sim-sim future nurse

Love my Master Cardiology!!!

Just out of curiosity, how high does a Cr level need to be before you have seen MD's start pt's on dialysis?

Always aspirate!!!!!!! Think of the worst case scenario. How would you explain yourself if you accidentally went into a vein and there was some sort of complication because of this? That you didn't do what you were suppose to do? And, I once got a tetorifice shot and the nurse that was giving it to me aspirated blood so it does happen.

LPN from Florida, can I ask what kinds of meds you are currently on? I, too, have been told to move South. I thought that the warm weather was just a myth but a lot of people have told me that it helps. Thanks for the advice!

My clinical instructor last quarter also said that she reached 265 questions and she passed. I would not stress if I were you.

Thank you Paerrn20 for your advice! I am thinking that I will do med/surg for one year, just to practice skills and then I either may teach or do psych nursing (psych nurses always work only 8 hour shifts!). I will definitely stay out of the ED and ICU!

I am so glad that you responded to my thread! I was beginning to wonder if I should or shouldn't work in a hospital because of the Prednisone (I am on a low dose of 10mg a day) and if I start taking the HUMIRA. HUMIRA does suppress your immune system just like the Prednisone, but in a different way. My Rheumy says that I should not worry and won't have to change my career or wear a mask at work. He knows physicians who take HUMIRA and have not had any problems with infections/illnesses. I think that I might wear a mask. What do you think? I am also at a loss of knowing what I can do in nursing besides working at a hospital first. It seems like with everything you need med/surg experience first.

Hello All! I am a student nurse who is gearing up to graduate in June and hopefully pass NCLEX and start working in the summer. I also was diagnosed with RA about a week ago. SO..... I am wondering....... Do any of you think that this may prevent me from getting a job in nursing? I currently work as a Student Nurse Tech at the VA hospital and have not experienced any difficulties in doing nursing skills because of my RA, but I am not sure if this disease will get worse for me sometime down the road. I have been started on Prednisone, DMARDS, and NSAIDS and hopefully HUMIRA in the near future (it is so dang expensive!!!). I really want to and most likely will end up at the VA as an RN but new hires there have to pass a physical exam and there is a questionaire that they give you that asks for you to describe your medical history. So if I put on there that I have RA (cause I don't want to lie, right?) will they not hire me?

Jojo--how did you end up finding your job in Vancouver? I am really interested in moving there to work as a nurse as well! Btw--Vancouver is awesome!! You will absolutely love it!

When the VA called me they left a message. I bet it was just a solicitor.

I say do whatever you feel passion for. Life is too short not too pursue what makes you happy. You can always go back to school to be a nurse.

Is there a Veterans Hospital near you? They love to hire Student Nurse Techs ( I currently work as one and am also in nursing school). The minimum that you have to work is 8 hours per pay period (4 hours a week). The pay is decent (a little more than a CNA) and you get to practice skills that you have learned in school under the supervision of a RN. I love this job!!

My cardiac instructor told me that if you are having a hard time hearing a heart rate through your stethoscope, ask the patient to sit up and lean forward. It brings the heart closer to the chest wall and then you are able to hear it. I have used this trick several times since I learned it. I always just thought I had a bad stethoscope!!

Oh my gosh! I was in the same predicament last year!! The mistake that I made was graduating with a science degree before starting nursing school because I did not get any grants to pay for nursing, I only could take out Stafford loans. I had no idea that this would happen. So now I am in debt up to my waist!! If you are planning on getting your BSN, then you don't need to get a BS in Biology. The reason I finished my degree is because I got accepted to nursing school that was at a community college, so I do not have the option of getting my BSN unless I transferred to another school after I graduate from nursing. Well graduating from a University was really important to me so I finished up my Bachelors (I was a biology major too and I know how hard the classes are and I was miserable too). Nursing school is like studying biology but way more fast-paced. So maybe you should just take a break before you start nursing. I hope this helps.

Yes, we are given our assignments for the next quarter a week in advance so we would be prepared for the first day of class. In addition, we start clinicals the first week also. The combination of clinical paperwork and 200 or so pages of textbook reading and weekly tests can really put a damper on your social life. I also worked 20 hours a week my first year in nursing school. And that brings me to another piece of advice for you Xcited 2B-N-RN--DON'T WORK UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO!!! Your sanity is totally worth it! Good luck in nursing school! I hope that you end up :redbeathe as much as I do!