bewbew

2 words: DISTRICT NURSING!

Go for whatever takes placement in blocks.........when you are on the wards or wherever you really need some kind of continuity for it to be a useful learning tool.....................

Lanyard watches are great, if you can pop it in your pocket when you are doing procedures, great for obs!

I shudder when I think of that!! In Australia the containers that hold pottasium are similar to the ones that hold sterile water and normal saline, (10ml), only the colour of the writing is different. I hope this is changed soon. In Australia we have what we refer to as the 'bible' for IV meds, lists all the info you could possibly need. I use it everytime, no matter what I think I remember.

thanks everybody for all these links......... :)

I am to start my grad year soon, and I tell you what, I will cetainly be asking questions........all the time! I have noticed on my clinicals even the experienced RNs are always doing research, asking questions etc, so it seems to me in this job you can never expect to know it all, and it is a constant learning process throughout your career! I have noticed some who don't like to answer questions, or be stuck with the students. I think the student/grad also has to take a bit of responsibility and actually do some groundwork too.....I know if I had to answer obvious questions in which the student/grad could have made a little effort in finding answers would drive me crazy too! I am as you can imagine a bit nervous about starting, and when I discuss this with my husband (an experienced RN), he says, 'ask questions, remember you cannot know everything', basically he is repeating all of what you guys have already said in this thread. I remember him coming home very frustrated at times, after preceptoring students/grads, who thought they knew it all. I hope I have preceptors like you guys!! :)

I can relate to this............I am an enrolled nurse (I think you would call me an LPN in the U.S.), and I am about to graduate as a RN in December.... However, I stayed home from work, from '97, to have and look after my two kids, so while I have been studying and start as an RN in February, I have lost my confidence. Due to recent clinicals I know skills, but when it comes back to being part of the professional world, rather than playgroups etc, has got me a bit nervous......... I also feel that 'floating' isn't so good, each area is different, and will take that much more time to get back into it......... Hang in there, AnotherRN

CNA.............that's a nurse assistant isn't it? I used to work as a nurse assistant at a really 'tough' nursing home.............I understand how you feel. I think that utmost in caring for your patients is respecting their dignity, ie: taliking to them, not 'over' them, while chatting with other staff, pulling curtains around their bed, when helping with ADL's etc, etc................ Another thing, always be able to justify why you have carried out something, you know, the assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. That way, you shouldn't go wrong... Time management.........try to be organised for your shift, not to backtrack..........easy said, I know, not so easy to get organised straight up when new to a place, but something to keep in mind.... this is a link to a site that may also answer some of your questions...... http://members.tripod.com/~CNA_MUNCHKIN/shari.htm hope this helps............ bew :)

As a student nurse, we are taught to wear gloves all the time. However, while on clinicals, occasionally I have had comments from the more experienced nurse, eg: 'you don't need gloves to do that'. I do find them very difficult to work with, but just persist, and think of my family. Question: How many of you would wear gloves when you take a BSL? bew :)