Nursing Network for Nurses and Nursing Students - Latest Articles Page 8

Munchausen by Internet: The Lying Disease that Preys on the Heart

By tnbutterfly - For decades, people have heard of Munchausen syndrome, a disorder characterized by people taking extraordinary measures to fake illnesses or psychological trauma for the sole purpose of attracting attention and sympathy from others. Munchausen sufferers will do almost anything to validate the delusion of their illness. Another variation of this disorder is Munchausen by proxy, in which people physically or psychologically harm loved ones to gain attention and sympathy. In more recent years, a newer variation of this disorder has been noted to infect online communities. Internet ... Read More →

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Bending and Breaking the Rules in Nursing

By TheCommuter - I believe rules can be bent at times. Heck, I feel that some rules can even be outright broken as long as doing so has brightened someone’s day. Billie is a pseudonym for the septuagenarian nursing home resident whom I first met seven years ago when I was a brand new nurse in long term care. She was a strikingly pretty model during her youth, and even as an elderly woman with a terminal prognosis, she still maintained a whimsical cuteness and a stylish flair through tasteful choices in makeup, haircuts, clothing and jewelry. Billie received hospice services because her physician did not... Read More →

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A word to the new, the inexperienced, the overwhelmed and the mystified

By CheesePotato - We all have bad days. I remember when I was new, bright eyed, bushy tailed, rampantly sarcastic (look, some things never change, alright?) and I used to look about and wonder why in the world it never seemed like the most awesome of the awesome never had a bad day, a hair out of place, a drop of sweat on their brow, or their teeth set so hard they were gritted down to nubs. I used to pray to be so unflappable. I used to dream of the time when I would be viewed through that blushing lens of being labeled the go-to, the machine, the reference, the "strong" nurse. And then one... Read More →

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Is your colleague a mind reader? Or just plain lazy

By madwife2002 - Everybody around me at work reacts to situations by becoming angry, retaliatory, vindictive and mean. Nobody I work with and I mean nobody I work with looks at the whole picture with their work colleague they automatically presume that their co-worker is out to get them! I cannot count how many times over the past three years that one of my employees has accused their colleague of being lazy, not helping them and has watched them struggle with a heavy work load. Now while there are minorities that do fit into this category but there are a lot of RN’s who aren’t lazy and will go above and... Read More →

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Class, Race, and Social Issues

By TheCommuter - Issues such as race and social class can rub peoples’ nerves the wrong way, especially if one uses poor wording or an inappropriate tone during discussion. For this reason, I will try to generate discourse regarding the aforementioned topics with the utmost tact and sensitivity. When considering a career in nursing, some people ask interesting questions where race and gender ultimately intersect. “Can I make it in nursing as an African-American male?” “Since I’m a young female nurse who belongs to a racial-ethnic minority, how will I be treated?” “Will my nursing instructors view me... Read More →

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New Grad RN Angst

By danigold - Today is my day off after working three days in a row. However, my eyes popped open at 0530 and would not close again. My brain immediately went into review mode. Shoot! I forgot to give that detail in report! Did I do enough with that brand new admission? Should I have done more before handing over care? Did I miss anything with that patient who did not have a great urine output yesterday? My fellow new grad RN seemed so competent when she took that new ER admission. Do I seem that way to her? And on it goes. As a new grad RN on the step down unit of a small... Read More →

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The Corporate Nurse

By wkndnrse - I started out on this journey to become a nurse to rid the world of illness or at least help in the fight against it. After nursing school, I proudly took a stand alongside my coworkers against the enemy. For every shift I punched in and punched out I gained another morsel of insight. I saw a flicker of possibility. It made sense to me I mean, what other industry, other than healthcare, offers the opportunity to express a love for humanity. One human being helping another who has become downtrodden and sick. To help a person not at ease or in dis-ease. Of course, sacrifices have to be made... Read More →

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My Personal Experience With The NCLEX-RN

