Can I ask a few dumb questions?

[Twinmom06]

ok - so I see alot of these abbreviations (some which I've been able to figure out on my own) but some I haven't - do they teach you this stuff? Is it part of your first nursing course?

Are you expected to come in with any kind of experience as to auscultating, manual BP's etc? I've found my heartbeat and my daughter's but I can't tell any difference (as in if the heart beats are out of sync etc..)

Your first semester in clinicals - do you pretty much do anything other than watch? (not that watching is bad - I'm definitely a hands on type of learner)...do you generally go one on one with a nurse or does an RN have a gaggle of nursing students with her for procedures? do you do simple stuff like vitals etc?? When do you start doing the more extensive stuff (IV's, Foley's, blood draws?)

sorry to sound so dumb but I'm afraid their going to hand me a needle and tell me to have at it!

[sandyfeet]

- it is more of an insecurity of being in a class of people that are already CNA's and LPN's etc and being clueless...

You shouldn't feel at a disadvantage. Your school is going to teach you everything you need to know, so while initially some people will have more knowledge than you, at some point it will all even out. And you will find that some of the people with experience actually learned a skill the wrong way, or learned a short cut that is unacceptable in NS, and so now they have to overcome a greater obstacle than if they came in without any knowledge. I did some basic caregiving before NS and that was it! I was fine and you will be too. You will pick it up as you go.

I had to comment on your thread too, because it reminded me of a promo on tv for "Golden Girls" playing lately that goes...

Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?

Dorothy: Better than anyone I know.

(Your questions were not dumb at all...hope this made you smile!)