thanrye8710

I also started gaining weight when I entered nursing school.. I think it is because we concentrate more in reading, exercising the brain not the body. Previous replies are helpful. Limiting your calorie intake and doing simple exercises will work. Join me in starting to change for better health. It is time to start taking care of ourselves, not only our patients. I think setting a goal of "lossing 50-60 pounds" is a bit unrealistic and unattainable. I suggest you revise it to "loss 1 pound every week" which is more attainable and you wont get disappointed. You can do it. We can do it. Let us apply to ourselves what we learned at nursing school on how to have a healthy body. Start with simple exercises such as: walking using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator when going to the mall or work and it is not raining/snowing: Park your car FAR enough from the entrance so that you can walk your way from your car to the building....

Had the same experience when I was still a student nurse at the Philippines. During clinical duty, I don't know why my instructors are fond of giving hard patients, the critical and most tasking. I was assigned to a full code patient who had CVA, in coma and on mechanical ventilator. I check her V/S q 30 mins. as ordered. her vitals (BP, Pulse, O2 sat) are perfectly normal. Minutes after I log the V/S on her chart, her husband came to the station telling me something is wrong w/ his wife. went immediately to the room, patient doesn't look good so I immediately called my Clinical Instructor then checked the v/s. I was counting the pulse, it stopped! Checked carotid pulse, none! My instructor was infront of me, told her "got no pulse!". She froze a bit so I told her "Ma'am, patient is coding, I'll start CPR. Call code!" I did CPR, Doctors came and took over doing compressions. The room was filled with Doctors and Nurses trying to revive the patient, me standing at the side watching as I pray. after 10 mins, a Doctor told me to do the chest compressions for she is tired. I obliged. Did it for another 10 minutes then the Dr. call it off and pronounced the time of death. It was hard, for it was my first time that a patient died under my care. While I was doing the postmortem care, I keep on asking myself as to where did I go wrong and what mistakes had I done. The husband of the patient came to me, touched my shoulder and said, "That is life. It is her time to rest. God has called her back to His kingdom and she is at peace now. Don't think of blaming yourself of her death, I saw you guys did your best. Thank you for taking care of my wife." I was relieved by his words.

Thanks everyone! :-) just got home from a fitness gym... I asked for a tour then end up enrolling. They gave $100 off for my 36months membership and I get 2 free personal trainer session EVERY MONTH for. Plus a lot of free classes. I am really serious in doing this change... I don't like to tell a patient, "exercise regularly to promote health" where my self don't do it... It is shameful when you say that to your patient and he/she will ask you "do you exercise regularly?"... I am just 22 years old, 5'7 and is 170pounds.. my BMI is 26.7 which is Over Weight and is 3.3 points away to become Obese... I wont wait for that to happen... I will act now to have a better health and more confidence in teaching patients in promoting health.

nurses promotes health and do patient teaching to prevent diseases and do exercise.. but i myself needs to be taught.. it is hard to preach when you are not practicing what you preach... Gained weight and don't do any exercise... Now i decided to change... I am planning to enroll in a fitness gym... can anyone tell me what to do and what to bring during your first day???

I am sorry you are going thru this hard time... I understand what you are going through for my family is having similar situation and I think ours are much worst. My younger siblings had to stop from studying for my parents can't afford them to go to school. Instead of going to school, they are working hard to help our family financially. My mom is a bit sick but still have to work. My dad have so many medical conditions such as diabetes and others but is not going to a doctor and is not receiving medical care for we cannot afford the copay for such. Before, we are so hopeless and down... but we find comfort in our religion. Our situation made us closer to God and lighten up our load. Even though we are facing so much hardship, we don't despair for we know this is just temporary and taking this as a challenge from God and lessons to learn and to be strong. Despite of the very hard life we are facing, my family is still happy, helping each each other and is united. We take this hardship in our life as a wonderful journey of learning experience. We are even thankful to God of this hardship for it made our family relationship stronger and closer. We start the day in praying then word hard to survive. We know that this is just temporary. There is always sunshine after the storm. Have faith. You can get through the hardship you are facing. Follow the advices that was given to you. God bless.

Here is a website that will really help. I got this from White House web page: http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/ I would love to go and help.. but I can't... I am still reviewing for NCLEX-RN. I am an EMT. What I can contribute is prayers. I will pray for the victims and for the people who are going to help. God Bless

She reminds me of someone I know and respect. The person I know though don't have "laughing spells" and don't smoke. She is very intelligent and is very good in patient care and management. She actually holds a very high position at the facility. But she have same problems, when she is stressed or is facing confrontations, she acts weird. But I have no problems with her. It is just the fact that no one can have everything... One maybe good in patient care and management, very nice and intelligent, but is not good in facing and dealing with stress and confrontations. It is just a fact that nobody is perfect. I consider laughing spells as somewhat "within normal behavior"... Maybe while she is smoking or during inservice, she reminisce a very happy memory which makes her elated. I believe she is a good nurse, an almost perfect one if not because of her ability to deal with stress. I won't judge her as having any mental or psychotic breakdown just because of her "laughing spells" and tantrums. I know many person that are like that and they are great nurses... They are just happy and sees life the happy way. When I was still at nursing school, me and my group-mate had a "laughing spell" during one lecture for we remember a very funny experience. We can't stop laughing and had to leave the classroom for awhile.

based on your post alone, i don't think it is enough reason to get you fired. There must be more... And the DON should investigate further and if what you have said is the only incident that occurred, warning would be very appropriate. If you are a full time employee of that facility and a member of a union, you can ask the union to respond on this matter. but, maybe it is a blessing in disguise and will end up in having you hired in a new facility in where they will take care of the nurses.

