nurz2be

Listen, don't psych yourself out before the fact. You already know math is a weakness for you, we all have them, now you have to work harder on that portion of your schooling. Find some math books, math testing banks and practice until you don't have to look to see if the answer is right, you KNOW the answer is right! Remember the nursing math isn't about adding 1/4 cup too much of flour in a baking recipe, it is about medication administration and you want to be 100% sure you are on the money. It takes us all time to get the hang of it, but it will come with practice and more practice. GOOD LUCK to you!

I just wonder how many states are going to follow in this mess? I hope that none do.... I hope that students in other states take notice of this and MAKE SURE that something like this doesn't happen in their states without them knowing about it.

Here is the extended version....As stated above NOW only half the staff has to be a "nurse." Seriously what can someone with a Bachelors or Masters degree in Law or any other degree outside nursing honestly teach nursing students ABOUT nursing? loaddoc.pdf

The dean of academic affairs is going to send me a copy of what the FBON and DOH has sent the schools so far outlining the exact cuts in curriculum. Luckily my school is NLN accredited, but what about ALL these schools who aren't? It isn't right that the student nurses work their butts off, for what now? Only for it to be blowing up in their faces? Basically for someones, this woman mentioned above that I REFUSE to call a nurse, political ambitions? As SOON as I get that from my dean I am going to post it. I did find the Extended version of the "bill" I am going to post it here in a second.

All I can say is good grief!!!!!

I'd love to see a paper-trail of donations to politicians in Florida from corporations/individuals associated with private for-profit technical colleges. I would to What was the motivation to lower educational standards and why get rid of the Board of Nursing when the board knows the most about nursing education? This is very fishy. Has Charlie Crist already signed the bill into law? Yes, it was signed UNANIMOUSLY..Not 1 legislator said No.. I don't understand that part...it goes into effect on July 1,2009

The fact that established nurses, I know, are upset. They are upset because THEY are the ones who will have to "work with" an already troubled group of people, new graduate nurses. Yes, we know things, but there are WAY more things we don't than do. Our patients are in the near future going to be exposed to new graduates who know even less than those of us who have graduated or will graduate soon. I don't see who is winning in this WHOLE situation, but it isn't ANYONE it is actively affecting. We, the students at my school, had NO IDEA about this. I posted this topic in the Florida section, but like someone said, had we known sooner we could have done something. It is INFURIATING to me that just like that, something so significant as this, is just brushed under the rug, so to speak. I assure you, the quickest I can get OUT of Florida, I will. I don't want ANY part of a state who shows blatant disregard for such an important profession. I think they might be surprised when nursing students declines, nursing shortage increases, and they have NOTHING to offer to draw in nurses. I feel SORRY for the people who need health care here in Florida..... What a mess

Ugh....I am so angry. I am contacting fellow students in my school, this is some mess. The other thing that makes it very curious....I like llg thinks someone got to someone to make all this happen in less than 4 months when it was first proposed, is the fact that when you look at the votes from the house and senate....ALL said YES.....not ONE said NO!!!!!! How many nurses are there in Florida and not ONE Senator...listened to them..... This makes every fiber in my body upset

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41499&SessionId=61 That is the bill that passed I spoke with the Dean of Nursing at our school today...sad conversation. She said the Chancellor of our schools had a long talk with the nursing faculty yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, everyone is really upset. The Dean stated that the State board is now ONLY responsible for New program applicants initial processing and keeping watch over the NCLEX pass rates for schools. The DOH is now in charge of programs, regulations, and they have already sent word to the schools that their requirements are MUCH lower than what the SBON had in place. I cannot tell you the anguish we are going through now. There are only two possible saving graces for my class....1 is that we graduate 20 days after this goes into law and 2 is that our school is NLN accredited so that might pull some weight with other states, we just don't know yet and there is no way to know until we graduate and some of us try to get jobs outside Florida. This is SO DISTURBING!