By TheCommuter - I'll divulge that the NCLEX-RN was not a completely new experience for me because I had taken and passed the NCLEX-PN back in December 2005 and worked as an LPN for several years. Yes, the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN basically have the same format. I graduated from an LPN-to-RN bridge program in March 2010 and took the NCLEX-RN on May 11, 2010 after approximately eight weeks of preparation. I was fully expecting to sit in the Pearson Vue testing center to answer 265 test questions since all of my former classmates had been receiving lengthy exams (anywhere from 180 to 265 questions). I... Read More →

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A Phone Call

By SarahLeeRN - She called my name down the hallway. To me, at the other nurses’ station. Why she did that, I don’t know. I had a phone next to me. She’s the unit secretary. Why doesn’t she know my extension? “You have a phone call. Johnson’s brother. Wants to speak to his nurse” I call back (now we are just raising our voices at each other, how foolish) “Transfer the call over here.” She calls back at me. “What’s the number at your phone?” Again I wonder- why don’t you know the number? But I don’t ask her aloud. I reply “6015” The phone next to my computer rings and I answer. Read More →

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The Excelsior College Distance Learning ADN Program: Facts, Answers, and Links

By LunahRN - I thought I’d compile some basic information/answers to the questions we see here over and over. This is a work in progress. Please feel free to point out any errors. Thanks! 1. Excelsior College (EC) ADN grads are not eligible for licensure in all states, and some states have additional requirements before NCLEX: . Obtaining a BSN after your RN will not necessarily negate the issues in states that will not recognize EC's education; those states always consider the source of your RN, which would be EC. 2. The school’s ADN program page has great information, including the School of... Read More →

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Challenges of IV starts in the Pediatric Population

By Beverly Sampson - One of the biggest challenges we face as pediatric registered nurses is how to alleviate the fear and anxiety associated with getting an intravenous catheter or IV. As a pediatric nurse for over a decade, this RN has been witness to many different reactions when it comes to needle sticks. There is kicking, screaming, hiding in the bathroom, and the one that is truly heartbreaking is the genuine fear in the faces of our sweet little patients that we treat. The good news is that there are many options available to us as caregivers to help our patients get the treatment they need, while... Read More →

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Running off Grief

By Calabria - It’s with sad irony that I power up the treadmill in the gym exactly 24 hours after I started chest compressions on you. You were my first patient loss. Being new to the NICU (though not new to nursing), I know you won’t be my last. I forced myself down to the gym to run off the grief. The myriad of feelings that I have experienced in the last day is overwhelming. The entire unit, even the doctors, cried as your family walked in to hold you for the first and last time. We held them as they held you. I woke up briefly in the middle of the night. My initial feelings, that I felt like I was... Read More →

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Getting Your Desired Position 101

By BostonTerrierLoverRN - Since the economy went downhill and facilities started hiring seasoned nurses returning from retirement, and housewife nurses that had a husband layed off, etc. the fight for your desired position has intensified. You have to be at the top of your game in this very competitive job market. I have spoken with many other hiring entities about what they look for in a resume, cover letter, and application. What are assets? What are deal breakers? What catches your eyes? What can a new nurse with no experience do to be considered if anything? What about the cliche: If I never get a job, I... Read More →

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Mid-Life Crisis: My Autobiographical Account of My Career as a LPN

By stiffler99 - Ever wonder if you are having a mid-life crisis? Well,I am in the throes of one! I have found myself questioning if there is a difference between having a mid-life crisis, and having a "nervous breakdown." Over the last few years, I have definitely questioned my sanity! I have been a LPN for almost 19 years. In that time , I have worked many specialties: LTC, Doctors' offices in various specialties, staffing relief agencies, home-care, and addictions. I have learned an enormous amount in all of these positions. Some things have been positive, and some things have been negative, but I... Read More →

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Is It Possible To Work During Nursing School?

By TheCommuter - Students commonly ask variations of the following questions: “Is it possible to work while enrolled in the nursing program at my school full-time?” “Should I work while attending nursing school?” The answer is not a clear-cut “yes” or “no” because it really hinges on your financial situation, support system, multitasking skills, views on financial aid, and ability to deal with distractions. For instance, the individual who has always required more time to learn new material and easily gets distracted by side issues might not perform well in nursing school if he attempts to work a full-time... Read More →

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