LocoStrange

For the first few months, I stayed the same since classes were "easy". Then they started to load us up so I started to stop cooking my meals and just started to eat junk food since I had so much reading. Then group meetings at Panera and stuff was also not helping and I was 210 (for the past few years, Ive had a muscular body type and I was never able to gain or lose...I was stuck at 200). Went to the docs for a checkup and I was 215. Month later, did the same and eventually I was 230. That was the big "Holy xxxx" for me and I started to watch what I ate, started to run again since I stopped because of knee problems, and I also started to work at a PCT. I think being a PCT is the biggest helper since I am now back to 205.

Yea, males tend to steer towards ER, ICU, CCU but in my experiences, its usually spread out evenly. I just dont want you to go into ER thinking its going to be exciting because its really not as exciting as people perceive it to be.

Based on this... I am going to assume that the only hospital experience you have is what you see on Greys Anatomy, ER, Nurse Jackie, House etc....

No idea what that class is about.... I would not take a Pharm class before NS but if its a Pharm Calc then Im assuming it would take about dosages on hand, dosages ordered and you need to figure out how much. If that is the case, then it wont hurt to take it early but it is 'easy'

Are you overreacting? Maybe. But is that a bad thing? Never. Patients do fall and, sometimes, there is nothing you can do about it especially when they are confused unless someone is sitting. I had a patient whom was confused and he couldnt be left alone for 5 minutes. One minute he is sleeping in bed...the next minute, he is side in bed with all side rails up. Ive had a patient who was able to get out of wrist restraints and poseys. Ive put patients to the bathroom and then straight into bed to start my shift report... only to have someone call me and ask why my patient is laying on the bathroom floor crying for help. Things I do to prevent other falls... i will help them into the bathroom and only leave until they are basically squatting down and I will stand right next to the door outside. I will check up on them 5 minutes if I dont hear a peep inside or less depending on their condition. I will visually scan the floor and I will always walk behind them with one arm on the IV pole and the other under one of their arm pits. Always make sure they are wearing the hospital socks

Just the normal stuff.... textbooks, papers/notebook, pens, highlighters, sticky notes (if that is you), powerpoints printed out if they do that. If you are a person who uses binders, bring that or at least just folders. Depending on your teacher and/or classroom... some dont mind a laptop/netbook but if you know you will lose focus, dont do it.

Like I tell every male who is starting / will start / currently in nursing school... and ladies, please know that I am only joking... Pro... When I think of one, I will let you know Con... At any given time, 25% of them are PMS-ing so proceed with caution.

Wow, it seems either you guys are all unlucky or I am lucky because I have yet to find a situation where my gender played a role. I am currently in my last year of BSN program and I have been a PCT for half a year (granted its short but I have been to a lot of hospitals regardless) and except for the rare patients who want nothing to do with males, I have no problems. On my floor, we will get about only 1 patient who refuse male care takers and there is no discrimniation towards the male nurses and male pcts. Does the staff call me personally to lift patients? Not any more than the females nurses and female PCTs. 95% of the time, people ask me since they saw me walking the halls. Not to mention, Ive gone through many clinical rotations where I do full female exams as practice, with just me and the female (ages ranging from 18-60+) without any complains, but I believe its how you present yourself. I will admit that many of my male classmates have had patients comment against them but they arent either the best professional acting or they give an odd vibe. Not to mention, Ive even helped many patients nurse their child during my OB rotation and/or change their bloody soaked maternal pads and cleaned it or washed them up haha. But, like I said...maybe its just because I am lucky because I cant really find a time where I was discriminated minus the 4 or so patients who want nothing to do with a male caretakers.

Well, if I am understand this right.... are you basically saying that your meal server job isnt important? I hope not because every job in a hospital is important. At my hospital, as a PCT, I depend on my servers because they help me do my job by takign care of the meals. They will come into the rooms and get the orders if the patients havent done so. They will bring the trays to the patients. They will put in the computer how much was eaten and so much more. However.. "back on topic"..I do agree with you. The little things are the ones that stick inside your head. For example, I could take care of patient every day for a month but 3 months later, I wont remember their name. However, the patients husband/wife who shakes my hands and personally tells me thank-you... I will always remember even if I only met them for 2 seconds.

The ones I have are Etymotic Research. Model is the ER-6i. You can also find a lot of brands from computers.com or Best earbuds (in-ear headphones) - CNET Reviews if it works.

Get used to it. My school and hospital require every shot under the sun. Im surprised they havent asked the males for a Gardasil shot haha. When I started nursing school, I was about 8 shots overdue. I went to doctor, rolled up my sleeves and told the nurse "Take your pic". Not to mention, I was running between school and my doctors office so much, that everyone knows me by name and refused to charge me for the paperwork without/not during an appointment.

Honestly... I would just go to your bookstore or just search ATI or HESI. They are basically just a test that is NCLEX style to help prepare you in the mindset of taking the NCLEX like questions. My school does HESI instead of ATI and I have about 3 books regarding the matter and to be honest, they all give you the same information minus a few minor topics.

The main thing is never to push yourself. You need to take breaks every 30 minutes to an hour to rest the mind Personally, I usually study away from home such as a library, Panera/Starbucks, and sometimes Ill go to the local community college and study there. I also go to University library's since they tend to close very late. I found group study is also helpful to keeping you on track but, there is always a risk of talking and chit chatting so its not for everyone. For the group studies that we do...we plan an hour that everyone feels comfortable studying and then we will all arrive an hour early for the chit chats and then straight to studying. It is hard to find a group study where everyone is similiar to each other and can study together and be focused. Dont feel bad about kicking someone out just for the purpose of finding the perfect group... its hard. I also bought some noise-isolating headphones that block out 99% of noise even if I wont listen to music, I will still use it because it just blocks out almost all noise. Most importantly, either turn off the cell phone, or keep it hidden in your car or somewhere on silent. If you bring a laptop, do NOT connect to the internet. Instead, do it on a "as need" bases.

If its a well known fact with this patient, I would just ignore it. If your coworkers, nurses, etc knew that there was a true problem with you, then Im sure someone would have talked to you about it by now. Since no one really has, then there is nothing wrong with what you do and its just a typical psych patient whose confused.

We just put it on the tray carts