spenmom

Hi Everyone! I've been out of direct care-type nursing for the past several years, not by choice, only because of location- living internationally. Instead, I've worked for pharm companies as a clinical research associate and also as a medical translator. However, I am finally returning to the US, and could use some help with my resume. Any criticism, pointers, observations and/or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to land a hospital position as an RN. Formatting didn't transfer well (it was all left flush, for example), but my main concern at the moment is the content. Thanks! [TABLE=width: 504, align: center] [TR] [TD]Xxxxx Xxxxxx Address Phone Email Etc[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Education XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, XX/2009 § Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), GPA: 3.6 (Dean's List) § Senior Practicum: 150 hours, Intensive Care Unit, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX: One of 6 students chosen to for a special ICU rotation at XXX. § Course Highlights: Pharmacology in Nursing, Nursing Health Assessment, Information and Healthcare Technologies, Theoretical Foundations in Nursing, Healthcare Delivery Models, Foundations of Research in Nursing, Child and Family Nursing, Professional Trends in Nursing, Leadership in Nursing Practice, Community Health Nursing, Pathophysiology, Psychosocial Pathology University XXXXXXXXXXX XX/2006 · Bachelor of Arts, Russian Language[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Work Experience Freelance Medical Translator 09/2011--present, XXXXXXXXX Written translations of medical and pharmaceutical texts for various clients in Xxxxx, the UK, and the US, including an XXXXXXXXXXXXX. Other clients include Xxxxxxxxx. Clinical Research Associate 2013 -- 2015, XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX Supervised the conduction and reporting of pharmaceutical studies, ensuring study protocol, standard operating procedures, GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and applicable regulatory requirements were followed; confirmed eligibility of study subjects, reviewed patient informed consent forms and case report forms (CRFs), reviewed Investigator Site Files, collected study documents for the trial master file, reviewed serious adverse events, maintained accountability of study drugs. Completed trials for xxxxxxxx. Registered Nurse (dates and name of hospital removed- location removed- total work time just under 1 year) Employed as an RN in the Xxxx unit. Responsible for the safe and accurate care of patients undergoing xxxxx procedures in accordance with hospital and regulatory standards; verified proper orders and consent prior to procedure; assessed the patient pre-procedure, during, and post-procedure; medicated, sedated and monitored patients during procedures; assisted the physician during the procedure; cared for the patient pre, during and post-procedure; provided instruction and education to patients and families regarding diagnosis and post-procedure care; documented encounters; made patient follow-up calls. [TABLE=width: 504, align: center] [TR] [TD]Student Nurse / Clinical Rotations (All locations removed) Worked under the supervision of an RN providing bedside care, treatment and clinical documentation for patients on orthopedic, medical-surgical, ICU maternal, pediatric, and skilled nursing floors. Handled medication administration, dressing changes, IVs and all other aspects of nursing care. Facilitated admissions, discharges and transfers; prepared chart notes and other documentation and participated on an interdisciplinary team. Key Accomplishments: § Gained experience in procedures such as wound VAC placement, wound care and wound assessments. § Presented in-service training on short bowel syndrome and future complications in pediatrics. § Earned a reputation for excellence in service delivery and establishing rapport with clients from various ethnic backgrounds, especially during a community health rotation with xxxxxxxxx.[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Licenses[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]· 09/2010, Registered Nurse, xxxxxxxx · BLS xxxxxxxx[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Affiliations Sigma Theta Tau Languages · English- Native · Xxxxxx- Fluent[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Additional Information Known as a patient advocate and team player. I believe in empowering patients by providing health education and delivering nursing care that enhances wellness and quality of life.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Good luck in your decision on a school! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. However, once you get in, get through, etc., hopefully the economy will be looking up and jobs will be easier to be found. So, there's always a silver lining!!!

