TreeHawk

Not a nurse yet, but have had experiences like this. My grandma took care of me when I was little, and we were very close. I was getting oral surgery a couple of years ago, and prayed to her each night that she would protect me because I was scared. Went to the surgeon, he gave me general anesthesia, woke up fine no problems. Was laying in the recovery room and I felt the distinct presense of my grandma for about 30 seconds. I told my Dad who was looking after me and he freaked a bit and said it was the drugs wearing off. I knew in my gut it was grandma. I used to rent a room in an old brownstone in Philly. When I first moved in, I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a man standing at the edge of the bed, staring at the wall next to my fireplace. I blinked a few times and he was still there. (I'm not a groggy sleeper, I'm 100% functional at a moments notice). He was about 5'5", wearing a striped 3 piece flannel material suit. Had red hair and glasses. He looked so solid I swear a shoe would bounce off him if I tossed it. He never looked at me. I stared for what seemed like forever then I got scared and asked him to leave. I'm very open to the spirit world, but I guess my human side got a little scared by that! He never came back to visit. Another strange occurence happened when I was doing Reiki work with a friend. When I was directing healing in her abdomen area I felt a huge rush of air, like being in a wind tunnel. It was so strong that I made a mental note to ask her after. We finished the session and I asked her if she was having any particular health issues. She told me that she had miscarried a few weeks prior. I shared with her what I felt, and that I felt huge healing happening in that area of her body. So occurences like these just affirm to me that there's a whole world of mystery going on out there right beyond our noses. I have a lot of reiki stories like that..but don't want to ramble on. On another note I am interested in working in hospice possibly when I graduate. I'm sure I will encounter some of the stories you all have described, but hope I am just there to provide comfort to those passing. I personally am not afraid of the life/death transition, but I commend nurses that are there for their patients that are fearful, and I hope to be one of those nurses someday!

Hi Devon! I'll hopefully be starting in the Spring 07. Haven't gotten an admit letter yet, it will take another month or so. If not I'll reapply for Fall 07. Anyhow, when I was at their latest info session last week, they said the financial aid dept will help you to find loans. Since the ACE program is a 2nd BA, FAFSA will only grant about $10,000. The rest you have to get in private, credit based loans. Try Sallie Mae. My undergrad loans are with them and they are a good company. If I get in, I'll get about $10,000 in federal loans, and will have to take out about $40,000 in a private education loan. If you can save money beforehand that's great! However, they suggest that you DO NOT work during the program. I will not be working. I worked part and full time during my undergrad degree and it was a mistake. I got good grades and a good GPA, but it was still a lot of pressure. Nursing school is very challenging, and I plan on devoting 100% energy to it, and work would distract me. I would honestly suggest that you don't work... I can't stress that enough. You have the rest of your life to work, but if you fail out of school, it's hard to get back in. Take the loans out. PHEAA is offering hospital positions in Philly, after 1 or 2 years of service, they will pay $50,000 in loan forgiveness. The state pays 1/2 and your facility will match at the end of your contract. Start applying for loans now since you are starting in the fall. When you graduate you'll be making good money, so you can live frugally and pay your loans off pretty quickly. Call Drexel financial aid also. I'll be living with my husband in NJ. If you are single and looking for a place to stay, I've heard of people here in Philly providing housing to students. Not sure how much $$. When I used to live in Philly, I rented a room in a house for $400/month. Granted it was from a co-worker, but you can find deals like that. Maybe live with other nursing students. I'm sure Drexel has a housing dept with a room list you can look at. Good luck! Take Care!

I used to live near CHOP, the neighborhood is fine for "Philly standards". If you are driving in, no problem. If you are taking the subway or train, it's fine during the day...but I never travelled on public transportation at night (after 11 or 12 pm). The thing with Philly is that you can have a few blocks of nice neighborhood, then a bad spot. I used to live in center city by the art museum, and in west philly around 45th and chestnut. I felt safe, as long as I wasn't out late at night. The person I know at CHOP commutes in from NJ.

My friend's sister works for CHOP - she loves it! She's a new grad too, only out a couple of years I think. I might chat her up when I find out about school (waiting for admit letter). Good luck!

Thanks Charlie. I think I'll just leave the psych tech position off of my resume. I was only there for 2 months, part time, a couple days a week. I left because I felt the environment was dangerous and I was never given sufficient orientation. I've never walked out on a job before. So instead of explaining it to someone, I'll just leave it off. I gave my day social work job 2 weeks notice though.

Hi there! I am scheduled to take prereq's at a local CC this summer/fall...I applied to Drexel's post BA ACE program for Spring 07 and I'm waiting to hear back from them. I have a BA in psych with social work exp, and I was thinking about looking for a psych tech job while I'm doing my prereq's to get a leg up for nursing school. I did complete orientation as a psych tech about a year ago at a facility. I was working there per diem at night to supplement my FT social work day job. I left there unexpectedly after 2 months (I completed my shift, didn't abandon) due to things that I thought were unsafe and unprofessional. Dirty hospital, abusive language towards geri patients, a patient was body slammed by a tech when she tried to attack him, got a black eye as a result, a tech getting a back massage from a dual patient in the lounge, lack of training for my job, etc etc. Because I didn't give any official notice - called HR said I would not be back, turned in keys and badge, do I still put this on a resume? Technically I did work there for a short time. How would I explain why I left? I know it's not good to badmouth a job, but I really felt at risk. One staff mbr told me I'd be left alone on a ward with 30 patients by myself, could I defend myself?!! I left after that shift. After a HEP-C client at my day job pulled a knife in my agency car and hurt herself, I quit that job too 2 weeks later. Is it proper to disclose these experiences, or just use a generic "I left to explore other avenues"? Thanks for your advice!

