HawaiiRose

How many doctors does it take to change a light bulb? Just one....and a nurse to tell him the proper way to screw it in!

Okay, this thread is confusing me to no end! Can someone tell me their personal favorite in a shoe for someone with my foot type and size? I am 5'6, slightly overweight (abt 30#) and have a neutral foot, neutral arch and no major foot problems. I have found all of the responses terrific, but still do not know what to try. I do not mind spending a small fortune to protect my feet and back and will plan on wearing support stockings for my new job working 12's in the ER. Thank you all so much!

40, 2nd year RN student, two boys in grade school, one supportive hubby, recently accepted to a BSN completion program. I'm no Einstein, but okay with my 3.4 GPA because I can make time for my family and community 'cause I don't obsess over things that won't make a bit of difference when rubber meets the road in the world of nursing. It isn't any picnic, but what an exhilarating ride its been so far! As I write this, my class has three months of torture to endure before our pinning ceremony. As our nursing program goes through major changes, it really stinks to be on the receiving end of the clinical instructor's wrath while the department tries to figure out which end is up, whether the majority of our class will pass the NCLEX and if there will be a job out there when we do pass. As a"mature" student (HA!) I really can benefit from my life experiences and have learned not to sweat the small stuff.....it really is ALL small stuff in the grand scheme of things. I have learned how to budget my time, money and emotional outbursts. I have learned the true meaning of teamwork and how to support others. I have learned that my problems are nothing compared to what others around me have had to endure to get to a better place in their lives and careers (not to mention what many of our patients are going through). I have learned how to be a better friend and how to love my extended family at school. I have learned that an education in nursing opens up doors to an infinite number of careers beyond being a floor nurse in a hospital. I have learned that no matter how ticked off or offended I get, I CAN pull myself up by the bootstraps and press on without taking things personally. Would this all have been possible if I decided to go into nursing in my twenties? Who knows, but at this point, who cares? LIVE FOR THE HERE AND NOW!! If you want it, go get it and you will have no regrets for at least trying! :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe PS For those worried about employment prospects, please don't overlook some of the basics of job searching. The first thing to do is put yourself into the shoes of the interviewer and try to brainstorm what you think they are looking for in an employee. Tailor your demeanor and responses to the needs of the facility, but be yourself. Take an inventory of everything you have done in school, work and your community and know who you are and what you have to offer an employer. Have a comprehensive resume on one page, write thank you notes, have a portfolio with all of your accomplishments (bring a photocopy to hand to your interviewer), and fill in every box on an employment application legibly. Get reference letters from anybody you can think of, including clinical instructors, hospital staff, previous/current employers, and hospital staff then put them in your portfolio. Before an interview, do your homework on the facility and the department you want to work for. During an interview, ask questions and don't be afraid to interview the interviewer! The job has to be a good fit for both of you, so don't be too picky if you have no experience, but don't settle if you know it's not the right job. You will shoot yourself in the foot and waste everyone's time while potentially screwing up your track record if you don't give the job your best effort.

Sorry Karo, but I disagree. Respect is something that is earned. Anyone who walks to a bedside EXPECTING others to act a certain way is sure to be disappointed. If you are a confident, kind and professional healthcare provider, you can have the ultimate in career and personal satisfaction.

Then please let me know where you will be working and I'll steer clear.

How do you expect to learn to start an IV then? On a mannequin? My program does require that we practice on one another and as long as the other student is performing the procedure properly, I'm all for it. Yes, it will hurt, yes there will be mistakes and yes, I may even get ticked off. That said, I would much rather start an IV under such controlled circumstances than on a real patient. If I messed up on a real client, I would not only feel terrible for that person, but my confidence would be diminished that much more and who knows how I might react to that the next time.

If you cannot handle experiencing what your poor, vunerable patient has to go through then maybe you either need to get over your vanity, or find a new line of work. We are patient advocates and if it is what is right for them, then it should be okay with us too for gosh sakes!

I'm 39 and many of the students in my class of 30 are around the same age...our oldest student is a gentleman who is 62. I am one of those people who never wants to stop learning and growing, so if it is possible, I will continue reaching out for new experiences. If I decide at 65 I want to be a model or a rocket scientist, look out world, 'cause I WILL figure out a way :)

Well, I know it's been awhile since this thread was started, but I had to post! I will soon graduate from RN school and within a couple of years of gaining some practical experience and getting my master's, my family and I would like to move to AUS. Darwin looks wonderful, but I'm concerned about work, wages and schools for my boys. Can anyone out there weigh in as to a nice environment in AUS that may fit our needs? Also, where might the greatest nursing needs be located (emergency, acute care, education?)Thank you so much for your helpful information!!

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! My husband and I have been making plans over the past year to possibly re-locate to Hilo from ID with our two young boys. I am in RN school now and figured it wouldn't be all that hard to finish up school, move on over, get the kids into private school and get a job. We were aware of the "cons" of the move with one big exception....no job waiting for me!! We are willing to cut corners and if we have to, we could scrape by on my husband's retirement, but why suffer in the process? I now realize if we are to make a go of the move, we will need to change things up. I will now plan on getting some good experience, continue my education and make some local connections before jumping in with both feet. Thanks so much for dishing up a reality check!