Jaguar Boy

I'm in my final year of school and am hoping to begin my career in Emerg. I am registered to take ACLS next month. The biggest reason I decided to take is that I'm bored with school and needed something to inspire me and keep my interest. I generally find the school courses to be straight forward and easy. Also, I wanted to get a head start on ACLS training, because I've found that the earlier study of anything means my knowledge and skills are higher quality. I hear what other posters are saying about needing real world experience first. I would also suggest that it can work the other way. That, with the ACLS course under my belt, I can understand and think critically about the real world at a more sophisticated level. Anyways, good luck making your decision and I wish you the best!

I've really enjoyed reading this thread. I'm about to enter my final semester in school and am waiting to hear if I've been accepted in an ER for my preceptorship placement. It will be so great if it works out. I do want to work in ER once I've graduated even though it'll be tough as nails. Knowing myself, I thrive on near impossible challenge and I'm working ahead at the moment to prepare myself.

keep your head up, my fellow nursing student. I know that place very well...second year is hard...I do know how you feel.

Hi NC29, I'm a nursing student and came across your thread because I had a pt in my care today who, after surgical debridement of an unstageable coccygeal ulcer yesterday, has a Stage IV PU. I've been researching the literature and have come across an interesting study published in 2007 on the use of honey vs. conventional dressings. Their results showed that the honey dressings facilitated healing significantly. Now, I think that the participants in the study had stage II and III ulcers. But, anyways, it's interesting information. Cheers

Yes, oh, yes...it is definitely harder than I thought. But, not for the reasons I expected. I thought the coursework would be really challenging, complex etc...and in some ways it is. But what has been sooooo difficult is being in the middle of politics, bureaucracy and administrative problems...and that's just the school itself. I have always hated politics....but I'm surviving. Gotta take it one day at a time...Yay to all you other nursing students who are on this journey too!!

We are being taught not to massage. The rationale is that massage may cause minor tissue damage and would be of particular concern with any anticoagulant injection.

Actually, I'm still in school...sigh...two more years to go. My disappointment has more to do with the administration of the program than anything else...it's been a disaster! But, you know what? Patients are awesome...one of my patients last semester actually cried a little when I told her that I would be leaving...I'll never forget her.

I hope you all don't mind a venting post...I think I need a little encouragement. I'm in the 6th of 6 months of condensed nursing courses. I'm in an accelerated program in which we completed Year 1 and 2 nursing courses in 6 months (Jan to Jun of this year). It's actually not as bad as it sounds...but, we are the first group of students to go through this program. Oh my...give me ibuprofen please, it has been such a headache. The administrators of the program are a perfect demonstration of hierarchy, politics and corporate miscommunication. I have dreamed of dropping out of the program and becoming a plumber (really, constipation and clogged toilets: what's the difference?). But, I suppose the grass is always greener... The nursing courses themselves are fine and I usually can find something good about every instructor...and I've had some positive feedback from them as well. I just have to keep reminding myself that nursing school is not forever and is definitely not the real world. Anyways, can someone just pat me on the head and send me on my way?

When I was deciding about entering nursing school, I volunteered in a busy Emergency room to get a feel for the nursing environment and I loved it. If you're uncertain about the career move...try volunteering in the area. One thing I will say about my experience in nursing school...I HATE it. It is quite possibly one of the most disappointing experiences of my life. But, school and career are two very different things...and school is only the means to the end. I hope you find what you are looking for...All the best.

My first reaction is: definitely vital signs...Although my thought process wasn't quite as detailed as DAytonite's, my rationale is that vital signs tell you so much more about the basic body functioning. Even a person in a coma has vital signs...

You'll have the full course load then. As I said before, I only did 3 of the 5 courses, so I don't know about Psychology or Stats from personal experience. Some of my classmates took psych and for them it was in online format with a mc exam (I think, but don't quote me). I remember them saying it was a lot of work. Stats didn't sound bad, even for those who weren't math people. There were assignments as well. Exams were over a 2 week period. But don't rely on exam time to study, you'll need to be studying during the term. Be prepared for a lot of work. Even though the exams are mc, that doesn't mean they are easy. There is a mountain of information to learn and remember. Time management and proactive study skills will serve you well. OUr pass grade was 70%... You will also have bell ringers in anatomy and an opportunity to view cadavers. The cadaver experience was pretty cool. Good luck.

:chuckle Or that you're so excited when your clinical instructor accidently steps in your patient's bowel movement because you finally have your first nursing poo storey!!! (By the way, my instructor was very cool about it, until she left the room and started laughing her head off!)

Someone here read my mind...I absolutely love my clinical. We're in a rehab setting and I can see that I'm making some sort of difference with my patient. That is priceless. But I really am finished with the academic part...without boring everyone with the details, it has been rough to say the least. I'm sick of school, I don't want to see my professors anymore and I don't want to talk to my classmates. Glad I'm not the only one. Someone here said, Suck it up...probably good advice...I'm working on it! Cheers to everyone...and hang in there! :beer:

I had to take 3 of the 5 preparatory courses: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Microbiology. All those courses were tested with multiple choice. As for the program so far, we've had a couple of papers to write, plus weekly "reflections". These reflections are short writing pieces in which we think critically about an issue raised in our class or in our assigned readings. There's some group work as well. I know I made it sound a bit scary...but a lot of my classmates have families and life responsibilities and we're managing. good luck

Ok...I've now been enrolled in this program for 2 months and it has been a really rough ride. This year is the first year that the program is being run and there have been some unbelievably stressful, administrative problems. I thought about dropping out many times and all of us students have been frustrated. Hopefully for you guys coming in next year, the problems will have been resolved. For the most part, the teachers are competent...a good thing. Due to the nature of the program,most students are mature with varying life experience. So far, I have found this to be a positive thing. I will warn you about the workload. This is an accelerated program...think medical school level of workload. If you've got family responsibilities, it would be a really good idea to find as much support and help that you can ahead of time. Books are really costly too...but many will be used in multiple courses. If you are taking the Fall preparatory program, passing grades for us was 70%...I can't remember if it was for each course, or overall...you should double check that. Most of us made it, a couple didn't. Once in the actual nursing program, passing is 60%. But, having said all that, I'm a little better adjusted now and some of the stress is settling down. I absolutely love my clinical placement. Good luck to ya!