Good luck with your nursing school endeavors!!! And good luck with Touro!!! The ELM program was false advertising at its most egregious. In fact, there was only one class who ever graduated who fell under the description of ELM. The rest of us were screwed. Screwed in terms of financial aid, screwed in terms of having a class that was at least 2 times too large (all with entry-level BSN students who didn't know their ass from their elbow), and screwed because we were promised small class sizes, all students with prior 4-year degrees, etc., etc., etc. But, that's over now, and I'm moving on. However, I am NOT doing the master's degree. The time required to finish has changed, tuition has increased to an unmanageable level, and to me, it offers nothing. So, while I have met some amazing instructors, I feel it is not worth my time, nor my good name, to be affiliated with this dog and pony show. I am, however, at least glad that I will be able to take the NCLEX and move on to become an RN, the first of many steps in my career goals. I have also met some awesome, life-long friends. Thank goodness for that!! I felt that I learned very little from the program that I didn't either come into it already knowing, or that I hadn't self-taught. Many others felt the same way. Hopefully things will improve. I don't believe nursing should be spoon-fed, but I do believe that instructors should teach....especially when tuition costs as much as it does. Please don't let my negative comments deter you from going to this school. Many students had excellent experiences, and I was just hoping for a more intellectually demanding program, nerd that I am. Also, when promises are made by administration over and over again, and not kept, I tend to get cranky. So, get involved in student government, get involved in as many committes as you can, and do as much as you can to make the school a better place than it was when you started. It's not a bad place, I just had hoped for a better education. Peace out...you'll do well!!

I haven't had a preceptor (long story...promise made by the school, but yet another one broken). Anyway, I have noticed that on certain units that I have rotated through, there is a definite toxic environment amongst the nurses. There is laughing and joking behind some of the nurses's backs (usually the ones who are working ten times as hard as anyone else), rude comments about everyone and everything, and in general, just an environment of gossip and hostility. But, on other units, like the one I am on now, there are a few men, and the women just seem in general more "over it" and too busy with their high-acuity patients for all the BS. They have all been great instructors and have allowed us each week to work with a patient(s) and shadow them, helping out wherever we can. With the majority of these nurses on this floor (MICU, SICU and NICU) they are busy but enjoy to teach. On the peds floor, however, it was an entirely different experience. Rudeness towards each other, gossipping behind each other's back, rude comments made in front of each other, ignoring each other--I felt like I was back at Jr. High. I was actually offered a position in that dept---If I get desparate, maybe, but otherwise, I don't know how I'd put up with it! To me, nursing is teamwork, and you keep your drama to yourself. However, I am new, and naive, and have a lot to learn and experience, so this may be an idealistic view. The other day in the ICU, however, there was one nurse who was being "difficult" which was unusual (from my perspective; I've only seen her twice). The other nurses were talking amongst themselves saying "it takes twice as much effort to be nasty; why not just work together, be decent, and get through the shift for the sake of our patients with a civil attitude? Is it really that hard?" Overhearing this made my day, and because both nurses were female, I started to feel like I might fit in the nursing world after all, even though I'm a girl. What do you all think? How can we keep the drama down to a minimum, the backstabbing from happening? I can't do anything about other's insecurities, and neither can anyone else, but why is it even an issue? If you are insecure, get educated about what's bugging you. Is it that hard? Maybe I just don't get it, maybe I'm naive, etc. I just can't fathom treating another person, especially a student who is trying to learn and wanting to learn, in a belittling fashion. In my former career I never would have done this, as a mother I would never do this, and as a human being, I would never do this (please don't let these be famous last words.....) Any insight into how we can change this? Is this something that has to happen from the ground up, or does it come from the top down? Or, does it simply depend on the particular unit and the particular hospital, the particular leadership, etc. Thanks for reading my ramblings...just want to make nursing a field where we work together for the benefit of our patients, not spend our time acting like highschoolers! Would love your opinions.

