angelchick

pray pray and pray some more, Nahhhh its all good I think the very first post explained it the best. tears, highs , lows excitement, celebtations, tiredness, late nights and study study study, if you want it bad enough you'll do it!!!!!! all the best

I have been pondering this subject for some time now, and finally decided to put it to paper. As a 2year Nursing Student in New Zealand, I wonder how much communication goes on between the hospitals that students attend to do their practicum, and how much, if any, District Health Boards (DHB's) input there is? Do they ever all get together as a collective and discuss the changes and needs in the new and up comming future nurses? I wanted to do a survey and put out some questions to health boards, and individual experience RN's and get their opinion on what they want and need from new nurses/students. (Time has hindered this idea at this stage). The few RN's I have spoken to have all commented that "we" should go back to the "old" way of nursing, where most of the learning done was practical. Are we too bookwise? and not "hands on" smart? Does the Nursing Organisations, in our case NZNO get together with the different schools of nursing and different hospitals and discuss what needs changing ? what's working? what's not? what help's? Have we become to complacent? I hear alot of whinning and disagreement with how nursing students are being taught today, but is anyone doing anything about it? Shouldn't the Hospitals be a huge influence of the learning expectations of the schools? So that when a student does become a RN she/he knows the expectations and demands of the job and the hospitals get what they want? Instead of a new nurse going to a job where she/he is perhaps not appreciated and underskilled, wouldn't it be better for the hospitals to let the nusing schools KNOW what they want!? Then everyone will be happy, the schools, the RN's, the hospitals, the students/new nurses, and most importantly the PATIENT. Perhaps I havent done my homework well enough, and maybe there is communication happening at this level... but if so, why all the negativity from old school nurses towards new school nurses? Just my thoughts.

My Math is my weakest subject, but I have managed to do really well in nursing, its all just FORMULA"S, once you have those mastered you will be GREAT!!! Don't let those number things get the best of you!!

Big love and Huggs to you!! And yes "this too shall pass". hard to see when you are in the mist of it all. Be extra kind to yourself at the moment, and do some things that you prob wouldn't normally do in this situation... go for a bush walk, or along the beach, get in touch with whomever it is that is your "higher power", and ask for guidance. You will get through this and you have all our loving support here on line. God bless darling.:heartbeat

You poor thing, I also suffer from panic attacks, but hese seem to be under control with meds. I have been in hospital from Overdoses in my earlier years and wouldn't recommend them for what you are requiring. If you can find a quiet place for a few days with a supportive friend/partner you should be okay, sometimes hospital can just add to your anxiety. And hospital isn;'t all that bad, perhaps if a total rest is what u need , it may be a good thing. Gentle blessings and all the best!

HI Rholman, I hear your frustration and anxiety. And it's easy for everyone else to say 5 years isn't long. BUT 5 years isn't long in the big picture, you will be a qualified RN by the time you are 47!!!! And will have at least 20years of a wonderful nursing career. I had to make many sacrifices to do my study, and some days I feel like throwing it all away, but i know theres a light at the end of the tunnel and a fabulous career in helping people!! I got ill last year, so this year should be my 3rd and final one, that's been upsetting, BUT it's only an extra year, It's going to take me 4 years instead of 3! But at the end it will be a distant memory. Try and get all the support you can get with the children and put plans in action, you CAN do this!!! And truely time FLYS!!!!! Gentle Blessings, and all the best, :heartbeat

I say whatever "floats ya boat'!!!!!! Im all for LOVE any LOVE!!!:heartbeat:redbeathe:heartbeat:nurse::redbeathe:heartbeat

I relate to this topic very well! And feel for all that have mistreated by those so called medical nursing professionals! My advice is, if you KNOW you are in the right and have been truely untreated unfairly, Stand up for yourself! Go public, go to the newspapers! Do what you need to do to get what you so passionately believe in! It's a hard road, but it makes one so much stronger and many lessons will be learnt. I fought and won. I today have decided to jump when they say jump and do exactly everything and question everything and be a demure quiet lass in class, MUCH against who I actually am!!!! LOL BUT I want to be a RN so I will do what it takes! Best of luck to all of you who may be struggling with a difficult instructor or preceptor, unfortunately they are out there and CAN make your life hell! Go get um Girls!!

Thanks everyone for your insightful suggestions and comments. Much appreciated!

What a great post! It warms me to know there ARE in fact Nurses out there like yourself, looking beyond.... You ROCK!!

Batgirl, THANKYOU! for the first real positive view on my understanding of mental health. It's encouraged me to stop doubting myself and my passion for it and allowing me to listen to others comments but not necessarily take all the negative ones on board. Thanks for the encouragement!:heartbeat

Dear Earle, Thank you! for your words of wisdom, I really appreciate it, as I question so much and it's great to be able to put these questions to more experienced persons and see where I may be going wrong... In nursing school we are taught to be "reflective" nurses, reflect reflect reflect, I am a very reflective person anyway, so perhaps I need to be less reflective! Who know's?? This is a wonderful, wild, and scary journey to be on at times, I have a lot to learn!

I did write this article into our local nursing magazine and got some wonderful replys and tips. Just thought if anyone had any other words of wisdom?? Cheers:heartbeat

Thank you for your words of wisdom, I hear what you are saying, truely I do. And I understand your concerns, I too, have concerns about whether I will make a good Mental health nurse, but I am also nervous about whatever first job I take on. I have been involved with mental illness for some time, and been cut with a razor in ER by a friend, helped restrain a young girl, I have also witnessed suicides and whilst working on the ambulance witnessed attempted suicides, so I know that side of things wont shock me, BUT I do know that I need to get harder, (for lack of better word), and I hope with guidance and awesome staff members like you I will endeavour to do an excellent job. I am trying not to be blind going into this, I just really feel like I can make a difference (last final words huh)! LOL Anyway thank you for taking the time to write! Gentle Blessings Lisa.

Thank you for your input. Im not sure I agree about the "patient's" suffering if the nurse is trying to control or battle her/his own symptoms. In any speciality nurses are human beings and have issues, a nurse that can say they have "no" issues probably has the biggest issues of all. As a professional I leave my personal issues at home and do not bring them to the work place, I am lucky that I am aware when I am becomming stressed and take certain measures to regain my strength. I think your concerns are very valid though, my husband, mother, don't want me to go in mental health, they believe it will drag me down too much, I respect their opinions and realise I have a lot to consider. Thank you for being so up front with your thoughts. Kind regards, Lisa.