Student4Now

I will check it out and make use of them Im sure. Thank you so much for the great resource!

I'm having a bit of a hard time. None of these concepts or skills are difficult to grasp per say, Its just that our advisors do not do demos so its hard to know exactly how they want us to do things. They tell us to refer to book a, book b, and video c (if a video is even available) and it will just happen that all 3 will have conflicting techniques, or they will have holes in them somewhere. I have found some videos on youtube of nursing instructors giving demos and they are GREAT! But I am afraid that those certain techniques wont be accepted. For example, I watched a video where the sterile packages were opened and then the instructor put on sterile gloves and just maintained her field that way. I thought that was the cats meow! Lol because I have a hard time "flopping" things onto the field.

Thanks for the great feedback- I really appreciate it. Before I do my skills check off I will just ask my advisor what they want me to pack it with (wet, dry, saline, etc.,).Thank you!

When packing a wound should the gauze be wet or dry? Will the doctor specify that?

Hi all, I have to check off on several skills on Tues so I am trying to get all of my info straight before then. One question is, what is the difference between a wet to dry dressing and packing a wound? They seem virtually the same to me. (unless I am missing something, which is of course a high probability.) Any info appreciated. Thanks!

I was just thinking that when I gave birth to my daughter that someone could have stretched my bottom lip over my shoulders and I wouldnt have noticed...:chuckle

Oh ok great!what about tape? If I pre-cut my tape and have it ready to go, I am only supposed to use my right hand to apply it- is that right?

Hi all, When doing a sterile dressing change, doesnt the field become contaminated every time you reach over to grab an item? Will someone explain this to me? ( I posted this in the LPN student forum but decided to also put it here as I might get more answers). Thanks!

Hi all, When doing a sterile dressing change, doesnt the field become contaminated every time you reach over to grab an item? Will someone explain this to me?

Thanks for the info although I am pretty familiar with what I have :) lol I do have the muscle weakness (cataplexy) and thats the biggest problem for me. I do not "go to sleep" which is a pretty common misconception when I say that I drop, some people make the assumption that I just drop, lay there and sleep, which isnt that case. Although in some severe caes people do go to sleep, I do not. My legs give out from under me and I fall to the floor and have to get right back up. I am concerned that this would happen while I am doing a procedure if I saw something too funny for example. The only portion of narcolepsy that would affect me at work is the cataplexy. I do have ESD but I dont have to sleep at work/at the store/ while driving (things of that nuture). The sleep paralysis obviously wouldnt affect me at work as I have to wake up from sleep to have that. I guess ultimately I will just have to talk to the dr. about treatments that could control the cataplexy, or maybe find some mental coping techniques to block out anything funny. I would never put a pt in harms way by not having control. Maybe I will be able to find a non-clinical area such as case nursing, or phone nursing that I could try. Just looking for a little support......

I am not mentally unstable Valerie. I'm sorry but for some reason the examples you gave were kind of offensive to me. My cataplexy is most usually triggered by laughter or a heightened pleasurable emotion, with being startled (like someone jumping out from behind a door). I havent always been this way. Last year I was fine. The examples that you gave prob. wldnt trigger my cataplexy although other simple things could. Its frustrating.But I am looking for encouragement not discouragement, as I obviously already have doubts. Thanks- Forgot to add that I am not unable to control my emotions ie I can handle stress.

Hey there, right now I am a student (Lpn) and am worried about my future. I have cataplexy, which is pretty scary. I am just wondering if any of you have this and can make it through the day w/o falling or dropping. I havent had any episodes at school yet because things are pretty ho-hum there.I know that If I were to be surprised, excited, or especially if I laugh or think something is really funny I will drop no matter where Im at.I am def. gonna make an appointment, but for now just looking for some coping techniques, encouragement or tips (not asking for medical advice;) Thanks

I got my call/letter about a week after I had all of my app turned in. They have a pretty lengthy waiting list but not too many people do well on the tests, and those are a big part of the entry score in our program.

lol thanks!

Hey thanks!

Hey all! I need a little help working some of this out in my noggin. I know that a molecule can be one or more atoms and that a compound is a molecule with more that one element in it. Does that mean different types of elements only? Or does it mean more than one of the same element? Also, I read that if an atom is neutral, that means there is one proton per electron. So does that mean if there are more protons than electrons, it is positive and vice versa? Thanks :typing

I wonder what you mean by "no factual basis."

Really? That stinks! I have never been anywhere that they didnt have them.

Some suggestions that were given to me: Post things around the house. Anything you have to memorize, put it on the refrigerator, put it on the bathroom wall, anywhere that you visit often. Make notecards to take with you to look at when you get an extra minute- at a stoplight, the park, while waiting at the doctors office or the dentist. HTH! I have 2 girls, one is 6 the other 3, I will be pulling my hair out but I know it will be worth it!

Yes, bath blankets should be commonly available anywhere. They are smaller than a blanket and less heavythan a blanket, but heavier than a sheet. If one isnt available (and there really should be), I might just grab a clean sheet to use instead.

I would love to wear a sign the first day that says: I am not a snob. I am quiet. NO I do not think I am better than you. I am just quiet! :redbeathe

Hi there- I can tell you what we were taught and what is in my book- although Im not sure that is how they will have you do it. Also, youtube.com has vids of skills you might be interested it- its how I learned to create a sterile field. I really needed the visual. You would take any blankets off of the pt, leave their sheet.Put a bath blanket on top of their top sheet and then remove it. They should have the bath blanket on the entire time until it is time to put on a clean top sheet. For pillowcase changing, grasp the closed end and turn it inside out over hand . Now grasp one end of pillow with hand in the case and smooth out wrinkles , making sure pillowcase corners fit with pillow corners. In the real world if a pt needs turned, you just make sure the rail is up on the side they will be turning to, and kind of support them while they turn (if they are able.) If they are unable to turn on their own,use the drawsheet to gently pull them to the side of the bed opposite to the side you want them to turn to.Turn them toward you using with one hand on shoulder and the other on their hip As for #2- you will usually use pillows for behind their back, knees and under arms.Some residents will have the padded booties for ankles but most do not and you can use pillows there also. When doing a bed bath, put your supplies on the bedside table. Raise the bed to waist level (dont forget to lower it when you are finished) and stand up when you are doing the bed bath or perineal care. For foot care, the pt should be in a chair. This info came from my FON book- Good luck!

Hello! You might want to check with the school just in case. I thought about taking my RN pre-reqs while going for LPN but found out that the school has a policy that doesnt allow the students to attend 2 schools at 1 time. But they might have changed that by now...

I believe the OP saw this on a webpage. So wouldnt it make it as much her business as this post is yours? You obviously have an opinion, but the OP shouldnt? On another note, I do agree with you about the thick skin.

For most ppl this is SO true! LOL Its so expensive to have a baby and especially if you have other children you may feel that there is no time at all! But people eventually find the money and the time. Wait, I take that back, most people are in debt and stressed out- but I digress. The hard thing about school and pregnancy would be clinicals. There are lots of women who have completed school while pregnant but I would think that if you are so far along clinicals would be a big problem. I say if money isnt an issue, I would have the baby and then start the program, but that is just a personal choice. Also, if you are pregnant during school and have to have a hysterectomy afterwards, you would probably lose too many hours due to recovery time.:heartbeat