I've wondered about this too since my Grandmother was in an LTC about 10 years ago, had severe Alzheimers, but still insisted in moments of clarity that some of her jewelry was stolen. Nothing expensive, but I often wonder if it happened. The facility didn't seem like a really super nice one either, but I doubt that matters. I would just suggest as a precaution to not have anything of value at a LTC facility. The majority of staff are honest, but there's always that small % that ruin it for everyone. As for racial indicators in this issue...I worked on a geri unit at a psych hospital and some of the patients with dementia would use racial obscenities. It may be a combination of generational issues, racism, and dementia. Political correctness and equality are semi-recent developments, and some of these folks are older than the civil rights movements! Most of the kind folks that worked there shrugged it off and chalked it up to dementia.

I have about 16,000 left from my first BA. I'm waiting to hear if I got accepted into Drexel's ACE program. That's another 30,000 for an 11 month BSN program. Plus 3-5,000 for books and other fees, plus a few grand to finish my prereqs. Also you really can't work during this program, so another 10-20 grand for living expenses. Thank goodness I'm married and have some support, but I'll still have to pay 1/2 our expenses as we can't afford to live on just my hubby's salary right now. I'm glad nursing can be as lucrative as you make it, and I hope I can pull through school and my first year!

My ex used to work in a hospital taking down complaints as people walk into the ER. He had 2 Mexican men come up to him. When he asked one man what was wrong, the poor guy said in a very think accent, "izzzz dripping", meaning his member was dripping, probably an STD. My ex asked the other guy what was wrong with him, and he said "izzz dripping too". Poor guys!

When I worked in a group home for adults (mentally ill), one of the residents came into my office to tell me the toilet was clogged. I went to look myself, and I saw THE BIGGEST turd in the bowl, laying horizontally, so it wasn't able to flush down. I scratched my head for a minute, then found the resident that made the "deposit". I handed her 2 sets of gloves, double gloved myself, and we each took a plastic knife and cut it up to flush it. The whole time the poor girl was so upset and embarassed, but still laughing about it, so I laughed along with her and told her that I've clogged plenty of toilets myself and it happens, not to be worried or embarassed. She was so relieved that I wasn't upset. But I did have to ask her how she managed to pass something so huge. She said she wasn't sure, but it felt really good to let it go! We had a good laugh together. I miss working there!

I hope this doesn't end up with a nurse getting hurt. I realize that license info is public knowledge, but the only necessary info is name, license number and state of licensure I would think. Do they publish MD's addresses also? I've had quite a few psych clients that I would not want having my address. My Dad was a "public servant" police officer, and our phone #/addy was NOT in a phone book nor website. I've even tried searching just to see and I got nothing. You'd think they'd give the same courtesy to nurses. I'm really curious now about doctors since they have licenses too.

I think it's an issue of personal power, or lack thereof. I'm not a nurse yet, so I can't speak for nurses. But I have worked 2 psych hopsitals, and I think the culture determines how people act. One hospital was so chock full of nastiness, that as a sensitive person I thought my head would explode. Another hospital was quite pleasant. People who walk with personal power have no need to be petty, and when confronted with petty people, they see their weakness immediately shut it down, and don't take it personally. Usually people who are catty are really cowards trying to puff their chests to mimic power. I've been working in business for a couple years to get a break from social work. I work in a small office, and there are catty women and my boss is the first catty man I've ever met. This job has really prepared me for dealing with all sorts of personalities. I used to burst into tears when I was unjustly blamed for something here. Now I just don't react. A non-reaction is the best reaction. Catty people can't get anything out of you if you don't feed into their games. I mostly feel bad that they are so lonely and in need of attention that they hurt others to get some reaction to fill that need. I'd like to add also that IMHO it is surely a challenge to not get annoyed and upset by these goobers. I've been around them my whole life and I'm still learning how to deal.

I'm not a nurse yet, but I have worked in a psych hosp PT as a tech when I was a FT social worker, and I have to say that a workable, professional and helpful staff is the most important, IMHO. I didn't last because the staff was not helpful, and rather unpleasant. It was understaffed, lots of per diem staff, night shift (maybe that was it, I dunno). The patients were not treated that well and the hospital was dirty. I quit soon after starting, and did some moonlighting at another county psych hospital that had a much nicer, more professional staff. So as future nursing student, I have to say that I'm quivering in my boots about getting a good 1st job, and my main concern is finding a helpful, pleasant staff. Even if it pays less than another placement with less helpful staff!

Midget I found a link from Yoga Journal about inversions during menstruation: http://www.yogajournal.com/newtoyoga/831_1.cfm

That stinks Lorster I didn't realize that sort of thing was going on in hospitals...with the 5 star treatment expectation...I should have expected it though I suppose. I'm new to the healthcare part of wellness since my training/degree has been in just psych. The profitability margin really needs to be removed from healthcare. Fat Cat CEO's don't need to be making tons of money off of sick people. I realize people need to make good salaries (especially nurses!) but it seems a lot that the industry puts profit before wellness. This is happening in mental heath too, but not as much as in medical I guess. Also, I've only lived in NJ/PA (lots of places to choose from), so you're right about some rural nurses not having much of a choice. I remember trying to find MH facilities and psychiatrists for patients in upstate NY...insanely difficult. And child psychiatrists...forget it! Non existent!