marimar12

Okay... The rest of my lab stations went pretty much the same way. I passed friday night with no repeats. I was taken up to the unit that same night. I was introduced to the floor by my CE. I was taken into an empty patient room. Now, this where have to tell you guys, St. Mary's is EXTREMELY nurse friendly. Everything you can possibly needfor your particular patient is right there. So, I recieve my assignment: PCS 1: 86yr female, admitting DX: Upper GI bleed assigned areas of care: Resp Asses, Abd Asses, Medication My CE hands me her chart so that I can review. I took 45mins doing that...I wanted to make sure I knew my patient. I go to the hotel and first thing I do is... jump in the jacuzzi! 15 mins later I was back in my room working on my careplan. Do not write anything but your planning phase. I chose: Impaired Comfort R/T upper GI bleed. AEB (I left blank) Intervention #1 Assess Comfort Level Intervention #2 Provide comfort measure: Mouth Care Saturday morning we met in the hosp. cafe with our CA. She took us to the student area. She gave us a pep talk and off with our CE's we went. As soon as I got to the floor I wrote my grid out on the back of my kardex and I handover my PCS kardex, Ce read it and told my I was now ready for my implementation phase. I washed my hands, entered the room and indroduced myself and my CE, I id'd my patient, I assessed her IV site. I explained what I was gonna do. Did vitals, declared vitals and started on my resp assess. Then, out of nowhere...the breakfast tray arrived. "I wanna eat my breakfast before it gets cold." I helped set her up and left. Did my as evidenced by which was patient laying in bed slumped to left side. Documented my mobility. Filled in my PCS Record Form, pulled out all my meds, (6 total)...and waited for my patient to finish up breakfast. Finally...I go back in th room, measured intake and sat her upright position. assessed lung sounds, had her deep breath thr mouth...exhale slowly...done. Before I layed her down..."Miss Patient Name, would you like to use the restroom before I begin your abd assess?" She didnt. I closed the door for privacy, asked her if she was in any pain. I layed her in a supine position with knees slightly bent. Pulled up her gown, looked for distention and contour. Auscultated all quads, palpated all quads lightly, I didnt have to measure girth so I sat her back up. I Id'd and triple checked my MAR. Gave her her meds, provided mouth care, changed her gown(not part of my assignment but she was covered in jelly and eggs.) I asked if she was comfortable. Put her call bell and phone in reach. Bed was low, upperside rails up x2, thanked her for her time and I excusd myself. I had 10 mins to chart! I was scribbling everything! Thank goodness for my grid because everytime I did a critcal element I crossed it off my grid. I finished just as my CE stood next to me and said time is up. BAM! Here you go sir...He read me the dreaded statement, took my PCS form and my carpenito's and told me "Wait here" I paced and paced and "Congratulations, you passed." :lol2: I was so happy I started to cry!

Thank you all;) Well, I got to Racine on Wednesday Dec 5th. I was scheduled for Dec 7-9. I was afraid that I would miss my connecting flight or that I would get stuck in the airports because of all the snow Friday afternoon there were 6 students in the sim lab located in the hospital. We did our introductions and the CA gave us a go around of the stations explained everything we needed to do in detail. We got 15 to 20 mins alone to quietly take a good look and play with the stations. Take that time to work out your strategy. First station I had was IV drip, I had 20 mins to perform. I stated I was going to wash my hands, picked up my MAR, ID'd my patient, did my math calculation. Chose the correct medication, compared it to the MAR, donned gloves, assessed IV site, ID'd my patient again, checked my tubing for air, clamped the secondary line, spiked my med, hung it, lowered the primary solution. Adjusted my drops using the primary tubing clamp while the secondary tubing clamp was wide opened, compared my MAR to the patient again, compared the MAR to the assigned mini bag, checked my drop rate again, cleansed the IV port, attached the tubing to my patient, checked my rate again and I said, "I am ready for you to verify my drops." She asked had I completed my critical elements for this station, "I said I would like to sign my MAR" and I rechecked ID. "Congratulations, you've met all of your critical elements in this station.You are off to a strong start" I passed in 10mins! Oh, I verbalized everything...don't forget to state out loud everything you do. Okay guys, I need to sleep, I have to work tonight. Im sorry but I will finish this experience intermittently throughout the night. Thank you all for the congrats!

:balloons:I passed!!! What an amazing experience!!! I want to that Anticoag nurse...your notes and test tips were amazing. To the future GNs...good luck and trust your instincts! :balloons:

Thank you so much for all the info you've sent me:monkeydance:!!! It is worth your weight (and mine) in gold!!! I will be going to Racine Dec 7-9. I will be singing your praises the whole way!!!! Thanks again, Maritza

Your gonna love it there! The program is excellent and the teachers are wonderful. Clinicals are right at Mercy so you dont have to go anywhere except for your nursing home experience, you will go to the Miami Jewish Home. Your pediatric experience will be at Miami Childrens Hospital. From what I've heard Mercy Hospital students are the only LPN students who have permission to do clinical experiences there, I dont know why. Pay very close attention when the teachers repeat things more than once. Anytime Mr. Westfall says "Point To Ponder" write it down. And remember, the only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask. Im not gonna wish you luck because you are going to do phenomenal! Happy studying! Maritza

I sent my application back in June. I called to check on a date last week and I was told that there were'nt any dates available for the testing sites I wanted until next year unless I requested Racine in which case I would get a date for the first weekend in December. I had originally requested Amarillo, Plano and Madison.

I was wondering if anyone had any info regarding this testing site. Anything from CE's to places to eat would be greatly appreciated. Gracias to all, Maritza

The study guides are free and you can either download them from the excelsior site or you can request them. I find them to be very useful. Good luck

Really good advice from the two of you. I do try to keep active when I feel my eyes getting heavy. That's the time when I start cleaning up and stocking my rooms and IV trays. I do know that I need to snack on health foods instead of running to the snack machine for that deadly quick fix like snickers bar and pepsi bottle. So today instead of eating a heavy breakfast and going to sleep (my usual) I opted for going to the gym. 1hr on elliptical, 1/2 universal, 1/2 sit ups and I feel pumped! And now for the well desired sleep time! Thanks again and GOOD NIGHT!

I am an LPN working 7p to 8a. I've noticed my eating habits spiraling out of control. I used to be fit, watched what I ate and basically led a vegetarian life style for the last 8 years. I graduated last April and have since gained approx. 20 lbs. I feel tired, weak, and just blah. Does anyone else feel this way? Any advice on how to control 3am candy craving? I just feel so out of control.

My ex-husband and I were collecting Toy Story characters that were in the Burger King kids meals (years ago). The only character that was missing was the little cowboy. He and I decided to meet for lunch one day and wound up going to, where else, Burger King. He started placing our order "Can I get a Whopper Meal, she wants a fish sandwich meal." We wait for our food and when it arrives he asks the food server "Hey Guy, you got a Woody?" :rotfl:

Nursing Unlimited has an IV certification course and I believe Miami Dade College has one too. Good Luck.

I am currently enrolled in Excelsior, LPN to RN program.

Speaking of hairstylists, my hair caught on fire last weekend and I am looking for a good hairstylist to fix it, preferably someone near me in Miami. Anyone?

I was already working at a children's hospital in the registration dept, so I was hired quickly in the ER. About half of the students from my class now work at tlc facilities, I don't down them for working there, but they don't really have a tremendous amount of exposure to different things like starting IVs or things of that sort. They are making good money though, so kudos to them.