semester1kid

So basically I have no shot at a hospital right now? I just got my CNA license several months ago and I'm an ADN student (just about done with the second semester - I guess I should change my screen name:D)...however, my full time job is still the job I was doing before I got into the nursing program (accounts payable at home office of a large retail company)

Kinda what I thought - thanks a lot:-)

Would you put your state license serial number on a resume'? I ask this because I saw one sample where the applicant did just that...I'm still in the process of writing mine (almost done) and simply stated that I have the certificate, believing I could supply such details if/when an interview occurs...what do 'ya'll' think? :)

My impression - without wanting to sound absolute about this - is that there is plenty of other areas in nursing school that are tough and have a fair level of 'risk to fail factor' involved. Lab and the associated clinical test as well as med calc tests are not the areas they want to see you fail in. In otherwords, you have to work hard to pass lecture...but conversely you also have to 'work' (or lack there of) to fail lab. While my class has dwindled away as I'm sure many of yours have, no one fail because of lab or the med calc exam

That's the impression I got - although I can't vouch for it. Actually, nervous or not, if you screwed up, they pretty much failed you on the particular clinical test. Upon retesting, they took 'nervousness' into consideration in their approach of how they tested you. For example, on BP, I totally dropped the ball and had to be retested (and it wasn't a matter of not knowing what to do - it was all nerve related)...upon retesting, the instructor wanted me to do 'a practice or two' before retesting. Obvously I was more relaxed while not being graded, I did fine...the instructor counted that as my 'pass'...the 'practice' was indeed my retake.

One you could go with is chronic confusion. I'd aim the goals towards safety and meeting ADL requirements And from the info you gave, other Dx's aside from the cognitive/mental aspect could be impaired physical mobility, risk for impaired skin...if they suffer from dementia and they're weak, they could be risk for aspiration. There could also be a risk for imbalanced nutrition - less than body requirements. As far as meeting goals, they have to be realistic. Someone in her condition isn't likely to get better. So you have to choose goals that compliment the situation she's in - that's why I suggested the 'safety' angle above. And in saying that, you probably can't included a lot of teaching. It's probably going to be in the form of interventions. Does the pt live at home with someone? Obviously they don't live alone in a situation as such. Does their caregiver show signs of ineffective role performance? If the pt does live at home, should a move to a long term facility be discussed? Anyway - good luck

I think they may have meant 'lab test'...I'm in an ADN program and we had to take similar clinical type tests in lab (bed making, transferring/turning patients, med admin, etc) But anyway, as the op said, it's mostly easy stuff, but pretty tough when critical eyes are watching. You basically just have to relax, take a deep breath and realize you know what you're doing. And just in case, make sure you're well practiced in the area being tested...it's one thing to have a good idea of what you're doing in your head and being able to do it to the point where you could almost do it in your sleep. In all, I think a lot of students brush over the stuff they learn in lab - probably because it's usually pretty easy stuff (learning the 5 rights with med admin for example)....but it's not about generally knowing...it's about making it second nature.

As you know, digoxin slows down the heart rate. The drug books will tell you that hypokalemia can lead to digoxin toxicity...digoxin slows down the release of potassium into your muscles - which somehow interacts with calcium, which goes on to produce a muscle contraction - in this case heart beat. I'm fuzzy on all the specific sodium/potassium pump/sarcoplasm(sp)/cross bridges thing...but in general, my explanation is a fair 'high level' version:)

Think of it this way: ischemia is a result of reduced/lack of blood flow (as mentioned above, tissue is starting to die) ...so it's more that one can cause the other...not so much that one is the same as the other.

I almost forgot - I also had to demonstrate handwashing skills and documenting when the assignments were complete (I actually screwed that up by documenting on the AM instead of PM part of the sheet:o) Also, congrats to the new grads:yeah:

I guess I never posted mine - I passed back in January during our Christmas break (ADN student)...I had to clean a resident's nails and then put a shirt on a resident who was paralyzed on his right side. I think I missed one question on the written part (from the best I could tell; I watched them grade it from my seat). This was through the Red Cross here in MA (Cambridge/Kendall Sq). Fortunately they accepted a letter from the chair person at my school verifying that I had enough clinical hours so that I could take the test without having to attend the CNA course at Red Cross.

It may be a state to state thing - but here in Massachusetts, a nursing student with a specified number of clinical hours can work as a tech...you'll need a letter from your chair person stating how many hours you have logged in clinical.

