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Well lets see..YOU SAW THE TOPIC and clicked on it. If you don't want to read about personal lifestyles..THEN DON'T! I had a personal problem in my nursing class with a student. I wanted opinions and I got them. I think your post is offensive. If you were gay you wouldn't post topics like this? If you were gay, you'd understand why I posted a topic like this. Mod, can you please close this thread?

wow..i can't believe so many people responded. I'm glad for all the viewpoints. I just want to make it clear. I am not ashamed of being gay. I just don't think I need to let everyone in my class know. The classmate hasn't brought up the issue again to my knowledge..but I'll def have an idea of what to say if this happens again.

I'm sorry if this thread came off in an elementary school way lol...If this had ocurred in any other setting, I would know exactly what to say. I just know how small our program is and I don't want to be defined by this or treated differently by professors should they get wind of it. Anyway thanks for the advice. If he does bring it up...I'll have an idea of what ot say.

LOL:D I never thought of that. I am older than the majority of my classmates...maybe this was some type of childish attempt of...who knows what..anyway..thanks for your POV

:uhoh21: I'm not sure how to handle this. Today a friend of mine told me that a classmate of ours was fishing for information regarding my sexual orientation. This male student was asking inappropriate questions. It makes me uncomfortable that he feels the need to bring this up with other classmates of mine. I am gay. This however, is irrelevant and frankly none of his business. It has always been my policy to keep my home life separate from nursing school. We spend so much time together in clinicals and class and I have a feeling the rumor mill will be churning. Should I let it go? Bring it up with him?...

This post makes me nervous. As a student, there have been times when the weather was awful and without a car I rely on bus transportation. I hope that if I work in a snowy area that I have these options....but what If I don't? I'm def going to ask about policies and if they'll pick people up...lol

As a gay nursing student, I'm trying to think how I would handle this situation. If I were being treated poorly at work, I suppose I would try to get out of the situation. Any chance this fellow can move to a larger city within the state he currently resides? Large cities tend to be a bit more open and more than likely, won't bat an eye at a gay nurse. I'm not sure I would wait six months. If asked at an interview I would say that the work environment was hostile. On a separate note, I've been feeling alone as the only gay nursing student in my class. I'd love to talk to your friend to hear about the job and whatever....

As someone who knows about expensive health care in the US (9000/treatment x 6/year)...do anything you can to qualify for medicaid. Can you sell the three cars and purchase one? Try calling 1-800-986-baby..or finding someone that deals with WIC. There are ways to get your child health care in the US. I agree that going to Canada is wrong b/c those citizens pay for their "free" health care through taxation by their government. Isn't their a way to pay in installments? I've read from others and I agree that you should get rid of anything you own and cancel tv and internet..whatever you can. I can't understand someone who would be willing to birth their child on their own and risk his/her life..for meaningless items. My birth was complicated and resulted in Cerebral Palsy..I would have died without medical care. Can you really deny your child life? **Don't mean to sound harsh..I just know individuals who deal with the expense and have to give up things to live.

I think we should acknowledge that students and new nurses and vets can all offer something valuable. As a student, I'm being taught the most up-to-date research based information. But a vet nurse has been on the job and can offer his/her experience. Personally, I hope to learn from my profs but also learn from the valuable vet nurses.

We've always been told to remove earrings b/c they were dangerous (ie a patient could rip our lobe while reaching). IMHO, they are unprofessional. Also, jewelry can harbor bacteria. We were told to remove all jewelry. Wedding bands are allowed but discouraged for patient safety

A lot of PDA cell phones work as a PDA only. You turn the cell phone off and the PDA still functions....

i really want to buy a new pup. i'm in my second semester of nursing courses. however i live alone and would be the only one caring for the puppy. i want to get a yorkie or a yorkiepoo. my parents fear i won't be able to handle it and that the pup will be alone for too long. does anyone have any advice or previous experience in this area?

Next semester will be hell. Nursing 213, 214, 236 Nutrition Christianity Micro Anatomy (Online) Studying for Sociology CLEP and humanities CLEP...ugh

Thats a great idea! I'm going to start carrying extra pens.

