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or go to nursing school and than find out they are still in the Pre Req phase? I swear I have seen a good number of people do this, and than when I say, "Oh what semester are you in, I am in this semester" they are like, Oh well I am not actually in yet but I start pre reqs soon, or I just started pre reqs. I wonder why that is. Before I started the actual program I would say if asked that I was doing Pre Reqs to get into the nursing program. Or I am on the waitlist for the nursing program.
In all honesty, when dealing with MOST people just stating that you are "going for nursing" is the easiest thing. Simple, to the point
And thats the bottomline as far as I'm concerned. When asked, what are you in school for - my answer was always nursing. If I felt like it, and if the conversation was progressing, then I went into more details about what you have to do to get into nursing school. I don't always feel like doing detailed explanations, and thats just who I am, whether its nursing or talking about any other subject. I don't see the big deal, but to each his own. I worked my butt off to be accepted to my program but I don't mind anyone saying they are a nursing student, its just semantics. Its not like they are going around pretending they are already doing clinicals and what not.
I don't even think the person buying the kit was silly. She's excited. I believe in positive energy and buying that kit may have been a way for her to apply positive energy and knowing that she will succeed. Kinda like me buying a size 10 dress even though I still have about 30 pounds to lose to get there. LOL. I know I will. Book store's fault if they are not limiting who buys em. Not hers. I bought a stethescope to practice blood pressure when I was still doing A&P. My friend who is already an LPN, helped me. So what may seem silly to you, may have meaningful purpose to someone else. I bought the stethescope for a specific reason. I get really anxious doing practical things and it reassured me that doing it over and over that I could learn it and be OK.
And thats the bottomline as far as I'm concerned. When asked, what are you in school for - my answer was always nursing. If I felt like it, and if the conversation was progressing, then I went into more details about what you have to do to get into nursing school. I don't always feel like doing detailed explanations, and thats just who I am, whether its nursing or talking about any other subject. I don't see the big deal, but to each his own. I worked my butt off to be accepted to my program but I don't mind anyone saying they are a nursing student, its just semantics. Its not like they are going around pretending they are already doing clinicals and what not.I don't even think the person buying the kit was silly. She's excited. I believe in positive energy and buying that kit may have been a way for her to apply positive energy and knowing that she will succeed. Kinda like me buying a size 10 dress even though I still have about 30 pounds to lose to get there. LOL. I know I will. Book store's fault if they are not limiting who buys em. Not hers. I bought a stethescope to practice blood pressure when I was still doing A&P. My friend who is already an LPN, helped me. So what may seem silly to you, may have meaningful purpose to someone else. I bought the stethescope for a specific reason. I get really anxious doing practical things and it reassured me that doing it over and over that I could learn it and be OK.
Yea I bought a scope and BP kit when I was in my pre reqs too because I was excited and wanted to start practicing on taking a BP. To me that is different than buying a kit sold by the school that is sold for a particular class and the kit clearly states the class that it is for which is a Nursing class in which you can't register for unless you have been accepted into the program and starting that same semester.
But that's just me.
For someone that stated maybe she saw something she wanted in the kits. You can't see what's in the kits. They are sealed in a solid color bag and to open you have to have some heavy duty like meat cutting scissors to break open. The kits contain things like Sterile Cath kits, NG suctioning stuff, Injection stuff and IV stuff depending on the semester.
I have never heard a difference between nursing student, and student nurse. They seem like the same thing to me.
Oh well it is what it is. From my very first post all I did was ask if this was something anyone noticed where they are as well because I have seen it a lot at my school. The day I posted it had happened again and a friend and I were talking about it and that is when I wondered if anyone else saw it.
Never once did I say it disturbs any part of my life, gets me all upset or provokes any kind of negative reaction. I have never called a student out that did this and tried to correct them. It was simple curiosity if this happens other places.
The kit thing is annoying, if you were in my program, you would understand why. Regardless I got some good ideas and the problem will soon be addressed for the next semester, apparently their might be some liability with non nursing students buying the kits anyway because of whats in the kits from what I understood today, so it will be looked into.
You all react like this over pre nursing students calling them selves student nurses... I wonder how you are going to react as a nurse hearing a CNA or MA calling themselves a nurse. Please we all have bigger fish to fry. Why should anyone CARE what students are calling themselves.
It only seems bothersome to hear a CNA or MA refer to him or herself as a "nurse" in the healthcare setting. I would be worried that patients/residents may make requests of the CNA that are not within that position's scope of practice (and the CNA then accommodating the patients' wishes).
It doesn't bother me as much as it did. I think when you first get accepted, it's disappointing to hear other people disregard your accomplishment by claiming to be a nursing student when they aren't accepted into the program. It's a big deal to be accepted into my nursing program (it's competitive and we have a nationally ranked program), so at first for me I was kind of mean about other people claiming it since I knew what it took to achieve it. I'm a second-semester junior and there are simply bigger fish to fry at this point.
