MayBaby

I agree with "flowerchild" and a possible environmental link. However, I also have a family history of asthma, eczema, hayfever, and bronchitis. You did not say if you have a family history of allergies to food, medicine or the environment. That would explain alot. If you don't have a familial link, then I agree, further testing is a definate. These signs and symptoms typically don't just happen for the sake of happening. Here are some other possible causes and tips that might help you environmentally. Do you have new or really old carpeting? The glue, backing or carpet material can be a trigger. Do you have gas appliances? The gas fumes and exhaust from them can pollute the air in your home. I open a window in my home once a day for a little while no matter how cold it is outside. The air in your home is more polluted than the air outside. Do you have pets? Pet dander or flea treatments can be a trigger especially if the pet likes sleeping with your child. Do you use candles? The different natural materials used to make them and give them their scents can be triggers. Do you spray air deodorizers around the house, especially after a diaper change? Items like Lysol, Oust, Glade, etc can be triggers. Is there a bookshelf near where your child sleeps? Bookshelves encourage dust mites which are triggers. Stuffed animals are in the same category as bookshelves, dust mites love living in them and are triggers. Try to learn his triggers. Look for patterns in the environment and your child's health. Is he worse or better at home, in the car, at daycare, at Grandma's, outside. Just something to think about. I don't know how other nurses feel about chewable/oral respiratory treatments but from what I have seen on my pediatric floor and with my nephew, a nebulizer is the best route. He can be expected to protest because that is what toddlers do best. Maybe he can see you get a neb with normal saline, then let him get a neb with the real med. Maybe you can let him help you hold it. Maybe you can decorate the tubing and chamber with stickers. Maybe you can try to do an activity with him like read a book or fingerpaint while getiing a neb. Try to be creative, not upset, because they will push your buttons and love you anyway!

I did pass the first time around, to my amazement and some luck. My stragedy was taking two "review" courses and using several review books. Both review courses were different. One was 'free" (I am sure included in my tuition) and the other cost about $250. One course literally reviewed verbatim med-surg, ob-peds, psych, and pharm. It was a little boring but was a good review for the classes I had over a year ago. The other course actually used cartoon-like pictures with key points drawn into the picture to help emphasize and help me remember the important stuff. This class was fun. As for review books, I exchanged CDs/disketts weekly with fellow classmates and just kept answering question after question. I know for a fact that a few of the hundreds of questions I reviewed and answered were on the NCLEX in some form. I was able to answer them correctly on the NCLEX after first getting it wrong during my review because I remembered the rationale given for the correct answer. Good Luck in May! Try studying one subject (med-surg, peds, etc) several hours a day for one week, then go to a new subject the next week. Most importantly SLEEP the night before the exam, no studying to calm your nerves. You can do it!!!

Thank you, this is exactly how I feel.

Do you think getting paid to attend staff meetings are a right or a privilege? The hospital where I work does not pay their employees for attending staff meetings. My staff meetings are held at times I am never scheduled to work. I end up having to pay for parking which is costly depending on how long the meetings are or use public transportation which can be costly and time consuming. Management states that not attending meetings is a negative mark against my job performance and affects my yearly raise. I feel I should be paid my hourly rate while in attendance at the monthly staff meetings to compensate me for my out of pocket expenses, my time, and doing required "work related" learning.