Worthy

Thanks everybody. I forgot to mention that I do have a tutor - she's a good friend, and a high school math teacher. She's very graciously adapted a bunch of questions from my multitude of dosage calculation books and been helping me out a few times each week. All I do is practice the dosage questions, not just basic math (although that's where my problem lies). I just booked my second attempt at the test for next Friday. I'll keep everyone posted. I DO realize the importance for the accuracy in math on the floor, and I carry a calculator with me at all times. We aren't allowed calculators in the test, and that's non-negotiable - I asked! My clinical teacher is aware of my "little problem" (hence her offering to come to the meeting) and so is my actual pharmacology teacher, who has graciously sent me extra questions to practice. I'm really trying to seek out help from anyone and anybody, and to make it known that I know I have a problem. I don't want them to think I'm hiding my head in the sand and pretending it will go away - a semi-successfull tactic I used in High school At the bottom of my course outline it says "those who are unsuccesfull at the test must meet with the program coordinator to discuss options". So I guess there are options...I hope

I am in my final year of nursing school. I went part-time for three years, held down two jobs while doing it, and hold an 87% average. I've worked really, really hard; and I rewarded myself by taking out a student loan, quitting one job, and concentrating on school this final year. I am still doing really well. Except for: Pharmacology. Correction: not Pharmacology - the MATH component of the pharm. I attained 85% on the last test in pharm - and 44% on the computerized IV flow rate test A bit of background - I have always done poorly in Math. In high school, I was in grade 13 (Canada remember ) Biology and getting 80's - at the same time I was repeating Grade 10 math for the THIRD time...and failing! I was told I was lazy, didn't work hard, didn't try enough. When I told the guidance councellor I wanted to be a nurse - he laughed. Then he said I had no hope of ever doing it with my math scores. Thus I spent 15 years working in front of a photocopier for a trucking company. After I married, I decided to take a few courses. If I do ok, I told myself, I'll try the entrance test. And I did. And I did well; which leads me to now. Most of the dosage calculations up until now I can handle, however, these IV's just throw me - as well as the test itself; which is timed and in a big room with other students from other programs and I just start to hyperventilate and panic and though I can remember the formulas, I made stupid mistakes in my calculations and there it went - 44%. I've done everything - I have multitudes of dosage calculation books - yes I have Dosage Calculations made Incredibly Easy, for those about to mention it - I have an excellent, patient tutor, a good friend who is a math teacher and comes over every couple of days to help me out. I have made the teacher aware of my little "problem". But even at home, without pressure, on the practice tests I only average about 70 -75%, and I need 80% to pass!!! It's consuming me - and literally making me ill. It's all I can think about. I do math in my head all day. I fall asleep, waking up in the middle of the night trying to divide the time on the digital alarm clock into gtt's per minute It's out of control!! I have two more shots at this test, what if I fail them? If they hold me back a semester and I have to retake pharm; I'll have to quit - I'm broke and tired and just can't afford to not finish next semester. And if I fail the math, I am "ineligible to write the final" in pharmacology - even if my average on the regular tests is over 80% - which means I cannot continue on What should I do? My practical teacher has offered to meet with the program coordinator with me; she knows how upset I am and wants to vouch for my performance at the hospital. Should I take her up on that, or will that be perceived as bringing along "mommy"??? I'm at my wits end - and I feel stupid. After all, how can a person possibly do so well and so many subjects, and just completely tank another? I don't get it. I don't understand why my brain won't cooperate with this. I really don't