Well, they have done it again! The politicians have stepped in and mucked it all UP! In Florida HB 1209 goes into affect. This bill NOW takes all but two things regarding nursing programs away from the state board of nursing and places it in the hands of the department of health. Why does this matter you say...WELL they require LESS hours, LESS clinicals, LESS hands on experience, LESS LESS LESS. What that could mean for Florida graduates, who graduate after July 1, 2009 when it goes into effect, is that due to these LOWERED standards, when and if we try to apply for licensure in another state, it may very well be declined! So all this money, all this time, and there is a large posibility that we cannot move from Florida if we want to practice nursing. Nurses are in an uproar, we as students, already have an overwhelming feeling of "not knowing anything" when we graduate, but to DUMB IT DOWN is an INSULT! I am one of those who will graduate after July 1, actually July 21 go figure, and this is horribly disturbing. Why can our voices not be heard? There are millions of nurses yet these yahoos in the political arena make decisions like this that affect so MANY! I am outraged..... I am insulted.... I am worried about the future nurses

So a friend of mine who attends a different nursing school than I, called me today and said that their instructor read about this new bill that goes in affect July 1, 2009. Her instructor said that the DOH is now "in charge" of keeping track of nursing schools, as opposed to the board of nursing, schools now pay for this (1000 per year), strict guidelines, so on and so on...but the kicker is that she also told her (THis is the part I can't find and makes me curious), is that students who graduate AFTER this bill goes in effect, July 1, 2009, will not be acknowledged in other states!!!!!!!! WHAT.....THE.....HECK.... Those students were told it is some gimmick to keep down on the nursing shortage and "make" nurses stay in Florida who did their schooling here. I mean what are they preventing, so we won't pick up and move to a state where there are NEW GRAD jobs, or that we move to a state where the nurses are PAID fairly, or that we don't move to a state where there are stricter guidelines on Nurse to patient ratios? I looked up the bill and it has been revised 4 million times...I am no legal mumbo jumbo reader... I found all the stuff except for the not being acknowledged by other states part. Can ANYONE help who understands all this? I called DOH..... no return call....I called Florida Center for Nursing.....No return call.....Called my school.....no idea what I was talking about!!! Here are the links to the bill....... http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=41499&SessionId=61 Thank you in advance!!!!!!!!

I am going to give you a piece of job advice first, then clinical advice. If this is truly the place you want to work when you are done, consider the time that you are there an extended nursing interview. If you are walking into a hospital as a "tech" you are saying, "I am a potential nurse." You are going to be held at a higher standard with the nurses as you are going to be a colleague. You are also going to be observed by the nurse managers as someone who could be a potential nurse on their staff. So, that being said, always be punctual, do your best not to call off work, do what you say you will, if and when you goof be the first to own up to it, offer yourself to assist the nurses with their work so they see you are eager, ask if you can watch any procedures that are happening on your floor, and get ready for an interesting experience. Now, clinical skills, I assure you that as soon as you get in the hospital you are going to remember what to do. You will be assigned a preceptor of sorts, that will make sure you are up to speed on things. Grab a blood pressure cuff and make sure you can still take one accurately. A lot of hospitals have Dynamaps, so maybe you can practice on one. Other than that, each hospital, each floor for that matter tends to do things their own way, so be open to learning new ways to do things you may already know how to do.

It is all over Florida, unfortunately. I am in eastern Florida, about 3 hours north of where you are and the job hunt for new grads is as bleak. It is sad, and hard to understand, but several of us are having to move so we can get experience. good luck

I don't know what "supposed 4 years you state don't acknowledge Keiser" but UCF, University of Florida, and NUMEROUS MAJOR universities I have personally contacted do. You can choose to believe what you want to, but I know what I know. I don't take it personal, I just get tired of people saying things they have heard from others, or exagerate what is really happening. I personally called 5 NP NO

If I were you I would contact the top 5 schools you are considering applying to once you have finished either school and see if they accept, if either, these schools. I would also, make that contact via email so that you have something in writing stating it is so. I have met two RNs locally who were paramedics, took Excelsior classes but neither has been able to find a school locally (I live in Melbourne, FL) or in Orlando that would honor not only the "class" hours but would not recognize the "clinical" hours. There has to be somewhere that does, right? Try University of Phoenix and other schools that you can do classes online, you might have better luck. GOOD LUCK

