Valasca

i am a new rn and will begin my er residency next week (in just a couple dayd. also i have very limited er exp.). i have read through the stickys. my residency is 14 wks long with opportunities to extende per diem. anyway everything seems great on paper and i am really optomistic about working there. unfortunately, i am also terribly terrified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cannot believe that people trust me to "be a nurse". to alleivate fears and provide myself a reality check i would like to ask the following of every er nurse: 1. what is the most rewarding thing about being a (new) er nurse? 2. what is the mot difficult thing about being a new er nurse? 3. as a new er nurse; what was the most difficult patient you had to care for and what was their outcome? how did your nursing care contribute the outcome for better or worse. 4. if you could say one thing to a new er rn what would it be? 5. are you willing to support the fledgling new grad? why or why not? many thanks for any replies! Valasca

You will not need your micro book in nursing school I promise!!!!!!! You are going to have sooooooo many books during nursing school that if they all fell on you at once they would probably kill you LOL!!! Besides, in nursing school they build on what you have learned in your pre-reqs, they don't directly reference it (except in obvious cases like with A&P) so no one will be asking you to describe the difference between a prokaryote and eukaryote . You should know your A&P and the "whys" behind things that happen in the body and you should understand acid base from chem but not to the point of doing complex calculations (thank God!). In nursing school it's all about the "why's". Good luck!

I really don't know if there have been studies done on GPA and NCLEX pass rates....I would doubt it. I think competition is what is driving the higher admission GPA's. When nursing schools are getting in excess of 150 applications for 50 or so slots they can pick the best and the brightest applicants. I really think this is the plain and simple answer to your question. However, I would like to add that as a current nursing student I can honestly say that my pre-req's were much easier and much less stressful than nursing school (for many different reasons). So while there probably isn't any correlation between GPA and NCLEX pass rates I feel certain that there is a very strong correlation between GPA and success in nursing school. Chances are pretty good that if you struggled in your pre-reqs you will most assuredly struggle in nursing school. Hope that answers your question.

I suppose they could if they are related to what you have been expected to learn. I have had a couple of instructors do this on occasion (nothing that would make or break you on a quiz/test). Their rational was that we had the tools (based on our current level of knoweldge) to come to the correct conclusion even though we were not directly taught that information. Our ability to choose the correct answer really depended on our ability to think critically. That was the real point of those questions...can you use your critical thinking and what you have learned thus far to pick out the right answer even though I never taught you about this specific problem or the nursing implications associated with it? Hope that helps.

For lecture classes and lab we wear whatever we want. For clinical we wear our ugly white uniform :barf01:. For clinical preperation we wear professional dress clothes. But trust me, your school will cover all of this....probably at length .

Awesome! I am still in nursing school myself but I can tell you that it is even more thrilling when what you are learning starts to "meld" together and you can see that you are thinking critically. That is really exciting and builds confidence to boot. Good luck with your program! :wink2:

So are you asking for ways that nursing theory is not important? Is that what you mean by "the negative side"? Firstly, nursing theory is very important and provides you with the foundation upon which you will build your nursing knowledge and cultivates your critical thinking. If nursing theory was not important and we were only in nursing school to learn skills then nursing school would only be a month or two long. Conversely, being that you are "on the negative side", you could argue that while nursing theory IS important there are areas in which the ideal scenarios that are used in the textbook are irrelevant to real world situations. You could argue that the antiquated notion of ideal situations with an ideal patient and ideal docotors and ideal families and ideal co-workers that is prevelant in nursing theory sets students up for severe shell shock when they actually enter the real world of nursing and perhaps makes them less prepared than they would be had they been taught how to (additionally) deal with less than ideal scenarios.

I have always hated math. For some reason it just never makes any sense to me. I feel your frustration. I cannot do dosage calc using deminsonal analysis....it just doesn't make sense in my brain. I am like you, I never know how to set up the problem. Many people have tried over and over again to teach me dimensional analysis but it never "clicks" in my head. The one way I have found to be really "fool proof" (for me) is the formula 'desired dose/the dose on hand x the quantity'. I know others have mentioned it in previous posts but honestly I can say that if it were not for this formula (and others like it for IV calculations) I would not have passed dosage calc let, alone get a 4.0 in it. The one thing that I do know about math is that there are always multiple ways to solve the problems you just need to explore them and find the way that makes sense to you. Like anything you have to practice to become proficient (sp) but after a little while it should start making sense and you should start noticing that the info you need to solve the problem starts jumping out at you. I hope this helps. Check into the desired dose/dose on hand x qty formula....it has been a life saver for me. Good luck to you.