That's a pretty broad topic - do you have a specific question or questions? The one thing I will say right up front is that when you learn arterial gas values along with pH, trends are as important (and probably more so) than whether the values are within normal limits. The pH level and HCO3 levels could still be within normal limits...but if they're trending down, a diagnosis of metabolic acidosis could be appropriate. Compensation of CO2 reduction could start taking place and thus, a drop in CO2 levels may further support the metabolic acidosis finding. So in other words, on a test, they may either give you values that are within normal limits but getting close to borderline....or they may give you a series of values taken over the course of time that's trending in a given direction (but still within normal limits) and you'll have to determine a diagnosis. So I'd start with that.... I'm sure you already studied the Na+ (135-145), K(3.5-5) and so forth. Just one word of wisdom for that too - trending could be a factor with these too. For example, if someone has a history of having a K value averaging around 4.5 and is put on a diuretic for hypertension and a subsequent blood test shows the pt now has a value of 3.6, are you just going to sit on your hands because it's still within normal limits? A big thing that relates more directly to nursing is learning the various tonicity of IV fluids and what would be appropriate for various conditions. For example, what happens with a burn victim and how is it treated (from a fluid point of view...leave the potential for infection part of it for another discussion:))? Lastly, BUN and creatinine are standard values you should be looking at when you're first reviewing a pt's chart. What would happen with these values if the pt was dehydrated or has impaired kidney function? I hope this helps...it certainly helps me as well because although we still have one more 'regular' exam, our final exam is only two weeks after that exam and it's going to include fluid, electrolytes and acid base questions:D

^^^what he said

Look at some on line courses - my school accepts them. Is there a specific course you're looking at to cover teh requirement?

Is there another community college in the area where you can take the course over the summer and transfer to your school...

That's what I heard (although I'm not there yet - second semester student here)...from what people told me is that after Pedi and Maternity, it's all downhill from there...but it doesn't really get easier because you really start to feel burnt out. Does that sound like an accurate description?

^^^^what the previous poster said. I'll add that whenever we have a test and I found out I passed, it's also like a shot of adreneline that keeps me going. I think if you incorporate certain things into your routine - going to the gym, take time to watch a couple of your favorite tv shows (without getting addicted to the tv), do an activity on the weekend - can help get you through the difficult times

Right side can also be caused by impaired pulmonary function as well, especially if it's related to constricted blood flow. Certain anemias can lead to heart disease and HF. There are definitely many other's as well

From what I gather around here in the Boston area, 13 to 15 doll/hr seems to be the going rate and while I'm not completely sure, I'd suspect the NYC area would be similar. As I mentioned in another thread, if you were willing to work the midnight shift you 'could' be making time and a half (depending on the facility)

PS - I don't know how the pay grade works in other facilities, but according to a handful of CNAs I know, if you're willing to work the 'graveyard' shift, they'll pay you the same time and a half as if you were to work overtime. I would almost have to fill that slot due to childcare reasons anyway

You sound like you're in a similar situation as me...I'm close to completing my second semester of a 4 semester ADN program and also just earned my CNA license over Christmas break (via Red Cross who accepted my clinical hours to take the test in lei of having to attend their course)...but anyway, I've never (officially) worked a day in any capacity as a health care provider. From what everyone is telling me is to try to work as a cna/tech up on a med/surg unit if you can...and there lies the problem. As a cna, you can probably land a job in a nursing home at the snap of a finger...but with all the nursing hopefulls filling in the hospital jobs, good luck with that - you'll need a lot of patients (especially in my position where I want to do it full time - and with no experience outside school related clinicals)...one piece of advice I received (not sure how good it is) is to go ahead and take a nursing home position for a year or so, then you'll be more marketable for a better variety of cna positions

LOL - congrats...I didn't catch the fact that this thread was old. Good luck in your new career:yeah:

You might want to step back and examine what it is you don't like - is patients, the responsibility, being observed by an instructor, just isn't what you thought...think about what 'it' is and decide whether it's something that's managed or reconciled.

Although it's a sad and stessful event, remember that it's a natural part of life. The patient deserves to go through this passing with the utmost of dignity and respect. And the family (who's going through an enormously emotional event) deservese to have our most professional behavior. Any member of the healthcare team who's responsible for that patient's care should be aware of that. It starts right up with the doctor and goes down the list from there.