Josh, not only is Keiser accredited through the state they are nationally accredited as well. Yes, when you graduate from Keiser you can take the NCLEX and if you pass you will be a real live RN. Now, you can also go on to get your BSN or MSN after Keiser. I have not found 1 school in Florida that won't accept the RN status from Keiser. You might have to retake a class or two, like a science class, but they acknowledge Keiser students. Some of the students that are 2-3 classes ahead of me, I go to the Keiser-Melbourne campus and graduate this July, have already started working towards either BSN and MSNs, of which 3 are going through FSU, one is going through Columbia University, and another is working on her NP through University of Georgia. Some people say it is stupid or people are idiots who go there, see above post, but while others are sitting at home whining about not getting into a nursing school, or waiting for years on a wait list, I will have attended, graduated and started practicing as a RN. I don't see the idiocy in that. If I have the money to spend on that type of education, it is MINE to spend!

you are right in that not everyone is dangerous, but in the psych clinicals one should always assume the danger is there because if you don't and your turn your back on a patient it could be that patient's time to snap. we saw it several times in our clinicals with patients and staff. my advice is to work with another student, watch out for one another. do your interviews with another student, the other student can be present but not be a part of the conversation. when you are in "groups" be very cautious of looking around at patients when you are talking to your group and laughing, there are patients there with very sensitive issues thinking they are "being watch and mocked." do not take these conditions lightly. they aren't necessarily to be feared but they are to be cautioned. i had my psych rotations and i work as a nurse tech where i also have to sit with baker act patients and have had instances where the smallest things set them off, like a commercial on tv, and it can get out of your control in a very quick instance. i love these patients.....but i would not and do not turn my back on a one of them. those cute little old ladies can have the strength of an oxen when they get in a rage. be polite, show them respect, but keep your space, don't touch them without warning, talk in a calm and soft voice, most of all listen. even when they are going on about the man in the moon, being god, walking on fire, being followed, and in whatever they are telling you there is a story, there is a person in that story and what they are telling you is very real to them. have fun and good luck

Here in Florida, they are called Medical Assistants and they can, among other things, give immunizations, draw blood, do a basic EKG (not interpret), take vitals and such. In almost every doctor's office there are either entirely MA's or almost all MA's and one or two "nurses." Yes, the doctors call them nurses, which is against state board policies, that is leading patients to believe they are dealing with "licensed" professionals, when in reality they are only certified. they get paid crappy, like 8-10 an hour. You will hear them, foolishly, saying things like, "I should be a nurse, I basically do what one does anyway." Makes me angry but I bite my tongue, not a rule, but have heard it many times. This seems to be the wave of future office environments, it's all about the bottom line.

The five local hospitals from Orlando to Melbourne are on "grad" hiring freezes. Between this month and July there will be 400 + graduate nurses descending on the area hospitals and you can bet that the local students will most likely get spots over new arrivals. There are basically little to no positions for new grads all over Florida. I am curious if you did your research and how in the world you found positions here that would take new grads. Florida Hospital has internships but the classes are filled til Jan 2010. There are students who graduated Magna from UCF bachelors program and STILL can't find jobs...so.... I am not trying to freak you out, but this is the reality of this area. The class that just graduated from my school, there are 24, only 1 has found a job. ONLY 1, the rest are having to find jobs in other areas, or out of state. You should have a locked in position before moving here, the cost of living in most places is very steep to boot. GOOD LUCK