A @$%(@% nail file? Don't they know that nurses keep short nails on purpose to prevent the spread of bacteria? DUH?! I would have had no use for it. Now, refillable pens, scissors that can be used in the kitchen, that kind of stuff I can find useful. But, it's still not going to make me favor one drug over another. Let the research stand on it's own over time. Then we'll see what drug is better and whether or not data was faked. Worst job ever...drug rep. They don't know half the time whether they are selling crap or a true miracle drug. I almost feel bad for them, except they get paid so much. And, when is the day going to come that we don't say Male Nurse? We don't say Female Doctor anymore, so isn't it about time that a nurse is a nurse, who just might happen to have an XY chromosome phenotype? Sorry...on a soapbox again. I just know so many great guys who happen to be nurses, who chose nursing instead of med school because of the patient-care aspect, the opportunity for further career progression, etc., and I admire them for going against the grain. Plus, they are smart, quick thinkers, and I'd feel lucky to work with any of them, let alone be a patient of theirs. And, I have a thing about drug studies which come out showing miracle drugs, only to be found out 5-10 years later to have data faked. ****** me off.

I agree with many of you that it is a deeply individual decision. What puzzles me, however, is many of the politicians (and people) of this country talk ad nauseum about the sanctity of life, about what a gift it is from God, yet when it comes time to return to said God (according to their playbook) we do everything we can to avoid it, prolong it, push it away, deny it, leaving people in positions where they no longer have their dignity, no longer can care at all for themselves, and no longer can even make choices for themselves. To me, that is totally disrespecting the sanctity of life...it is a cycle. You are born, and eventually you die. How you die should be up to you, the decision made with the best knowledge you have at that time (which is where we come in, since it seems Docs don't like to discuss these issues or don't even know how). In my opinion, there is nothing more fitting to a long, productive, happy life than a death that is handled in a manner in which the patient wishes. By that I mean, if the patient understands the ramifications of "doing all that is medically possible" and still wants it, then go ahead. But, I mean the patient has to "really understand" it. At the same time, there is nothing more beautiful than a person realizing that the circle has come around in full, and it is time to "let nature take its course" and spend time enjoying their loved ones, grand children, greatgrandchildren, etc., before the inevitable happens, rather than spending that time trying to prolong the inevitable with expensive, painful, and often futile treatments. I think it is kind of like finance. Something we need to start discussing with our kids from a relatively young age (teen to young adult-ish). For example, I've told my family that right now, as a mom of young kids, if there is a chance I'll survive whatever hypothetical thing happens, then go all the way. But when I'm old, I want to go peacefully, with a bladder infection (or pneumonia, whatever) when I'm 90 that makes me confused and septic, and takes me in a couple of days. When I told this to my husband, he was horrified that I would even bring up such a topic. But, then it started a dialogue, and my kids know my wishes, even though the oldest is only 10, and he also knows my husband's (which is a huge step). I tried to talk to my parents, but no such luck. They have the mentality (I think it comes from the religious background) that by not trying everything available, you might as well be comitting suicide (something I don't agree with and don't understand). So, we didn't get very far. But, at least they know my wishes (which horrified them as well). But, we have to start somewhere. I'd like to see in 8th or 9th-grade Health classes, or Driver's Ed classes some sort of information included on DNR, Living will, etc., and what it all means. The younger we can get some health literacy, the better. Or, we could just start rotating field trips of high school students through LTAC facilities, and explaining to them what diseases make you live that way, or about some of the interventions like PEG tubes that they might have seen. It would be educational, and it would at least plant a seed. That's at least a step, right? This would, of course, have to be done in conjunction with DNRs, etc., and done very, very carefully so as not to seem biased against one versus the other. Great topic....something I think about a lot, and recently read a great book about by a physician, of all people...unfortunately I can't quite remember the title, but I think it was called "Dying Well" or something like that. It's fairly new, published last year. Talked about resources as well, and how best to allocate them in these situations.