I am in my final year of nursing school. I went part-time for three years, held down two jobs while doing it, and hold an 87% average. I've worked really, really hard; and I rewarded myself by taking out a student loan, quitting one job, and concentrating on school this final year. I am still doing really well. Except for: Pharmacology. Correction: not Pharmacology - the MATH component of the pharm. I attained 85% on the last test in pharm - and 44% on the computerized IV flow rate test A bit of background - I have always done poorly in Math. In high school, I was in grade 13 (Canada remember :) ) Biology and getting 80's - at the same time I was repeating Grade 10 math for the THIRD time...and failing! I was told I was lazy, didn't work hard, didn't try enough. When I told the guidance councellor I wanted to be a nurse - he laughed. Then he said I had no hope of ever doing it with my math scores. Thus I spent 15 years working in front of a photocopier for a trucking company. After I married, I decided to take a few courses. If I do ok, I told myself, I'll try the entrance test. And I did. And I did well; which leads me to now. Most of the dosage calculations up until now I can handle, however, these IV's just throw me - as well as the test itself; which is timed and in a big room with other students from other programs and I just start to hyperventilate and panic and though I can remember the formulas, I made stupid mistakes in my calculations and there it went - 44%. I've done everything - I have multitudes of dosage calculation books - yes I have Dosage Calculations made Incredibly Easy, for those about to mention it - I have an excellent, patient tutor, a good friend who is a math teacher and comes over every couple of days to help me out. I have made the teacher aware of my little "problem". But even at home, without pressure, on the practice tests I only average about 70 -75%, and I need 80% to pass!!! It's consuming me - and literally making me ill. It's all I can think about. I do math in my head all day. I fall asleep, waking up in the middle of the night trying to divide the time on the digital alarm clock into gtt's per minute It's out of control!! I have two more shots at this test, what if I fail them? If they hold me back a semester and I have to retake pharm; I'll have to quit - I'm broke and tired and just can't afford to not finish next semester. And if I fail the math, I am "ineligible to write the final" in pharmacology - even if my average on the regular tests is over 80% - which means I cannot continue on What should I do? My practical teacher has offered to meet with the program coordinator with me; she knows how upset I am and wants to vouch for my performance at the hospital. Should I take her up on that, or will that be perceived as bringing along "mommy"??? I'm at my wits end - and I feel stupid. After all, how can a person possibly do so well and so many subjects, and just completely tank another? I don't get it. I don't understand why my brain won't cooperate with this. I really don't.

Thanks guys. Looking back, I set myself up to fail. I only studied with my math tutor for one evening, we only practiced very straightforward examples, I worked a double the day before, and I rushed from Clinical to get to the test. No wonder I failed! I am going to get that book. The questions were very complex i.e. you have an IV with the volume of X with a rate of X and at 0900 you realize that it is XmL behind, what rate do you set so that it finishes in the time allowed? I got completely puzzled and screwed up. AND my basic math is very poor, so I wouldn't be surprised if I just rounded up or down the wrong way, had a decimal in the wrong place, etc. etc. etc. I'll keep trying!

I've been slogging away part-time in school for over three and a half years. I did it while keeping two jobs, and maintained an 86% average. I wasn't a good student in high school, and I've always had poor self-esteem, so this success always astonished me! However - after three years, working two jobs wore me down. After some advice on this board, I quit one job, went down to two shifts per week at the other, and enrolled full-time this September. I've had to take out a student loan to do it. I am broke! Fast forward to now. The classes are really tough this semester. It's our last one before pre-grad, so I guess that's the way it is. I am doing ok - not as spectacularly as I once was - but holding my own in most classes, a B average. Here is my dilemma. I am in my final Pharmacology class. This class consists of online quizzes, three in class tests, and ONE IV flow rate exam that is done on a computer in the school test centre. You MUST get 80% on this test. I got 44% I am devastated. I am horrific at math, but luckily have a good friend who is a math teacher, and she tutors me for free. She got me through the last class, but that was dosage calculations. This test, I got confused, panicked, didn't understand some of the questions, there were tons of decimals involved - I admit I was totally underprepared. I have two more shots at this test. My tutor is coming over tonight, and twice more before my next scheduled attempt. If I fail again, I will keep going. But I'm panicking that if I don't get 80% I will be kicked out of school! I do well on the other pharm tests, that only have a small component of IV flow rate questions. And the IV questions on those tests seem really simplistic compared to the other one. Do you think they will toss me out of school for this one test????? I know that the NCLEX is "only one test" as well, so I do see the irony of my question. But I'm losing hope!

It's IVPB - say it's 50ml of whatever drug PB combined with 1000 mL whatever type of diluent. When you are doing your calculation of how many mL's per minute, would you use the 1000 alone, or would it be 1050??? Does that make sense? Many thanks! I'll look into getting that book.

Is it worth it? It's kind of pricey, and I'm broke from the $74 my regular dosage calculation book cost BTW - Do you know the answer??? Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

I'm in my final year of nursing...have a 86% average. However, that is plummeting like a rock - due to math :angryfire I just can't get my head around IV flow calculations. I have many, many questions...but here is my most pressing one - If a medication is added, is the volume of that med (50 - 100mL, I'm assuming) added into the total volume TBA? Or is it disregarded and the calculation is done without the med? Dying to know. Thanks!

