Nursing Network for Nurses and Nursing Students - Latest Articles Page 4

Happy Unintentional Ignorance Awareness Week!

By CheesePotato - Happy Unintentional Ignorance Awareness Week! And no, no that is not a thing. Well, not yet anyway. But if I get my say, it will be. Why? Because we are all, each and every one of us, perpetrators of unintentional ignorance, read: idiocy, in the face of individuals who fit "stereotypes" or strike us in particular manner. We are all guilty, at some point or other in our lives, of doing wonderful things such as asking a heavy woman when the baby is due, or, God forbid, rubbing our hands on her stomach while burbling that we're "just so happy for you!". Sometimes we do other... Read More →

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Life after the Boston Marathon Bombing - Coping with the Trauma

By tnbutterfly - As thousands gathered on Monday, April 15, “Patriots Day” to participate in or cheer on runners in one of America’s well-known events, the Boston Marathon, little did anyone know that the sunny day would soon be darkened by senseless acts of terrorism. While thousands were focused on crossing the finish line and completing the race, two brothers had another goal in mind. The horrific drama that gripped Boston, the surrounding area, and the world for more than 5 days, began when two homemade bombs exploded 12 seconds apart near the finish line. Three young people were killed, and... Read More →

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"Nursing School Dropout"- Starting the Path into Nursing

By molly.hershman - "Nursing School Dropout". It was then, as my patient rolled away in her wheelchair to parts unknown, I thought 'well, and that's when nursing school ended’. Week 8, and I had lost my patient. I don’t mean ‘lost’, in that whole sad eyes ‘oh-my-god-how-did-your-patient-die’ lost type of way where people speak in hushed tones and cup your shoulder. No, I mean more like my patient is physically lost, jacket and purse in hand, and is probably hitchhiking to Canada by now in her wheelchair and hospital gown. Somehow I’m going to have to explain to my supervising nurse that I kind of sort... Read More →

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(Remember) Walking In the Sand

By VivaLasViejas - "I Had A Life---But My Job Ate It" proclaims the bumper sticker I just put on our 13-year-old Ford. I don't usually adorn my vehicles with stickers---I've always thought they were sort of tacky---but considering all that's gone on in the past few weeks, it's quite appropriate. I bought the sticker in a funky little gift shop, the kind that can only be found in beach towns like the one my husband and I visited yesterday. We'd gone there on strict physician's orders---my psychiatrist and I share a love of the ocean, and he'd actually written a script for me to take my husband and go to the... Read More →

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Just a "Little" Word

By Tait - We all grow up learning colloquial phrases. Most of us carry them as moments in our hearts of those we love, while other words move along with us, creating subtle verbal idiosyncrasies in our lives. The words I grew up with were odd grammatical positioning of "yet", such as "Are they closed, yet?" or discussing a "schnutterhoontz" which I still believe is some bastardized German word that I can't find on Google for "someone who chatters on about nothing in particular". While both of these are more entertaining than not, one word I realized I use in abundance is "little". Now, one might... Read More →

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Quo Vadis?

By VivaLasViejas - Life, as my grandmother used to say is a very odd little duck......you live through five or six decades, fashioning an existence that (hopefully) reflects your values, and learning to be at peace with who you are and where you're going. Then suddenly "stuff" gets real, and you find yourself standing at a crossroads where you're given a list of choices as to where you want to go next; the only option you don't have is staying where you are. I just arrived at that intersection yesterday. And I already hate it here. For some time now, I've been battling a personal issue that I've... Read More →

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Physical Fit Failure!

By Deena Dooley - After convincing myself that I will “get back in to the swing of things one of these days,” I met a behavior challenge project as any ICU RN would. I became compassionate about my cause. The challenge came by the way of a Kaplan University MSN professor. It was simple! I had to complete a three-week behavioral change engagement to prove my athletic abilities. Of course, within an MSN program, a seven-page paper was produced spotlighting an ego-bruised physically fit failure. Yikes! Armed with the knowledge that a physically fit lifestyle yields high health rewards, I set forth on... Read More →

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Nurses talk to Nurses, Doctors talk to Doctors

