nursemichelle

I was one of those "young mothers" and my nurses were so compassionate and helped me so much (my parents weren't there with me...too embarrassed) during my 32 hour labor that I will never forget them. I even know that the way they helped and supported me made such an impression on me that I knew someday I would want to do the same for someone else. My son is now 21 and I'm doing just that --by working toward nursing school. I work in a facility now (while I'm in school) that deals with drug addicts, abusers and molesters to help them overcome their problems. I guess in a hospital setting it could be helpful to look at each patient as a "person" and not judgementally, since we don't always know the root of their problems or why they are the way they are. Most of us have never walked a mile in their shoes. I am horrified at the backgrounds (childhoods) most of our clients have and I can't imagine how they have endured all that they have. It makes me understand a little more about why they make some of the bad choices they have made---not that I condone the choices, but I do have a desire to help them make better choices and to model more appropriate behavior in hopes that they will someday be able to choose better and enjoy the happiness that comes with good choices. Hopefully as a nurse I will be able to touch a life, be an encourager, and an inspiration to someone less fortunate than I am. Maybe not, but I can only hope so.

Oh, sounds great!Thanks!

Ok, thanks! I've never heard of RNotes, what is that?

I KNOW I read this info here somewhere, but for the life of me can't find it...I need the names of the best books to buy to supplement A&P, Chemistry and Micro. Also the best books for general nursing (like Dosages made incredibly easy) Are the other Incredibly Easy books helpful? Did anyone use the "for dummies" books or are they a waste. If you can help I'd appreciate it! I'm ebaying this afternoon looking for bargains...thanks!!!

:) Thanks Brenda, that is encouraging!!!!! :)

I'm so sorry you've had such a bad experience, no one deserves to have to be spoken to like that. Just remember that you are a valuable, special person and just let those awful words slide right off your back and into the bedpan!!! Good luck to you!

Thats nice to know that they are so flexible! What type of work did you do at these places? Thanks for all the info!

Hi! I'd be interested in more info on your time at Mercy, I'm supposed to start nursing school this fall if all goes well and I get accepted (find out early June). I talked to the recruiter at Mercy this week about working there in the clinics during school. Did you enjoy it? Which ones did you work in and how often did you get to work? I'm married too with 4 sons (all teenagers) and 2 puppies. Welcome to the site, you'll learn lots here!!!! :)

Do you find that most of your friends are in the medical field, or do you have friends from lots of different areas? Do you have lots of cyber nursing friends too? Just curious

:uhoh21: ewwwwwww!

Dave, thanks for all that info - that sounds wonderful!! I've been really thinking about OR, and that really gave me some interesting insight into what goes on! I've thought about OB too, but I'm sure I will change my mind in clinicals as everyone seems to do. I don't know why I keep getting cold feet! I shouldn't have read that thread about the most gross/nasty/horrifying experiences thread!!!!!

I'm so tired of flip flopping on my decision whether to start nursing school or not, I've been told I'm to start in the fall, but still have hesitations...could you give me an idea what a "typical" (I know every day is different due to different patients) day in the life of a hospital nurse is? I don't care what specialty you are in, I just want to get a general idea what it's like....do you hit the floor running and never stop EVERY day? I'm excited one minute and scared to death the next, so thanks for any insight you can give me!!! :uhoh21:

Ohhhhh, so what exactly is a skilled nursing facility (a hospital???) Geesh, I'm soo clueless lol!

Sorry, but what does SNF stand for? I've racked my brain and none of the things I'm coming up with could possibly be right! :chuckle

Ahhhhhh. So the nurse monitors those machines and gives basic care to those patients with heart problems??? Is there a specific nurse to monitor those machines, or do all nurses do that? I mean - is that a specialty thing, or a basic nursing skill?