My employer also paid the whole thing for my CNA. But I had an advantage. I went to school for 4 years: degree holder of Bachelor of Science in Nursing... problem was i got it from my country, so when i got here at USA, I have work first as a CNA while waiting for my credentials to be verified and be able to take NCLEX and be an RN. CNA class that i got was the same as what you had.

1. before going to a patient, know everything you can about the patient. Health History, allowed activities, exercises, etc. Plan activities before you go to the house. If not restricted, you can do some simple exercises with the patient ex. walking, PROM/ROM exercises. Consider other recreational activities that the patient may enjoy such as board games, puzzles, etc.. REMEMBER: ALWAYS consider your patient's health status or diseases in planning activities. 2. when you got into the house and some family members are present, ask regarding their expectation and what would they like you to do... Then suggest the activities you planned for your patient. 3. Do your best and always consider your patient's safety and well being. Planning your time a head will be very helpful. Before you go on duty, plan a head the activities you will do including patient care for your entire shift making sure that each hour is set for something to keep you busy. Encourage patient to ambulate or exercise and participate in every activities you planned.

I worked as a CNA before... And I was assigned to train/orient new CNA employees... You have nothing to worry... You will be ORIENTED to the facility and the job. In the facility where I worked before, all new CNAs are given 10 days of orientation. 3 days of which will be on paperworks and different polices, rules, rights, etc... and the remaining 7 days is "exposure to the world of CNAs". :-) you will shadow a Senior CNA or someone who is very good at doing their job. 2 days for moRning shift, 2 days for afternoon, 2 days for nights and another 1 day for the shift where you will be assigned. Hopefully, those who will be assigned to orrient and train you will teach all the things you need to know and do rightly. Don't hesitate to ask questions. And remember, REAL WORLD IS DIFFERENT FROM BY THE BOOK. There are things are practiced differently in real world from that what is said on the book. Just do your best and always consider your patient's safety and you will be fine. Good luck...

thanks.. what do you think is the best review matterial? I have suanders comprehensive, suanders q&a, Lippincott's Q&a, and mosby comprehensive. Is kaplan online good?

I am a BSN graduate from a foreign school. It had been 2 years since I graduated. Finally, after waiting so long for my eligibility to take the test, I can now take the NCLEX-RN. But my problem is that it had been 2 years since i graduated and I already forgot a lot of things. Yes I worked as a CNA and respond to 911 calls as an EMT while waiting for my eligibility. But CNA and EMT education did not help much in retaining a lot of theories in nursing. I am not confident in taking the NCLEX yet... but my family, relatives, and friends are pushing me to take the exam right away. They are confident that i will pass it. Even the Director of Nursing of the facility where i work also have high expectation on me. I am in so much pressure that I can't do anything productive. I can't concentrate on studying. I don't know what to do... need your suggestions and advices on how will i deal with this... and on what is the better "attack plan" to prepare myself for NCLEX taking consideration that it had been almost 3 years since i graduated. Thanks in advance

:yeahthat:

well, this is something that needed to be fixed... Hope somebody can forward this threads to the EMS sites so that they can react or be aware of and hopefully someday a formal body be created to find solutions to this problems regarding EMTs. A joint body (from BON and EMS) will be much helpful. EMTs and Nurses should work together as a team for our patient's sake.

I agree that in this world there will always be a bad person and a good one. Not all EMTs are bad, not all nurses are good either. Instead of recalling and condemning the EMTs for the bad experiences, why not make a positive outcome from it. In every experience that are not good, aside from merely recalling it, you suggest solutions on how it can be avoided. Let us make it a learning experience. There are only few EMTs that are not good... Most are out there on the road ready to assist and respond in every emergency. EMTs and Nurses should respect and understand each other. We are on one team with the same goal: providing care to patients and doing our best for their survival.

I'm a BSN graduate from a foreign school. While waiting for my credentials to be verified, which would take awhile, I worked at a nursing home as a Certified Nursing Assistant and joined the local First Aid and Rescue Squad as a Certified EMT. I don't like the idea of "Nurses versus EMTs". Nurses and EMTs are in one team. They should work together. Based on your statements, I can see you are having a not so good day. And maybe that EMT too had a not so nice sleep. You being the more educated person in the story has the capacity to control the situation and make it a bit less confrontational. Use the techniques in communication and ways to manage stress control emotions in which we were taught in the nursing school. The situation started when the EMT asked you "...Why hasn't she had her breathing treatment...?" Your answer to the question counts a lot to manage the situation. What do you think is the best response to avoid such incident to get worst? I believe that in health care field, THERE IS NO LITTLE PEOPLE. Everybody plays an important role as a team to provide quality care and to ensure patient's survival.

