angelfire280

Really? Cool. So, either way I guess the tunable diaphragm works because both the L SE and ultrascope have it. Do the nurses complain about the size of the stethescope head? Do any have the detatchable head, where you can order 2 or 3 heads? Does that cause you to lose any sound quality or volume? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for the input.

Well, guys, thanks for all your input. At orientation we were told that all departments were recently designated a color. The mental health dept is to wear purple scrubs, or scrubs with purple in them. Although, business casual street clothes are allowed too. I guess I'll just wear scrubs on day one and check out what everyone else has on.

I wish I could do street clothes, but everyone was semi-in uniform when I went for my interview. Scrub bottoms and tops, or some had plain tees on. I'll find out monday at orientation, just wondered if the color theories were followed or not.

So, I'm in the market for my first post-school stethoscope. It's a grad gift from my mother, and she wants to get something nice that will last me a good while. So I do my research, and every new model has this tunable diaphragm technology, which sounds sketchy to me. Handy, but questionable. So I've been asking around. Some have told me that it's fine and convenient. And others really don't like it. They said that since the sounds you moniter differ with the amount of pressure you apply, if you push pretty firmly you can't hear anything. As in,.... "when trying to listen to the heart sounds in obese patients or women with lots of breast tissue, you can't apply enough pressure without disabling the diaphragm." So I figured I'd play it safe and buy traditional, but all the brands use it now. Littman, DRG, Welch-allyn. So what stethoscope do you use? Which is your favorite, or gives you the best sound? And has anyone used ultrascope? (They're very cute trinkets but are they practical?) Thanks for any info you have.

.... As in, do you wear different colors or avoid certain scrubs when working in psych? I just got my first nursing job as an LPN at a psych ward. One of the roughest in the area, actually. I am buying my first non-white scrubs (finally), but I wondered if the color you wear has an effect on your patients. For instance, I'm staying away from red, even though I love the color, because of all the negative feelings it's reported to provoke. I'm also avoiding pastels, even though I'm a girly girl, because I fear that the more uncontrolled patients might see me as soft or whatever. I was aiming for green, navy, blue, and purple. Am I being silly here, or does this stuff actually matter?

Hello, I'm a recent LPN graduate. Well, kinda. I graduated July 28, 05. I passed my boards in early october and then moved to a different state. It's taken this long to get my license transferred over, and now I face the daunting task of entering the medical community. I can't help but to think that: 1. 1 year didn't seem quite enough time to cram in all the info necessary to function as a nurse (not to knock lpn's... I am one... but it is just such a serious job, ya know). 2. I've been out of school for half as long as my educational program was, and this drops my confidence. (I've spent this time waitressing for rent, and not buried in my books or practicing my skills. My scores on these tests the interviewers are giving aren't where they should be. I mean, I'm passing but... heck I topped my nursing class. Where'd the info go?) 3. Employers are eager to hire new grads and send them out with little to no orientation. (I've even had 2 agency offers.... how does an agency feel safe hirinig a new grad who is alread out of practice???) So, i guess my question is, isn't anyone scared by this? I know a big part of this can be chalked up to new grad gitters, but has anyone else been scared out of their mind. I feel like I'm totally unprepared and this break has worsened my anxieties about it. I thought about taking a refresher course or one of those remedial courses for students preparing to retake the nclex. Is this a good idea? Any input would be greatly appreciated.