I loved my first clinical experience. Here are some tips: 1. Drive to the site before the first clinical. This will prevent you from getting lost. 2. Press your uniform! You'd be surprised that many students arrived looking like slobs. BAD first impression. 3. Bring all necessary equipement. 4. Consider purchasing a PDA. Being able to bring dictionaries and med guides in my pocket, and being able to jot down notes has been invaluable! Hope this helps!

I had something happen in clinicals and I wasn't sure how to handle it. The Nurse had a great deal of experience, but she interfered with my IM injection. First she yelled at me for using the scoop and sweep technique after I drew up the medication. She claimed the needle wouldn’t be sterile? Then she told me to draw back an extra CC of air to “keep the medication in”. Finally she tried to move my hand and make me aspirate with the other (we were taught to use the thumb). I didn’t argue with her. After all, she was signing her name to the chart. I’m just a student. But, when I talked to my instructor, she told me to ignore the nurse’s “suggestions” and go with the techniques we learned. After all, we were being taught the most up to date ways to perform procedures and the procedures are evidence based. I'm just wondering how to handle this in future clinicals. What do ya’ll think about that? Any ideas?

I know this is a bit off topic of patients seeking pain meds..BUT I was wondering if anyone has an experience with alternative ways to manage it like accupuncture? I've tried different oils and they seem to help sometimes..but mostly my CP requires muscle relaxers..anyway sorry to ramble..just wondering about alternatives to medication..

I'm not sure that every patient should be labeled as a drug seeker. There are diseases where the patient is in intense pain i.e. fibromyalgia. At one time FM wasn't considered a disease. Perhaps the patient is in real pain. I just read about a patient who was in pain all the time and the MD said it was all in her head...turns out..it was LYME DISEASE....

I just got a littman cardiology III and I had a nameplate engraved..

I also have severe Crohn's. I've been on immunosepresive drugs and IV remicade. Luckily, I'm in remission at this point. But, I'm glad to hear that others in Nursing have this question. Sometimes I wonder what will happen if I'm not able to provide patient care. I've also heard of Nurses working with Lawyers. Anyone know anything about that?

After my second infusion, I had sudden hypotension so I also had to have benadryl and hydrocortisone. Luckily that helped. My twin brother also has Crohn's and he's never had a rxn. I guess it just depends on the patient. If you have any questions for your paper, please feel free to message me.

As a Crohn's patient, I have had about 18 infusions in the last three years. I never see the Doc during the infusion. My nurse schedules my apointment, orders the drug from the pharmacy, administers my allergy meds, then the remicade. She takes my BP periodically and then when it is finished she schedules my next one.. I don't know if this helps.

It has been rough. But, I loved my first semester of nursing courses. I'm trying to complete as much of my degree as possible on my own. I've taken online courses and I'm studying for CLEP exams. My approach is that I reserve my energy for nursing courses and try to finish the other requirements through other means. I did have an issue with a Prof. She dropped my grade by a full letter b/c I informed her of my absence an hour after I missed class instead of before. (I have a book of doctor's notes just from last semester). MOST of the profs have been great and very understanding. I guess I just came across one who didn't know what it was like to be a patient. I do have to say though, she is a great prof. So, I'm taking three more courses with her and I know now to call her at 3am if that means I keep my A. lol

I can't count the number of times I've been in the hospital. I was a NICU baby for two months. I have Cerebral Palsy and Crohn's disease. So, I remember my first hospital experiences at four or five years old. I would be admitted for vomitting and dehydration at least twice a year until i was 11 or so. I've had bilateral hamstring and achilles tendon surgery and hip surgery. I've also had EEGs, MRIS, GI scans, Xrays, appendectomy, two colonoscopies, approx 18 Remicade infusions..can't think of everything but in my 22 years of life, I've had a lot of hospital experience. It was this experience that led me to seek a nursing career. Sure the docs were there some of the time, but the Nurses were the ones that physically cared for me. I think my experience as a patient will be an asset when I care for patients. Afterall, I have been in their shoes.

I just read an article about the safety of medical care aboard ships. It's really got me thinking that I might want to do it for awhile. Although, I would have to gain at least three years experience according to the article.