Dr.Nurse2b

So sad... Trying to understand...the stringent requirments...you have to be strong just to get in...I was a 3.9er...A good friend of mine was a 4.0 and was dropped the second semester. I worked with students and thought "I hope oneday I'm as good as they are" ... and then THEY'RE GONE! Now I'm gone... No excuses...just keep rolling I guess. Hats off to all the RNs that made it through the battle...

Thanks for the hugs...This is a small private college... I guess this is typical of nursing programs...Exams count for 80% - 85% of the final class grade. Your exam average must be at a specific level in order to qualify for the remaining 15% - 20% to be applied to your final grade. I missed the average by a few points and so my clinical hours and assignments count for ZERO. Anyway... Boo hoo! and Wha! The class I failed is only offered once a year and I can't continue in the program without the class. I have to sit on my duff until spring 2010 at which point I can take the class again. To add insult to injury I'm told that in order to continue (in addition to passing the class I failed) it is recommended that I audit all junior classes to stay current AND I must pass the exams for the classes I have already taken and passed... My greatest concern now is real life...This program does not allow...correction, forbids students from working. I planned for a 2010 graduation. I'm delayed now...I'll need to get a job. Who knows what I will be doing or where I will be next Spring... If there is any wonder why there is a shortage of nurses this is it. I passed all my ATI's at a level 3 ...exceeding NCLEX requirements - better than 90% chance of passing the boards...but I can't get past the class. Go figure! Love you all! I will find a way and catch up eventually!

Needed a 95 on the final ... made an 85 10 points ... missed the average by 2.9 points Now what?

Holding my breath...what's done is done. I am looking at "Plan B" ... Hope I can shred it by days end!

I had several experiences... Midwifery Clinic - awesome experience. I was involved in assessment, physical exam, BPP, lab work, etc. I saw about 15 patients in an 8 hour day. I attribute the positive experience the the midwife who kept me by her side throughout the day. Nursery - Ran buck wild with the babies! Observed 2 c-secs and then took two newborns from birth to discharge to postpartum. I worked with veteran nurses who allowed me to function at a high level. Postpartum - eh...was OK. Best part of the experince was taking vital signs on a newborn, and feeding. I was not allowed into any patients room...oh wait...my nurse did allow me to distribute ice in the morning. Very disappointing. Labor & Delivery 1 - Sucked! I was told "men don't work in L&D" ... well isn't that just discriminatory in nature! I wallowed around for 8 hours...hung with the CRNA and watched epidurals. Labor & Delivery 2 - I was permitted to observe one lady partsl birth ... patient was a "friend of a friend's friend" :) Good thing because if not for her I would have cleared maternity clinicals without ever seeing a vag birth Impression: Experience depends on the instructor/preceptor. I found the more education and experience the nurse has the better your experience. The APNs and veterans invited me back to the nursery and several suggested I consider working in NICU. The younger nurses and ADN nurses asked "so why did you decide to become a nurse" and "so are you going to work in the ER?" ... I guess in nursing women take care of babies and guys deal with the blood and guts. Hmmm. Lots of tension...I couldn't quite put my finger on the source of tension in these clinical areas but it was very similar to the feeling I get when left alone too long in a classroom with 50 other women. Men are from Mars...I would recommend visiting Venus but be certain not to stay too long. My 2 cents

I don't think I've ever felt this low. I thought I had it... This has been a very long year and I feel beaten up...maybe just plain beaten. I was willing to consider the problem was with me but after three semesters of watching honor students slowly fall by the wayside I'm convinced there is a problem with my program. When I was considering nursing programs I looked at class size and NCLEX pass rate. I thought small school, small classes and high pass rate was the perfect choice. I think I made a mistake...should have looked at retention rate. Hind sight 20/20...right? I've found that most programs have about a 20% attrition rate. My program has a 20% graduation rate. My evidence...this years graduating class. 50 enrolled, 14 getting pinned. Holding my breath for grades...waiting to see if I continue.