Thank you all for your replies. I have spent much of the day slogging through some old filing that I've been putting off for ages, and watching a Johnny Depp movie :) It feels absolutely decadent and guilty all at the same time! You have all given me some excellent advice. I do know how important basic care is, and that I will still be doing it when I graduate. I just get tired of doing it 16 hours a day, non-stop, with the highlight of my life ordering lunch. And even then, I usually study through it! I am very proud of my average. I wasn't a great student in High School and I'm relishing being "the smart one" for a change LOL :) Still, I feel like I'm shutting down emotionally and physically, and so close to being finished too. I guess I'll just take the advice to put one foot in front of the other...onwards! Geez...I haven't even taken a shower yet today. I repulse myself :) Tonight, I'm going to do a bit of light studying, and then maybe go for a walk in the park. I wish I had a dog sometimes so I can have an excuse to get out, but that's all I need...something else to care for!!! :rotfl: Thankyou for convincing me that it's not that I'm not cut out for nursing because I don't like my clinicals...it's just that I'm overworked :balloons:

I have been slogging away through nursing school, part-time, while working, for over three years. I feel like I should have my PhD by now LOL. But alas, I have one more year to go. I've been working as a PSW (CNA in US, I believe). I have two jobs, one which I like, and one...I don't like so much. The tension between myself and two co-workers has really come to a head the past week or so. The 50 hour work weeks and stress of juggling two jobs and school finally pushed me to seek out a $10,000 student loan and complete school full-time this September, keeping the one job I like two nights a week. I just can't do it anymore - my nerves are shot, I am exhausted all the time, crying, my husband is scared for me. In order to make this work financially, I have to finish working until the middle of August. I can't quit the job I hate any sooner - it would set me back approx. $1500 - and I can't afford to tack that onto my loan. However - I have clinicals right now, and I feel I am exhausted for them. Today I called in sick. This is the second day of clinical I've missed. However, this is my first clinical rotation - we are basically doing care, transfers, etc. It is all things I am doing as a CNA. The only thing we got to do once was medications - which I really enjoyed. I love the mental challenge of that. But I HATE the basic slogging work - especially since I did it the night before from 3-11, and usually have to look forward to another 3-11 that afternoon. It is endless DIAPERS!!!!!! I do well in school. My average is 92% in classes. I got a glowing review from my clinical teacher at midterm. So why do I feel so crappy about this? I realize all I have to do is get through til August....but my clinical only has three weeks left, and I can't blow it. I certainly can't miss any more days. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

"I can't help but think about what it would be like if you ever had to work with these two again, only when you get your license. " Oh, don't think THAT hasn't crossed my mind Thanks guys! I'm feeling a bit better, even if I DO have to go in again on Tuesday - not so far away Timothy; very well said. You made some points that I hadn't considered before, including the "going over RN's head" one...you are correct, and I never viewed it that way before. Two months ago I did exactly that, approached the PSW and said "look, I am only here until August, let's bury the hatchet and try to get along and do our work and look after our residents". Actually, we've done that several times, but it only lasts a short period. Maybe it is me. Maybe they are jealous, intimidated, whatever by my finishing school. I am very, very careful never ever to even mention school there, because I am afraid they will think I'm a "know-it-all" and overstepping my bounds. I am just going to try to smile and bear it :)

