MrsAmesRN

My thoughts exactly!

SOA=shortness of air. We used to just say SOB (shortness of breath), but can't say that anymore. They say because when patient's would see SOB in their charts, they would get upset because they thought they were being called a bad name. Personally, I have a hard time believing someone would actually think that, but whatever...I'm sure it made some idiot feel good to come up with that crap.

It depends on how much time you have open to study. (like between work, kids, etc) I think you've got enough time; I doubt seriously you'll ever feel like you're really ready. But at some point, you've got to go for it. Try to think positive----you can do it:anpom: (I'm cheering for you!)

I agree. This helped me too.

I started using the CD when I was in the 2nd semester of nursing. So I really couldn't say how many times I used it--hundreds! I usually studied 1 subject area at a time. I was told if I consistantly scored around 80% on the practice tests and quizzes I'd probably pass NCLEX. I felt like I didn't know anything, but I did pass. So maybe they were right about that 80%. There's soooo much info, you're never going to know or remember it all. So try not to stress yourself too much because you don't know or remember everything. I know, easier said than done! Like someone else said, just make sure you understand basic physiology. Always remember ABC's--and in that order (for questions like who would you see 1st: if someone is bleeding out and someone else is having difficulty breathing, you take care of the SOA pt 1st). And always keep in mind pt safety. I guess those were the "words of wisdom" people told me, and they seemed to work. Oh, I have heard that they are putting more and more pharmacology questions on the test. I only remember having a few. Some were math questions, so make sure you know how to do that. One last thing to remember, common sense. Sometimes, it's easy to get wrapped up in those test questions and forget to just use some common sense (it was for me anyway:bugeyes:). Do you have a test date scheduled yet?

Cetaphil cream works really well. I think the cream works better than the lotion, but both are good. They also make soap, which will not dry the skin.

I agree with the other posters. If you want to go for the LPN, do it. I was a MA for 8 yrs before becomming a RN. I worked in KY, TX, and SC. The pay was close to the same in each place (from $8-12/hr). The LPN's that I've worked with have all made more than that. As far as finding a job, I never had any trouble at all. But as a LPN, I think you would have more options. I think MA's mainly work in MD offices. It may be different in other states, but in KY, in addition to working in MD offices, LPN's can work hospitals, home health and probably other places too. I don't think MA's can. I really enjoyed being a MA and I learned a lot while I did it. But the school I went to was expensive and I am still repaying those student loans. You're absolutey right, it's you're money, and it's also you're time and effort. Spend it the way you think is best. Don't let them bully you into doing something that you don't really think is best for you. Best of luck to you, whatever you choose.:nuke:

I took NCLEX a little over a year ago and passed the 1st time. The Saunder's CD is the only thing I used to study for it, although I did study a lot. I didn't really think the questions were much harder, it's just with Saunder's, you can get the answers right away. With NCLEX you never get the answers. Probably the best advise I got about studying with the CD was to practice more the stuff you don't know or aren't really good at. I know that seems like common sense, but I found when I practiced, I wanted to do the stuff I knew more about. A lot of my friends said the same thing. Anyway, don't know if this helps, but good luck!:nuke:

Some places won't hire you if your school wasn't NLN accredited. I just started working for the VA. One of their requirements is that you have graduated from an NLN accredited school of nursing.