I just had a post conference from hell...my instructor afterwards called me into the office and asked me "WHY did you decide to become a nurse?" She then proceeded to have me read aloud the Nurse's Code of Ethics and then told me that I had no compassion. Instructors teach us to be nonjudgemental and compassionate and yet they are judgemental...hmmm. There is a word for this... Anywhere else in the world and I would have told her to pound salt...but because I am AFRAID of being blown out of nursing school I must reply "yes mam". If there is any wonder why there is a shortage or why new nurses choose to leave the bedside during their first year THIS is it.

I agree...I feel better today but I am still worried about getting bounced

I went to the dean and was told "don't worry about it...you'll be fine" ... It's the same response I get each time something like this happens. At first I thought these events were just drama but now I believe there is more focus. After watching students drop off one by one many of us feel that any one of us could be next. At this point students are afraid to upset the apple cart so to speak so people are being quiet. I was told in private that I "need to learn how to play the game". I know dropping sounds crazy but there are many other factors at work here...my GPA is being slowly chiseled down...I came into this with a 4.0 and now slowly buy surly I am dropping. I lost a scholarship this semester...I was overlooked for nurse cancellable loans too. I am starting to catastrophise thinking that I may end up failing this class. I am in a small school...In my program if you fail one class you cannot continue...a student must wait one year before returning to repeat the failed class. I don't have the resources to hold out for a year...I've got just enough money to make it to graduation before I need to start selling organs.

Bad week... Thought I had overcome all the adversity from last semester...all the trouble I've been having with one particular professor for whom I can do nothing right has seemed to disapate. Last semester I was in danger of failing this professor's class three weeks into the semester...I transferred out to another class, another professor and recovered with a "B" as my final grade...got a 94 on my final up from the 70s. This semester I'm back with the professor from hell but I've been getting the grades on exams and cruising through clinicals without a hitch... And then BAMM! I was called to the mat by Professor Hates My Gutts, PhD. for a clinical rotation...My professor received a nastygram in regard to my performance signed off by two RNs. I was blown away by the accusations and the fact that my instructor was uninterested in my side of the story. I received a ZERO for the clinical which means I am basically one step away from finding a new career. (Two zeros and you are out the door) The nurses charged me with everything from OSHA violations to abandoning my post. None of it made sense...One of the complaints was that I "ate breakfast at the desk"...I was sitting with three other nurses who were eating breakfast. I asked if anyone would mind if I ate an apple. Of course the response was "go ahead"...my god the letter stated that I ate breakfast in a patient care area and violated OSHA rules. ??? The letter goes on to state that I left my assigned clinical without authorization...Truth be told...yes I did leave the area, however with the supervisor's permission. I was asked if I wanted to observe a specifc area of the unit with a physician and then was introduced to a doctor and handed off to him. Anyway...the letter basically sights events that did occur however the circumstances are twisted in a way that makes me look like a monster. Turns out the supervisor of this facility, the person who gave me permission to eat, leave, etc is the same person who wrote the nastygram AND happens to be BEST FRIENDS with Professor Hates My Gutts, PhD. I have worked in a hospital setting for 10 years and never had a problem...not with a patient, not with a supervisor...not a problem. I was a top student until I encountered Professor Hates My Gutts, PhD. who seems to detemined to make sure that no male students graduate from this program...I am the last one left. I was so upset by this event...the accusations, that I decided to drop. I have been miserable for a year now...can't sleep, can't eat...I've developed chest pains that present each and every time I have to go to class or clinical with this professor. My advisor would not allow me to drop...the dean said NO WAY, "You will graduate this program" ... I HATE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING! ...I used to get up in the morning and could not imagine life as anything other then a nurse ... Now I have this little voice saying "you're not cut out to be a nurse" nagging me every single day. I've gotten to the point now that if I do graduate there is not a chance that I will work as a nurse. I am thinking administration or prehospital but I can't see myself entering into practice after all the drama and nightmares I have endured in nursing school. Anyone every feel this way? Thanks for "listening"

