not worth dticking to it

[NursesCallTheShots]

Hi I'm a student nurse and I am never afraid to ask questions. But I really hate it when I approach some nurses on my unit with questions they give me that certain look as if they think I'm dumb! I hate that. I feel so intimidated.I am only a student and in the process of learning and wanting to learn.

[challenged annie]

Dont worry i just qualified and im still no expert. If you dont ask thats when mistakes can happen. Nursing can be one of those jobs where everyone is on their high horse thinking they are an angel. Dont worry and good luck

[clfewtrn]

This is my first year in nursing school. I completed my college credits and so I'm doing basic nursing clinicals and skills. Some days it is so hard to remember every thing. I started keeping little notecards of all the important handouts. i shrink them down on my computer and keep them in my pockets where ever I go. And I do mean where every I go!!!!!! Shopping for groceries I study. At the doctors office I study!!!! At my son's football game at half-time I study. I find that I open my mouth now and the answer comes out and I amm suprised at the fact that i know that answer. clfewtrn

[WindwardOahuRN]

Okay, as a nurse with over 30 years experience (LPN and RN), I am going to give you guys a bit of advice here.

ASK---if you don't know, don't fake it. The old-timers absolutely do NOT expect you to know everything. They know you are scared poopless. Contrary to popular belief, older nurses do NOT eat their young. Too many bones ;-D. We know that you are the future of nursing, and most likely (hopefully, even) will be the ones taking care of us when we inevitably succumb to life's physical insults.

PITCH IN---yeah, we know that you have no clue how to transdermally pace a patient in an emergency. Just hang around, offer to be a gopher, and LEARN by OBSERVING. We'll totally respect you for that. Most of us will grab your hand and guide you as you input the settings into the pacer. That is, if we sense you're interested. Hide, and you have written your epitaph.

DO NOT (under any circumstances) UTTER THE PHRASE "Well, this is how we did it in school"----SLAP!! Real life is NOT school. Book learning is a foundation, not a house. You live in a house, not on a foundation.

I think I am done for now.

Yours truly,
WindwardOahuRn, aka ICU maniac

[janetrette]

- always carry a penlight esp if you're working at nights!

- i carry a pad with me to jock down any things i need to remember.

- print out a list of your patient names with id number if possible to carry in your pocket. so you don't look like a fool if you're talking to the pharamist asking for the mr number.

- have water nearby your cart

- try to make some time for the restroom.

[lmaddox]

Hi,
My name is trina. I am a 1st year nursing student. I am truly excited about being in the nursing program, but I am so dissappointed in myself after my 1st test grade. I got a C, but I did everything that I was suppose to do, at least I thought.
Can anyone give me tips on how to take a nursing test, Please!!!!!!
Thanks
Trina

[Rayrae]

Trina... have you checked out the nursing student section of the forum? It is a great place. I bet you will get a lot of good answers there, as well. Nursing tests are different from otehr kinds of tests, and maybe now that you have an idea what to expect you will know better how to prepare next time? Good luck!

[asilmk]

Thanks for all the great info.

[challenged annie]

hey who ever says dont talk about well in college we were told to do it differently. Im a qualified nurse and its important to bring about up to date evidence based practice. People who talk about not saying what you have previously learned are most obviously old school and holding the nursing profession back. unless you read journals every day its usefull to have new faces to explain new ideas. If there not practicle then we will just say and give explanation. too many qualified nurses make short cuts which is where mistakes lye