sweet tooth

"Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests w/Nursing Implications" by Kee Honestly, in your position, you should be able to glance at labs and know what's next. Educate yourself quickly.

I save all my sheets. Within a month after coming off orientation I got called on the carpet about a pt I had had 3 weeks earlier. I admitted her one night and she died 3-4 days later. Being able to pull my sheet allowed me to fully remember the pt/situation AND was proof to the powers that be what took place before this pt got to my floor (report taken from ED). Most of the details of the case were not even being looked at and that sheet saved my butt. I quickly learned that the only one that has my back is me. Next time I'm called on the carpet re: any case I plan to tell them I need to jog my memory and will get back to them the next day. It seems unreasonable that someone should be put on the spot and expected to have immediate answers.

The first night was the hardest for me. It is possible for you to stay up most of the night and still not sleep during the day so be careful. I just don't see anyway for your body to comfortably make the shift on the first night you work. It will take some time for you to get used to it. Darkening the room, fan, etc. all help. I get up about 5am(mainly because I have kids to get off to school). Some things that have helped me- eat a hearty bkfst (otherwise I'll wake up at 12:15 for lunch), I go for a walk, take a shower, and take 1 benadryl (by 0830). I also set a time that I want to get up and if I wake up before then I make myself stay in bed. A lot of times I'll dose off again. If I don't go back to sleep, at least I've conserved precious energy that I will need later on. I also don't turn the tv on. Just know that it will take some time and like anything, you have to see what works for you. Good luck.

Hey Tex, Absolutely I will pray for you. I don't want to give any false hope, but I am pretty sure I read a post about someone who passed even though their time ran out.

Matt 25:40, RN~ I am SO happy for you (been trying to wait patiently for your post) and your update brought tears to my eyes. You are a Registered Nurse!!! Thanks for starting this thread. And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, and are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 (which doesn't necessarily mean we get everything we want, but assures me that he has a plan for my life and he wants the best for me)

I think it is Acyclovir.

I took A&P 1&2 at Gwinnett Tech - same instructor for both and she was one of the best instructors I have ever had. You will work your tail off, but you will learn a ton. The credits transferred to other associate degree programs. You need to check with each school you want to transfer the credits to before you register. Gwinnett Tech is supposed to be starting an associate nursing program, but I'm not sure exactly when.

Paris2B, Will you pass along more info on this book please?(Reviews & Rationales & Straight A's in Med-Surg)Author/publisher or the isbn. I'm starting Med Surg in a couple of weeks and this sounds like it might help. Thanks.

augigi, thanks for your input, including the other points you mentioned. I was wondering about using Risk for Infection when the evidence shows that he already has an infection. Thanks.

I'm working on a concept map and not sure which NDx applies to the situation. The pt has exacerbated COPD, DNR, WBC 19000, left shift w/neutros, hemoglobin 10, BUN 25, pH 7.493, paCo2 31 (BTW, is he in resp alkalosis or are there other determining factors to examine?). His activity should be OOB 3xs/day. Before he was admitted he was walking around his home. He also does not normally use a mobility device. He does not want to get out of bed, nor does he want to change positions. So, is this Activity Intolerance, Impaired physical Mobility, Disuse Syndrome? Or something else? Any input would be appreciated. He is my first pt, so my assessment seems incomplete... it was difficult to know which details were pertinent. Other Nurs Dx I am working on for this client: Impaired Gas Exchange, Chronic Pain, Risk For Infection (so obviously activity is not #1)

I have only heard great things about Gordon's nursing program. Get as many details about the application process in person because their website is not up to date. I ran into a few glitches when I applied. I was accepted, but chose another school due to distance. Good luck and don't wait til the last minute to get all your stuff in.

Great! I just ordered practically everything I need (including my steth)from allheart.

You need to research the admission requirements for each nursing school you are considering. Nursing school is very competitive. Most programs will require you to have a number of prereqs completed before you apply.

I'm sure you can take some of your core in Gainesville, but I'm not sure what they have to offer as far as science classes since they do not have an RN program that I am aware of. (If they don't have all of the classes you want, you can go to another school as a transient student) An advisor might help a little, but ultimately you will have to drive the bus. You need to print a list of admission requirements from each nursing school you are interested in. Tech schools use different class numbers which is why I said you also need to look at the class descriptions. For example: Eng 191 (athens tech) = Eng 1101 at Gainesville,NGCSU, GPC. Once you print the admission requirements for the nursing programs you are interested in compare them. AT and NGCSU are very similar, but they are not exactly the same. So you may take a class you need for one school, but not need for the other school. I don't think there is any way around that if you plan to apply to more than 1 school. When you begin taking your core, start out w/ the basics that everyone requires: Eng, Math, Psyc. The more schools you research, the more this will make sense.