Thanks for bringing this topic up. I agree with you about the staffing solution... A law mandating that will be very useful. I believe that with more man power, issues such as work loads will be resolved... But let us not deny the fact that everything today is business... It is not only the money but the balance in providing quality care. And quality of care does not depend on man power alone. The survival of a facility and the ability to provide quality care also depends on how much they earn and the budget for improving not only the facilities but also in updating the knowledge of its staff to the changes of the dynamics of nursing. We have to understand that some facilities have no choice but to limit the number of staff inorder to survive this hard economy. If every nurses will be willing to cut their salary to welcome more staffing, it would work well...but it is impossible... As of now, my best answer to your question are: Time management, Do your best in everything, and always try to help other (like co-leagues that have hard time in finishing tasks).. Find ways to improve your simplify tasks... make your work place an enjoyable place... a happy attitude in a work place truly helps and affects others positively.. to the administrators or managers, you must recognize the contributions of each staff is performing in providing quality care. bonuses and other activities will help encourage staff to work well and at least alleviate the stress of their work load for once in a while. It's been 3 years since i finished my BSN at my country (philippines). I haven't work yet as a RN because the processing of educational records from my country really takes time. While waiting for the GO signal to take NCLEX here, I worked in a Health Care Facility as a Patient Care Tech and I saw how hard are the work loads the nurses are doing. Most of the time it is "PAPER CARE" not patient care. I had asked my self the same question "What can I do to make the nursing job better as a Patient Care Tech and when I become a RN?"... What I did, utilized my knowledge in doing my work as a patient care tech. I did my best to render care to patients and assists nurses in any way that I am allowed to. And I always have positive attitude and always smile. I encouraged my other patient care tech to do their best and help one another. Even though I am not a RN and I think I have an Idea that would help, I would ask the permission from the assistant Director of Nursing to discuss my idea and oftentimes they listen. The result, our floor became a good one.. The stress from work lessens.. Did received positive feedbacks from patients and from the director of nursing. In less than a year from that facility, I had trained almost all newly hires patient care techs and i will give emphasized on how to make life in work easier despite of the heavy duty. Currently, I am reviewing for my NCLEX. Love your work. Always have a positive attitude. SMILE. Do your best in providing patient care. Manage Time efficiently. If things are hard, try to improvise things and discover/apply new techniques that would help but always be mindful of the laws, scope of nursing, and the safety of patients and others including yourself. Making a law that will limit the patient-nurse ratio will take long time to be implemented. At least for now, let's start doing things that we can to make nursing job better.

this powerful prayer will help nclex candidates to pass the exam. all of my friends who always recite this prayer from their heart pass the nclex with just 75 questions. remember, prayer alone don't work. you must do your part in studying and reviewing hard, then god will do the rest. i suggest you always pray the rosary then this prayer before you start your day in reviewing. that is what i am doing as part of my preparation for nclex-rn. oh humble st. joseph of cupertino, who while on earth did obtain from god the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew and overcome the difficulties of study and the worries of examinations, obtain for me a like favor in the nclex-rn examination for which i am preparing. implore the holy spirit to enlighten my mind and strengthen my memory in the search of his truth and wisdom. help me especially in the decisive moments of nclex-rn examination, protecting me from that forgetfulness and disturbing anxiety which often affect me. may i succeed in offering god my finest work and may i grow in knowledge, understanding, humility and charity. may everything that i attempt to learn in life be offered in faithful service to god, from whom flows that wisdom which leads to eternal life. amen. oh st. joseph of cupertino, pray for me. holy spirit, enlighten me. our lady of good studies, pray for me. sacred heart of jesus, seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me. amen. note: when you succeed in the exam, thank st. joseph of cupertino and make known his powerful intercession among other students and nclex candidates. who is st. joseph of cupertino? he was born in a very poor family. joseph was a person without talent, very very very poor learner, can't do anything productively. nobody likes him, nobody wanted him even his own mother. he was even rejected from several group of friar because of his learning disability. but god is good to him. he was accepted by the franciscan friary to be their servant. joseph started to change a bit and was given the chance to become a deacon. to be one, he must answer one question. because of his learning disability, he can only study one text from the bible. he prayed to god that the question that would be given to him was the only one that he knows. fortunately, god granted his prayer and was asked on what he only know. he became a priest and performs many miracles. he is said to be the "flying priest" because he would elevate from the ground and float in the air when he is praying. with his prayer to god, he had healed many sick person. he grew in holiness and wisdom, lived life in poverty and prayer. to know more about st. joseph of cupertino visit this site: www.ewtn.com/library/mary/joseph.htm