SBradshaw

I am not a nurse yet, but I am a nursing student. We had a discussion last semester about nursing as a profession. I think it would be great it we had our own uniform to distinguish us from everyone else. Also, I don't know if anyone mentioned this or not, but from what we were told in our lecture last semester, the thing patients look for most to identify a nurse is their stethescope. Just thought that was an interesting fact. --Stacey

I think at this point, my biggest pet peeve would be the cliques. We have several in my class right now. We have the people that have to constantly talk about anything and everything while the instructor is lecturing. We have the ones that have to constantly go on with their own personal stories that aren't really relevant. When ever the stories start going on a tangent, I just take that time to review my notes. I've also managed to develop a skill for blocking out backround noise thanks to the people that have to constantly chat. So as much as they are annoying, they have taught me some skills that may just be useful in the future. Overall, I've learned how to ignore all the things that annoy me so it really doesn't bother me anymore. --Stacey

All of you are so lucky. I was unable to breastfeed my son beause he could not tolerate the breast milk. He would just get sick and bring it all back up. We had to put him on a soy formula just to get him to keep it down. I was the same way when I was born. Luckily for me, my son has not had any ear infections or serious illnesses at this point. He will be 4 next month. He does have allergies, as do I. I plan to try breastfeeding when I have my next baby....that won't be for awhile though. Hopefully I'll have better luck the next time around. --Stacey

nurse educate, i really want to go into pediatric oncology. did you have to specialize in anything or were you able to enter the field as a rn? i would appreciate any advice you can give me. i am currently a nursing student. i will be a gpn in may and i plan on getting my lpn. then i am continuing school next year so i can become a rn> --stacey

I am not an oncology nurse yet but I want to be one. Particularly I want to be a pediatric oncology nurse. I'm not exactly sure why, but I feel that is where I should be. I have watched many of my family members pass away due to several different cancers. The oncology nurses that took care of my aunt and grandfather are the one's who inspired me to become a nurse. I spent so much time on the cancer unit between the ages of 12 and 18. The nurses were like family to me. They were there for all the good and the bad. They were with us all while my aunt was in the hospital and my grandfather was being diagnosed with cancer. There were there for my aunt and grandfather as we told my aunt the news of my grandfather's cancer. They watched some of my family grow while others died. Having two family members in the cancer unit across the hall from each other was so extremely hard. If it wasn't for the nursing staff that helped not only my aunt and grandfather, but my family and me as well, I don't know how I would have ever gotten through it. I will never forget sitting with the nursing staff on two separate occasions, crying due to the passing of my family members. Words could never truly explain what those nurses meant to me. I tell them every time I see them how grateful I am for them. They have become a part of my family. I only hope I can be as good as nurse as they were. --Stacey