Ok, first off my husband sent this too me, so, you can already tell it is biased as all get-out. I hope you ladies enjoy and learn what is really happening to our SO. Man Flu - The Facts... 1. Man-Flu is more painful than childbirth. This is an irrefutable scientific fact*. *(Based on a survey of over 100,000 men.) 2. Man-Flu is not 'just a cold'. It is a condition so severe that the germs from a single Man-Flu sneeze could wipe out entire tribes of people living in the rainforest. And probably loads of monkeys too. 3. Women do not contract Man-Flu. At worst they suffer from what is medically recognised as a 'Mild Girly Sniffle' - which, if a man caught, he would still be able to run, throw a ball, tear the phone book in half and compete in all other kinds of manly activities. 4. Men do not 'moan' when they have Man-Flu. They emit involuntary groans of agony that are entirely in proportion to the unbearable pain they are in. 5. Full recovery from Man-Flu will take place much quicker if their simple requests for care, sympathy and regular cups of tea are met. Is that really so much to ask? Florence Nightingale would have done it (THIS part cracked me UP) 6. More men die each year from MFN (Man-Flu Neglect) than lots and lots of other things. (Like rabbit attacks or choking on toast). 7. Men suffering from Man-Flu want nothing more than to get out of bed and come to work, but they are too selfless to risk spreading this awful condition amongst their friends and colleagues. In this sense, they are the greatest heroes this country has ever known. 8. In 1982 scientists managed to simulate the agonising symptoms of full blown Man-Flu in a female chimp. She became so ill that her head literally fell off. 9. Man-Flu germs are more powerful than He-Man, The Thundercats and The A-Team combined. They are too strong for weak, nasty tasting 'lady medicines' like Lemsip, so don't bother trying to force them on a victim of Man-Flu. 10. While it may seem like a Man-Flu sufferer is just lying around enjoying 'Diagnosis Murder' it is a commonly recognised medical fact that the exact pitch and frequency of D*ck Van Dyke's voice has remarkable soothing powers. Every minute in this country one man is struck down by Man-Flu. Women, all we ask is that each of you offers them a cup of tea, some kind words and your undivided attention and care. Then maybe, just maybe, we'll beat this monstrous disease together...

Saw this....needed a good laugh.....got a few....enjoy When you need the money, your shift is cancelled; when you have a weekend planned, you have to do overtime. Realizing the patient you've just injected has a serious infection causes you to stab yourself with the used needle. A 500 pound patient needs all care, while your 80 pound patient needs a finger dressing ... and your colleague has a "bad back." It's you're first night shift for three years. And it's a full moon. You're doing the "Only 27 more minutes of the shift from hell happy-dance", only to turn around to see your supervisor standing there. In a critical situation, the most highly qualified clinician will offer the most advice and the least support. The absurdity of the suggestion is directly proportional to the distance from the bedside. As soon as you finish a thirty minute dressing the doctor will come in, and take a look at the wound. The disoriented patient always comes from a Nursing Home whose beautiful paperwork has no phone number on it. Your nose will itch the very moment your gloved hands get contaminated with bodily fluids. The patient who has been dying all night finally meets his maker 12.5 minutes before shift change. You walk out of a patient's room after you've asked them if they need anything: they will put the call bell on as you are about three quarters the way down the hall. The patient furthest away from the nurses' station rings the call bell more often than the patient nearest to the nurses' station. The doctor with the worst handwriting and most original use of the English Language will be responsible for your most critical patient. You always remember "just one more thing" you need after you've gowned, gloved, and masked and gone into that isolation room. The correct depth of compression in adult CPR is a bit less than the depth you just reached when you broke those ribs. When you cancel extra staff because it's so quiet, you are guaranteed a rash of admissions. If you wear a new white uniform, expect to be thrown up on. Corollary: Residents always poop on your brand new shoes. When management smiles at you, be very, very afraid ... Staffing will gladly send you three aides--but you have to float two of your RNs. As soon as you discontinue the IV line, more fluids will be ordered. Mandatory meetings are always scheduled after you've had the night from hell and just want to go home to bed. You always forget what it was you wanted after you get to the supply room. You always remember when you get back to the other end ... Doctors only ask your name when the patient isn't doing well. Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the boss is watching. As soon as you've ordered the pizzas, 25 patients show up at the ER registration desk along with three ambulances all with cardiac arrests! For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. Ten seconds after you have finished giving a complete bed bath and changing the bed, the patient has a giant code brown. If a patient needs four pills, the packet will contain three. Your buddies who were reading the paper at the nurses' desk a minute ago always disappear when you need help ... Expect to get your pay raise the same day the hospital raises the parking rates (and other charges) The better job you do, the more work you can expect to be handed ... The amount of clean linen available is inversely proportional to your immediate needs. The more confused and impulsive a patient is, the less chance there is for a family member or friend to sit with the patient. The perfect nurse for the job will apply the day after that post is filled by some semi qualified idiot. If only one solution can be found for a problem, then it is usually a stupid solution. When the nurse on the preceding shift has surrounded the patient with absorbent pads, the code brown will hit every sheet and miss every pad. Rest assured that when you are in a hurry, the nurse's notes have not been written. When you are starting an IV on an uncooperative patient, or dealing with a huge code brown, there is a phone call for you and it's that crabby physician that you have been paging all morning. Fire drills always occur on your day from hell The first person in line when the clinic opens will not require urgent care. The sickest person will arrive 5 minutes before closing: "I thought I'd feel better" The Nursing Catch-22: If you're running around horribly busy, you're unorganized and need to prioritize, but if you're not running around horribly busy, you're lazy and need to find more work to do. I've copied this page with the permission of AndrewHeenan, The Original page can be found at: Murphy's Nurses (website no longer available).

