philosophical

Infants, Young Children, Older Children, Young Adults, Older Adults, or Elderly?

Haha, that's a cute story :)

It's funny in retrospect, isn't it? As for me, I've had all sorts of cancers, rare diseases and psychological disorders... (all in my mind of course)! I don't think I'll ever quite grow out of it as I think it's just my personality to freak out about anything that can potentially kill me!

For nurses or nursing students...While in the process of learning about all of the different diseases and symptoms of diseases in school, did you find yourself being overly concerned with your own health, thinking every little pain was something terrible? I did this in my Abnormal Psych class and I was just wondering if it is common! If you did have this, did you grown out of this yet or is it still plaguing you?

And if a nurse wants to pray IN PRIVATE about a patient, I see no problem with that, but in America, it is very rude to force religion on a person.

Haha, thanks Sue :)

Yes, I decided I want to become a Lactation Consultant. If that fails, a Child Life Specialist, and if THAT doesn't happen, I'll go back for my Master's in Counseling :) Whew!

IBCLC is International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. You have to meet certain educational requirements, complete a prescribed amount of experience depending on education and pass a board exam. They are allowed to teach, help diagnose and assist breastfeeding women. They can work in hospitals, for WIC, for LLL, clinics, etc. I know many RNs have this designation, so I'm afraid I will never be able to compete!

What career have you decided to go back to school for?

I have been trying to contact at least 5 area hospitals asking if I can start volunteering as a Breastfeeding Counselor so that I can collect my 2,000 hours needed to become an IBCLC. Does you facility employ lay IBCLC's or are they all RNs? I'm willing to take the specialized courses and do the time for volunteering, but I am getting no answers back from these hospitals! Please help! I've decided this is what I want to do, but if I can't get in a hospital as a volunteer, I will try for my Child Life Specialist Certification instead... Rhonda

Can I come too? I'm not a nurse, but I can cook up some mean poi!

Hmm, what did that woman care anyway? It's not like women go outside of the stalls with their pants down! Just ignore it. You are doing the best for your son.

Not Excelsior's program. They have one weekend of clincal exams to be passed before graduation and sitting for the NCLEX-RN...

I think it would difficult to do this. Sometimes clinicals are scheduled days or evenings and would end later than 3pm. Then you'd have to get in your car and rush to work, only to sleep a few hours and do it all over again. Unless you decide to do a LPN-RN online program. That is more feasible.

So when would you sleep? :)

I have used 50mg Trazodone nightly since April 2004 (the birth of my first child). I had severe PPD and couldn't sleep AT ALL!!! :) Trazodone is gentle enough to make me relaxed and sleepy, but I don't feel hung over in the morning. Best of luck to you. I know how it feels to not be able to sleep!

Hi, I'm the same way- terrifed of algebra. My brain just seems to freeze up when I see a math problem. I just don't know where to begin most of the time. I asked a similar question on the board yesterday, and many of the nurses assured me the math is not very difficult. I recommend taking a developmental algebra course before starting your program so that you have the confidence to do it. Get as much help and tutoring as you need. It will get easier with repetition (so I've heard!) :) Good luck! Rhonda

Thanks, Iris. I have set up a shadow experience with a Pediatric Nurse and an Occupational Therapy Assistant for two weeks from now. This is going to be a second career to me, so I really want to make sure it's the right career this time! :)

Thanks, Sue. What are calculating infusion rates/ drip rates? That looks confusing!

What other healthcare field would you pursue and why?

Hi all, I am soooo interested in a health career but the only thing holding me back is my lack of aptitude in math. Was anyone else terrible at math, but somehow managed to learn dosage calcs? Whenever I see a math problem, especially a word problem, my brain immediately freezes up! I can do simple math fine, but I was looking at some example dosage problems and was immediately terrified. If you were poor in math, did you find yourself struggling through you ADN or LPN program, or did math start to become natural to you after a while? Did you take a dosage prep course? Did it help? Math, eeek!! Thanks Rhonda

That's all I wanted to know!

You could always finish your program and become a hospital Chaplain or Pastoral Counselor. :)

This is a question for all of the hospice nurses out there. Does your facility/ company offer grief counseling or death counseling to patients and familes? If so, is this usually the job of a Social Worker, Psychologist or Counselor? Does this counseling seem to help people accept their impending death? Does it help families with their grieving? Thanks!:balloons: Rhonda

Bring our egos back to reality? Some of you sound very egotistical spouting that nursing is wholistic and that you treat the mind, body and spirit!! Hmm, well then, what are psychologists, physical therapists, chaplains and others for since you seem to 'take care' of it all??? FYI, I am not a nurse, but I think it's sensless to flame someone if they don't have an interest in bodily fluids. As others have stated here, there are many important areas of nursing that do not require daily contact with such things. Hmm, and I also see a lot of posts here LAUGHING about patients bodily fluids or accidents. Would this sound repectful to the patient and family if you did this to their face? You all need to relax, and people are entitled to differing opinions!