You know what's sad, is that this was a case that was not going to have a happy ending. So, what is the point of possibly ruining lives and careers? For a few thousand dollars? I will never understand people. I had a legitimate malpractice case, to the point where there were lawyers calling my husband daily, asking about my condition, what he had decided about legal options, etc. But, from my perspective, we all make mistakes, and I was lucky to get away with my life more or less intact. Not only that, it scared the *#@% out of the hospital, the nurses, and the doc who had been primarily in charge of my care, reminding them, I am sure, of the importance of doing FULL ASSESSMENTS at every shift change, at any change in patient condition, escalation in patient pain, etc., and reminded them that you never know which patient is going to be the one that has the complications. To this day, I look at the experience as an opportunity, so that the complacency that can set in (especially in a place like L & D, where my complications first developed, only to be discovered 3 weeks later when I became septic-decompensated with met acidosis, renal failure, was in the ICU for weeks, had to have emergency surgery, and months of painful rehab) can be shaken off. The doctor and the hospital fully expected to be sued (as did some of the nurses--the hospital went so far as to fire some of the nurses who had cared for me when I first came in 3 weeks earlier, I later found out) and when I asked for my records just for continuity of care because I was moving across the country, you wouldn't believe the basic crap I got. I asked for EVERYTHING, regardless of cost, nursing notes and all, but only got H & Ps, consults, some lab results, xray/MRI/CT results, OR reports, and discharge summaries. Nothing else. Now, that made me want to go back with a subpoena, not to sue, but to get what was legally mine---I wanted to see for myself where things went wrong, and what could be done in the future to prevent the situation for my own benefit as a nurse. But, it was clear the chart was marked as a "poor outcome" so without going all the way with an attorney, I'll never get all the info. I feel for anyone who has to testify about anything. Unfortunatey, from my experience (well, from my father's experience), even if you are innocent, and have done absolutely nothing wrong, that doesn't mean there won't be something you'll be found guilty of. So, as the other posters have advised, say no more than is asked, give as few details as needed, and "I don't recall" is always a gem of a response if there is any question at all about what to say. Best of luck to you. Now go get some malpractice ins ASAP (you never know when something else might happen). Do your homework before the deposition (looking over the chart, notes, etc.,), and when it comes down to "the day" follow your gut, in the context of the rules the nursing veterans of the legal system have given you. Hopefully, it will go before a judge who will look at the case in its entirety, see the futility of the whole thing, see the patient's condition in the first place, and not allow it to go further.

1. The next time you say something outrageously rude to me, or speak to me with a command, I will reply "yes massa." 2. No, I am not impressed at how your arms look in your scrub top, so quit showing them off in front of me. I am also not impressed that you keep insisting on brushing up against my rear end with your hairy hands. If you do it again, I will jab you with my hemostats.:angryfire 3. We are all human beings, doing a difficult job, with different roles. Nothing makes anyone of us any more special than anyone else (despite what the CEOs or CFOs of the hospital might tell you, Docs), So, get over yourselves, and remember, if we nurses were to all to be out because of some strange "nurse only virus" you'd be knee-deep in ****. 4. For those of you, mostly the younger, newer generation, thanks for the camradarie, humility, and respect for the knowledge we have, and for your accessibility when we have questions. It's a two-way street, and so many of you seem to really get that it is all about what's best for the patient. You are truly special!! 5. Yes, I have boobs. No, I don't want you to see them. That's why I wear something under my scrub top. So, quit hinting about how I should be hot with my undershirt on. You're not getting a view, ever. No, not ever (not the same guy as the one who'se going to get the hemostat poke). 6. The next time you go in and act like an ass to a family, leaving me to clean up the mess, I am going to start charging you personally by the hour for my "emotional distress." I'll start documenting it, leaving it in your box, and writing a letter about it to the CEO. Think I'm kidding? Just wait. I'll also be giving the family an evaluation form to rate their satisfaction about their stay, and about you. 7. Consent? What consent? I thought that was your job. (one of these days, I am going to say that one.) 8. Again, to those of you who realize that this is a team effort, and without all of us working together the patient suffers, my gratitude to you is unmeasurable. You make my days so much easier, my patients so much happier, and my job much more worthwhile. You are treasures that we need to take care of. For some of you, I might just even bring you coffee (but only once...).:redpinkhe