I actually love mentoring people about the nursing program at my school, and one of my good (guy!) friends is currently doing pre-reqs and planning on applying when it opens up this spring. I don't consider him to be "beneath" me, just at a different stage in his education. I have nothing but respect for those who are doing their best to make their life better, and that includes continuing their education. I had to wait a year and a half longer than I should have to start nursing school due to a missing class and applications once a year only, but I always knew I would be accepted, in much the same way next December I will graduate with my BSN and by the following May I should have my RN. :) I did make the distinction of being "pre-nursing" while I was pre-nursing, but in my head I always considered myself a nursing student and now I'm beginning the transition into feeling like a real nurse. I would never claim that power in a clinical setting, but I think it's a good thing that I feel this way, and I hope my confidence continues to grow. That's the point of practical learning.
I would rather be positive than negative. Those pre-nursing students might be who is standing across from me on a code one day - I WANT them to succeed in the best way possible.
In clinical settings, working with patients, it's entirely inappropriate and furthermore unethical to refer to yourself with a title that is incorrect and outside of your scope of practice.
Let me illustrate the conversation I would often get into as a student doing my pre-reqs. Let's say I'm talking to Bob...
Bob: What are you in school for?
Me: I'm in pre-nursing.
Bob: What is pre-nursing?
Me: it means I'm taking prerequisite courses for nursing.
Bob: Prerequisites? What do you mean? Do you go to the hospital next semester?
Me: No, I have to take these classes before I can even apply to get into the nursing program.
Bob: That sucks, I don't have to do that for my super lucrative and promising philosophy degree. When do you get to go to the hospital?
Me: Well, first I have to take all these science classes in a certain order, get good grades, become a CNA, get on a list, and if I work in healthcare already I might be bumped up, and--
Bob: Yeah, I gotta go.
After about fifty repeats of this conversation, I told people I was a nursing student. End of long drawn out conversation.
And about the kit, holy crap. If people wanted two kits, maybe they should have bought two kits. How dare someone buy something for sale in the bookstore. I'm going to go to my old school's bookstore and buy a World Religions textbook and think of this thread and laugh...
Let me illustrate the conversation I would often get into as a student doing my pre-reqs. Let's say I'm talking to Bob...Bob: What are you in school for?
Me: I'm in pre-nursing.
Bob: What is pre-nursing?
Me: it means I'm taking prerequisite courses for nursing.
Bob: Prerequisites? What do you mean? Do you go to the hospital next semester?
Me: No, I have to take these classes before I can even apply to get into the nursing program.
Bob: That sucks, I don't have to do that for my super lucrative and promising philosophy degree. When do you get to go to the hospital?
Me: Well, first I have to take all these science classes in a certain order, get good grades, become a CNA, get on a list, and if I work in healthcare already I might be bumped up, and--
Bob: Yeah, I gotta go.
After about fifty repeats of this conversation, I told people I was a nursing student. End of long drawn out conversation.
And about the kit, holy crap. If people wanted two kits, maybe they should have bought two kits. How dare someone buy something for sale in the bookstore. I'm going to go to my old school's bookstore and buy a World Religions textbook and think of this thread and laugh...
Maybe you need to get a friend who is a little more bright. I never had to explain that much when I was taking pre-reqs!
Maybe you need to get a friend who is a little more bright. I never had to explain that much when I was taking pre-reqs!
Oh goodness. I guess I figured that since my hypothetical conversation was dripping with sarcasm, people would understand that "Bob" was a random person or far flung acquaintance who started a conversation with me. Of course friends in pre-req classes are going to know what I mean when I say "prerequisites". And my personal friends are going to know what I'm talking about because they are my friends and are aware of what's going on in my life.
Congratulations! Everyone you must come across in your life must be exquisitely bright and insightful about all things.
I never had any problems from anyone not understanding, friend or not. The MOST I was asked was "what are pre reqs" to which I replied "classes you have to take prior to applying for the nursing program" they understood.
I don't think it has anything to do with exquisitely bright or insightful people about all things. It seems pretty self explanatory to me.
I never had any problems from anyone not understanding, friend or not. The MOST I was asked was "what are pre reqs" to which I replied "classes you have to take prior to applying for the nursing program" they understood.I don't think it has anything to do with exquisitely bright or insightful people about all things. It seems pretty self explanatory to me.
And that was your experience, not mine. Which is why you decided to stick with the "I'm in pre-nursing", and I decided to say "I'm a nursing student".
And are you missing the post above questioning the brightness of my friends, and your agreement with said post? Since my original post seems to be misunderstood, I felt the need to clarify. Is everything clear now?
K nurse-one-day
693 Posts
Thats another thing to remember too. Lots of clinical students call themselves "student nurses". To me, Student nurse and nursing student are 2 different things completely.