Asia53

Answer #1: The room isn't being bombarded with radiation--just around the patient's groin. Radium is an ionizing radiation (like X-ray), it passes right through you. Unless you're working very close for a very long time, then the danger to you increases. Answer #2:Lead aprons would be nice, but as long as visitors keep a reasonable distance, they should be fine. Usually, facilities have protocols on radiation safety. Answer #4:Cervical implant---she's not going to pee these out. I hope this helps. Asia :)

While in Nursing School, I had to work full-time, 48 to 56 hours/week. My old job was ending. Management had given us ample warning of closure, hence, nursing school. They also paid for Nursing School. No part-time option. Frankly, I made too much money to quit. I averaged 2-3 hours of sleep, if I was lucky, and studied during the day-- 4-5 hours. I'd study when I could--half/hour here, 2-3 hours there. I learned to make flash cards. I carried my books everywhere. If I could have laminated the books, showered with them, I would have. I studied in my car while stuck in traffic, waiting for a snowplow to clear roads, just about any spare moment. My first Clinical Instructor gave me some valuable advice about grades. "No one is ever going to ask you if you made an A in Med-Surg." My grades were average--not spectacular--just average.

Because, they conveniently leave off the word--"experienced"---experienced nursing shortage. :grn:

No, Jackie, that's not what Prestige means. You start Nursing School--I promise you, after your first clinical rotation---you'll understand exactly what Prestige is saying. You're about to enter a world that makes absolutely no sense, plays by its own rules, and the rules change without notice. The very best of luck to you! Remember, leave all your illusions at home--they won't help you.

Exactly! I have a Nurse/Educator friend, and she told me the very same thing---almost word for word. Plus--high failure rate in 1st year Nursing makes the school look bad. As to people having a degree, and being able to get a job with the degree---that depends on the degree. I know a woman with an Ethnic Studies degree-----no job at all, not a single job offer in the year since she graduated. She's applied everywhere, and some places, she shouldn't have applied.

They only hire BSN's. My school has tried for years to get ped's clinicals for students. Absolutely, won't do ADN programs.

I hope you and wife really research her desire to live in the mountains. As a Colorado resident, I can't tell you how many people I've seen --- really, really want to live in the mountains. Then reality sets in---astronomical rents, even higher prices on houses, high gasoline price, high propane cost, much, much higher food costs. Bear in mind, everything for the mountain communities has to be trucked in. Nothing, nothing is just down the street, around the corner. As to pedi units, well, not alot of kids in the mountains, remember, this is a "rich" person's playground. Most of the workforce for the resorts are bought in for the season, single, college kids--usually, 19 to 30 years old. (This season has been bad--layoffs. Not lack of snow---lack of patrons.) Plus stiff, stiff competition for jobs---this is where alot of people want to live. (For the life of me, I don't know why. ) Usually, mountain communities have regional hospitals, Kremmling, Carbondale, to name two, there's a few. Also have a look at communities near the mountains--Montrose, Grand Junction, etc ,(known as the Western Slope). Most people live on the Front Range, and commute to recreational activities. It's a matter of money, you know. It's very hard to get hired into the Fort Collins hospital system--Poudre Valley Health System---once again, because everyone wants to live there. Good luck to you and the wife!

I really like the way you think--very good answer for that particular question.

Excellent damage control!!!!

Some people only have taste in their mouths!

The guys liked DH because, it's a very busy place, lots of things going on all the time. DH is a love/hate thing---either you really love it, or you really hate it.

It's really hard to answer your question. Do you just want to get a foot in the door? Now bear in mind, I haven't worked as a nurse at these facilities, but I've done clinicals at most of them. If you want a chance to expand your horizons--shoot for St Joseph's, or St Luke/Pysb. St Joseph is a tri-hospital system (Exempla), they're tied to Lutheran, and Good Samaritan. If you want anything, Denver Health's ER is known as the "knive and gun club" on Friday, and Saturday nights. My male classmates loved Denver Health. St Anthony's, I can't speak from personal experience, but most of my classmates didn't like the bureaucracy. I don't know anything about Colorado Springs. Good luck!