Here in Sunny Florida, I work as a tech, one of the "job requirements" is to let the staffing office know when your expected grad date is, and if it changes, YES they do call the school intermittently. The day AFTER we graduate our jobs as nurse techs cease being because we are now "over qualified." Personally, I am 3 months from graduating and I have soaked up as much "nursing" as I am going to in school, exceptions of what I pick up studying for the NCLEX. Now, the ONLY thing different from me in three months is that I will have graduated, not passed the NCLEX, graduated. Grad nursing jobs in my area of Florida are near zero and about 400 plus nursing students descending on those near zero positions at once..... sigh

RN2BEE84 I am SOO SORRY you had such a frightful experience. Did you get the NET study book? I used it and I swear the test had the same stuff on it. Yes, there were math problems like that on the one that I took too but they are in the study book. Here is the link to one. HERE If you get it, only study the section of the book regarding the NET GOOD LUCK

I am a Keiser Nursing student at the Melbourne Campus, I graduate in July this year and am SUPER SUPER excited. Look, EVERY program has its ups and downs, if you can get into a program YOU decide what kind of nurse you are going to be and HOW much you learn. Want some advice from an older, been there done that student? Don't get caught up in the drama, where more than 2 females are in a room for a length of time, drama will ensue. STUDY UR BUTT off, don't just study what they tell you "might" be on a test, really dig into the pathophysiology of what is happening to the body, ie. your patient. Take time, even if it is an hour, just for you, if it is sitting in a coffee shop (without nursing books). 18 months might not seem like a long time but I am telling you by the time you get were I am, you are emotionally, mentally, pooped. I pushed myself all the time, I didn't take time often for myself, just do it, trust that. START from FUndamentals taking NCLEX questions, you are thinking, "but I don't really know enough yet" There are NCLEX books for fundamentals, actually each of your classes. It gets you thinking about thinking. "critical thinking". I can't tell you what a difference it makes to do TONS of questions before you take the test in class. It gets your mind thinking the way nursing students need to think. This is the updated version of the book I used.... http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Success-Applying-Critical-Thinking/dp/0803619219/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239627169&sr=1-4 The last bit of advice I have for you is simple...... Don't lose yourself or the reason you wanted to be a nurse. It is SUPER easy to get upset, nervous, and freaked about things and it takes your breath and you start questioning what the heck you are doing.... I keep and have kept a note that I wrote before I started school, when I was nervous and excited and happy (not that I am not those now, it just changes) and I keep that note in my book and I look at it when those "what the heck" moments come upon me, it is a simple reminder of WHY I am doing this. GOOD LUCK