By madwife2002 - Nurses talk to Nurses and Doctors talk to Doctors, is this a general understanding of the circle of life within your health care facility? Or is it true to think that Doctors can express their discontent of a nurse but it is not considered acceptable for this to be reciprocated. Unbelievable within the 21st century America that nurses are unable to talk to doctors about the way they behave or their attitude. Is this because we are a female dominated profession or because we are considered the second class citizens of health care professionals? Are we considered experts of our field or... Read More →

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Choosing a Camp

By CampNurse1 - I've been meaning to write this for some time. Spring will be here before we know it, and many nurses are looking for camps to work at this summer. I hope this will be seen as an open-ended thread. I am eager to read the additions our brother and sister nurses make. Each camp has its own unique identity, so my experiences may not apply to you. My motivation is to help nurses avoid some of the mistakes I made when I was new at camp nursing. If you and your job are the right fit, the summer is over before you know it. If you are nursing at the wrong camp, the summer is endless. ... Read More →

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NCLEX-RN: 5th Time Test-taker

By Hello.Kitty.Girl. - Hello everyone! I would like to tell my story to give encouragement to others who are going through the same situation as me. This will be my 5th time taking the NCLEX, which has been a very difficult time for me because I have always wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I even had the fisher price nurse’s kit LOL. After I graduated from nursing school, I signed up for the Kaplan online class. My scores were in the high 50’s to low 60’s so I felt ready to take the test and pass the first time. I waited 2 long long days and paid for the quick results and when I saw the word... Read More →

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New Army Nurse Corps officers: first things first!

By LunahRN - I am speaking fondly to my direct commission brethren (and sistren?) who don't know their ORB from their iPERMS. Some of this will seem obvious to prior service folks, or people who have been in for a while ... as one of the Majors/PAs who works in my ER remarked recently, "Everyone knows that they need to get their transcripts uploaded to iPERMS when they come into the Army!" What? Everyone? I'm part of that "everyone," and I didn't know. I think they should have "Board File 101" at BOLC, especially for those who come in at higher ranks with constructive credit and who might be going to a... Read More →

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Ol' Roy

By VivaLasViejas - A gaunt, elderly gentleman in bib overalls appeared in front of the ancient farmhouse, smoking an unfiltered cigarette and watching me closely as I pulled off the road into the dusty driveway. Next to him stood a dark-haired woman who seemed at first glance to be young enough to be his granddaughter, but whose face, upon closer inspection, was almost as weathered as his. The two greeted me warmly, if a bit cautiously, as I stepped onto the porch. As I've done many times in my career, I had come to evaluate a prospective resident for a move to my assisted-living facility, and once again... Read More →

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What would you do ROOKIE?

By murse301 - So you have worked hard, very hard. The past few years have been gruesome. You have suffered, rejoiced, cried, failed, shook it off and got back up, succeeded, endured countless sacrifices and accomplished the dream! The sleepless nights, missed meals, special occasions you regretfully sent back with I O U s are now over. Congrats! A pat on the back from your closest supporters and you back to the real world. Time to get a job. You start applying to every job that matches your new title of nurse! You start off on the internet. Day in and day out, from sunrise to sunset, the applications... Read More →

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My Name is Susan

By suejgee - My name is Susan, and I’m an alcoholic. I’m also a registered nurse, hold a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, and a Masters in Human Service Administration. I have diabetes, a cirrhotic liver, and haven’t had a drink in fourteen years. And, in spite of my continued sobriety, accomplishments, and dedication to working in the helping professions, I am still considered a social pariah by many. I continually ask myself why the judgment cast on those with addictions by those who have dodged that genetic bullet is so harsh as to be venomous. I still can’t seem to come up with an answer. I’m... Read More →

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Don't Give Up: Strategies for overcoming obstacles as an international student

By Fatimah Alahmed - International students encounter numerous challenges unique to foreigners during their studies abroad, putting them at a disadvantage and often hindering their academic performance. To avoid pitfalls, students should thoroughly prepare themselves for their life changing experience before leaving their home countries. Having a good notion of what the experience and the new culture will be like can prevent complications upon arrival in the host country. Yet no matter how prepared they are, foreign students will inevitably face unforeseeable challenges. Therefore, international students should... Read More →

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