Kickinnrs

I think most of your questions have been answered by the others, I have direct knowledge of working with children. I signed at a Children's hospital right after graduation. At this particular hospital you have to work for them 3 years before you can test for CPN (certified pediatric nurse). It gives you time to really decide if this it what you want to spend your entire career doing. It can be one of the most heartbreaking and one of the most rewarding (at the same time) careers. There are nights I cry all the way home for a particular child, times that I smile all the way home, and times that I am baffeled all the way home at what a $&%@ a certain older kid or a member of their faimily was all day. I'm still can't imagine doing anything but pediatrics right now, but I caution you,...99% of kids come with parents! And there will be times those parents make you wish you had chosen adult nursing!! ha ha ha Good luck!

It depends on the state. Some have Graduate Nurse programs and some don't. The state I live in (OH) does not have it, but I work in PA which does. It's a temporary work permit that is only good for one year after graduating nursing school. The down side is if you don't pass your NCLEX on the first try, it becomes null and void and you can't reapply for a new one (at least that's how it works in PA). If your state has it, you'll need to go to the state board of nursing and print out an application and mail it in with so much money. (There may be a backround check involved too...can't remember). But you pay for everything. But the state board of nursing will explain everything you need. Hope this helps!

Absolutley! I would take a job as a CNA or Patient Care Technician or whatever they're called where you are. Good luck on your NCLEX!!!!

My situation may be a little different. I graduated nursing school in May 07. My stress level during nursing school varied between an 8 and 10, depending on what we were testing on. My stress level in the nursing world (I work on at a children's hospital on the orthpedic/neurosurgery/trauma floor) is a little lower only because we really have a great group of nurses. If one nurse isn't overly busy and they see me struggling/stressing, they step up and help out. They may give pain medication for me, reset a beeping IV, put a flush on a minnie infuser, or during an admission do my vital signs or ask the admission questions for me while I asess the pt. I guess I could rate it a 10 when dealing with some of the parents or a child that feels you are their personal slave with absolutley noone else to care for (usually the teenager). Talking to the people I graduated with, I know I'm VERY fortunate to be working where I do. I hear such horror stories about "older nurses out to eat their young", MD's being total a&& h@%@& when they call them (can only think of one time an MD was "short" with me)

I agree with the above post about Medications and memorization. The big panic subject in my class was Fluid and Electrolytes. I found that study groups were a HUGE help. Although I personally study just fine on my own, I also found that in a group, someone may have a way of remembering information that I didn't think of (and, of course, you may have a way that will help someone else). Good luck in nursing school. If nursing is your passion, you'll never regret it!

I find myself checking out peoples veins all the time. I'll be standing in line at the store and glance at someones arms and think "oh man, I'll bet I could get those on the first try" or "I wouldn't want to have to stick them". Or if I hear someone having a coughing fit in a resteraunt, I'll freeze and really "tune in" till I know they're okay. Glad you posted, I was thinking maybe it was just me!:nuke:

So sorry for your loss. I turned 40 just a few months before graduating from nursing school. It's the best decision I ever made. I love what I do and have never once regreted my decision to change careers later in life. You sound like you will make an incredable nurse. Good luck to you!!

Oh man! I know how you feel. I just graduated in May and I had my first student with one of my patients back in November. I work at a Pediatric hospital so they don't pass meds, but she followed me in the room to deal with a pain issue when the pt couldn't have any pain meds. So my student observed while I helped this kiddo reposition, used some hot pack and just kind of talked them through it. After we left the room this student actually told me "I hope I'm as good of nurse as you are after I graduate". I think they had to expand all the doorways so I could get my head through them after that! ha ha ha! I was a really good feeling! I actually felt like a semi-experience nurse for the first time!

I don't usually post, (mostly a lerker), but this really bothers me. I had a friend in nursing school that went through something similar. She had trouble pronouncing some words and had a really country accent. She was always told by professors that she wouldn't make it as a nurse because she didn't sound educated enough when she spoke (the whole "you have to be able to talk the talk to walk the walk" theory). She actually considered dropping out once because she felt singled out and defeated. I'll give you the same advice I gave her...Don't let them beat you! Don't let them squash your dream of being a nurse. Hang in there and prove them all wrong! She hung in there, graduated and has a great working relationship with all her peers! After passing boards, it was the professors that appologized to her for doughting she'd make it. Hang in there and please don't let these people squeeze you out.

I just turned 40 this year and am a new graduate nurse. Not one of the 20/30 something nurses that I work with have made me feel like I'm too old. They've done nothing but support me and encourage me. I think as long as you don't draw focus to your age, no one else will either. I say go for it!!!