I have been working my way through nursing school for what seems like forever, attending school part-time. I will be heading into my last year this September (four year degree here in Canada) and have decided to go full-time and get it over with! The past year and a half, I have held down two part-time jobs as well, so that I can afford to go to school. It's HARD, and I'm exhausted and haven't seen a holiday in months, but I'm determined to do it. Both jobs are in Long Term Care, as an aide ("PSW" - Personal Support Worker - here in Ontario). The first job, my morning job, I am the "bath person". It's an unenviable job of getting six people up for breakfast (three are total care, one is a hoyer lift), helping with breakfast, and then bathing four people before lunch. I do end up toileting my residents after breakfast too, which isn't in my job description (per the Director of Care) but if I don't, they sit there and the other PSW's complain that I "don't look after my residents". I love my residents, have gotten to know them well. I work with two other PSW's on the floor, and one charge nurse. One PSW I get along with very well. The RN and I get along. The other PSW is very bossy and condescending, which I don't like too much, but it has never come to blows or anything. I am a professional. I do my job. It all went out the window however two months ago when the PSW I liked took a leave of absence for health reasons, and left me with the bossy PSW and her replacement - a PSW of the same ethnic background as the bossy one, and me out in the cold. The new PSW has been slowly making my life a living hell. She does not speak to me. If we pass in the hall, she does not make eye contact. She criticizes everything I do to the RN (she will never, ever speak to me directly). She and the other PSW laugh and joke in the Dining room, ignoring me. This I can take. I'm a big girl! I did speak to the Director of Care, who I get along with, who took them aside and spoke to them about "teamwork". Long story short, we have had several meetings with the DOC (including the other girl who replaces me on my day off - she has had trouble with them as well) but nothing ever gets resolved. The RN is a tiny little girl who does not want to get involved, and although up until now has backed my decisions, she never stands up for me really. So I have had to go over her head - several times. Once, I was in a room only to hear the new PSW's voice booming from across the hall "....I don't know what her problem is. She is trying to get me fired. I don't like her, you know...." I went to see where she was, and she was in a resident's room, complaining about me, to the RESIDENT!!! I was appalled and confronted her and demanded that she come out into the hall - that this was unprofessional to discuss in front of a resident. She grudgingly came out. I sincerely regret now not reporting her right that minute, but at that point I was still trying to salvage the work relationship. Things in the past month have gone from bad to worse. I will be leaving in the middle of August - I have 18 more shifts at this place, to be precise. I am COUNTING the hours. I've made a genuine effort to keep the peace until then, but yesterday...sigh...it all blew up again. I got my people up. One of my residents is VERY VERY resistive in the shower, and I find that leaving him in bed until after breakfast, using the lift to get him in the shower chair, bathing him, then giving him breakfast makes him much less combative than if I try to shove him in the shower after breakfast. I've done this method for over a year. However, it takes me 45 minutes from beginning to end, is exhausting, and at this time of the year - hot. So it was then 10:15. I then had two more showers to complete, both independent people who can weight bear. Piece of cake. I decided to take my break (breaks are random - no schedule to them - which of course leads to "no break" at all many times). So I went out onto the patio - where we are allowed - and sat down. I was sitting there chatting with a girl from another floor when the RN came charging out the door, saying that "M" was waiting for me (aren't they all?) and that she needed to go to the toilet (keep in mind - there was another PSW on at the time I went on my break). I said yes, I know she hasn't had her shower, and that I would be there after my break. She shut the door and the girl I was sitting with just looked shocked - "You can't even take your break??". Five minutes later I cut my break ten minutes short to go look after "M". RN was down at the end of the hall bellowing at me as I gathered the towels "She has to go to the bathroom, are you COMING????" I walked down the hall and met them halfway. "M" was DRENCHED - no one had toileted her after breakfast. Now, since I was in the shower with the resistive guy, how could I have done this? Apparently, it WAS my fault, because as the RN took off she kept muttering "she's been waiting, where were you, and you still have two more showers to give. *** is waiting, and *** And Dawn is angry because there will be more laundry for her..". I was angry. I admit it. I'm tired of being persecuted by the people I work with and I'm tired of being blamed for everything. I had my yearly performance review two weeks ago, and I had nearly a perfect review...the DOC loves me. If I'm such a great employee, why am I targeted by these people ALL THE TIME??? I made sure the resident was safely sitting on the toilet, Stripped off her wet clothes, and then headed out to the nurse's station. Ms. Nasty PSW was standing there with the RN and the laundry cart. I went up to the RN and said "Exactly what is the problem?" She turned to me and said "You. You are the problem." I asked what she meant by that. "You...you are not a team player. D has to dump the laundry now, and there will be more for her, and now who will do it?" And of course bitchy PSW was standing there, lapping up the RN giving me hell. So this all happened because D will have more laundry to dump???? I went directly to the DOC, and rationally told her that I was tired of this, that I didn't need this job, nor this stress. I have another job that I could pick up extra shifts at if I absolutely had to (though it would cost me money - I usually work 4 mornings a week at this hellhole, but wouldn't be able to pick up 4 shifts there...so I would lose out). But I made it clear that I had had it. She called the RN and had her come down. It was all hashed out...again. I mentioned my other job, where I get along with everyone very well! When she heard about the concern about the laundry, she said "that's a non-issue. We are LTC. There will always be laundry" and basically she agreed with me that it didn't matter a hill of beans WHEN I did my baths between breakfast and lunch, but as long as they were done. And she ended it by saying "I'm going to try to switch you to another floor. Obviously this is a compatibility issue". So, I guess I'm vindicated that the DOC agreed with me, but I feel awful. The RN, who previously was on my side, in order to keep the peace with the other two PSW's, has obviously decided that since I'm leaving, she has to keep them happy. I was almost in tears by the time I got to my other job last night - only to gush the whole story to my RN there, who assured me that I am NOT the problem - she thinks I take direction well, work hard, and that I get along well with everybody there. So...is it me???? Now I'm dreading the next 18 shifts on this floor, if the DOC can't switch me. And if the DOC CAN switch me, I'm dreading learning new residents routines all over again, for a measly 18 days. Plus, I'll really miss my residents. I didn't want to leave like this. I mean, I wasn't expecting a party (HA!) but I wanted to say goodbye to my residents and their families. They all know when my last day is (or was). I keep thinking...maybe it is me.. maybe I'm hard to get along with. Personally, I think I just don't take any crap, and they didn't like that. I dunno. My husband believes that I am standing my ground, and they hate that. He thinks that if push comes to shove, I should just walk out. He says we don't need the money that badly..ha...and that I could always tack the lost $1500 on to my student loan and enjoy my summer. Have I gone into the wrong profession?????

