becembrie

I have the same problem. The link was helpful. I know when what I am hearing is abnormal, but not always able to correctly state what the sounds are. I don't recall learning much about the various lung sounds in nursing school, but that was over 20 years ago, so my old brain may have just filed it somewhere. Thanks for the link and what a great question.

Believe it or not, I left the nursing profession for 15 years!! I had my kids and ran a family business all the while wanting to go back, but life just kind of got in the way. I was fortunate that many of the nurses I worked with all those years back were still at the facility I had left. I arranged for an interview and they hired me. I returned as a fellow and had an 8 week orientation. I've been back a year and it really hasn't been that difficult. I've had lots of support. I guess I would encourage you to go back and talk to someone that you knew who might be able to put a good word in for you. I also would encourage you to only focus on your positives. I would suggest you return to the unit you were on until you feel comforatable back in the hospital. Get some more experience under your belt and then when you are able to work more, look into cross training on another unit if that is your desire. Good luck.

Hi there. I haven't been on the site for a while and was just looking around when I saw your post. I am currently looking for a pediatric home health position. I have a full time position which I want to keep, but used to work pediatric home care years ago and loved it. I did shift care though, not visits. I enjoyed working with one patient and being in the home environment rather than the hospital. It gave me the chance to really get to know the kids. The position I had was to take care of a chronically ill child during the day when mom and dad worked. The patients ranged from oncology patients to kids that had chronic illnesses that needed full time nursing care. I'm not sure what type of home care you are doing, but I wish you luck. I don't know where to look for these types of jobs. The registries are only staffing hospitals. Maybe a home care agency?

Hi again. Just click on my user name and it will give you a drop down of options. You can send a personal message or email me directly. :typing

Michelle, I have always wanted to be a pediatric nurse. I graduated when I was in my mid twenties and worked for 5 years in pediatric oncology. Then I left the profession for about 15 years to raise my three girls and help out in a family business. I can tell you that the job is much harder now emotionally since I have kids. My specialty is oncology and prior to having kids, the job was difficult. Now that I have kids ranging in age from 16 to 9, I find it very difficult some days. I think it just has to be a calling. I can't imagine doing any other type of nursing. Some days can be so sad and difficult, but at the same time, it is rewarding and helps me to really appreciate my blessings. I can understand your desire to do ER nursing. I have always thought that would be really interesting. Whatever you choose to do, you know that if it isn't the right fit, there are sooooo many other options. If you want to talk more, feel free so send me a personal message or email me. Have a great day. karen

Michelle, I think you should go for it. It took me three tries to pass chemistry!!! It just wasn't my thing. I loved anatomy and biology, but just couldn't get my mind around chemistry. Probably because of the math as well. At any rate, you would have plenty of time to be there for all your kid's special events. Thats the great thing about my job at least. I can make my own schedule and then I know I won't miss the special days.:wink2: Good luck. Karen

There are so many different types of nursing. If you are compassionate and like being around people, nursing would be a good choice. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. Is it something you are just now considering or has it been a thought for some time? I too have three children. Mine are probably a bit older than yours, but still very much dependent on me. I work three 12's a week and as long as I know I have rides to and from school for them I feel comfortable when I am at work. I love the flexibility of my schedule and only having to work three shifts. As far as starting out part-time, I think that most new grads begin full time at least for a year or so. You really need the time to hone your skills and become confident in your abilities. I still learn something new everyday. Also, it's going to take some time to get through the schooling. By the time you graduate, your little ones will be a little older and full time may not be an issue. It's a physical job, and when you get home, you will be tired. Still, raising three kids is probably the hardest job I've ever had. My real work starts when I get home!! Good luck.

Maybe it's hormonal. When I was pregnant with my last daughter, I could not stand the smell of my clothes. It was the strangest thing. It was only my clothes and the odor wasn't horrific, it just bugged the heck out of me. As soon as I had the baby this went away. Maybe I needed a psych consult, but I believe it has to have been something related to the hormones.

I must have just gotten lucky. I was out for 16 years and rehired to my old position without a problem. I am finishing a two month re-orientation this week. It hasn't been easy, but really, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. My confidence is coming back and I am starting to feel like I will do well. I encourage you all to keep looking. I know that when I interviewed the main concern was computer charting and my ability to pick that up. Apparently they have had problems with re-entry nurses catching on to the new technologies. It's like anything else though, you just need to be oriented. Good luck.

I think I saw a show on National Geographic about maggots that are bred in a sterile lab environment. They are used for wound care. Like someone else said, they eat away the necrotic tissue and help with blood flow to the wound so it can heal. I don't know, it sounds feasible. Not much different than leeches. I sure wouldn't want them eating my tissue.

I hate Crocs, but love my Dansko Clog. They are the only shoes that don't cause my feet to ache.

Meg, if you really feel you want to work in ICU, then you should go to the open house and ask them if there is a possibility of starting out there when you graduate. They will be able to tell you what the requirements are and you can explain to them your desire to work on the unit. I think if you already know that is what you want to do, you should go for it. All they can do is tell you no. No matter where you end up, you will learn more in your first year of nursing than you ever thought imaginable. Good luck.

