MaritesaRN

All advices meant well from the above. I'm a bit surprised of some detected harshness from some of our fellow nurses. What is wrong w/ you people???? I think you need to talk again to you neurologist regarding your medication and treatment and a letter from your Doc to the Dean of nursing. If you are on a manageable level of this diagnosis, then you should be able to finish school and practice nursing in a non clinical environ. ( there are so many opportunities for nurses in a non clinical environ and minus the stress of understaffing) . There are a lot of people working , including nurses who have an anxiety d/o , or a manic depressive or schizoid w/c makes them functioning people, if they are maintained in meds and therapy. You could have OSA in relation to your symptoms , but that is a physician issue ---- but this people (OSA) can and have managed their daytime sleepiness. You might need a CPAP so you can sleep uninterrupted or well enough to minimize the daytime sleepiness. It appears to me that you have worked w/ this already. This is a form of disability and I frankly do not believe that a school can turn you down for training or finishing the program just because you have narcolepsy. Obviously you have managed it and your grades are good, the school can not touch you. Just for preparation you might contact the disability people's rights ----- I guarantee you that training can not be refused, as long as you are doing the school requirements in grades and attendance ! I take my hat off for you for doing what you are doing considering ???? but do tell school , but not until neuro MD and some guidance from the disability group ---- just in case......okay ? I have to admire you for your accomplishment considering of your diagnosis. Lots of power to you !!!:redbeathe:nurse:

hi , skills are not learned from books . You practice a lot to get the skills. so heads up. Practice makes perfect , or you may be jsut so nervous, maybe?

Amen !

Gpa may be important , but the focus is how much of the science pre requisites have you completed? ( might need a pre req algebra, then organic chem and this might need a basic chem pre req, anatomy and might need a biology pre reqs.......... see what I mean? You might want to take the sciences first before getting into the BSN and spare yourself a stressful period if you take the sciences and the BSN program at the same time. Do the sciences pre reqs first. Getting these done affects your acceptance points.

yes, it is & just one of them. Most pre req are hard, but once you get more and finish them , the more confidence you will have. Do not be discourage. anatomy requires a lot of memory work.:)

really , i do not understand why they do not have a security in hospitals...lots of people in grief or crazy that could just walked in and out! the security should also be for the patients safety as well as the employees. the law is the law ...you touched someone, it is battery, no matter how you look at it. they need a metal detector, and security people in the hospital since this is considered a frail and open area to all. anybody could walk in a hospital, anybody without any proper identification ! now that is scary. the hospital administration can only think of "business" and kiss a.. instead of protecting their staff. but you know what , they will think differently when there is a time where somebody walks in a hospital , goes to a room and shoot or kill a patient ............if i am the family of that patient , i will sue the hospital for allowing an unsafe environment such as this situation .......then the administration will sing a different tune! it is sad that we mostly change things for the better ...after the fact!

:crying2:Sadly , yes. Look around , what is happening ? Greed and profiteering is all that matters. There is no connection among us. Some are so blatantly rich , and the other side , some are so poor and do not even have the basic necessities....while the rich side justt want to have more money , big cars , big houses etc............... this is disconnection. this won't last long otherwise humans will become extinct. There are still a few rich ones out there helping the needy , such as Gates, Angelina, and a lot more. ( Thank God for these people) We need to change our consciousness, our sympathy and understanding and revamp mainly our priorities. No you saw what it really is. Hopefully things will change soon.... for the benefit of all mankind and of course mother earth.:redbeathe

You know , employeers comes in different colors. Some will not care about that as long as it is not a present occupation, some just do not care as long as you are doing your job well within your defined role, and if you do come across an employer who feels they have a right to investigate everything in your life just to get a job??? Stay away from these kind of employers. Considering their "priorities" I will question their motives and purpose for being so prudish on past tense actions. They should be looking at the schooling and the training you have accomplished. And if they are really exeptional employers, they would also spend money to send their nurses to achool to improve their nurses skill and knowledge.....this is where the attention should be, and not the past lives of their employees!

I agree w/ JPchouston. I did the LVN when I temporarily suspended my RN study...I had an excellent Dean of Nursing and she was the best suportive and wise woman, and adviced me to go to the LVN for one semester, and I was done. I was able to work w/ the LVN license , and believe me there were some pluses , since in some places they will hire the LVN instead of an RN as a cost effective steps in their budgets. Llater on I decided to go back and finish the RN. I too have a Bachelors in Arts of Journalism. We do not stop learning, and our interests may vary and change as time goes on. In your case , when you decide to go for your Masters--- your bachelors in Psychology should really catapult you in the Masters of Mental Health, as an RN!

Oh mamalumps..... what is happening to you w/ the husband getting insecured because of your new career is nothing new. Half of my classmates almost dropped out because of stress from immature and insecure husbands ! I was already separated from him when I started my actual RN tour and clinical, so I was okay , but my other classmates were so pressured , some of them dropped out !!!! Hope those marriages are still working out , ,cause that is a high price to pay to keep the marriage (your career) .............besides this is the time to see as to what your husband is really made out of! You are done so you are almost in the finish line. Beg, borrow and whatever, to get your test done !!!! Get this done first , and then see what is the next problem to tackle...."one thing at a time ". And we are with you. We shared the same craziness during the nurse training.