RN Hopefull/RN to BE Doesn't it help to know how many of us have been in your shoes? I also had a degree I felt was useless (unless I wanted to work for the CIA or FBI--no thanks), a job I tolerated, but couldn't stand to do the rest of my life, one child, and parents who told me, ten years ago, when I told them I was planning to go to nursing school, "Why? Your husband works, it will be hard on the kids, it will be bad for your health...what if you get sick again...what if...what if...etc....." Basically they were against it from day one, to the extent that my mom would agree to watch my son during my pre-reqs, and then flake on me continuously to the point that I decided to wait for a while. It was only my husband who said, "You can do this, you will do this, you were meant to do this, and I will do everything I can to help you." I am finally about to graduate in December, and now, my parents grudgingly accept the fact that no, my children (I have two now) haven't been emotionally scarred by having their mother busy, nor has my marriage fallen apart. I've managed to keep my health up in spite of the stress of an accelerated BSN program (I had a few flare-ups of a chronic but stable problem over the past few years, but now I know how to keep it under control). So, what I'm saying is, that parents have all sorts of reasons for saying things, most of them selfish. From my parents perspective, they were worried the burden would fall on them. Well, we live in another state, so they've never had to help out in any way. Now, I hear from others how "Proud" they are of me, and how great it is that I went back to nursing school. Makes me angry, that they would use it as a way to make themselves look better, when they did everything they could to prevent me from going (especially as I am the only child of 5 to have finished college, and will now have 2 degrees). But, not going to waste my energy on it. And, as you get older, you realize that you have to follow YOUR intuition/ambition and what is in your heart, not what you think is an "acceptable career." Don't stress yourself out too much getting volunteer experience, although some is good. Focus on your coursework and your kids, and be prepared that when you interview for nursing school you will be asked about how you will plan to accommodate for them (will you have a live-in nanny, day-care, or what). Sometimes, if you have average grades and average test scores, having kids can be enough to possibly cause a denial (It happened to a friend of mine, who has struggled at times through the program-she eventually got in). So, make your plans, follow your heart. If you have put up with as much BS as it sounds like you have, you'll do just fine with nursing (unfortunately, in some ways). You'll learn the terminology, the procedures, and everything else, and it will be good for your children to see you accomplish such an important goal. You can do it...you will do it...Thank goodness you already have one degree so you don't have to do a whole lot of BS over again!! We need strong, determined people like you who have lived life outside of high school and college, experienced the real world, and can bring real-life smarts and compassion to the profession!! Sorry so long...sheesh, I really got going on this topic..but, truly, best of luck, and you will make it.

To the original poster, I completely feel your pain/frustration/irritation. I have had instructors throughout nursing school do this, and even worse, take PowerPoints that came with the textbooks, change nothing, and actually put their names on them on the first slide (then lecture us ad infinitum about plagiarism, cheating, professionalism, etc). Truthfully, my experience in nursing school has been that there are great instructors but they are few and far between, and those that are really good, use PPT minimally. Really, it is the WORST instructing tool ever, if that is all you are using. It's fine to use as a guide, then to add to with your own words in lecture, but how often does that happen? I know I try to do that when I have to do presentations (I'm in my senior year), but I notice that I am one of the few. As far as getting something out of lecture, if you're like most of us, you will be mostly self-taught by using whatever resources your textbook provides, like CDs with chapter review NCLEX style questions, or website access with similar things (again, from your textbooks). Please take advantage of those resources, as well as study groups with like-minded people, because you will find that it is your own initiative that pulls you through nursing school, you are mostly self-taught, and you will rely on each other to get through, not through the mostly nice but not-meant-to-be teachers who are in that position because they don't want to work as nurses anymore (usually true, in my experience, although I would love to teach...give out information and get paid?? Who wouldn't want to do that? But, I'm in the minority, I know). At the very least, let your voice be heard by filling out your course evaluation sheets fully, pointing out each and every thing that needs to change. I know in our class it helped, and now senior year we have none of the really S*&% professors. And, if you feel really strongly about it, you can always go as a group to the dean. Hang in there, you'll get through it. Remember, though, lots of times when you ask the instructor a question, and you don't get a satisfactory answer, it could be because they themselves either don't know or don't remember the answer. Keep your eye on the NCLEX, and keep your focus on studying those questions!! Much luck to you, you'll make it--If I can in my extremely dysfunctional school, anyone can!!