Hi JLForever, I can answer your question about Boulder. The city of Boulder only has one hospital---Boulder Community Hospital, they have satellite facilities around town. As far as I know, Boulder Community isn't fond of hiring new grad nurses. I live in Boulder, when I pass NCLEX, there is no way, I'll be able to work in Boulder. Since, Boulder is the "place to live", they have no problem attracting nurses with experience. Plus, Boulder is a university town, very expensive to live here. Your best bet is to go on-line, and look for hospitals in Denver , or surrounding suburbs---St Joseph's, St Luke/Presbyterian, Porter, Lutheran --to name a few. Those four hospitals are pretty good about hiring new grads. Good luck! Asia P.S. Hope you and little one come out just fine. :wink2:

I was wondering about that myself. Hmm, must be a bunch of half-dead people running around, or would that be half-alive????

We were split between 2 floors, 3rd and 4th semester. Our CI was a phone call away, in the building, and checked with us constantly. If she absolutely couldn't make it to our floor, we'd ask our assigned nurse. Most times, the nurse would help. If the nurse was uncooperative, we'd tell our CI, she'd switch us to another nurse, more considerate of students. I was left alone on the floor once, in 2nd semester clinicals. My CI and I didn't click at all. She spent all her time helping my fellow students on another floor. I'm not the type of person to waste opportunity, nor let a little favortism stand in my way. I'd talk to my nurse, they'd make sure I was busy, and learning tons of stuff. No way could I complain about my CI, she was the daughter-in-law of the Assistant Director of Nursing. It's not normal to be left alone 1st semester. 1st semester is a critical time.

I feel sorry for that girl. It's obvious, she suffers from opticrectitis---her head is stuck up her you know what!I have a little mantra I recite to myself, whenever I'm faced with massive stupidity----You can't fight stupid! I say that to myself, and have a triple shot latte with whipped cream. I always feel better, afterwards. :loveya: Munchkin, it's not you!

Absolutely not! Don't make me cyber-punch you in the arm! Something very similiar happened to me 2nd semester. My CI was younger, about the same age as the others in my group. I was 20 years older than the CI and the rest of my group. She clicked with them, and not with me. I'd see her at the beginning of our clinical evening, and wouldn't see her till the end. The CI was helping all the buddies in her clique, but not me. That happened twice. My classmate told me, the CI felt sorry for me, because I was older. My response----"Oh, really? Watch this!" Next clinical evening, I went with a list of things I wanted to do. I told the CI, if she didn't have time, I'd ask my assigned RN to help me. Pfffft, I did my complete list that clinical rotation. The classmate with the big mouth---well, she never did like me! Whatever! Like the other posters have said---Assert yourself! Good luck to you. Asia

Some people just don't have a sense of humor, or their sensibilites get ruffled easily. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez! I think, that woman needs a life! :rotfl:

I love perfume, or scent! But.....I absolutely don't wear any at the hospital. I even use unscented deodorant. Hmmm, doesn't your hospital have a "No scent policy"? Ours does, and they enforce it. I hope you can resolve this issue. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Asia :wink2:

You're getting great advice from the other posters. Just wanted to add---Don't give up!

I agree! My school didn't require CNA, and I wasn't one. I went into nursing school without the simplest skills. It was hard for me, always coming from behind to catch up. Fortunately, my study group had several CNA's, and they took me under their wings. Bless them, every one of them! Do you hear me, Laurie, Keely, and Victor?? I couldn't have made it without all of you.

We had to have 2 pre-req classes (Medical Terminology, and Basic Math) before we could be added to the waiting list.My school has an orientation meeting for potential student nurses once a month. At this meeting, they tell you all the pre-req's, how long the waiting list is, etc. You might check the schools your interested in, and see if they do the same thing. The very best of luck to you.

Hey Scooter, I'm 54, and chose nursing. I worked in the Radiation field, not medical. While I was taking my pre-req's for Nursing, I had a young male rad tech in one of my classes. We got to talking about radiation,etc. I asked him how much exposure (sometimes called dose) he was getting. He told me, he didn't know. He just turned in his film badge when it turned black. :uhoh21: Film badges were very old technology!!! That stuck with me. Now maybe, it was him, but I knew, radiation wasn't something you should take so nonchalantly. Good luck to you. Asia

Hey Lori S! I know!!!! They wanted my transcripts, too. Unfortunately, my grades weren't listed, the state didn't do that back then. Lol! I have a letter from the Secretary of Education for the state of Wyoming, and the letter states," has successfully completed High School." Good luck to you in Nursing School.

Oh, yeah!! Every dang day of Nursing School and clincals! Put your ego and emotions aside, and make it clear to your Clincial Instructor---I'm here to learn. My hardest CI made most of her students stress out or cry. I always treated her with respect, kept my thoughts to myself, and asked questions. She was perfectly willing to teach me, as long as I kept to business. :wink2: The very best of luck to you! Asia