Can anyone help me? I need a Friedman Family Assessment Model template. I have an assessment guide which is the "short form" version of what I need. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Do they let you use your assessment skills? I was told that externs function basically as a tech or nurses aid. My thought was if I am going to work as a tech then I can at least do this in an area where I can see something new....and besides...Little People, Little Poop...right? :) This makes sense though...I think I am looking at this as an experience, not a lesson. I did not consider the extern as something that would help me finish off school. Hmmm.... I've heard med/surg a few times...I worked on med surg as a tech...I don't want or need any more practice working as an aide. Please no more med/surg. Maybe I'm just getting tired here...I've been working on a 4.5 year program for 5 years now and have over a year left to go... When do we get to the part where we get to put tubes in people?

I think it's great that you are able to express yourself this way and be honest. OK...you hate nursing. No one thinks you're a bad person, at least I don't. It sounds to me like you're just in the wrong place and thats OK. What's important is you are able to identify how all of this makes you feel. I can't imagine working in a field that I hate. I would probably do everything in my power to find something that I did feel good about. I know that enjoying my work is a blessing and not everyone likes what they are doing for a living; but I certainly would run as fast and as far away from a career that I hated...especially a career where I am responsible for the health and well being of others. I have a friend who has been a car salesmen all of his professional life. He hates his job and lets everyone know about it...even his customers. The end result is he does not sell a lot of cars...he makes a living, thats it. He gets into trouble at work, and jumps from job to job when his hatred drives him to start fights with co-workers and even customers. I don't even want to imagine what an angry nurse would be capable of doing.

how does one determine if they "want to be a nicu nurse"? i am one of 2 males in a class of 40. just about every student i have encountered, most being female, stated at the beginning of the program that they "want to work in l&d" or "i want to work with children". is this the same theory that we see in childhood where boys grow up and become policemen and girls become mommies? what i know about nicu can fit into a thimble...babies born pre-term, really sick and in need of constant monitoring. i know there is a lot of technology involved with care and fluid balance and medications are also critical. i have done nicu and picu transport with a nurse team. i got to work the equipment...the baby part was covered by the nurse. :) i enjoy working with cutting edge technology and thrive in environments that require focus and attention to detail. i am thinking nicu is all of the above...it just so happens that the patients are babies. my reason for interest in nicu is technology, challenge and the opportnunity to truly affect the outcome of another's life....we're talking about having a huge impact on the beginning of one's life. is this a good reason to work in nicu? i don't see how one can make a statement "unless you want to be a nicu nurse, externing on that floor is the wrong way to go" knowing that most people entering into an extern really have no idea what is involved with nicu...except knowing that babies are involved. that's like a guy saying i want to be i fireman because i get drive a fire engine.

This is a good point here. I'll follow up... As a FF part of the job IS physical fitness. My third year as an EMT I weighed 200lbs at 5'10". I had a 34" waist and could stair chair a 350lbs+ patient with my partner however many flights of stairs required... My point in saying this is the job requires us to remain fit so we can perform our duties. I see nurses getting slack with exercise as a result of more brain work and less physical demand. Your thoughts here? On my unit most of the nurses are trim and have appropriate BMI. There are few "porkers"...but they are aware and most of the group is on them about losing weight and becoming fit. There are of course a few that will most likely never give up the extra pounds. I think the message we should be sending...the message I am trying to send...we are health professionals and being healthy...being a role model...is part of the job. I'm approaching 40...My BMI is leaning on 25 and I am pedaling my way daily to a smaller waist size. We've gotta be fit if we're gonna get the public to listen to our message! Healthy People 2010 -- It's coming!

Dude! Awesome work! I stopped lifting over a decade ago...I don't think I was ever able to put up that much. I'm almost over the hill now... at 5'10" I'm 180lbs and working on losing 2 more inches around my waist never mind squats! I started cycling and ride about an hour a day on the trainer. I can ride for hours but I think I may have to get back to the bench now that I'm looking at these numbers! Keep up the hard work...your body really does change after 30...I thought they were kidding! They're not!

