Cryssi

I know, I know. There goes my dreams of becoming a professional pollster. darn it!! I am really encouraged by the replies though, despite my crappy polling technique:). I'm just giddy that I finally get a chance to start working on my dream of starting a career in the health care field. Thanks again everyone... Cryssi

NursesRmoFun, excuse my sad attempt at trying to start a poll!! > And I want to be a NURSE?! Boy, that's scary!! :0 ('tis my first attempt at trying to post a poll) Thanks for all the replies...keep 'em coming! Cryssi

Hi Y'all, I am leaning toward taking cna courses in June...my husband and I were discussing whether or not to do that or just enroll in college and start the process for lpn. While both options are doable...the cna way first seems more practical because at least I can get employment asap (I hope !) and work for awhile and help bring in some income to add to the household, not to mention to get a fraction of an idea of what nursing is like. I was wondering, what can I look forward to in these courses? What types of things are taught? This course is at an Adult Ed. center, it is only 2 weeks long, with three days spent at a nursing home, and it is $395.00. For some reason I was thinking cna courses were longer and cost a lot more! Any advice or opinions would be welcome. Thank you. Cryssi

Good morning...I am considering taking CNA courses in June, and I was wondering how many nurses on this board started out as CNA's before becoming a nurse? Thanks, Cryssi

you're right, Ms. HEMODIALYSIS RN!!! (although I do like the part about my new phlebotomist job....) Thanks for being so caring, guys. Cryssi

Seriously guys, I'm not afraid and I'm not trying to avoid this, nor am I in denial. My husband came back not too long ago from taking our daughter to the ped., she has scarlett fever. We have a foot and a half of snow; we live in a rural area where the roads are terrible and we do not live close to the hospital at all. That's one of the main reasons I want to get into the medical field, besides helping people I am utterly enthralled by medical procedures. I am the one who is quick to go to the dr.; my hubby calls me a hypochondriac! I am not afraid, just that at this particular moment, other things are prevailing right now, a sick child, the road conditions, distance of the hospital and my primary phys., and the inability to get around right now (broken ankle)-having to depend on others to get me where I'm going. I really do plan to go, I just want the roads to clear up a little better. Thanks so much for the concern, but I am truly not afraid. Cryssi

I think I will go in to the er...maybe not today; here in this part of Michigan we are now getting hit with a "mutha" of a winter storm; my two kids are home because of a snow day; my daughter has a temp of 101.2, some vomiting, runny nose and a sore throat; and I have a broken ankle and can't drive (my right ankle)! Lovely, ain't it? Thinking about my daughter, it just hit me; could her symptoms be due to the fact that she and my son didn't have their second round of the flu vacc.? They had the FluMist vacc. around the 15th-16th of December; She got ill after that (some vomiting). My getting my ankle broken has put a damper on things...I hate not being able to drive!! Anyway, are there any consequences if my kids do not get the second round of flu vacc.

I was just wondering what does it mean to have blood in the urine? I do not intend to substitute what I get from here for a medical checkup from my doc,I was just wonderin'. yesterday, I got a crampy type of feeling in my lower back, (left side) and when I went to the bathroom to urinate, upon wiping I saw blood and automatically assumed my period was starting. I did the usual, but blood never appeared on the sanitary napkin, but I'd still have blood when I urinate. I still have the crampy feeling in my lower back, and I noticed that the blood most of the time looks like very small clumps with white or cream colored type stuff attached to it. I also have pain when I urinate; not a burning, but a "pressure"type pain. I know that blood in the urine and pain in the lower back can signal something wrong with the kidneys. I just want to get some opinions here. Cryssi

I don't know if I said it right, but I guess what I mean is do you think being a nurse would make a difference in the care you would receive? I don't want anyone to think that I am implying that they should get better care than other patients because they are a nurse; I was just curious as to if anyone has ever thought this to be the case; whether with themselves, or if anyone noticed this with anyone else (I guess this question could be directed to anyone else in the med. field...dr.'s, etc.). I didn't know this post has been done before...sorry! Cryssi

For those of you who work in a hospital; if you needed medical care, would you want to be admitted in your hospital? If you were admitted to a different hospital, do you think that if you mentioned you were a nurse, would you get better care than the "civilian" patients-seeing as how you know what's going on, where the average patient doesn't? Just curious! Cryssi

I was just wondering when did you know you wanted to be a nurse? How old were you when this desire hit you? Was there a specific incident that started it? A person that inspired you? And was it everything you thought it would be? Cryssi

Thanks, Dave for your input. I really feel confident now, that help is on the horizon! Now all I have to do is wait for my broken ankle to be fully healed, then I'll be able to drive again (yay!!), then I'll take my butt to see my dr. While I'm at it, about my ankle...I broke it on Fri., Jan 2, had a splint put on it, had to wait til the following Tues. to see an ortho doc, got a walking cast put on. I go to see him (ortho doc) next Tues,(to check progress of healing(?). What is average time for a broken ankle to heal? It doesn't hurt, I have some achiness at times,but not the downright excruciating pain that I had in the beginning. Thanks. Cryssi (Crystal)

