mommyRN07

I just went and wrote letters to Grey's, House, and ER. I feel productive now!

I was just reading another thing about this, but it made me think of how disgustingly nurses are represented by our media. Example #1) House MD. Sort of entertaining, but oh my lord, most offensive to nurses ever. My "favorite" quote, Foreman asked a little girl to help hold her brother while he did a LP. She asked "Is this all that nurses do?" He answered something like "It's all we trust them to do." I was horrified! Seriously, this is the message we want out there?? Don't even get me started on how the nurses don't exist on these shows. The docs give all injections, all IVs, all vitals... how many patients are now going into the hospital expecting to actually see a dr longer than 10 minutes during the day? They are in for a shock! Example #2) Grey's Anatomy. Love the show, but still. When Jane Doe was recovering from her burns/pregnancy, she often just watched the nurses stand around and gossip. Really, that's all I do all day, how about you? And sadly, the other culprit that grinds my gears: ER. It's probably the most accurate depiction I have seen, HOWEVER, ever noticed how the nurses always screw things up? They all have to sleep with their doctors. Abbey decided to become a doctor, b/c nursing wasn't enough. Not even a NP, a doctor. Sam killed a pt by going outside her scope. Even Nurse Hathaway, most famous tv nurse, was a suicidal mess and dropped everything to follow her man who by the way, didn't express an inkling of interest in their twin daughters. This sort of thing just drives me nuts. Anyone else?

I had several all-that-apply, at least 8, and I passed with 75 questions. They are high-level questions, I personally feel they are the highest level (don't know if that's accurate) and I don't think the computer really expects you to get them right. The fact that you got them at all should be encouraging.

Interesting. I would've said no right off the bat. I guess it depends on which theory you go by, as I know pediatric immunologists who wholeheartedly deny that a child can develop true allergies (barring food allergies) until at least age 3.

I love my Danskos. The first week of wearing them was odd, and I got shin splints, which a lot of people have also said they got at first. Once I got used to wearing them, so very comfortable. If you do buy them, try them on in a good shoe store. I almost bought the wrong size, not realizing the way they are meant to fit. I also have Crocs, which are comfortable for shorter shifts. I know a lot of places are outlawing Crocs though, so make sure you will be able to wear them. I also like Merrills.

This isn't a question, but I like to warn them that the wheel will appear, and also that if the area becomes red, that does not mean it's positive. I've had people totally freaked out just because of a little bit of redness.

The docs don't go? That's not very nice. I know they can't help the baby but that's kind of stinky for the mom, who is also a patient. I would feel abandoned if that were me. Of course, I always saw Nurse-midwives, who would DEFINITELY attend a 'birth.' I don't work in L&D, however, I know the hospitals here try to rotate staff so that the nurses don't get too many demises in a row. It must be very sad.

I'm sure there are several prerequisites you could get out of the way online. However, for an initial RN license, I have never heard of a program that doesn't require clinical hours. Doesn't mean there definitely isn't a program out there somewhere, I've just never heard of it. And would be highly worried about a nursing program that didn't require clinical hours. There are several ways to go from an associates RN to BSN or MSN online. But for the inital RN, sorry, I think you will have to do it the traditional way.

If a mom is 21-22 weeks with PROM, they can try to do that, and sometimes they are able to prolong the pregnancy to a more viable point. However, there is the risk of infection, and at that point, they have to induce. It's not necessarily "killing it" although obviously there isn't a chance of survival at that point.

Pregnant women are allowed to be a little oversensitive. And you're (obviously) allowed to state your opinion, whether you are being sensitive or not. You asked a question, and I gave my opinion. And again, not to beat the abortion thing, but I am prochoice, however, at 23 weeks, I am adamently against terminating pregnancy for nonmedical reasons. I've known people who have "changed their mind" at just under 24 weeks, and terminated, and I did think, you know, that baby could've had a fighting chance.

My feeling is you are being too sensitive. Seriously, if someone looks at a ticker on a website and decides to use that information to try to induce their own pregnancy, I have no sympathy for them, and I don't think any judge or jury would either. the 23 week point marks a turning point. I think it's a reassuring thing. If people want to read too much into it (either by thinking they can have a healthy baby or by thinking it's irresponsible) I think that's unfortunate...but whatever. Write the company if it makes you feel better.

It's a little political. However, when I was pregnant, I felt somewhat relieved to know that if for SOME reason I was to go into labor that day, there would be a possibility of survival. No one wants to have a baby that early, but it is a turning point, to go from "no chance of survival" to "small chance." Anyone who does want to have the baby out that early should maybe not be a parent in the first place! I don't see a problem with it actually. And I'm not going to start an abortion debate here (I'm pro-choice), but the fact is, some places will still terminate at this point even wihtout medical reason. Something to think about.

Nursing school is difficult at any age. That said, age aint nothing but a number. I know 45 year olds who are in better shape than 20 year olds. I know 45 year olds who are on their death bed. If you are dedicated, willing to WORK, ok with being dropped down a few levels (nursing instructors do that to everyone), and have the time to devote to studies, go for it. I had people in their 40s in my class, had someone in her 50s even.

I did not take any review classes. I did tons of questions from NCLEX books. I tried to focus on the books that came with CD-ROMS. I passed 1st time, 75 questions, so obviously I was glad to not have spent the money on a class.

In the place where I work, the PAs must have their notes signed off by an MD. The NPs do not. That is the big difference I notice between having your own license and not. Honestly I don't think I'd want to be a pt of an NP or a PA that was not affiliated with an MD. Just in case. I personally don't want an advanced degree, quite happy with my RN. And I mean no offense against PAs. I've known great PAs, and not-so-great. Just like the NPs I've known. And yeah, having to take a comprehensive written test every 6 years is a definite 'ugh' factor for me. I'm not ashamed to admit it! And I guarantee, if the BON decided to make RNs take the NCLEX every 5 or 6 years, there'd be a LOT of PO'ed RNs. So yes, your statement demonstrating knowledge is the area that you are trained in is a bad thing, is a true statement, particularly if you are talking about sitting me in in front of a computer for how ever many hours and taking a written test.