Just curious why you are asking this question???? ....The students that I have seen struggle and/or fail seem to have one thing in common, they do not study or they study very little. However, the reason why they don't study/study very little has many causes. Most of the people in my school that this applies to usually don't have the time to devote to studying. Typically these are people that have to work full time and/or are single mom's. Do I think less of them? Heck no! I try my best to help them out as much as I can. The students that just don't study because they are lazy I stay far away from. But more often than not the former is the most common scenario. Everyone has different life circumstances going into nursing school...please always remember that.

To expand on what Blove86 said: You know you're in nursing school when you carry flash cards with you in your purse & pull them out while waiting in the drive thru, stop and go traffic, for an oil change, for your next class to start, your doctor to come in and give you your physical............and so on!!!!!!!

I'm sure this has been done before but I figured I'd do it anyway! You know you're in nursing school when...... Your mind is thinking about so many different things that you actually have to stop and make sure you have on all of your clothes before you leave the house!

I would add Imparied gas exchange r/t pneumonia

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you can do "it", whatever "it" may be. It sounds like you are kicking around a few different ideas. My advice would be to contact your local hospital and find out about the possibility of shadowing a nurse, sonographer, and/or medical imaging tech. In my neck of the woods the pre-reqs for all three are pretty similar and vary by only a couple of classes however, the job duties are significantly different. This should help you start identifying what you like and dislike about various health care jobs. I would especially suggest you do this if you have no previous health care experience. I am in my first year of a two year RN program (ADN). I come from a family of nurses. I have no children, I don't work, and I am 25. Personally, I find nursing school to be incredibly challenging, time consuming and stressful. I spend all of my time studying or making care plans or writing papers. I have no life, I rarely see my family, I don't really have time to do anything fun and I have no idea how people can work and/or have kids an be successful in nursing school. That being said, almost everyone in my program works or has kids or both! They are all doing great and most of them are older than me! I think success in nursing school really boils down to two fundamental things, how badly you want "it" and how much you are willing to give up to get "it". I have had several instructors tell my class at different times that the key to succeeding in nursing school is to never quit even when your exhausted and it feels like you can't go one another minute (believe me there are times when you feel just that). I really believe that this is true. When I look back at my first quarter I have no idea how I survived. It was intense, insanely stressful, exhausting, and at times down right depressing. However, it does get better and so long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other you will keep moving forward toward your goal. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do. I am so glad that I decided to go into nursing and although it is incredibly challenging it is a wonderful journey and one that I am very blessed to be on. And when all else fails and the going gets really tough just remember that age old saying.....nothing worth having ever comes easy. :redpinkhe

I would like to expand on this by adding that I find it annoying when I hear students brag about getting the minimum grade on a test or in a class, or about how they didn't study for a test and still passed. I think that students that cheat and those who are content to scrape by will pay for their slothly (is that a word?) attitude later. I think that students such as these are not looking at the bigger picture. It's not just about getting a good grade or passing a class anymore. We are at a point in which our focus should be on really comprehending the material laid before us, thinking critically about a situation, and then applying said information. I believe that eventually their lack of knowledge will expose them. If somehow they manage to pass their NCLEX (and if they do congrats to them) they still have to "pass" the rigors of residency. I find it surprising how many students in my nursing class have a "i just need to pass" attitude. Now I am no 4.0 student (close but not 4.0) but I study my butt off because I know that at some point I will be entrusted with the life of another human being and I feel that it is my sole duty while in nursing school to learn as much as I possibly can so that I can provide the safe competent care that will be expected of me. Focus on doing the very best you possibly can and know that eventually cheaters will be exposed for what they are.

