finness

well, i kina like 'em! but then, i believe true professionalism is rooted in the ability of the nurse to practice with compassion and respect for the uniqueness of every individual. besides, "taste" is a hard thing to regulate.

A lot of hospitals in iowa are unionized. I dunno much more since I'm not working yet!!

sheesh! you just may have opened a can of worms. firstly, you are in the company of hard working, capable men and women who were called into this profession for a variety of reasons. not everyone is "here" to fulfill a life long dream; some are here to pay the bills, support a family, or just to land a secure job with benefits. it's perfectly okay to use logic when making major life-altering decisions. i am sure your parents concerns come from the greatest of love and intentions; love them, listen to them, and know that ultimately you will be the one who has to live with your decision. isn't it possible for you to be diligent and take your scholastic opportunity as a time to explore your prospects as a young adult? nursing will teach you that there is not always a definate solution to any one problem; often it's a matter of finding the best fit! secondly, do not assume that nurses are simply aspiring doctors who didn't make the cut. they are entirely different professions, and provide entirely different services. bristle. good luck!

nurse ratched, you are one smart cookie! i like that adage a lot...

so would you say that a med-surg background is especially important here?

Thanks...I wasn't aware that worked for mania, too!

I have heard there are a lot of state based tuition repayment programs. For example, if I agree to work in the state of Iowa after graduation, they will pay back my loans. I bet your financial aide office would be able to help you with this.

how is different? how should one best prepare themself?

I am a student nurse (22) but recently one of my clients asked me how old I was. When I told him, he said, "Oh, I thought you were a kid. I thought I got a mini-nurse!!" LOL. :rotfl:

According to the Narcanon website on methamphetamine (couldn't find on cocaine, although I would guess the effect would be fairly similar): "...Users tend to become increasingly dellusional. These effects have been reported to last for months, and in many cases years, even after usage ceaces."

So sad. How does this happen?

my experience in this department stems from my father's abuse of methamphetamine. he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age 39 after having very similar delusions. nearly three years later, he is still taking veritable cocktail of medications--including ablify to suppress the hallucinations. he is in prison now, so he's both clean and medicated, but still the hallucinations persist, and the psychosis is as intense as ever. i can't tell you whether it is permanent, but i can tell you, that i hope for our sake and for the ones we love that it is not. if anyone knows what damage these drugs cause that results in this sort of disorder, and if the results are permanent, please let me know, too!! p.s. my father also insisted that there were cameras in the ceiling fans. you're story is too uncanny. how the heck does this happen?? :uhoh21:

from reading other posts, it doesn't sound imperitive, but helpful. med-surg is recommended for valuable medical assessment skills, but depending on your facility guidelines, may not be necessary. have i got it about right, guys/gals?

yes, to some patients, chemical intervention is crucial. for others, it is ineffective, fruitless, and yes, even dangerous. it is the responsibility of a competent psychiatrist to determine the appropriate therapeutic intervention...be it chemical or traditional talk analysis. one of the pitfalls of psychiatry is that treating a patient with extreme depression, ocd, mania, personality disorders, or anxiety is not as exact as setting a broken arm. psychiatry, for better or worse, is highly dependent upon vigilant, skillful professionals providing the care best suited to the patient. may we all be involved in the process of healing...

how very exciting! i am keeping my fingers crossed for you! you are right--the people drawn to psyche probably have had at least some experience with mental illness. can you blame us? very few people decide to be horse trainers without ever riding a horse. ok. bad analogy.