I think I can speak for Ramble and Write when I say that this school seems to be a law unto themselves. For example, there have been many proven instances of student cheating, and those students are still here (even after being caught cheating 2-3 times). The person who has done the threatening has been well known by students and faculty (as well as the dean) to fabricate outrageous, defamatory stories about instructors and students alike, yet the only thing that has happened was a discussion with said student about "professional behavior." Basically, it is my opinion that the administration is sick of this trouble-maker, yet lacks the balls (can I say that?) to act for the welfare of the whole class. It's all about $$, and with each semester costing as much as a basic car, each student counts when it comes to the school's future expansion plans (which are substantial) It's galling that we as students are constantly lectured and reminded about the importance of professional behavior and making professional/moral decisions that are not easy, yet they allow themselves to sweep unprofessional behavior under the rug when it suits them. Ramble and Write is one who keeps to herself and doesn't seek out conflict. Not only is she emotionally too grown up to mess around with the silly shenanigans that occur in nursing school among the females, but she has a goal, wants to achieve it, and isn't going to let stupid stuff get in the way. I've gone to bat for her with the powers that be, only to find myself later stripped of a great position that would have helped me professionally a great deal. So, all I can say is that this is a mess, Ramble and Write isn't making anything up- if anything she's downplaying things, as giving too much information could out her to the admin and put an early end to her hard work to become an RN. She will be getting a lawyer, even if I have to drag her to one, because this needs to be addressed. In the future, I will refuse to work with this particular student (the unprofessional one), and many already have in clinical, because nursing is based on trust, and when someone spouts 3 lies for every truth, do you really want to take their word for how much narcotic they administered/wasted, or what interventions they performed for a patient? She has no business practicing, and there will be something, I am sure, that comes up which prevents her from doing so (at least I pray for this daily). Thank you to those of you who gave constructive advice, like about keeping written track of encounters, seeking out a lawyer, etc. I think these have been done partially, but with reinforcement from those of you who were helpful enough to post, it will become more of an imperative. Best of luck to you all-- happy nursing, and may your next shift not involve any vomit!-- at least not on you.

Ramble and write---****-- we had a similar incident at our school, with a similar outcome. The interesting thing is that the student who did the threatening was called in to something like professional standards and counseled, although she remained just as unpleasant as ever. Don't know what happened to the person who was threatened, although I think she's okay as I've seen her around. In my opinion, the reason why nothing serious has been done is because of $$$$$. They don't want to lose the tuition from either student, which isn't right in my opinion. It's education, not a business!!! Anyway, the "person" and I use that term loosely, who did the threatening, is not someone I would ever want to work with based on her complete lack of professionalism. I mean, who in their right mind threatens another student--are we all gangsters here or nursing students?

You will encounter patients with depression, diagnosed and undiagnosed, throughout your nursing career. It's important to understand that someone who is depressed and not compensated by his/her medications will have extreme difficulty with daily tasks. Taking a shower, getting dressed, eating, etc., all require too much thought and organization in order to complete them. So, as a nurse, you need to be matter-of-fact in your approach and instead of asking them whether they would like to shower, just stepping in and getting it ready for them, helping them out of their clothes, helping them get cleaned up, etc. The frustrating thing with depression is these patients may look fine, but they are often so overwhelmed by the slightest things that they are rendered basically inert; it takes too much thought and energy to do things like change clothes, decide what to watch on TV, or even whether or not they want to see a visitor. So, as a nurse, you have to facilitate those decisions. These patients are not trying to be difficult, and that is what everyone needs to understand. Once they are adequately treated (and they may have been before the stressful event that put them in the hospital) they are much more able to function on their own and make their own decisions. Until then, they need a caring, nonjudgmental nurse who will facilitate them performing the tasks they are capable of by breaking them down into small steps, i.e., what to do first, then after that, etc. I appreciate your interest in this subject. As we joke sometimes on the floor, "Every day is a Psych day" and we're not even working in a psych area.