Yes. You can take your core at Athens Tech or Gainesville. You just have to make sure each individual class will transfer, should you decide to go to another school for nursing. For instance a tech school might have different levels of A&P. So you have to choose the right one. In the case of Athens Tech, if you follow the list of requirements for their ADN program you will be fine. But if you go to Gwin Tec (or another tech school)that doesn't have an RN program you will have to make sure the class credit will transfer. If you read the class descriptions (for say,A&P)it will make a little more sense. As for Gainesville College..the person I know attending the Watkinsville campus is taking her core now and will be applying to MCG-Athens.

Even if GPC stops the nursing program at Lville, you should still be able to take core classes..Eng,Math,Psyc,A&Ps,Micro. Someone told me that Gainesville College has a campus in Watkinsville, which isn't too far from Athens. Having said all that, Athens Tech is a very inexpensive school and it sounds like you are right there. And there is also Brenau in Gainesville. I live near Athens also. I took a lot of my core classes at GPC Rockdale. Unfortunately choices out here are limited. I'm sure you'll come up w/ a good plan since you are researching all your options so early.

GPC is a good route for core classes. There are several locations and they are opening another location in Newton Co in the near future. They also have a good selection of online classes. Also there is Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville (I think it is new..I don't know much about it, but they do have a website). Another possibility is Gwinnett Tech. (A little side note, make sure the individual courses you take will transfer to meet the criteria for other schools) If you are looking at Athens Tech, you should know that they require you to take A&P II from the same school you took A&P I. One more thing, MCG (Medical College of GA) has a campus for Nursing in Athens. It's a BSN and I know you're thinking ADN, but you should apply anyway!! Do yourself a favor and keep all your options open.

Wow! Thanks for taking the time to post Tim. I have printed your advice...too many good ideas for just one read!!!

A good place to start your search is http://www.sos.state.ga.us where you can get a list of approved nursing schools in GA. Click on prof. lic., then click on registered nurses in the left column. Each school is different, so you just have to research them individually. Some of the schools will require you to complete your core classes before they will accept you into their nursing program. So it may benefit you to go to school closer to home while doing core classes. Then you may transfer to whichever nursing school accepts you. Once you are ready to apply to a nursing program, I recommend that you apply to more than one school. It's a pain, but you may not get your first choice. Also, realize that nursing school is very competitive so you need a really great gpa and they will specifically look at your science grades. Most of the schools will give minimum requirements, but everyone applying exceeds them. As for ASN or BSN, you will have to decide which is right for you. Keep researching. You will also learn a ton from this website. Good luck!!!!!!!!

I'm going the ADN route,but if I were going BSN, Georgie Baptist would be my top pick. I think they have the best reputation for turning out clinically prepared nurses. Then I would choose KSU, Clayton, Emory, Georgia State.

I agree w/ Marilynmom. A BSN plus experience will provide you the marketability to enter a PA program. I think you should research several PA programs. You may find they are more interested in a degree + experience than prePa classes. Also talk to some PA's . And I don't know of any advisors that will tell you to dream big. Hang in there.

I started my prereqs when my kids were 1 & 4. My youngest will be going to school full time this fall (finally) and I will start my ADN program this fall. I took all my classes only one or two per semester, depending on degree of difficulty. I really think you should shoot for A's and settle for a couple of B's. I took a couple of online classes, but really enjoyed getting away to class. At my school I found online classes to be more expensive and more involved. Just take it one semester at a time. You might need a sitter this semester and be okay w/out one next semester. As a SAHM I volunteer for a lot of things (after all I don't won't work and I have all this free time)so if you can't say no like me...learn to say no. Your schoolwork is your new job. Not volunteering for things will take a lot of stress out of the equation and make school and family time more enjoyable. Good luck! It's a lot of fun and you will be so proud of yourself!!!

Hi Kristin, Two ADN/ASN programs you might look into are NGCSU and Gordon College in Barnesville. The ASN at NGCSU has a couple of satellite locations and Barnesville is south of Atlanta. Both schools have very good reputations. You can google both to find their websites. Good luck (especially w/ the 3 boys!)

I have not read either of these, but you might try doing a google search on them. Someone may have written something about them. Good luck.

Congratulations!!! How soon do you have to respond? Give us the details girl!