Calling all NICU nurses and students considering NICU...Please chime in! OK...got the call from the regional medical center. I was a little overzealous with my extern application but that's OK because I am the first one in! I've been working in critical care for a few years now and I am thinking this will be my spot when I graduate. My instructors think I should consider extern in an area other then my current place of employment. Of course my employer tells me I should do a critical care extern... My thoughts on NICU...those little people scare the bahgeejus out of me so I am thinking that NICU might be a good spot for me to grow my skills. I came up with this for a number of reasons...first...many years ago when I was working on earning my emt certification I found myself struggling with airway. I was scared...afraid of injuring people, not performing and killing someone, etc. My intructor through me in head first...I was tortured with drill after drill...an extra rotation through the ER with respiratory and test after test on airway. The end result...I am 100% on adult and pediatric airway assessment and management...if you're not breathing, I'm the one you want. So...my instructor basically took my worst fear and turned it into my strongest attibute...I'm thinking this same theory will help me with neonates. I want to be a good nurse...a competent nurse. When I see a baby my knees get weak. I think I need to fix this. Your thoughts? What are your opinons on how a male nurse might be received in NICU? I don't have any kids yet....no experience here. From what I've seen with my own two eyes the NICU nurses are razor sharp, and very good at what they do. They are always smiling in their brighly colored scrubs, they seem to always be happy and be able to provide support to the famliy...they're just incredible. They also have that motherly instinct and goo goo language going for them. I present not too unlike a cyborg. I don't do "goo goo"...I care, truly...but I am not one for showing it externally. Can I do this? I am thinking of a scene where a mother is watching me care for their child and wondering if I am a terminator from the future or something. I mean...I change diapers like one might change a dressing...step one, step two, step three, mission accomplished... "Goo goo" was not offered as a language option...I took Spanish. I also look ridiculous in cartoon scrubs. Should I just stay away from the NICU?

Good! My personal opinion and current favorite career option is CRNA. Median salary in my area is $160k base. I say if you're in it for the money this is the way to go. Also...as a Legal Nurse Consultant or RN - Attorney I don't think you'll be helping anyone. As a legal "expert" you will be employed to crucify people and blow holes in medical malpractice cases...OR...you'll be hired to crucify doctors being sued for malpractice. Either way you will be hitman...I would imagine you got into nursing to help people, not ruin their lives.