I have Lupus and all the little bones in my feet are in constant pain. The clogs are the only shoes that allow me to work pain free for 12 hours. I know they aren't that attractive, but I'll take comfort over fashion any day!

I think the surveys hospitals send out are a bunch of baloney. Most don't send them for a few weeks and it has been proven that most people only respond if they have had a negative experience. You rarely hear from folks that were satisfied with their care. Most people, myself included, don't take the time to even complete these surveys. At any rate, I think if they asked people on discharge what their experience was, they would get more positivie replies. I would be clawing to get out of the hospital if everyone who came in repeated the same scripted speech. Just give good, compassionate, kind care. Management needs to spend time on the floor watching how things are really done. I honestly believe most patients have good experiences and most nurses provide excellent, compassionate care. Paying companies tens of thousands of dollars to institute such ridiculous practices is a crime and believing that made up spiels are going to increase satisfaction is laughable.

You state that you want to become an RN eventually. Have you looked into the ADN program at Goldenwest College? It's close to you and they have a great program. Good luck.

I think you should just go for it too. I have a similar situation. I graduated with my RN 20 years ago, worked for 5 years then had 3 kids and ran a family business for the next 16 years. I always wanted to go back, but was not sure if I would be able to even get an interview. I got lucky and the hospital I worked at all those years ago called me in and hired me on the spot. It isn't fun having to learn all this stuff again and being the new kid on the block, but I think in 6 months I'll be ok. I'm taking it one day at a time. Maybe you can work as an LVN while you work toward your RN. That way you'll have some recent experience when you graduate. Maybe LTC while you're in school? Good luck to you!!

Our new grad programs start in January and August. I know for the January program they begin accepting applications in September. I agree with the others. Call or visit some local hospitals to find out what they suggest. Good luck.

Med errors are my biggest fear. I know how awful you feel, but as others have said, you did the right thing by reporting it. You will no doubt never make such an error again. I think as long as I continue to be fearful about making errors, I will remain anal as well. I must check things 5 times before I do anything. Don't beat yourself up about it. You have learned much and your employer and co-workers sound very supportive.

I think a patient should always know what is going on, especially if they ask point blank. There are patients that don't want to hear what is really going on and they don't ask. I think if they ask, they should be told the truth. I agree with some previous posters that the family is trying to protect themselves from the emotional pain, but I have found that once families start communicating with the patient, things go much better and there are usually fewer regrets when the patient does die. My mom has a progressive neurological disorder that will eventually cause dementia and death. When we first found out I didn't know how to talk to her about it. You'd think as a nurse I would be good at this, but she's my best friend and it was just too emotional for me. When we finally sat down and laid everything out on the table, a weight was lifted from all of us. We are still very sad on some days, but most days we use humor and take comfort in the time that we have right now. I can't imagine pretending nothing is wrong. I don't want any regrets.

I just sent away for information on a distance BSN program through a local university. It is mostly online with one weekly on campus day for about 5 or 6 hours. It costs way less than the University of Phoenix and allows me to work full time while I work toward my BSN. I plan to start in January. I anticipate it will take me about 3 years at this rate, but I'm not in a huge hurry. I want my BSN strictly for personal reasons. I know it opens doors as far as management and leadership positions go, but I like bedside nursing and don't really want to pursue any other positions at this time. I think it will help with my clinical skills which is really important to me as well.

I agree with the others. Work a year or two and then have another child. The first couple of years are such a learning experience. As much as you learn in school, the experience you gain during your first nursing job is really amazing. You shouldn't put that off. I know that there are part time and per diem positions being offered to new grads in my area. I'd imagine there must be some in your area as well. Good luck to you.

How offensive. I graduated from a community college. When I got my degree, I had zero debt and found a job immediately as a new grad. Not one of my nursing peers ever asked me where I got my education nor did I care where they got theirs. As much as I learned in school, everything I needed to know, I learned on the floor from my mentors. It seems crazy to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to say, "I went there"! Good luck to you.

I went into nursing 20 years ago when I was in my 20's, had no children and not many responsibilities. I am returning now in my mid 40's after running a family business, raising 3 daughters and now helping my Mom navigate the nastiness of dementia. I know for a fact that I am going to be a better nurse, simply because I have had more life experiences. I also feel like I have a good 20 years left in me so I don't think it really matters. I think the bottom line is, if you have a passion for nursing, that is where you should be regardless of your age.

I took a three day IV/Blood withdrawal certification class at Genesis Medical Education Consultants in Orange. They offer it every month or so. It goes over the basics of IV therapy and blood withdrawal. You learn the theory and then practice with the fake arms and skin boards. At the end of the course you do two lab draws and an IV insertion on a classmate. It was helpful for me.

Yes, it is so hard to stay calm when it is one of our children. Sometimes we know too much and can't stay focused or over-analyze things. Our minds automatically go to the worst case senario. You should be relieved that the tests done so far are negative. Just try to relax and see what happens next week. Easier said than done. It is always good going into any appointment having as much information as possible. The more information you can give the doctor next week regarding trends in your son's vitals, the more he'll have to go on during his consult. Keep your log up and try not to worry too much while you wait. Keep us posted, and know that you and your son are in our thoughts.:)