sumrtime

Classmates and I brought this question to an instructor in class one day and here's how she explained it to us. Let's say you have a patient with COPD. Their normal O2 sat is around 90%, and even though we're trained that it need to be kept over 95%, you could NOT administer that much O2 to this patient because their body has adapted to lower concentrations of O2 and if you put them on a full blown O2 mask, you are changing the rate of O2/CO2 exchange and lessening their body's natural instinct to breathe, so their breathing weakens...NOT GOOD. This is just an example, I know...but it's always helped me remember that O2 is a drug for a reason.

I think you should definitely go talk to someone about this. It's not acceptable behavior in our profession. This display of her integrity could really cost someone their life in the long run.

Maybe this will help. Think about how you would take a complicated definition and explain it to a 10 year old. This makes you cut the bigger words out and allows you to get your point across in Your Own Words!

Thank you so much for posting this. I really needed to hear that too. I've been a little down lately because I'm not real buddy-buddy with hardly any of my classmates anymore..but this reminded me why I backed away from them in the first place...they "itched" too much! Lol! Seriously, as nurses we need to encourage each other because only WE know what WE are going through. New nursing students: Don't follow the crowd! Surround yourself with others like you...appreciative to have the opportunity to be in nursing school and optimistic about your future!

A previous poster kinda touched on this but I'd like to reiterate...GET ORGANIZED!!! I'm almost finished, and I can't tell you how important being organized is. Your time is going to be Very Valuable, and so being as organized as possible will put you at a great advantage. Let me explain a little more in detail, based on my first semester. Find a place in your home or apartment that you can devote to your studies...a corner of the living room where you can put a desk, or if you have a spare bedroom you can use as an office..whatever. You just need one place where you can keep all your nursing school related stuff organized. A desk calendar is a great idea, as well as a calendar book. As soon as you get your syllabi for your classes...go thru and write down when each exam is, when your clinicals are, when projects/papers are due, etc... Then schedule yourself time before each of those things to prepare for them. You have to schedule all of your time...even your "free time". Make yourself have a night at the movies once a month or something, just make sure you don't go insane by overworking yourself. Planning and time management is the key to nursing school...and to nursing on a floor too! Another thing, reading is a BIG factor in nursing school. Read ahead before class whenever possible, it really will help you do better. Also, if your instructors can tell you came to class prepared, they'll remember that. If you can find a way to befriend someone in the class ahead of you, DO IT. In my first semester I made friends with a girl ahead of me, and it has really helped me being able to go to her and ask questions...even just to vent to someone who has been where you are. GOOD LUCK!!!

I just applied today for the BSN program at USM-Hattiesburg. I applied with a 2.9 GPA and 24 ACT, so I'm really hoping my ACT score helps me get in. Has anyone graduated from USM? Heard anything about their program? I am sooo excited about starting nursing school, even though I've heard how time-consuming and difficult it is as opposed to just taking the pre-reqs...I'm sooo Ready! Outside of school, I'm a personal care attendant for a man who is quadriplegic. I've done this type of work before when I was 18 (in Louisiana) and absolutely loved it. Every day, working with him...makes me more and more anxious to graduate and be able to care for people on so many other levels. I'm kinda excited about the experience I'm gaining now in this job because I administer his catheter (which he has done 3-4 times per day)...I also use a Hoyer lift to transfer him. I'm really hoping that this experience give me an edge in my future endeavors. Anyways, I'm Summer and I live in Hattiesburg! Nice to meet ya'll!!