I do know that less than six months ago SAH laid off a bunch of RN's. I, too, am from there and would love to go back...but....too insecure. I am comfortable knowing that down here in Toronto, I can go anywhere and get a job. Up there, you are more limited. However, I know lots of people who work across in MI, make the commute each day over to War Memorial, or Kinross etc. My dad has been on the board of directors for SAH for years...makes for interesting dinner table conversation :uhoh21:

Well, the top two reasons I'm in nursing school now are watching Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H, and Julie London's character - Dixie McCall - on Emergency!. Margaret just cared for her patients so much, and Dixie looked so cute in that uniform. Always had that little hat just so perfectly placed on her head, hair pinned neatly back, big long fake eyelashes bobbing as she answered the radio "come in, station 51". Not a hair out of place, always had time to have a cup of coffee with those hunky paramedics...actually, come to think of it, I rarely saw her even touching patients. I SOOOO wanted to be HER! For a dose of reality, I really like the nurses of ER, particularly Carol Hathaway. She did indeed abandon her idea of Med school because she liked being a nurse. I used to like Abby but I think the storyline of her becoming a doc just reinforced the idea that nurses are just "doctor wannabes" who aren't smart enough to do it. LOVED the episode of scrubs where Carla decides she wants to remain "just a nurse". But Dixie, she was it!

Well, isn't this timely! As I sat here, soaking my gel overlays in acetone to remove them, I thought "hmmmm I'll log onto Allnurses and see what's up". Yep...I start my clinicals on Saturday, and the nails had to go. Not that I'd had them that long. I got them as a "treat" for myself before I headed to California for a vacation two weeks ago. Love the look of them, but had every intention of removing them before starting clinical. For a few reasons, and surprisingly, the fact that they are disallowed was the last one on the list: (a) I ride horses. The gunk that accumulated where the nails "lifted" a little repulsed me. Now, I don't spend my time digging through my horse's stall, but I'm in arena dirt for a good portion of my time, and the dark brown spots that no matter what I did would NOT come out just turned my stomach. I must have been a walking petrie dish. And, before you start screaming, I had them done at a very reputable place, where several friends go (who do not ride) and they were done properly. I just had the misfortune of "seeing" the dirt that they couldn't (b) they are expensive. My nails tend to go quickly, and I can think of a lot better things to do than serve my own vanity (as my natural nails aren't that bad, unlike some here) for that $50 a month. © Studies have shown that the acrylic/gel nails are bacteria/fungus prone (see (a), above), and I believe it. No, I can't do EVERYTHING to prevent the spread of infection, but in choosing a career in health care I have a responsibility to my patient to LIMIT everything I possibly can that will transmit bacteria. To suggest that "well, other things spread bacteria to" is simply rationalizing and not an effective argument. I'm with the "if you choose to be a nurse, you gotta let go of the fake nails" camp. And let me tell you, my nails are now butt-ugly:) But clean!