auburngirl95

So happy that you had/have a good preceptor. It is a rare thing these days I think.

Wonderbee, Congrats to you!!! I just accepted a job in a PHC in pediatrics. Complete dream job for me. I start at the end of the month. Hope your start is great!!

My mom is 68 and has middle stage Alzh. She lives with us. It is challenging to say the least. She has yet to be violent. for the most part she is just grumpy, not a big change from before. Enjoy the time you may have with your loved one. Dont focus on what may or may not come down the road. Take it one day at a time.

I actually was a student when I experienced a fetal demise. I tried really hard to understand it and help the couple have what they needed at the time. As a parent it was hard. I thought of my 2 healthy kids at home. My heart broke for that mom and dad who left with no baby. I cried in my car on the way home. And I prayed for God to watch over that couple and protect them from the thoughts that could tear them apart in the weeks/months to come. And for that baby whose life ended too soon.

Check Critical concepts. They have offices in Fl and offer many different certifications. I think I remember seeing one for phlebotomy.

Congrats!!! It is a start!

Stick to the basics like you said. Ask questions at your orientation to vents. And when you need to ask again. I work with kids on vents in a home setting. It can be intimidating and overwhelming to say the least. good luck

Hang in there and don't give up!! It is tough. I graduated in May 09 and have yet to find a job in a hospital. But I was able to take a position in pediatric home health. I am still applying to GN programs and hoping to get into a 2/10 pediatric rotation. I have also started the process to get my BSN. As much as I don't want to do school again right now I am not sure I have time to waste. Don't give up!! Your degree was worth it and you are worth the time. hugs

Try Critical Concepts. Not sure if they have a program in your area. I am taking their class in Dec in FL

Even though I only have 2 months of experience, not hospital, I am still going to attend a job fair tomorrow. The listing says "1 year experience or more" but hey, it gets my face and name out there.

Hi and congrats on getting into VCC's program. I graduated their program May 09. It was a great program. Are you sure it says you need a Littmann? If so that is new. I purchased a stethoscope at orientation, a very basic one. If they do require you to have a Littmann then go to scrubs4u on Orange Ave. They will probably give you a discount AND they not overpriced. I just purchased a pediatric Littmann there a few weeks ago. Good luck to you!

I have one wrist tattoo and 2 others that can be hidden(lower back and ankle), no one has said anything about my wrist one. In clinicals my watch fell nicely over top of it and I dont think anyone noticed. Mine is also a word "rock" which is my family, (husband, son, daughter and me). So as tatt's go I dont think it gets noticed.

I would say that pre-reqs are a different way of thinking. You do a lot of memorizing in A&P, bio and micro. While you do some memorizing, like meds, in nursing school most of it is application of the nursing process. IMO it is a completely different way of thinking that takes practice. In my program we did not have essay writing. We did have discussion groups and you had to post articles and back up information for your reasonings.

I for one love Peds. I have a Bachelors in Child Development. When I went to nursing school I knew Peds would be where I ended up. It is a very natural thing for me. Yes, parents can be a pain. But those sweet smiles make it worth it to me. That being said I never imagined I would be doing pediatric home health. I graduated in May and have been unable to find a hospital. I had one opportunity to take an adult nursing job in the hospital but felt that I would be taking that from someone who likes working with adults, so I declined. I then found the company I now work for. I work with what I say are special needs kids. Most have cerebral palsy, are on trachs, vents, and have g-tubes. Some can communicate with you and some can't. Some were born that way and some are the results of near drownings or car accidents. But I find that as I talk to them and take care of them my heart is happy. I figured I would be doing acute hospital care out of school. But I think where God has placed me is where I am meant to be. Not saying it is a piece of cake. But right now I would not change it for anything. Good luck with your schooling and moving into peds.

Destinyfay said what I was thinking. parents with sick or chronically ill children need an escape. for some they may detach almost completely bc the "ideal" child they longed for is not so. I also work in ped HH. I have seen both sides of the scale as I work in a group home situation. Some kids get visits and some dont. I work nights so our interactions are limited to just a few hours, when they are not sleeping. but I love the smiles and giggles I get from those kids.