False Expectations?

Nursing Students General Students

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Just wanted to know if others thought that too many nursing student's expectations of nursing are maybe jaded by the nurses on ER or other t.v. shows? We are almost done with our first set of clinicals, and one girl dropped out of the program last week because as she said "I'm sick of seeing BM and lifting and moving pts. This is not what I expected of nursing." :angryfire :confused: What did she think--we were going to go in, fresh into nursing school & clinicals to boot, and start giving medications? Call me simple but I love when the family members thank me for doing whatever I did to help their sick loved one. Not to mention the fact that we have also learned trach care, PEG tube flushing, NG tube insertion, and lots of other things hands on. Guess its just different strokes for different folks.

Specializes in ER;med/surg.

Keep a bottle of peppermint oil handy. Works like vics put it's not as strong, also works great for pts with nausea and for some strange reason, if you have a pt that can't pee, put a few drops in the commode. Works 8/10 times!!! I keep mine in my med cart, any BM (ostomy stink is the worst) clean up, nausea or "I can't pee" and I grab my handy bottle of peppermint oil. Costs about $2 at the drug store.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Babe, it'll be much longer than a year. :uhoh3:

I took notice of that too. His plans must be away from the hospital or LTC setting.

Do do occurs, even after all the years I've been a nurse. You do what you gotta do. No dirty butts on my shift. :)

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Keep a bottle of peppermint oil handy. Works like vics put it's not as strong, also works great for pts with nausea and for some strange reason, if you have a pt that can't pee, put a few drops in the commode. Works 8/10 times!!! I keep mine in my med cart, any BM (ostomy stink is the worst) clean up, nausea or "I can't pee" and I grab my handy bottle of peppermint oil. Costs about $2 at the drug store.

Isn't that weird how it stimulates urination?! When I worked on OB, we used it a lot and I swear, it worked most of thetime!!!! :)

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We actually use peppermint oil on our masks for "strong smelling" cases in the OR. If any of you have trouble with odors I highly recommend that you get some of the peppermint oil or Vick's Vapo-rub for putting under your nose.

:balloons: It really works :balloons:

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We used peppermint oil in L&D... works wonders for Mama's who don't want a cath but who can't pee!!

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Keep a bottle of peppermint oil handy. Works like vics put it's not as strong, also works great for pts with nausea and for some strange reason, if you have a pt that can't pee, put a few drops in the commode. Works 8/10 times!!! I keep mine in my med cart, any BM (ostomy stink is the worst) clean up, nausea or "I can't pee" and I grab my handy bottle of peppermint oil. Costs about $2 at the drug store.

Oh Great Blond One!

That was great advice. The pepperment oil I mean. And I will remember it. I gotta share this tidbit tho it has nothing to do with butts or nuts. My mom suffers from terrible leg cramps at night. They wake her right up. An old friend of mine who has been an LPN for 30 years suggested she put 2 large bars of soap under her fitted sheet down by her calves. As God as my witness-she hasn't had a night cramp in 26 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe it?

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Specializes in Med/Surg..

During Orientation last Fall (for all of us applying for this coming Fall) - I couldn't believe that the Head of the Nursing Program had to mention the following to a bunch of adults - She actually said "Get that Soap Opera idea of Nurses out of your head" - you won't be hanging out at the Nurses Station flirting with Doctors - it's a dirty job".

Judging by some of the posts - I guess it wasn't a silly thing for her to mention that during orientation - obviously some people really think what they see on TV is what it's all about. I started a Thread last week about having Pre-Nursing Hospital Tours and I still think it's a very good idea to help weed out those that have no clue what Nursing involves and will quit as soon as they get a whiff of a urine soaked patient or see a large infected wound and get disgusted.

I can't help but think about all the "slots" that these people are taking from those of us that know what we're getting into. I don't know about all Schools - but at mine, if someone drops out after the Program starts - that slot is gone - it's not filled by another applicant and it's such a shame. Anyone who doesn't get in this year - has to wait until next year to re-apply. It's definitely not a job for the faint of heart!!! SusanNC :uhoh3:

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