Hi Nancynurse, I read your post, and need to clarify a few things. Actually I am hypothyroid, since 1997 when I had a thyroidectomy. I have been on synthroid/levothyroid since then; and I have been on Zoloft since spring of 2003; due to some personal setbacks and situations that got me down to the point to where I was never happy and cried all of the time, was when I started taking the zoloft. Things are much better now, so I am considering getting off the zoloft. The ADD type symptoms I have been experiencing have begun WAY before the zoloft or hypothyroidism...I would have to say I can (as far as I remember) recall the onset of such symptoms as far back as into my mid-teens (I am 36 now). It's just really weird, seeing some of the signs given for this, many of the things that I would have to say wasn't in my nature...I used to be so organized and meticulous (I used to be a very detail oriented proofreader,for cryin' out loud!), now I'm not. I used to be neat, now I'm not. Heck, I used to be the type of person that would be 15-20 minutes early for work or for an appointment, now it's more like 15-20 min. late, and I'm driving like a bat out of hell, because I "think I could make it." I have so may half finished projects around here that I am so gung-ho for in the beginning, but run out of steam soon after; I used to love to read, now have so many books around here with bookmarks in various places, unfinished. If I am reading, I will skip over sections because I want to get to the nitty gritty. My thoughts are so scattered...it is just so frustrating, because these things are so out of character for me. It just feels like a relief that this isn't just a figment of my imagination Sorry for my ramblings...just wanted to state a couple of things (the hypothyroid/zoloft), and that what I have been experiencing has been going on long before those things. Keep the helpful posts coming guys! Cryssi

Hi all, I was looking at the site of a local hospital, in the employment section and I saw that there is a position open for phlebotomy. For those of you who are somewhat familiar with me by my postings, I am not a nurse nor am I a nursing student, but I would like to become a nurse, and was hoping for a cna position to get me started on such a path. I want to apply for this position, they do train (which is great seeing as I have no experience!). I think this will also be a good way to get into the hospital and start my career process. I have two maybe three questions and would appreciate any feedback from the bb.: 1.) Does anyone have a general idea on a salary range for this occupation? The hospitals site didn't say, but I'm assumin' it's not bad considering positions in food service and valet parking are over $8.00, and if those positions pay that, I figure the per hour pay for a position such as phlebotomy can't be too bad.... 2.) I have a general idea of what a phlebotomist does, can someone break it down for me please? I know they deal with blood draws and other fluids (I think). 3.) When I go into the human resources dept. this week to fill out an app.(I tried online today, but it wouldn't go through), they will see my "condition," I broke my ankle on Jan 2, my right ("driving") ankle; (my hubby will take me in), I know the deadline for applying for this position is next Monday; I plan on telling them that I will be able to work (if hired) in February. I assume I will be healed and out of my walking cast within a week or two (hopefully). Is that a good idea to tell them that? Obviously they will see me come in with my cast on. I thank you all in advance and really look forward to your responses. Cryssi

Hi, I hope this isn't too dumb a question to ask, but seeing as I am not a nurse (though that is one of my dreams), why is the orifice and lady parts inserted with a tampon or why are depends used? Does the body release fluids/excrement upon death? Just curious. Cryssi

Thanks so much for the replies to this post. Taking that test shocked the heck outta me! I chose "frequently" on SO many! Some of what I have been going through is as follows. I am so disorganized and forgetful; I can go into another room to get something and then halfway there stop dead in my tracks because I forgot what it is I was going to get. If I read, I find myself spacing out, and have to read the same line several times, I rarely finish a book anymore, even those authors that I couldn't put the book down on! And I have ALWAYS loved to read! So now I try to stick to magazines more often, but I can't even finish those half the time. I am 36 years old, for crying out loud!! I feel like such a ditzy scatterbrain. I started taking Zoloft for depression, because I thought that if I got my depression under wraps, it would kind of spill over into the rest of the areas. Not so. I am still disorganized, with scattered thoughts and my racing mind not even being able to focus on the things that I enjoy. It's really good to hear from so many others who share some of what I go through. Hopefully now we can get the help we or our children need. I certainly could not see me going to school the way I am now....that would be a disaster! Now I wonder if I do start treatment for this, if I would still need to take the Zoloft? I originally started taking it mainly because I was getting down about my mom and dad's failing health; then my mom died on May 1 2003, her 78th birthday, and my dad's holding his own, he's 83 and has throat cancer and severe blockages in the arteries in both legs, with constant swelling and pain. I guess I just realized that yeah, I love them, but they were/are up there in age and I am blessed to have had them for as long as I have. In other words, I'm not as depressed as I used to be. Sorry for babbling! I really do appreciate the responses, thanks so much:kiss Cryssi

I was just wondering what is the difference between a PCA (Patient Care Assistant) and a CNA? One of the local hospitals has an employment listing on their website, and one of the qualifications the ask for is that the person be a CNA. I guess I just assumed that both positions were the same. What responsibilities does a PCA have that makes it different from a CNA? Thanks! Cryssi

Hi all.. I was wondering if there are any nurses or nursing students out there with adult onset ADD and is taking medication for it? I'm curious as to how you found out you had this, and any change-positive or negative-that being on medication for this has had on you. Does being medicated for this condition help how you study for this profession? Does it help your focus and concentration in the classroom and/or work environment? I ask this because though I have not yet seen my dr. on this matter yet, from what I have heard about this condition, it makes me wonder if I have it...it is hard for me to concentrate, my thoughts are often scattered and racing. If I am to go into the nursing or any other medical profession, I seriously need some help. I don't think I can do well in my studies when I do go back to school, or be able to fully concentrate at work if and when I do land my dream job in a hospital, if I remain "wired" the way that I am. Just want to know that if anyone out there is being treated for this and how it works for you and your lives. Thanks. Cryssi

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone out there works for or is familiar with Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan? It was one of the 100 Best Companies to work for in "Working Mother" magazine. I wanted to know if it truly is a great place to work, and how the medical support staff is treated...I would love to get in there as a CNA, then work my way into nursing, but just to get a foot in the door.... Thanks, Crystal