Tom1988

I'll be taking my ATI exit exam tomorrow, and this will definitely come in handy. Thanks!

The same thing happens in the ED of the hospital I currently have clincials in. A BH patient will come in with suicidal ideations, and will always have a sitter nearby. Most of the time the pt. will be cooperative so they can get the heck out of there.. Which makes me wonder why they always return with the same ideation. Many times they are moved into the hallways to provide an open room for patients with medical emergencies. It always takes time for the psych consult to come by, and the patient can get restless, which is a pain in the butt.

Be prepared to get the life sucked out of you.. Haha, only kidding. However, the road up ahead is going to get tough. Stay on top of things and keep yourself organized. I'm just finishing up my LPN schooling and will be taking the exit exam on the 23rd of this month. It's been a really long year, but it was well worth it. Good luck!

Your first day of clinicals will most likely just be an orientation day to help familiarize everyone with the facility. Your instructor will go over what is expected out of the students, facility policies, etc. Remember you are there to learn. Don't be afraid to ask questions and express any concern with your instructor. Take advantage of your clinical experience and don't slack off. Now will be the time to build up your confidence. A patient will be hesitant of a student who seems nervous and lacks self motivation. As long as you know your skills and apply them to the clincal setting, you will be fine. Just acquaint youself with each resident before providing care. Introduce yourself and let them know what you will be doing. And remember, a resident has a right to refuse care. If they do so, don't feel bad. Just move on and continue on with your clinical experience. Have fun!

Remember to "Prioritize First." Read each question carefully, and try not to re-read the question over again. Focus on what the question is really asking. You may need to re-word the question in order for it to make sense in your own words. Avoid vague answers. Look for adjectives and adberbs. Watch out for grammatical inconsistencies: The subjects should agree with the verb. Good luck!

First of all, make sure the feet and legs are dry. It's almost impossible to get embolism stocking on if there is moisture on the skin. Fold them halfway inside out and place the foot inside. Then stretch them apart and roll them up. Explain to your patient that it will feel tight. Also, you may receive some brownie points from your instructor if you let him/her know what the purpose of high knee stockings: Returns venous flow back to the heart and keeps circulation going. Ted hoses may also prevent blood clots in the lower legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis). Keeping the legs elevated will also help with blood flow.

Use the time to get some fresh air and have fun to get your mind off of the results. Good luck!

:yelclap: Congrats Nurse!

Hospitals in my area do not hire LPNs at all either. Only Nursing Homes are welcoming for LPNs and the pay is decent. Most nursing homes in the area pay at least $20 and have good benefits. I will be taking the NCLEX-PN soon and hopefully I won't have a hard time finding a new job that hires new grads. I already have an LPN position lined up for me at my current work, but the pay is only $19. If I can't find any other openings, then I may remain at my current workplace. Good luck to you!

I had the same issue when I started out as a CNA during my senior year of high school. I worked in a nursing home with a diverse geriatric population. Some patients would have thunderous beats while others were faint / almost non-existent. Asking a patient their normal B/P range would help you get an idea of what their B/P should be at. Just remember to focus for the first beat (Systolic) and the last faint beat (Diastolic). It may help you if you palpated for the brachial artery too. Elimiate noises that may disrupt your concentration. And practice, practice!

I too will be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck!! I will be taking my PN exit exam on the 23rd. And pretty soon I will I will be registering for the NCLEX-PN. I'm nervous, but so far I've remained focused and kept my study habits in check. Everything I have been learning lately is sticking with me, so hopefully I can apply all that I know and pass the NCLEX in order to move on.