See there are kudos in nursing.....just like any other job, those 12-16 hours is doable for me , and get a lot of days off. there are always unhappy people out there------if you can stay away from them or minimize your association w/ them. Hang around w/ happy and succesfull people ....they are the winners. Life is short ,you want quality. In the hospital , you may not have that option, so surround yourself w/ positive thoughts and affirmation while working w/ difficult and negative people.

Panties w/ a hole in them ? Wow , very creative......maybe we can market this in the colonoscopy clinics to add character to their butt procedure? How about a colon video tour to share w/ your friends next time they come over for dinner or visit?

Of course I would love to share! My student days were hectic, but loved it because my instructors were truly helpful and not playing the power game as some instructors do. I was not happy in med surg. because I really did not have time to really talk to my patients. It was just too busy and my interaction w/ my patient was based on hello how are you? ...I'll be back . I was not happy w/ this. I felt like somebody told a lie on us about this. the hospital is staffed in a way where you have tiem to hang an iv , run to another room for a piggy back , get back to the othe room to change some diaper or clean bottom, etc....it does not stop and when you look at the clock, you are 3 hours passed your lunch time. I went to psych. I was always perplexed and curious in this area, but then by accident got into the private insurance as a medical reviewer or what they call now as a utilization review. Now you might do well in this area, since you will have the nursing knowledge to apply. Nursing is good ....pursue and finish this , and with this behind you, you can work in the fraud dept, review dept, quality mgmt ---you do not have to work on the floor w/ this position. Hopefully you will find your niche, but one have to be trying it on for size before you can decide that it is for you. No matter what , your degree in nursing will serve you well, in whatever specialty you decide to go. If you still want to deal w/ patients...do home health. At least you will have time to talk to your patient here and still give wonderful care! good luck to your quest .....you will eventually find it , but on your way finding the quest...do not forget to smell the flowers on the way and live a life while you are on a quest ! God bless you and lots and lots of power to you !!!! and be patient and do not lose faith. Just keep trying the different areas until you find your fit !

Really ?? you have tolerance to the drugs? should they give more versed ? this other med ---would insurance pay for this ? I had two of these things and they went just fine.......I simply fell asleep. Maybe a stronger versed dosage and a demerol? ...just in case it does not put you to lala land , at least there will be no pain ?

If you are detailed oriented , nursing research may be the best arena for you ? and you are right , there are so may areas and specialty. I did not stay long in med surg-----It was more of a assembly line for me, only you are dealing s/ peoples lives.........real nursing ( time to care emotionally as well as physically) is not possible in the way they staffed these facilities...... they might as well program a robot , because the staffing is so tight , you can barely extend any emotional support....just go in and out and barely a how are you , to the patient. It is not the fault of the nurses ----it is the admistrator of the facility that makes this wonderful profession into a manual labor.

If being a nurse is your passion , then go for it....if it is not , then you will find it yourself as a first hand information , and not from others. I think being an NP eventually is a good plan ...better yet specialize on geriatrics ----very few specialist in this area, and the demand is only increasing. Taking care of others is a genuine calling, but I think some of this nurses are working in a very bad environment and more overwhelmed, and overworked !!!! There are a lot of managers out who do not know how to retain and take care of their employees...and in other places , there are more patients than what nurses could handle ....too unsafe and crazy ! the right place to work is very important.

:smokin:That is okay. I find it entertaining! but nothing really to be uptight about. She is trying to be funny w/ this colonoscopy stuff and I like it. I had 2 and I will be getting another colonoscopy this coming friday. The last two was a breeze , and woke up when it was all done. This third one is going to be an adventure----this is the first a pharmacist handed me a gallon container w/ some white powder in it. Holy cow , what is that? and this is his reply, as a matter of fact manner...... that I have to fill this up to the designated mark ( way full ) and to start drinking after every 15 minutes ( a day before the procedure) until it is all gone......then the party starts, he added. Horrified , I asked if this is the right prescription , there must be a mistake....and I stumbled all over my words. I was in shock ! I used to only have one or two of those green small bottles that tasted like sprite ..........................but this monstrous gallon of whatever........are you sure sir that there is no mistake? another thing he added, the prescription also included 2 enemas !!!!! This is all I could bear and I ran out of the pharmacy w/ those deadly things in my hands !!! Maybe I should cancel this.................................................... ??????

Yes, it is sad that fellow nurses and fellow women at that are constantly at it ---------instead of helping each other. Ladies there is always someone prettier, slimmer and more smarter than us........the choice? Refuse the get jealous and tearing the person apart (in your head) insecurity . Drop the competetive cannibalistic attitude towards your own gender , and think of them as your sister !!!!! Instead, direct that ugly anger and weary energy towards making better womens rights , for all, even global !!!!!! Go and volunteer or be a part of bettering womens rights and in some other countries, like the Congo where the women and young girls rights and lives are nothing !!!! Fight for these instead of your own colleagues!!!! Be more sympathetic w/ the new nurses, put yourself in these young nurses shoes, you want them to be good at what they are doing becaseu ALL will benefit from this, including you! It will be so good to work w/ a nurse who is self confident , than the nervous wreck ..the product of all those negativity.................otherwise take the advice of the majority ....leave hell and find another place to work !

