slinger09

I started working in the icu as a tech when I was accepted to nursing school and the nurses are always very appreciative of my help. They make work enjoyable and have passed on so much knowledge to me, that I wouldn't even know how I could ever repay them.

Becoming a cna was one of the best decisions I ever made. There is alot of little things you need to know as a nurse that is not in the books. Plus being able see signs and symptoms on an actual patient instead of reading about them in a book goes a long ways, especially if you are a hands on learner. I was worried about working in a female dominated profession but I can tell you I was completely wrong about that. Once the nurses seen that I was a hard worker and had a willingness to learn, they took me under their wings and have been an invaluable resource of information. I do not know how I could possibly pay them back.

I was very uneasy about my ob rotation and just assumed I would get asked to leave every room I walked in but was very surprised that only once was I told I could not participate in a patients care and that was not by the patient but by the midwife taking care of her. This particular midwife did not allow any students in her patients rooms. I found this kind of odd since she was once a nursing student too, but to each their own. My ob rotation wound up not being that bad after all. Not anything that I would want to do full-time but it was a nice change of pace. Just go into with an open mind and remember just about anywhere you work as a nurse you have the potential of having a pregnant lady for a patient so try to retain all that you can.

I would try to talk it out with her because nursing school will put alot of stress on your marriage if she is not in your corner. I personally do not know how I would have made it through without the support of my wife. I too was 35 when I was accepted to nursing school and have been married for 18 years. I gave up a job making way more than a starting nurse can make but she knew I was not happy and supported my decision 100%.

Another vote for Iguanamed. I have tried just about everything out there and they are by far my favorite.

My confirmation that I made the right move was when I started working as a cna. When I was accepted to nursing school I wanted to make sure it was for me. I had worked in a office job for 18 years so I wanted to make sure I could handle it. Total patient care is not for everyone but it is very rewarding work and I finally work in a job where I feel I am appreciated.

Here is how I prefer to come up with my nursing diagnosis. Once I get an idea of what I think is going on I like to cluster all of my data that will back up this. You can refer to a nursing diagnosis book and see necessary criteria needed for the particular diagnosis. It sounds like you have a perfusion problem but your instuctor is probably going to want a little more than >3 capillary refill to back this up. First find all your abnormals you found in physical assessment, then go over lab values, also factor what kind of meds the patient is on, and then go over your H&P. Hope this helps.

In cases like this I prefer direct over therapuetic conversation. If you think he is an interruption to your education, tell him so. Most people do not come around if they know they are not wanted.

I think an important thing you must know about nursing school is it is very fast paced. You get alot of material and alot of assignments due weekly. If you are one that likes to wait until the last minute to study or complete an assignment it can get real tough on you in a hurry. Most everyone I know who has failed to pass a semester got behind and it just snow balled on them. Remember time management and enjoy the ride, it's a wild one.

My first semester of nursing school I felt care plans were nothing more than busy work, but soon realized I was developing a structured method of pulling needed information from a patient chart and developing a plan of care. I still do not enjoy doing one but realize they are a necessary evil. As far the use of proper terminology and spelling; I think students sometimes forget that when we graduate we are educated professionals and certainly should be able to write like one. Remember a chart is a legal document with the possiblility of being reviewed by your medical peers and possibly lawyers and judges. Why risk having your professionalism questioned by the fact you cannot document properly? I have read several nursing progress notes that quite frankly I was a little embarrassed for them.