Hopeful3

>>Don't study into the night before the test. I usually study the day before then stop and have a relaxing evening and go to bed early and I never study the morning before the test either>> My friend gave me this advice and it does work! I now do it this way. Much more confident too!

For everyone??? Or just the teacher? Because that is crazy! I could see for the class, that would be cool but for the teacher? Yikes.

I am really bothered by how students want to purchase gifts for a teacher - especially giving it before the final grades are in. I think this puts some of us in an uncomfortable position that are worried we could be with this instructor again, or who didn't care for the teacher! Do others have this same problem? I felt the most professional thing would be to fill out my course evaluation. Thanks!

I am with you and there are nurses I know that have certain things they can't stand! LOL So you are normal but you still have to get through it. You can do it!

I wish I could just have ONE day of easy. This has been harder than I could EVER imagine and I am so tired. Your post blows me away.

Wantobeamidwife, Sorry to freak you out, you'll survive! :) You can do it! By the way, I had midwives for my deliveries and they are incredible people. Way to go!

How am I handeling it? I am not even a single mom but I have three kids. I cry, cry some more, cry a lot more and then turn another page, cry, turn a page, cry some more... turn another page. Gotta get this reading done! I am tired, exhausted, overwhelmed and scared but I AM DOING IT and you can to. Get your head in the game, find a great support system and jump in. Best wishes!

I hate you! Boy, I feel better now... LOL! Good for you girl, I am EXHAUSTED. I am barely making it and working my butt off. I have three kids, and work very little but I am so overwhelmed and feel like I am drowning. I can't believe I have two years left of this HELL. Good luck!

>>in my previous post when i asked about an employer, i was asking for the future employer once you finish your nursing school. i was asking if you would disclose the information to your future employer. i currently work for one of the best major hospitals and had no problem sharing my information because testing was done by a 3rd party, and i was told by the nurse who did my physical that my rights were protected - as was my medical information. i believe this to be true of most employers, but i don't feel comfortable with all my medical history on display for my nursing instructors/school. i just don't see how the same protection for me could be in place. i think giving medical information to an employer (through a third party) is much different than a college. i will let this drop now and no further responses needed. thanks to those who shared their insight!

>> there was another thread on here about a woman who had some psychiatric issues Thank you for your insightful posts but seriously, I have never and don't plan on ever having an psychiatric issue! See, this is what concerns me. I am getting thoughts like this and it just is extreme to me. I understand there was many great posts here (yours included) and I appreciated those but there was also some judgemental and ignorant posts as well. Those are the people I am worried about! LOL Anyhow, thank you. I am still weighing everything and the pros and cons. I am very pragmatic thinker and just want to do what is best for myself and family. I didn't work my a** off the last 2 years to not finish this up! :)

>>I wouldn't trust you because your lying by omission, and in my personal experiences people who are willing to lie about one thing are usually willing to lie about other things. I am sorry you find this offensive, but I find it offensive that someone who maybe responsible for my life someday has made up their mind to not tell the whole truth. First of all, I take care of people every day and I don't have to disclose what I am on every time I walk into the room. You are being very naive and judgmental and your personal experience must be quite limited. You are not even addressing what I am asking, and that is, if a doctor (that knows my medical history) is willing to sign off on my abilities why should I have to disclose every medication, surgery and previous medical event I have ever had? I am guessing you are either young, or never been in the business world. I am not a liar, and would never risk a patient's health. Your posts are insulting to my work and moral ethic.

Can I just ask how many were asked to fill out a health form for the nursing school and how involved it was? Did it ask for previous surgeries, medicine you are currently on, a copy of your insurance card, etc. Also, did your doctor have to sign off on it? Thanks!

>>As I stated in my post, I am currently on pain meds, going into a nursing program.. and I am sorry for offending you, but I think honesty is MOST important! Seriously, I don't have an issue with you being on meds, I have an issue with you lying about it. Why do you have a right to know though? If my DOCTOR is willing to sign off on my health and competence (which she will be) then why is it anyone's business? That is the REAL question to me here. Seriously, what gives the school (or anyone) the right to know my history if my doctor feels comfortable enough to sign her name? Why would you not trust me then, or call me a liar and that I would steal medication? This just makes me sick to my stomach! Again, this just shows to me the bias and belief system of those dependent on medication. Very few people who are managing chronic pain are addicts or even have addictive personalities. Those who become abusers have the markers for being an addict.