He is right, among other things. But take care of yourself and seek the self help I mentioned, and you will be able to transit from the push around to " nice but there is a limit" . Just like someone else mentioned ...this seemed to be the nursing world...........you know why?? because some fo these nurses are so co -dependent , they went into nursing because they feel in control telling their patients what to do, and these nurses wants to feel needed enormously , and of course they choose the career that will give them this excessive control and a bottomless need for dependence from others. I know of some stories of nurses marrying their addictive patient (in rehab for alcoholism) , not to mention other scenarios that confirms my theory . Not all nurses are like this......but the chance to "bully" helpless people, in this case, the patients are the perfect victim for these " in control " scenario.

Wow, it sounded like you are in a bad place girl ! #1 You need to get a support system , if none in your family I strongly recommend a therapy for you to get back your self respect --- a very good therapist. Maybe you can look for a group counseling at first so you can see that you are not alone, then eventually , have a 1:1 therapy to resolve some of your inferior feelings. Look darling , if I have your looks and brain (4.0) I will wipe the hospital floor w/ those jealous, ugly and very insecured b.....s for a very good reason . But then that is me. Your family sucks, and your co workers are not the kind of people to be with , if you want to be a good nurse......you do not want to be one of them , so if you can leave the place, if you can...work in the old people's home. You know the geriatric area is getting big, and you might as well get some experience here, and older people can be interesting and fun. just get out of there. Your manager should have sense something here and stop it, but I did not hear any intervention....so then this tells me this place is not well managed, otherwise this will not happen. Get out of there and find another place to work .............just away from that toxic environ. But you also need to purge out your insecurities , or you will unconsciously choose a place that is " familiar" to you....abusive environ. Time to kick ass !!!!

I am sorry , I am getting confused w/ the " technical minimum competency" . Looking at the courses between the adn and the bsn ----- they required the same preparation from the sciences, such as anatomy , micro ,physio, and of course the pre chemistry as pre requisites in some of these sciences. The bsn have what you call the public health courses and some management courses....but clinically -------the training is the same! the measure of a true nurse is what and how you can apply your knowledge clinically and not just a booksmart. Frankly telling some are booksmart w/ their degrees, and but can not easily apply it. Do not get me wrong ...I am for higher educations , but it really annoys me when someone tries to belittle the other just because they do not have the "higher" degree. Trying to make a distinction as to who is better or not is immature and childish. Hospital for that matter should encourage their nurses to get their BSN w/ the hospital offering some help in it ! Be creative and be part of the solution and not the problem ?

You might feel hurt right now, but you know something , there are always people like this..........I guess the smaller the place the more it gets to be a mom and pops business , and this is not really good because it becomes too "family" oriented and you will get the drama and the playing favorites. Maybe it is good to work in a bigger company specially for this kind of a specialty, where everything is run appropriately like a corporate?? those who work hard gets the kudos instead of the family friend or uncle that needs a job? I do not like groupies in a work place......they are a nuisance and gets in the way of progress. So, it is a blessing that you are out of this environment, and do not forget to tell administration your story...it is good for them to know what is going on .

I am not a cardio nurse , but the narrowest part shoud be the :confused:larynx?

My suggestion will be to start looking at our nurses association. What can they offer to their members? We need to look at what is in place in the nurses association. I am sure that their are areas that does not need re inventing, but what else can we add or introduce? All of the above comments was right on the head of some of our blazing nursing issues. Reciprocity and staffing ratios may be the first few that we need nurses to lobby about. Do you think that the nurses association is not doing enough for the nurses rights, pay, staffing and reciprocity...among other concerns? Let us stop tearing at each other and unite ???? then only then we can rise from petty to big things.

It does sound reasonable . But what are TMA's ? How many CNA's do you get for help? Of course it also makes sense as to what are your patietns diagnosis. You see I am listening to this , since this is my alternative and direction to go if I change directions of my career. As of now I have worked in medical review or UR in private insurance , Medicare and now DME A jurisdiction. I find reviewing med nec as a 2nd nature by this time , and only do research on those that i have not heard or more complex. We have what they call LCD's ( policy guideline) and this is helpful in guiding for a proper determination. Somehow I am attracted to the geriatric population...I know ther are lots of room of improvement in the services of the elderly , not to mention the meager reimbursement from the government , and this is possibly the number one cause of the understaffing in these type of facilities. We have a long way to go , and as nurses we can really help if we actively get on board for the health reform. Two important things we need to be proactive ladies and gentlemen, and that is to be pro active and even an activist for health reform and financial regulation reform. A nurse association should be as powerful and effective as the AMA! The AMA are taking care of themselves, why can't we nurses do the same ? There are plenty of us and are smart people.......so what is keeping us? Any suggestions how we can move this forward ?