Jess05

Hi everyone, I recently graduated from nursing school and passed my NCLEX. But I have not began job searching due to my recent diagnosis for lupus. I'm worried whether or not I can do nursing since nursing is VERY stressful. I'm struggling to tolerate the symptoms. I get mild to moderate flare ups pretty frequently. My symptoms are nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, fatigue, brain fog, headache, skin rashes, swelling, nerve pain, itching. Nausea and vomiting is moderately frequent so I struggle to eat and keep food in, which affects my energy levels. From clinical experience, I noticed that whenever I work, I'll be physically fine but in a few weeks to months, my symptoms will get severe and I am so fatigued, cannot concentrate, and my immune system will start attacking a body system. Then I get hospitalized. I literally do not know what strategies to use to cope with lupus as a future nurse? I started on plaquenil and I'm giving it some time for the effects to kick in. My plan to work part time and avoid hospitals is a start. I plan to work in either mental health, hospice, or skilled nursing. Other than that, I do not know how to avoid flare ups esp since they're so common. I feel so lost on what to do. I get so tired and either cannot concentrate and/or slowed thinking. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to give my patients the best attention. Should I even bother to work knowing I'm just going to end up sick again? Any advice on how to cope would be helpful! Or any insight on my situation and/or whether mental health, hospice, or skilled nursing is a a good choice for lupus?

Hi, I'm a nursing student trying to understand NG tube feeding. I'm confused why we use 1 port for feeding, irrigation, suctioning, and meds for Salem Sump. Meanwhile, we use 2 ports for Dobhoff for meds and feedings. Why would we need 2 ports for Dobhoff when we could put them in one port similar to Salem Sump? Can someone explain??