Ten times?? How much do the masters prepared nurses you know make? My significant other just happens to hold a JD and has been practicing law for about 10 years. She earns a great living but no where near 10x a nurse. None of our friends make 10x that of a nurse either. I am seeing $65,000 as a median salary for a masters prepared nurse...this is a base average. Experience and location may affect salary in either direction. NPs tend to make a bit more...about $90k, again depending on location and experience. I just read a job ad for a deparment head position...requires a masters degree or BSN with experience considered...salary is $120k. Ten times a nurse...$650,000 to $900,000 per year for an attorney...I don't think so. Perhaps if you're a senior partner is a large downtown Manhattan firm. Based on my experience and knowledge attorney income is about $80k per year...that's average median. Some make much more, some make a little less. Now what everyone forgets is you don't start making this kind of money out of law school. Trust me! I lived it... Another important factor...Depending what school you graduate from the first thing you may notice is that your monthly student loan payment is comparable to a mortgage payment. You will spend the first year out of law school clerking for a judge and earning about $40k a year. You'll work 50 - 70 hours a week and you may get to see the inside of a courtroom once in a while. My wife was hooked up with a large firm and was sent to trial often which was invaluable experience. Third year out of school is when you can think about a new BMW and hitting career cruise control. By now you should have a nice office, a secretary, Blackberry, perhaps a gas card and the firm may even make your car payment for you. This is where you start to get paid for all your work. $70k - $80k plus perks. Year 5...if you are ambitious, agressive and in firm that likes you then you should be approaching that $100k mark if not already exceeded it. You're working 70+ hours per week, in court most of your day. You've turned in your Beemer for a Mercedes and you're putting 50,000 miles a year on it because you drive allover the state for court. Your secretary never know's where you are and you like it this way...your spouse doesn't know where you are either and often wonders if you are really in court or taking a nap somewhere. You have enough money to do pretty much whatever you want but no time to do it...this is actually great for the spouse who will be able to buy toys and find new hobbies that don't involve you. I thought lawyers made millions...my wife always tells people "Yeah, lawyers on TV". Unless you're planning on becoming an ambulance chaser...doing personal injury where you get a third of the take I would plan on a regular income. My 2 cents...if you're primary reason for going to law school is "for the money" I'd recommend considering some other profession....or better yet just stick with nursing. Most of the lawyers I know work for large firms, make a good living but have no time for a life. Trust me when I tell you that I wish my spouse was a Veternarian! PS: A masters degree in nursing will take you about 18-24 months. A JD is three years. I would suggest using average income numbers and perform a "ROI" - Return on investment. You are spending time, money and unearned salary by extending your education not to mention time away from "life" itself. Make certain you are going to acheive the financial goal you set for yourself based on real numbers...not the numbers you "could make" or "should make". Finally...one of our friends just purchased his first air plane...a little 4-passenger Sesna. He also has a small home overlooking the ocean and drive's a very nice car too... He's a nurse by the way.

I am unaware of any programs that offer advanced placement. I believe Florida will allow an RN with a a current EMT and ACLS to seek licensure -- From the DOH --> "A Florida licensed physician, dentist, or registered nurse may apply for certification as a paramedic and subsequently challenge the paramedic exam, provided he/she holds a Florida EMT certificate which is current and in good standing." You are required to submit a copy of your current Florida license or registration. Once a Florida Paramedic you can take the National Exam. There is a practical for the National so anyone seeking certification will have to prove practical...you will have to prove you can practice at an advanced level. Paramedic is a different discipline...as different as LPN is to RN. I have encountered RNs that for some reason feel that RN = Paramedic. Certification as a Paramedic is not about levels of education. One is either trained or untrained. RN does not qualify as a Paramedic...neither does EMT or LPN...The same holds true for Paramedic does not = RN... JD does not equal MD. This is not just my opinon, it is a matter of fact. Research rules and regs under DOT - DOH Paramedic certifcation and you will find the same answer in each state...except for Florida...that is...if you want to be a Paramedic then you must train to be a Paramedic.

Our program did rotation through the OR and clinical with Respiratory Therapy as well. I have heard of programs doing a rotation through NICU but I have yet to run into someone who has intubated a neonate in rotation.