Some of the stories related make me laugh out loud, and some of them make me realize I'm glad the filter between my mouth and my brain still occasionally works. When I was a new nurse, however, I had a pretty rough experience with nurses, healthcare, and the complacency that can exist when you see the same patient-type over, and over again, and don't take a second to re-evaluate the situation, but instead, chalk all symptoms up to "being emotional." I was recently a patient for a life-threatening complication (that shouldn't have happened) and I find myself grateful for all those nurses who believed I was truly in pain, who without question called my doc and to get my pain meds increased or changed, who helped me to the bathroom when I was too swollen (from an albumin of 1.7) to get there myself, and who helped me shower when I could still hardly stand up straight from the swelling and the giant surgical incision from my xiphoid to my pubis.. Thank you for your compassion, your nonjudgmental appraisal of the situation, and for keeping your personal thoughts, whatever they might have been, to yourself. Thank you for helping me to the toilet, for keeping me updated on my preemie downstairs (who I was still too ill to go see), and for generally treating me like a human being who was trying to get better, not make your lives miserable. And for the nurses in L & D who NEVER did an actual assessment, which would have revealed I had a surgical abdomen, I hope that you will take your jobs more seriously. Just because I was young and looked healthy, but complained of severe pain, didn't mean you should have written me off as just emotional from an unexpected premature birth, and it certainly didn't give any of you a pass to never do even the most cursory of physical assessments. FYI, when a patient is complaining of pain so severe she can hardly get the words out, you might want to check her abdomen...you never know when someone is going to have an unexpected complication, like peritonitis, and be sent home inappropriately because of your inability to take 5 minutes to do a quick assessment and relay abnormal findings to the doc. Just because you work in L & D doesn't mean that everyone has a happy ending, or that everyone comes in without any complications. Now, if I sound bitter, I apologize. Three weeks after giving birth I finally accepted that there was truly a problem, and it wasn't just in my head or caused by my "concern for my preemie" (as my stomach was twice the size it was before I had my baby, I was now too weak to walk, or even get out of bed, and I hadn't been able to eat since I came home). So, when I got to the hospital and was found to be in renal failure because of sepsis, with 3 liters of septic fluid in my abdomen, I am grateful to all the nurses who carried me through the long ICU stay and helped me get back on my feet. Without exception, you were all kind, helpful, compassionate, and I never felt judged for one minute (of course, it was your facility that neglected to notice my markedly surgical abdomen...another story for another day, I think that was as much the Doc's fault as anyone). Thank you for wiping me when I didn't have the strength to move my arms, or the ability to reach my behind as my 130-pound frame was swollen to 190 lbs from malnutrition. Thank you for believing me when I said I needed my pain medicine, and getting it to me as quickly as possible. Thank you for being there with phenergan and Zofran when it was time to try to teach my stomach to accept food again. Thank you for finding time in your busy day to help me down to the NICU when I was cleared to finally see my child. I know it was a pain, and you were busy, but thank you anyway for taking those few minutes to help me be with my child. Thank you for listening to my family, keeping your annoyance to yourself (because they can be annoying, even in my drug-induced haze I was annoyed at them), and thank you for answering their questions (which I had already answered 100 times) but they wanted to hear the answers from someone else to be sure they understood the situation. I know how hard your job is, because it's my job too. Thank you for treating me as a person, not just as a fellow nurse, and for taking my concerns seriously, my family's concerns seriously, and for not showing your annoyance when my 10-year-old was watching sponge-bob nonstop in my room once I got out of the ICU. I am forever in your debt, and forever grateful that each of you who came to work with the strength to help me through what was my darkest, most frightening time. You inspired me to continue to do my best each and every day for every one of my patients, and for this, my family and I will always be grateful. With love and gratitude, Spen's Mom

Something that really helps me in taking exams is to practice NCLEX questions. Some textbooks have an online portion where each chapter has 10 or so NCLEX questions with answers and rationale for those answers. Practicing those questions will help you think like a nurse and better-evaluate the questions on the exams. Plus, it's early prep for NCLEX!! Also, try not to be stressed out. When you're stressed out sometimes your brain doesn't work as well (in my experience). Good luck, and just try your best. Don't beat yourself up over a grade that is less than you would like. You'll score higher next time!