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I'd have to say, I love having nursing students. I switched to permanent nights back in May, and one of the things I miss is having the students. I loved grabbing one that was just waiting around to show them something that I would have liked to have seen back in school. Now that they're all coming back, I see them in the mornings. They look so nervous and like they feel so out of place, which I can recall not too long ago. I just remember feeling like I was in everyone's way. So now that I only see them for a few minutes in the mornings, I try to make them feel as welcome as I can. Its funny though, no matter how many students I tell that it is ok to go ahead and sit down when they're reading their charts, none of them seem to think its ok!

I've been working on an intermediate medical floor for almost a year now, started out as a new grad. I absolutely love being a nurse. I go through phases at work where it is absolutely crazy and I can't stand it(even though there are still moments when it is great), to having a few weeks of really great shifts, and I love it. Sometimes when people ask me how work is going, and I get to talking about it, people seem amazed and really respect what we do. It makes me start to think about the moments at work that are so very important to our patients and their families. I think about patients of mine that have passed away, and that I was the last person with them when they were alive making them as comfortable as I could, and I am honored that I am given that job. Or the patients that some nurses just don't click with, but when they see you come through the door, you can see how happy they are that you will be their nurse for the next few hours. And I think it's absolutely amazing to get a package or a bouquet of flowers sent to the hospital with MY name on it, when I don't know how in the world they managed to remember my name, but to know that I had that much of a positive impact in someone's life at such a difficult time, makes me love my job even that much more!

I had a few different pairs during nursing school, none that were really that great, but once I started working everyone said that the dansko ones were really comfortable. I ended up buying a pair even though they are 100 bucks. Everyone said it takes a few shifts to get used to them, but it didn't for me. They are soo comfortable. I only work 12's, and with our EMAR system, having laptops, I rarely sit down, and my feet never hurt. Most of the nurses on my floor have them too and everyone loves them.

Thanks everyone!!!!!

I am a Registered Nurse!!!!! I am so excited, I just found out today that I passed! I just wanted to give a little hope to those that are waiting for their results, it was I think the longest 2 days of my life. The wait was miserable, the worst part, I think. I really left that test thinking that I didn't know anything, and it shut off at 75 and I thought it was because I did so bad! Anyways, I was just so excited, you know when you just want to tell everyone?!! Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone waiting and that is taking them soon!!! :)

Taking the course is a great idea. I started nursing just out of high school and halfway through needed to take a break to make sure it was what I really wanted to do (also I needed a break from school). I hadn't really had any experience in the hospital before that except for a few short clinical days, and I can't even tell you how helpful it was. Seriously, the difference in my knowledge and confidence in clinical before and after working as a CNA was huge. With the post mortem care, you will get used to it. Also, depending on where you work as a CNA, you might not have to do it too often. I actually was lucky enough to do it all on my first day of working as an aide! I worked in the ER, and frequented the morgue, and like many other things in nursing, they just kinda stop phasing you.. And someone else had posted that you pretty much will always have someone else there with you. That's very true. I wouldn't do it by myself or go to the morgue alone! One day it was soo busy in the ER, and we finally got someone all ready to go and the nurse asked me if I was alright alone from there, and I kinda hesitated, and sure enough, even though it was one of those crazy days, he came down there with me... You'll be fine. Good luck! :)

Thank you! :)

Hey everyone, This is my first time writing anything on here. I just stumbled across this site a few days ago and since then have just been reading so many of your posts and all of the wonderful advice I have found. I am a senior nursing student and will be graduating in May, and I am pretty nervous. It's just that people will ask me questions because "you're the nurse" and I feel like I have trouble explaining things to them and sometimes just don't even know the answer at all about what they're asking me. Did this happen to any of you? It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm not going to be a good nurse because I am having trouble with this. I do fine on all of my exams, I pretty much always get B's, but I feel like this is because it's multiple choice and that the answer is there to choose. Some of my friends in my class tell me they feel the same way, but I feel like they know more than they are letting on. Am I just being silly and I really do know more than I think, or should I be able to explain things better by now? Thank you for any ideas about this or any other advice you may have, I LOVE getting good advice! Thank you!!