i think with your level of education, skill and experience a bridge is the perfect option, however i think you have much to learn in regard to pre-hospital operations...phtls - pre-hospital trauma and life support is a big factor in the street. my thoughts on the bridge in general...its not a "joke" however as professionals we need to consider the validity of this option in regard to safety and liability. this is "shake and bake" ... quick and easy, tastes ok too...but not necessarily the best choice...for dinning or pre-hospital care. :) i think this is an idea that was drummed up to fill empty paramedic positions...same as the idea of using paramedics in er to fill the empty rn positions...i am seeing this more and more in my area. in my opinion there should be a specific qualification profile for an rn to paramedic bridge...for example critical care experience with acls, etc. i think holding a current emt-b would be a positive attribute as well. in my state one must hold an emt-i before being considered for emt-p. rn vs emt -- assessment processes differ. one of the biggest problems i had my first year in nursing school was making the adjustment from sample to adpie. :) i heard "think like a nurse" many times. in the field we have protocols, standing orders and if needed online medical direction. assessment is focused on treating immediate life threatening situations and transporting to an appropriate facility...no need to call the doc unless you want a lot of morphine. :) the nursing process is broad and encompasses the patient as a whole...its general in that all systems are assessed and plan of care involves treating the present illness, improving quality of life, preventing future illness, etc. i think one of the most important aspects of paramedicine is airway management. paramedics are very aggressive with treatment. nurses have limited training on airway management as respiratory therapy is used in the units...in the street the medic is respiratory therapy. i recall reading something about a two week bridge program...i don't think one can learn intubation, breathing treatments and complete enough clinical time in two weeks to become a safe provider. i consider myself to be competent when it comes to airway management...mainly because i scares the bahjesus out of me. no airway...no patient. spinal immobilization is also a huge factor in pre-hospital. i have encountered numerous rns that cannot apply a c-collar correctly let alone package a patient for transport. i personally would not want to "practice" immobilization on a live patient with a suspected spinal injury let alone attempt to extricate one. consider this...when you are in the unit and a patient goes bad you have resources...get me the crash cart, call respiratory, call the doc. when you're on the street you are the resource...there is no one that can help you...you are it. i started as an emt in 1997. i also worked in the er as a tech and the adjustment was painful for me. i worked in non-emergency transport for 3 months and then got my first assigment with inner city ems (911). this was a fast paced environment...swoop and scoop all the way. i did what i was trained to do in school...lifting, moving, patient care and transport. note that of the four descriptors i used only one is acutal patient care. if i was a patient in the back of an ambulance and had a choice between an rn or a paramedic for treatment...i'd let them fight it out because either way i think i am in good hands. if i found myself injured somewhere, perhaps in a mva or some trauma i'd want a paramedic to come and get me. i am certain that most rns could complete a bridge program and become a paramedic but i believe the learning curve will place a lot of pressure on the provider. as an rn - paramedic you will be required to perform, period. learning basic operations while attempting to provide advanced level care is a recipe for disaster...imho. another consideration...as a paramedic your partner may be a basic emt (certified to a lower standard). as a paramedic you are responsible for your partner's actions. if your emt screws up a treatment you are held liable...just like an rn is held accountable for the actions of an lpn. emts are trained to do their job at the basic level and to understand the role of a paramedic as well. most paramedics come to the table with basic emt experience. an rn who bridged is at a great disadvantage here as they only know nursing and do not know what to expect from their basic emt...remember, you have to depend on your partner. you can't depend on your partner if you have no idea what they are capable of or what they are supposed to be doing. fyi: my cert expired 4 years ago. i recerted as an emt-i when i started the bsn program. the local medical director recommended that i run through the latter half of the paramedic program before seeking licensure. an rn with acls and emt-i certification can challenge the emt-p national...regardless i will still head back to school and run through the program. short is simply that...short. short does not mean safe. remember "standards" -- if you pass a bridge then you will be held to the same standard as a paramedic that has had 14 months of paramedic training. drop a patient while extacting from a car, or loading into an ambulance and you will held to the same standard. break teeth while intubating, same standard...ever apply a traction splint for a femur fx? ... regardless, same standard...ever use a fropvd? ... you can blow out someones lungs, regarless, same standard. no doubt an rn can make the grade in my mind. but in practice will the rn be safe...as safe as a paramedic who trained for 8 months to be an emt, then worked a year to meet clinical requirements, and then trained for 14 months to be a paramedic? my 2 cents

Ugh... So low scored in the begining are to be expected? I scored a 74 on my first practice...but it gets worse from there with the individual assessments. I've take 8 so far.

This is a grin and bear it then? The ATI rep stated these tests are a "tool" ... All I'm getting out of this is I don't know what I should ... feeling a bit inadequate today.

The evening meal provided in a long-term rehabilitation facility consists of pork chops, green beans, and mashed potatoes. The nurse is planning to inquire if any of the clients prefer a substitution for any items on the menu. Clients from which of the following backgrounds are likely to require a substitution. (Check all that apply) Indian Chinese Israeli Arabic Puerto Rican Am I really being tested on this?