my place of employment does know about my medictions, and everything that i work with have a huge respect for the medical issues i have dealt with. i mentioned this in previous post. also, my place i work had a 3rd party and i felt comfortable with this, i don't go around announcing i am on medications or complaining. i had thought about letting my nursing school know but a friend of mine in the medical field (whos opinion i really value) said i shouldn't put it on there and it was not their business. honestly, i was open to putting the medications there, but after reading some of the harsh responses it freaked me out. just the bias and things being said like i may steal medictions, or i am taking risks, etc. just some of the harsh or naive posts really make me question if i should tell the school. thanks!

the impact of chronic pain philip j. wagner, md misconceptions about chronic pain can do harm to people with legitimate medical problems. patients with chronic pain can and should be treated. dispelling these damaging myths should raise awareness and encourage more people to seek help with a professional trained in treating chronic pain. chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for at least 6 months. it may result from an initial injury or problem, such as a herniated disk, serious infection, or surgery. there may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis, scar, or cancer. some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of damage to the body. unfortunately, many people with chronic pain do not get the help they need, and the effects may be devastating, not only for the sufferer, but also for an entire family. chronic pain is a huge problem in terms of its human and economic toll -- it disables more people than cancer or heart disease, and the annual cost to society in terms of medical treatment, lost working days, decreased productivity and workers compensation is a staggering $100 billion a year. myth #1: if the doctor can't find anything wrong medically with a patient with chronic pain, it must be "in their head." maybe they're crazy. fact: chronic pain is not "in your head." it is a legitimate medical condition that can and should be treated. unfortunately, the exact cause of chronic pain cannot always be found. pain is a complex personal experience, and not all doctors have received adequate training to treat it. pain management specialists are specifically trained to recognize and treat common and unusual conditions that cause ongoing pain. although not all pain has an identifiable cause, there is an effective treatment for most painful conditions. myth #2: if people seek treatment or complain about their pain, it means they're weak. fact: seeking treatment has nothing to do with being weak. many people with chronic pain feel trapped and helpless, and do not want to burden anyone else with their problem. it is important for them to realize that there is no need to suffer because effective treatments are available. myth #3: people who take powerful opiate ("narcotic") pain medication become drug addicts. fact: opiates are highly effective for many types of pain and can be given safely. physical dependence from pain relievers is different from addiction. drug addiction is characterized by compulsive craving and use of a drug, which results in physical, psychological, and social harm to the user. an addict's drug use continues in spite of predictable, consistent harm (self-destructive behavior.) the vast majority of people taking opiate medications for pain management do not become addicted. drug dependence, where the body becomes used to the presence of a drug, can occur with the prolonged use of some pain relievers. myth #4: the side effects of opiate painkillers turn people into zombies and can stop their breathing. fact: most side effects are mild, tolerable, treatable, occur at the beginning of therapy, and fade with time. common side effects include constipation, drowsiness, and dry mouth. careful adjustment of dosages and attention to patient concerns help alleviate most side effects. myth #5: people with chronic pain treated with opiate pain medications will have to take more and more medication as time goes by to get the same pain relief (tolerance). fact: most patients have stable dosages with time. increases in medication dosage usually result from worsening physical or psychological status. myth #6: some people don't want to get better because they benefit from being in pain. fact: most people don't enjoy being in pain. research shows that exaggerating about pain and malingering are actually rare. assistance from others when pain limits activities or financial compensation for a work-related injury is appropriate for people who suffer from chronic pain. myth #7: ignoring the pain will make it go away. fact: in most cases, ignoring ongoing pain will not make it go away, and it may even get worse. it is better to seek help from a caring, experienced specialist when pain persists and becomes a problem. myth #8: people should try to overcome their pain by pushing themselves to do things. fact: knowing one's limits and pacing oneself can help people manage their pain. overdoing it and pushing too hard can exacerbate pain. myth #9: if someone looks good, they can't be in pain. fact: many people with chronic pain go about their business and do as much as they can, in spite of their pain. there are no outward signs of chronic pain (unlike acute pain). just because people look comfortable does not mean they are not in pain. this misunderstanding creates much emotional distress for people with chronic pain. myth #10: many people have been to several doctors, but haven't been helped. they've been suffering from chronic pain for so long, they'll just have to live with it. fact: with few exceptions, there is no need for anybody to live with unbearable pain. a variety of treatment options are available, but it is important to find the right doctor. just as people see a cardiologist for heart disease or an ophthalmologist for an eye ailment, pain management specialists are trained to treat chronic pain. patients should make sure they see a qualified pain specialist to get the treatment they need. pain management specialists will listen carefully to the history, perform a thorough physical examination, and may refer a patient for other tests or medical consultations before coming up with a comprehensive plan for care.