I'm so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. I went through a similar situation not so long ago. (I almost wondered if we worked in the same hospital!) Anyway, under the circumstances, I think you did a good job. As far as giving pt info over the phone, maybe that wasn't the best thing to do. But here's the thing about that; under the same circumstances, I think a lot of people would have done the same thing that you did. I have been a nurse for a little under a year, but I was a medical asst for 8 yrs before that, so I have a very good understanding of HIPAA laws. But when I started working med-surg nights, I did the same thing a couple of times. I know I'm not supposed to give out pt info. But, I guess, being so new, overwhelmed, exhausted, ect..., that when the family member called, I just wanted to let them know the pt was doing okay. Afterwards I remember thinking that I probably shouldn't have said everything I said. But lucky for me, nothing bad came of it. There really weren't that many phones calls to and from family memebers on that shift, at least where I worked. No one really told me how to handle those calls. I know it should be common sense, but after a couple of 12hr shifts (which are more like 13 or 14 hrs!) there isn't a whole lot of common sense left in me. My point is, what you did wasn't bad enough that you should waste one more second feeling bad about it. This is just my opinion, I think you are expected to do too much for too many people in too little amount of time. If you have 7 pts who require as much care as the pts you had, I just don't think it's possible to provide safe and adequate care. Maybe an experienced nurse could do it, but not a new nurse. Again, this is just my opinion, but I think a lot of us think we're supposed to be able to do this because that's just how things are, but I doubt you'll find any nurse with the amount of experience we have who will say they feel compentent and good about the nursing care they provide under those kinds of circumstances. I understand it won't make you feel better to hear someone say "don't be so hard on yourself" or "it'll get better with experience." If you have to go through this much misery, not to mention the constant worry you have or will put a pt in danger, it's really not worth it. Like I said, I was in a similar position as you're in not so long ago. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 5 yrs old. Then after I worked so hard and finally made it, I find out "wow, so this is what nursing is all about." I was so disheartened. I was ready to give up on nursing. I quit working at the hospital after 6 mths. I hope I never have to do hospital nursing again. I think there are people out there that are cut out fot it and they are very good at it (thankfully), but I'm just not one of them. Maybe you're not either. Or maybe, you could work in another area in the hospital where that is more specialized. Med-surg is HARD. Anyway, sorry this is so long. But when I was going through this, it really helped me for other people to share their experiences, and it helped me realize that just because I'm not a good "med-surg" nurse, that doesn't mean I'm not a good nurse. I worked in a clinic for a few months,which helped renew my love of nursing. And now I'm getting ready to start home health. Hopefully, I'll be better at that. Whatever you decide, please remember this, you are not incompentent, inept, or a bad nurse. Don't stay in a place that makes you so unhappy, if at all possible. Life is just too short.:icon_hug: Keep us posted on how things are going. Good Luck! Stephanie

Valium isn't compatible with NS, even for a flush. It can cause crystals to form. I hate to admit that I know this from first-hand experience.:chair: I gave Valium IVP and the flushed with NS afterwards. I noticed crystals forming in the extension tubing. I'd never seen that happen before, so I kinda freaked out a little bit (I, of course, didn't let the pt know I was freaking out). Anyway, everything ended up okay with that pt, but I will never do that again.

My mom has been taking Chantix for about 3 months and she's been "smoke-free" for about 1 month. She said she's had some unpleasant side effects (constipation, loss of appitite, and some pretty strange dreams) but other than that, she's really happy about it. For the 1st month or 2, she was still having cravings, and she said she was a little worried it wasn't going to work for her. But now she's gone almost a month with absolutely no desire to smoke. BTW, she smoked for 30+ years, and she was up to almost 3 ppd by the time she quit. Anyway, good luck and hang in there!! Stephanie

You would give it over 2 minutes. You are giving a total of 20mg and it can be given 10mg per min. They give you extra info a lot of times. You really just have to figure out what part of it is relevant and not get caught up in the extra stuff (i.e. dilute in 8 ml---not really relevant in this particular question. If they asked how many ml's per minute, then you'd need that info, but not to figure out mg/min). Anyway, hope that helps, and hopefully I didn't confuse you! If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me. Welcome and Good Luck in nursing school! :grpwlcm: Stephanie

quote=everthesame;2571305]I had a patient who was allergic to Ambien. You guessed it, it makes her sleepy. That's pretty funny!

