Cosmo&Wanda

Latest Activity

1. Anatomy and Physio

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to natmanzo's topic in General Nursing

   I think everyone forgets a lot of what they learned in A&P. You have to remember the basics of course, but depending on your specialty you might never use some of the more specific things you learned. The good news is you'll have the opportunity ...

2. Advice & Tips on Starting Nursing School

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to quirkyvanilla's topic in LPN/LVN Students

   One piece of advice you might need is to brace yourself for an emotionally challenging ride. Nurses tend to be pretty tenacious, and sometimes that tenacity can come across as abrasive. I've had some professors and colleagues who were downright abusi...

3. What is the best direction for a nursing career?

   Cosmo&Wanda posted a topic in Career Support

   I am wondering if any of you can share your experience in advanced practice nursing. I have a BSN and am thinking about the next step. I am interested in either obtaining a Masters in nursing education, becoming a nurse practitioner, or just amassing...

4. Help with Clinical Nursing Skills

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to Katvee's topic in LPN/LVN Students

   This is the book that got me through all my practical exams in nursing school Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills (7th Edition): Sandra F. Smith, Donna J. Duell RN MS, Barbara C. Martin: 9780132243551: Amazon.com: Books Even if your pro...

5. Nursing student looking for advice from RN's

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to babyDocLHD7's topic in New Nurse

   The HESI is more of a measure of how well you can speak the NCLEX language. You can know all the material but still get tricked by the questions. I recommend doing a lot of practice questions from NCLEX practice books, especially ones that have CDs s...

6. Does suctioning trach's ever get easier?

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to MadpeysRN's topic in General Nursing

   I work on a vent unit so I suction all day long! It becomes like second nature, and I have to say it is satisfying to clear out a mucous plug and then see the patient finally relax and breathe. What I hate doing is wound care, especially when there i...

7. Stupid, I know, but more bad representations of NURSES on tv!

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to uRNmyway's topic in Professionalism

   That kind of thing annoys me too! When watching Nurse Jackie I'm not as annoyed by her drug abuse as I am annoyed by her wearing her scrubs EVERYWHERE! She comes from treating all those patients in the ER and then hugs her kids and lounges around her...

8. Bad Day, How do you get over it?

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to crystalNC's topic in Relations

   It is impossible to please all of your patients and their families. That being said, there are ways to approach them in order to avoid problems. When I have to make patients wait because I have had emergencies, I always make sure to get to those pati...

9. My nclex pn study plan, whats yours?

   Cosmo&Wanda replied to Nursebetty2007's topic in NCLEX

   I used all of the resources that you used with a very similar schedule and I passed on the first try. Sounds like you have a great plan! One thing I did that you didn't mention was to study with a friend a couple of times per week. It was really help...

10. Required textbooks vs. simplified topic specific texbooks

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to saltgeorge's topic in General Students

    Definitely buy the textbooks and read them. Most of my professors would select test questions based on that particular book, and often ask about specific details that the study guides do not address. Be careful not to load up on too many study guides...

11. Lost 1st job because "there are things they don't teach in Nursing School"

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to studentjoy's topic in LPN/LVN

    You're lucky to be out of that place. People are ignoring the patients and covering up narcotics errors, and preceptors are hanging their orientees out to dry! The lesson to be learned from all that is you should trust your instincts. If there is a c...

12. Injury to patient. New nurse questions.

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to amandamichigan's topic in Safety

    One more thing, you might want to write out a statement to make sure your thoughts are straight. Email it to yourself so you don't lose it and you have a time stamp. If you can, keep a copy of the progress note you wrote on that day as well. The inve...

13. Injury to patient. New nurse questions.

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to amandamichigan's topic in Safety

    What does doing "everything you were supposed to do" entail? If you followed your facility's protocol precisely then you have a firm leg to stand on. If you documented carefully then you can be confident that you can be confident if you are interview...

14. Foley cath

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to Vtachy1's topic in Hospice

    In my facility we never cath without a doctor's order. I assume by your question that you facility has a protocol in place that allows nurses to decide when to cath based on urine output. If your protocol does not specifically account for a hospice p...

15. Giving Morphine

    Cosmo&Wanda replied to jg24's topic in LPN/LVN

    You didn't mention if the order was standing or PRN. Sometimes you might hold a standing medication because your patients don't meet criteria, but in the case of hospice you would not. It is ok to give the medication even if your patient is a 0 on th...