Hi all! So I recently started an ADN program and I am like "whoa!". There is so much reading to do! I have been trying to keep pace but I am running into a problem that I do not know how to manuver around. My wee little brain cannot retain the massive amounts of information that I am trying to shove into it. I have to have long breaks (like an hour) in between reading new capters so that I can retain the information. On top of that it takes me about an hour to read a chapter (if I want to comprehend it). This really reduces the amount of time I can devote to reading. Oh and I have the hardest time cracking open a textbook right after I get out of class. My brain needs a break from class too...... Right now we do not have any clinical stuff to do (that will be chaning in a week or two) and already I am finding it very hard to manage all the reading. I know once clinicals start I am not going to be able to read 30+ chapters a week. My mental stamina is not very good I guess...... So my question is how do I get around this problem? Are the chapter summaries sufficient enough that I can get by with reading those instead? Should I just trust that lecture will provide the necessary information and forget about the reading? Should I just give up now? I am really starting to freak out now that it has become obvious to me that realistically, I am not going to be able to read all (or even most) of the chapters and do all the other things we have to do. If I could pause time and do all my reading assignments I would....trust me I really want to learn as much as I can...... Anyway, your assistance is needed and greatly appreciated. :heartbeat

I'm sorry you didn't get the grade you expected. I know what a let down it is especially when you feel good about your performance. Anyway I just started my ADN program and haven't had any tests yet. But I ALWAYS chalk my first test up as a loss before I take it. Yes I study my butt off but......I have no idea what that teacher thinks is important, how to pick up on thier "hints" in lecture that x is important to know, or what their testing style is like. So I always figure that I am going to to badly on the first test. Then when I don't do as badly as I expected I feel happy even if my grade is lower than normal. After my test has been graded I always review it. I look at the types of questions that were on it, how they were worded, and how closely the test followed the lecture and reading. Was it based primarily on lecture? Readings? A combo? Then I think about how I studied for the test and I adjust that method based on the information obtained from reviewing the test. For example if the test primarily focused on things from lecture then I would spend more time studying my notes and less time reading chapters. Likewise, if the test really only hit on broad concepts and not on details then I would just make sure that I really understood the broader concept and would spend very little time on the minute details within the concept. Sorry if this was confusing! I have a hard time explaining how my wittle brain thinks! I hope I helped more than I confused!!!! :chuckle

So far the people in my class seem pretty nice and supportive...thank goodness! You have to keep in mind that at the very least (though most likely longer) most students spent an entire year in direct competition with everyone in their class. Perhaps this competitive behavior has become habit and now they are unaware of their attitude toward other students? My advice to you is to lead by example, be the change you want to see. Offer to help others even if they don't ask for it, go out of your way a little to be kind to your peers. I think you behaving this way will change the overall vibe and others will follow your lead.:icon_hug: Those who don't can spend the next two years in their self made isolation.

I was hired as a PCT (patient care tech). I was a CNA at the time. My scope of practice was much greater as a PCT. I was nervous at first but the hospital taught me how to do everything that was required of a PCT (way more than I ever did as a CNA). I spent the first week or two just learning the charting system, policy and procedures, and clinical skills. I am sure the hospital is planning on training you. It wouldn't make sense for them to expect you to know how to do things that only a PCA would know how to do when it is obvious you have no medical experience. If they do not train you then I would suggest looking for a new employer. You don't want to work somewhere that will take anyone off the street so to speak.... Always always always ask if you are unsure of how to do something and let the nurses & other PCA's you are working with know that you are new to PCA work. I am sure that you will do great! Good luck.

With my grandmother I let her go in and do things on her own if it is something she is capable of doing safely. It makes her feel more independent. For doctor's appts I do go in with her. I do this because she is forgetful. So to preserve her feelings of independence I just tell her that I want to hear what the doctor says because I find it interesting or I say that I've got nothing to do and I would be terribly bored sitting in the waiting room all by myself. I do not think she gets better care because I am there. I think she gets better care at home because I remember what the doctor said at the appt and remind her later. I would hope that the staff would treat her no differently if she went in by herself. She is after all, an adult. Just my humble opinion........

I would just like to say something that I haven't seen yet.....social norms are being violated....... It is one thing for someone (male or female) to say "oh he/she is hot is he/she single" and then ask the person out and then let it go if the person isn't interested. That is normal male/female behavior. My problem with this situation is that I feel this individual's behavior violates social norms and that sends up a red flag to me. To say things like I wanna *bleep* her is extremely inappropriate and a level headed person would not say that about a co-worker, esp while at work! I think that because this individual is blatenly violating social norms it is causing the "creep" vibe to be transmitted. Normal, sane people understand and usually adhere to the social norms of the culture (even sub cultures e.g. prison nursing). People who have a difficult time understanding/following social norms usually have something wrong with them. So....because this individual is violating not only the rules of the institution but also the social norms of the society that freaks me out. Weirdos are everywhere and they are called weirdos because they do/say weird stuff. Based on the info provided this guy fits my perameters for a creep. Go with your gut on this one. People give off a creepy vibe for a reason. Take him seriously, tell the target of his "affection" to be cautious, and start letting people know what is going on. This is not something to keep to yourself. GL :redpinkhe

I haven't read all the responses so forvige me if my post is redundant. My husband thinks I am his mother. It is extremely frustrating for me. We do not have any children yet but he really wants them soon (after I graduate). So I tell him that I do not need to have children because I am already a mother to him! On a serious note. The best thing that has happened to our marriage (imho) in a long while has been his xbox breaking. That stupid thing broke a couple of months ago (and he hasn't gotten it replaced) thank God. Since then he has helped more around the house (although he still has a long way to go), we spend more QUALITY time together at home. We talk more. It's like he snapped out of a trance..... Now it's not like he's a totally different person or anything it's just that once his xbox broke all of a sudden I wasn't so invisible when we were at home. I guess the point of my reply is that I think the video games add a significant amount of fuel to the fire that is your frustration. If I were you I would tell your hubby to take a break from the video games for a week (disconnect them and put them in the closet outta sight) and see if things start to get better. Of course let him know why you want him to take a break from the games... One last thing. My husband is a nurse and he thinks that b/c his job is stressful he can come home and just do nothing. Before I started nursing school I was fine with that, honestly. But now that I am in nursing school I have told him there are new rules... I am also stressed and when I graduate and I am doing the same job what will his excuse be? It's not fair to me to have to have the stress of nursing school and the house. It's not fair for me to have the stress of working as a nurse and the house. He knows how hard nursing school is and he has 4 days off a week (he works 12's). I have nursing school 5 days a week. Anyway I told him that he had better straighten up and help me out or else I'm leaving once I am done with school and he can explaine to everyone that he wanted me to spoon feed him and wipe his butt and that is why I left! So that promise combined with the xbox breaking has done wonders for our marriage lol! Whew I guess I needed to get a little something off my chest...lol! Good Luck to you! :redpinkhe

Congratulations Laurie!!!!! :balloons::icon_hug:

Yes. But I use to use Burt's Bees chapstick (I couldn't take the vicks it was too strong). It has a strong peppermint smell so I'd just put some under my nose and away I'd go. Eventually though you do get use to most smells and don't need to use something every time you smell something nasty lol! gl.

I didn't read the other responses so if any of this is redundant I apologize. NO NO NO it is not a sign that you are not cut out for nursing!!!!!!! It is a sign that you are new and inexperienced!!! I know that you are scared now but let me tell you being a CNA isn't very hard. It's physically demanding and it's scary at first but that's about it. I "did my time" in LTC. I had a year exp and then made the jump to hospitals. When I first started in a short stay unit I felt sooooooo stupid and scared!!!! I thought I was an incompetent boob! And compared to the other aides that had been there awhile, I was....but that is b/c being a CNA in the hospital is way different than being a CNA in LTC. I got yelled at by an RN for not knowing how to use a bladder scanner. I got in trouble for not knowing how to do I&O's. I got complained about for not knowing how to drain JP's. I was mocked for not knowing how to perform EKG's. I fumbled with all the "high tech" equipment used in the hospital. I felt like an idiot for not knowing common meds. I could go on and on........ I stuck it out and after a few months I hit my stride and became a kick ass () CNA. The bottom line is that experience and confidence can only come with time. They cannot be rushed. Eventually after some time served you will find your niche. You'll look back on things and laugh to yourself about how scared you were by simple tasks and you will reassure new CNA's that it does get easier. :redpinkhe p.s. I saw the question about nurses intimidating you. Some ppl are just jerks and it doesn't matter what profession your in. I worked with nurses who were amazingly awesome and kind to me. I also worked with nurses who treated me worse than the $%&@ under their shoes. Those were the days that made me cry. But it made me make a vow to myself that when I became a nurse I would treat my aides with respect and dignity. The goal is patient centered quality care.

No prob. I am sure I've done it before.