I was 33 when I graduated December 2006

We had adults and peds on the med-surg floor in the small community hospital where I used to work. They hired a lot of new grads (I was one of them) who had no peds experience. None of the nurses on the night shift were PALS certified. (None ACLS either--even the charge nurses). There were nights that I had a sick baby or little child (a lot of GI and resp problems--like asthma, pneumonia) and an adult in isolation for things like C. diff, VRE, and MRSA. I think this is a really bad way to do things, cost-effective or not. But that's just my 2 cents. P.S. I think this website is great. I have only posted a few times, but I'm on here reading your comments all of the time. You guys are great. Thanks!

I am a fairly new nurse. I graduated last Dec and got my license on March 1st. For the first 6 months after I graduated I worked the 7p-7a shift on the med/surg floor in a small, rural hospital. I was on orientation for 6 wks. The day after I passed boards, they took me off orientation. During orientation, I usually had 6-7 patients. After orientation, it increased to 8-12. (It was very uncommon that I would have 8 or 9 pts--usually it was 10-12). One night they gave me 13 patients! As soon as I got home from that shift, I called and talked to the nurse manager. I told her if that happened again, I would refuse the assignment because it was not safe. I worked with several (very good) LPN's. They each had a team of pts--same nurse to pt ratio. They did basically everything that the RN's did except admission assessments, give blood, and draw blood from central lines. So in addition to the usual 10-12 pts I had, I was expected to do those things too. (If not me, then one of the other RN's who had their own 10-12 pts). Usually at least once a shift I did one of those things for one of the LPN's, who, again, are great nurses. We usually had 2-3 CNA's on the floor. They always had a lot more patients that the nurses did. Usually about 14-18 patients per CNA. I always felt bad for them because they always had way more to do than time to do it, I tried to help as much as I could. To make matters worse, we had mandatory overtime. Seriously, this whole thing is outrageous. I don't understand how the people who are running things can't see how much it is going to cost them in the long run when huge mistakes are made b/c they refuse to have adequate staffing. Not to mention what they are costing pts who can't get proper care b/c there's just not enough people to provide them with the care they need and deserve.:angryfire I did that for 6 months (I honestly don't know how!) and finally decided I just couldn't do it any more. I was honest-to-God more exhausted than I have ever been in my entire life. I felt like it was impossible to take good care of my patients, and even more impossible to take care of myself. I didn't work for a few months after that. I was very sad and disheartened by the experience. I was starting to get depressed. I thought I had made a huge mistake by going into nursing. But now, I'm happy to say, I decided to try for, and got a position in a clinic. I have been there since September. The pay isn't as good as it was in the hospital, but it is sooooo worth it! No nights, weekends, holidays, or mandatory overtime. And the best part of it is that I feel like I actually can take care of my patients. I can actually help them and sometimes make a difference in their lives. I love it. I understand clinic nursing isn't for everyone, but I think I may have found my niche. From just about everything I've heard (from friends and reading posts on here), the nurse to pt ratio is just too high to be safe. Like I said, I'm still pretty new at this, but even the experienced nurses I know say it's just too much. Because of that, I personally, hope I never have to work on med/surg floor again. As a matter of fact, every once in while I wake up in the middle of the night in a total panic, drinched in sweat. I have this horrible nightmare that I am still working at the hospital and I'm suppossed to going in right then. Then I wake up and thank God and all my lucky stars it's just a dream. Good luck and much thanks and admiration to all of you wonderful nurses out there doing it.

I work in a family medicine/alternative medicine clinic. I had a patient come into the office the other day for the sole purpose of telling me that she is "terribly allergic" to Flagyl and she wanted make sure we noted that in her chart. I asked her what kind of reaction she had to it. She said "it gave me a yeast infection." P.S. I did explain the difference between "allergic reactions" and "side effects."

During my OB rotation nursing school, I had patient who delivered a baby with ambiguous genitalia. I also had a patient who had elephantitis. Oh, and the 1st code I ever saw, something in the pt's abdomen ruptured, and his testicles started to swell. A lot. One of the nurses actually had to keep pressure on them so they didn't rupture. Seriously. She had to do that for the entire code (which ended up being like 30-40 minutes). Never expected to see that.:uhoh21: