blessedt1d

Hey Mzamb, Littman is a good and trusted brand. Their pediatric/adult steth cardio will work really well. Even 20 years ago when I worked at Binson's nothing compared. This is the brand our doctors use and I think for good reason. Give me a call if you want, you've got my number. Around 140 bucks but I think worth it. The sound quality rocks. Tami

Hypothetically, "If I was 38 in my ranking will I be starting in August?" I didn't even know what to do with myself. That guy was killing me. I chalked it up to gender (no offense guys), and questioned how he placed so well given that, he either could not accept, or could not understand the answer. I felt like I was dealing with a toddler again. LOL! I didn't see any of you but I was really sick yesterday anyway and tried to keep to myself. I didn't even sit with the friends I already have for fear of contaminating them. I am asking for a January start date and pray that I get Patho this fall. I really feel that they should be making additional accomodations for those who gained entrance to the nursing program. If I lost my spot because I didn't get Patho I would freak. I just don't think that it's right.

I will carry a large red purse. I have long dark hair, wear glasses, I am short, and will be wearing jeans. I am definately not shy and usually smiling. It is a really long orientation. I'm not entirely sure of what to expect that consumes that amount of time. Any thoughts?

Jules, I don't have any answers either. I'm sorry. If you don't get in this year, please try again next year. Gemberly, I have always said that there is something special about kids who are afflicted with some form of disease or disability, as well as their families. There is this quiet strength, wisdom, and love; just a knowing. I too have stood in awe of my son on so many occasions. I often think that he is just such a wise soul. I am humbled by him. Fourteen, and I can gaurantee this world would be a better place if more of us possesed his inner beauty. I'm certain that your daughter was the same, an indescribable gift. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. God Bless

Gemberly, I am so sorry about your child. I was almost there myself and am thankful every day that things turned out the way that they did. Type 1 is no big shakes compared to the alternative. Many children go unsafe at school who have medical needs and my son almost died on school grounds because of their apathy and carelessness which is why I became an advocate. I could not stand the thought of one more child being unsafe or one more parent being in my shoes. My advocacy is on hold as of about a month ago as far as the traveling, meetings, and letters, but my ear is always available as well as advice. My heart goes out to you, I can't even imagine. I am glad that you got into the program, as I'm certain that you have something special to bring to the table, that most of us don't. I think learning from someone who has been through something so tragic is a gift to all of us. God Bless!

First I would like to say thank you for your responses. I would also like to address the type 1 issue. I'm sorry that you were diagnosed with type 1, it's a tough disease, a relentless one, but it sounds like you are living and that makes me so happy. I try to teach my son that it's just a glitch in the system and he must live dispite the glitch. I'm curious as to what pump you are on. We are on the Coz but will be podding it starting in July. I imagine hiding the site or pump is much more difficult for a woman than it is for a boy/man. We are excited about being Wifi'd. I told my son, he will be the first and only person I know to be wifi'd (trying to somehow make it cool). LOL! I look forward to hopefully meeting all of you at orientation. I can't wait to dig my heels into the whole thing. My hope is that the competition will lessen and there will be more cooperative learning over all, given that we are the next generation of nurses, and hold the power to make working conditions more condusive in the future by working together now. I'm excited and scared about the whole process. We should all wear something identifiable so we can spot eachother at orientation. LOL! Again, I would like to thank you so much for your responses.

About nine months ago I decided I wanted to officially become a nurse. I have a child with type 1 diabetes, I was working as a parent advocate getting the medically fragile accomodated in schools, working with pediatric endo's all over the state, registered with the state, county, and my doctors office as a support parent. So we are pretty much talking about advocacy, and the intense management of a child type 1, as well as encouraging and supporting parents as their child went from MDI to insulin pump therapy. I felt so sure about everything. Over the past nine months or so, I have worked so hard to try to get into the nursing program at MCC, and last week I started to question whether or not I was smart enough to actually do it. Seriously, when did a 93% on an A & P exam become a poor grade. I realized that my way of thinking had become rather rediculously scewed through out the course of the last two semesters. I have a 97%-98% in the class, that is nothing to be upset about, it's a tough course, the problem for me was that prior to my exam I had a solid 99% (close to perfect). Yesterday, I found myself talking to another A & P student and telling her, "You know what, a test is not a reflection of who you are, it does not define you, and it is not a determinant of how intelligent you are. It's just whether or not you learned what was important to the instructor, and quite frankly, this was the best that you and I could do that particular day." Life is demanding sometimes, and things can't be perfect. I told her that if I didn't get in this time, I would go at it one more time, but that was it, as the perfection level required to get in is crazy and leaving me constantly worried about every single point. On my drive home I was thinking to myself, (it's okay to not get in, it's okay to fail sometimes) I just wanted to know one way or the other, and proceeded to give myself a pep talk over my probable failure, and looked on the bright side of being off of the perfect hook. I arrived home to find my letter in the mail. I'm in at MCC. Even though I was really excited about getting in, I was more excited that I didn't have to preform perfectly all of the time, that I didn't have to beat myself up over a 93% any more, that I could actually enjoy my instructors and time in class. It made me laugh and then almost cry. Finally, I don't have to be perfect, I just get to be who I am. What a relief! One more unit in A & P and now I will get to enjoy it, and be okay with less than perfect. It made me think about how funny life is, how disproportionate things can become, and how tiring perfection can be. To all of those who did not get in this time, I hope that you give it one more shot, it is tough preforming at such a high level always, but it isn't forever either. Just for the record, I had a 4.00 and a 91 on the Hesi, so I wasn't breaking any records. I was told from the beginning that I would not get in from just about everyone at school. Part of me wishes I could go back and say, "See, I told you I could do it." But actually, I am grateful to those who told me that I could. So thank you! For those of you who are still working on the process, you can do it, I believe in you, and please don't ever let someone tell you that you can't, or that it's not okay to be less than perfect. God Bless! Tami

Are you kidding me? I think that because you have ADD, you will be magnificant. When my daughter was diagnosed with ADD, I did alot of research. Turns out that the only one's with a disability are the one's without it. I congratulated her on her brilliance and expressed to her that it would be tough for a time, but that there would come a day when she would be able to accomplish things that most others could never dare to dream of. So I say to you, it may be tough for a time but you will be able to accomplish things that most others could never dare dream of. One of my instructors has type 1 diabetes and ADHD. He has six degrees and it the most fabulous person I will probably ever meet in my lifetime. He has his own practice in psych, he does alot of teaching all over the place, and he is one of the happiest people I have ever met in my life. His sheer brilliance shines. Hang in there. You'll get your grove, and you will do remarkable things.

A TDP is a trained diabetic proffesional. This is not a certification. This is a person who has been specifically trained in managing all aspects of the childs diabetes care. Often times the secretaries are handing out meds. In the case of a child with type 1 it is just not suitable. There has to be management, protocol, and follow up.

Perhaps I shouldn't post, but I am going to explain how this works for everyones benefit. It is not about licensure per say. It is about the authority of delegation. If a qualified medical professional issues instructions, virtually anyone in the state of michigan can administer care and or meds, it is not limited to nurses in any way, shape, or form. CNA's routinely administer meds. I was trained by our county and we were indeed instructed on delivering meds and documenting that administration. This requires two sets of initials. One belong to the deliverer, one the witness, who is there to double check dosing. 60% of the schools in the state of Michigan do not have school nurses. Michigan is fourth in our country to have the fewest school nurses. So, a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She needs all of the staff trained in basic care and two identified aides, one of which must be on campus to administer insulin, I to C ratio, Correction factors, carb counting, tx. for highs and lows, understand the in's and out's of ketoacidosis, basals, bolus, pumps, infusion sites, and what the differences are with all of it. Mom and dad are freaking out because there is not a school nurse and their child is unsafe, school refuses to hire one because it's not in the budget, what happens to the child? She must be accomodated. She is covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. School still will not hire a nurse. Should the child be denied the benefit of a free appropriate public education as afforded her by law? Not on any level. It's bad enough she is afflicted with a relentless chronic disease, for her to be isolated would lead to depression, already common with this disease, and it is just not right. What's the answer? It would be great if school nurses were on campus at every school but it will never happen. So here is what happens. The doctor writes a DMMP with explicit instructions. If the child's parents know enough about the law, they end up having to force the school to accomodate their daughter by filing with the OCR or pushing for a Section 504 until all parties are in agreement. Then the school is responsible for making sure they are trained regularly, and that the TDP's are adequately trained for all situations and will accompany the child on fieldtrips and to extracurricular activities as well. The child gets to go to school, parents don't have to sit in the office every day, all day, to ensure their childs safety, the school doesn't have to spend any money, everyone is happy. I would love to see school nurses in every school and on campus for all of our kids. These administrators will not do it. With appropriately trained staff, and a system in place, it is a safe protocol. Not the best protocol, but safe. So, if the doctor, nurse, trained health care proffesional says you can, you can.

Hi there, I'm new, I have been reading many of your posts and thought it would be helpful to join. Helpful for me anyway. I'm fourty something and starting my prereqs this fall and plan on taking the HESI entrance exam in January at Macomb Community College. I am really nervous about how I am going to do all the way around. I'm really smart but I do have two children so my time is split. I plan on taking Psyc 1010, Biology 1400, CSSK , PHED and maybe Comp. My questions are: If you had to choose between biology and Comp which would you say is more difficult? I am carrying a full load and want to get the best grades I possibly can. I was only 1% away from having a perfect score on the placement test in Comp but I'm concerned there will be voluminous homework in the class. Psyc 1010; How hard is it? I will eventually have to take it but I am carrying a full load and want to do exceptionally well on the HESI so that will require study time also. In regards to the HESI; Is the vocab standard or are we talking medical terminology? Is there really algebra on the test? Basic math is fine. My son actually has type 1 diabetes so calculating is daily for us but algebra? AGH! I could use all of the help I can get and look forward to your responses. I am also looking for a really comprehensive study guide for the HESI and would love to pick up a basic calculations math book to secure a great score. blessedt1d