puppyrules

I need some interventions for post surgical abdominal distension. I think to provide the patient with comfort, having him lie in a lateral recumbant position will take some of the pressure off, but are there any other idea's out there? This is a common problem, but I have found very little in the literature (both online and in my text books) that address it. Please help! Thank you...

I would like to know what the standard protocol is for the administration of insulin for diabetic patients before surgery. I have run into two schools of thought online. One is that the insulin should be regular (blood sugar should be monitored every 2-3 hours and insulin should be titrated accordingly). The other is that long acting insulin should be given instead. What is more common?

When a patient is experiencing difficulty or is in a "bad way" I have a tendency to want to convey optimism by saying "you're going to be ok" or "don't worry, everything is going to be alright." What can I say to convey optimism and comfort without using those phrases?

I think you should TAKE the job and wait for a position to open up in a hospital setting. I think that you need to work in a hospital to establish yourself as an RN in terms of honing your skills and learning all that there is to learn. Your education has only just begun! Times are hard for everyone, and I think that anyone would understand your situation should you have to leave the community health position in short order.

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies!

How has the current recession impacted your job, your place of employment, your outlook, etc.? I'm quite curious. They say that nursing is recession-proof, but is it really? I'm from Michigan and am wondering what the lay of the land is like from nurses all over the country (including here in Michigan). Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannukah!

you are by no means too old to be a nurse. i also have a close friend who happens to be 40 and is pursing a nursing degree. he's a male. at nursing orientation this year, there were numerous people in the lecture hall that were clearly in their 30, 40's and even 50s. my sister in law is 36 and will be going back to school to get her rn degree in 2011. those are just a few examples. i think middle aged nurses can bring to the profession what their younger counterparts cannot, namely wisdom that comes with age and emotional maturity that takes time to develop. you are not too old. be happy, accept yourself, and you'll make a great nurse.

Don't mean to be annoying, but can somebody tell me what I need to know about the 200 drugs nursing students are required to know? Please help and thanks!

I want to make my own flash cards. Can someone please give me a sense of what I need to know for each medication? Thank you so much! P.S. Start nursing school in January but want to get a jump start!:typing

Hi Jamers, I am not going to lie, it is difficult to get into the nursing program at Macomb. Every year, over 1600 people apply to get in. This year was no exception. They ranked just over 800 applicants and accepted 120 students. This is the skinny: you are correct that they rank you based upon your GPA in your most recent 12 credits and on your HESI score. Both components are considered equally (50% each). If you want to get into this program, this is what you must do: 1. Make certain that you earn a 4.0 for the last 12 credits you have taken . If you score an A- in a course, that is calculated as a 3.7 towards your GPA. A-'s must be avoided like the plague! 2. Buy the HESI book and study the math and vocabulary portions. You will also be tested on reading comprehension, which you can't study for. You just have to be able to read a paragraph and answer comprehension questions. Don't be fooled into thinking that because the math is basic, that you don't have to study for it. Make certain to brush up on your skills so that they are razor sharp by the morning of the exam. The deadline to sign up for the HESI is sometime in November. Make certain that you don't miss that deadline. If you do, you have to wait an additional year to apply to get into the program. Shoot for the highest score possible. In 2007, the average HESI score was a 94. That is up 4 points from the two previous years. The competition is getting fierce. 3. Make certain that you have all of your prerequisites taken care of. 1) Anatomy and Physiology 2) Pathogenic Microbiology. These are the two most important, but there are some others as well. Make an appointment with a counselor and find out what they are. I would tell you what they are if I knew, but I satisfied those prereqs years ago and am not 100% certain as to what they are. I'm 90% certain that they are Comparative Religions and a PHED course as well as a 3 credit Nutrition course. Make an appointment with a counselor and get a list of all of the courses that you have to take and get a solid A in every course. Take a lot of notes when you meet with your counselor. I've been burned by getting different info from different counselors. The reason why only 800 out of 1600 applicants get ranked is because most years, half of the people that apply to get into this program do not have their prereq's completed and/or have not taken the HESI. You must be proactive and, frankly, very competitive. But don't be intimidated. If you do your best, you will make it. Believe in yourself. That is the most important component to succeeding. Best of luck to you!

I just wanted a to give a quick update on my situation. Today, in the mail, I received my acceptance letter to Macomb's nursing program. I start in the Fall (I'm not sure if it's going to be in August or October) and I am so thrilled, I cannot convey how happy I am. It took me three tries to get in. It literally felt like waiting for Godot. What I've learned for those who are trying to get into this insanely competitive program: 1. Make certain that you earn a 4.0 gpa in your most recent 12 credits. If you're still working on satisfying your prerequisites, don't accept an A- in a class, because at Macomb, that is calculated as a 3.7 towards your overall gpa. And I believe a B+ is calculated as a 3.5. 2. Make certain that your HESI score is competitive. To do this, get the manual (buy one. it's worth the investment) and go through it until you can do all of the mathmatical exercises and know the medical vocabulary by heart. I learned the hard way that your HESI absolutely has to be over a 90. Preferably a 92 and above. Statistically, the trend in scoring is going up. Here are some sobering figures from the nursing department I received in a letter dated April 3, 2008: Year: 2005. HESI 90 / GPA 3.8753 Year: 2006. HESI 90 / GPA 3.8928 Year: 2007. HESI 94 / GPA 3.9375 3. Make certain that your counselor has the most up to date information on the program and its requirements. I met with three different counselors in my quest to enter this program, and each one gave slightly different facts when it came to prerequisites, etc. This is a disconcerting feeling. Take down the names of the people that you speak with and date stamp the notes from your conversations. It will help build a clearer picture of what you have to accomplish. Do not accept what any one counselor says as being gospel. See two counselors and check their facts independently if possible. I have been burned, so be forwarned. 4. Believe in yourself. Believe that your hard work will pay off. Sometimes, it takes a bit longer than you plan, but if you work hard and are tenaciuos, it will pay off. The program is getting more competitive with each passing semester. I feel incredibly blessed. I wish you good luck... p.s. my spell check is not working!

We live in a youth obsessed culture, so age does matter, but the only place it ultimately matters is between your ears. "Older" nurses can do whatever younger ones can. Just keep in shape and do resistance training a few days a week and you will be in as good a position as a younger nurse would be to do lifting, etc. You will, in fact, have an advantage. The older we become, the wiser we most likely become. An older persons ego is stronger and therefore not as easily ruffled by office politics that can threaten younger, less emotionally and spiritually developed individuals. Go for it and don't look back.

I'm really sorry about your situation. I can totally empathize. I thought about going to St. Clair, too, but it's an hours drive from my house and Macomb is a three minute drive. So anyway, this afternoon, after I posted the update message on allnurses.com, I went to the college to speak with an academic counselor. She was optimistic about my gpa and hesi score. Because I am a nutjob, I also called the Nursing Dept and talked with the secretary of the department. She told me that as of today they are at 133 on the alternates list. I asked her if she would mind sharing with me what #133's hesi score was and she obliged. It was exactly 90. This left me feeling more hopeful. Thanks to everyone who posted in response to my appeal for sympathy and information. merry christmas...

I just got back from taking the HESI for the second time. I only got a 92.84. I really feel that I'm not going to get in, even though I have a 4.0 gpa. I feel devastated. Anybody else out there who has info on what the lowest HESI was last year or could you give me your hesi grade and where you ranked?

I was wondering what a good score on the HESI exam is at Macomb Community College? 50% of this score is factored into the admission process for the RN program and I am wondering with a 4.0 GPA what I have to shoot for to get in or to be competative. Please advise ASAP! Thanks!