RNstdntSVSU

These are great, keep 'em comming!

Hi all...I am currently doing an externship in the ER and even though I can't administer medications, I've picked up on a lot of important facts you have to remember about certain medications from watching my preceptor. Things like potassium and any other electrolytes always go on a pump with the pt on the monitor, bentyl is never given IVP, always put older people on a spo2 with narcs, IV antibiotics can make people hypotensive. I was just reading another thread about inapsine sending people into prolonged QT and arrhythimas which is something I've never heard even though we've given our pts inapsine. So I want to know...what are those things I should ALWAYS think about when giving certian meds? I'm sure theres a ton more out there!

1) Whoever said there was no such thing as a stupid question- well they're retarded. Think before you open your stupid mouth. 2) Complaining and being negative will get you no where in life. Grin and bear it and move on with your life. 3) Wearing flip-flops with scrubs is a no-no. I'd throw you out of the program myself if I could. 4) Nobody gives a rats a$$ what/where you are studying. Quit posting it on our facebook page!

I just finished up my LTC Clinicials... Like everyone else said its a lot of CNA stuff, so know your normal ranges for VS, and maybe some other basic lab values. Definitely bring a little notebook that you can keep codes to supply rooms and what not. My facility had 7 different codes for different rooms...never did learn most of them so my notebook saved by butt. I also brought a blank piece of printer paper with me that I folded into quarters, 1/4th of the paper for each of my patients. I wrote their room number and admitting dx at the top and then wrote their VS as I took them. Also, bring a pen or two that you dont care about. Many of my patients were in isolation for MRSA and VRE. I just wiped my pen down with an alcohol pad but sometimes at the end of the day I'd just pitch it. Oh and last but not least, make sure you alarm clock is set for AM and not PM! I made that mistake once, never again! :) And just relax, no one is going to expect you to you know everything the first day and you'll be amazed at how much you've grown when you get to the end! Best of luck!

I said that I cant say ENOUGH good things. So yes, the program is good. I really like all my professors and everything is well organized.

Hi there! I go to SVSU and I'm in the program right now. I cannot say enough good things about the school. We don't do waiting lists and they accept 65 people each semester. Idk how many OU accepts but I know they have a waiting list. I heard its a few years long. If youre coming in from high school, check into the freshman admit at SVSU. Thats what I did and I was able to start as soon as I was done with my pre-reqs. Also, have you seen our new building?? Its the best in the state!

It seems like everyone on here starts clinical their first semester of the nursing program. In my program (BSN), We dont start clinical until the second semester. Our first semester is microbiology, pharm, nursing across the lifespan and an elective. Anyone else have a set up like this? Did it help you transition better?

I volunteered at Henry Ford Macomb for two years in the ER. I loved every second of it. It made me certian that I wanted to be a nurse. I highly recommend volunteering. Do it at HFMH if you can, just stay away from Beaumont. They treat their volunteers crappy.

Hi everyone!! I am in the nursing program at Saginaw Valley, but I am from metro detroit. Do any of you know of good places in either area to get equipment (stethoscopes, nursing shoes, etc.)? Thanks!

I usually get: "Oh good for you! Lots of money and jobs in the medical field" The response actually kinda irritates me. I didnt go into nursing because they make good money or because the field has a positive job outlook. I am a nursing major because I want to be a nurse. Plain and simple. The fact that I will have an easier time getting a job than say the education majors at my school is a nice benefit, but certianly not why I want to be a nurse.

Hmm, I'm surprised by everyones responses. That seems like a LOT to me. I'm in a BSN program and a university and we didnt have nearly as many. The pre reqs for the program were General Bio, General Chem, A&P, Stats, Communications, English, and Psych. There is probably 6 or 7 other classes I had to take for gen ed requirements, but they werent nursing pre-reqs.

I tutor chemistry at my school. My suggestion if you want to get a head start on nomenclature is to get yourself a list of polyatomic ions and make flashcards. Put the abbreviation and charge on one side and the full name on the other. I did this when I took the class and always tell my students to do it as well. As far as Psych and nutrition, not much you can do there. When you take a&p, there are some good flashcards and coloring books that some people I know used. I just studied out of my lab book that had good diagrams in it. Happy studying!

Sounds reasonable to me... I pay 260 a credit hour at my university. It's the cheapest university in MI too. My chem was 5 credits because of the lab so it cost me somewhere around 1300. As far as your question on taking other classes- I took chem, general bio, communications and composition all at the same time. I found it pretty easy. However, I wasnt working.

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site. I start a 3 year RN/BSN program this August and I am very excited! I have a few questions for everyone. 1) I got hired as a campus health educator. I'll be working ten hours a week. Do you think this is going to hurt me in the program? 2) I've been browsing at stethoscopes. I hear Littmann is the best brand out there. Do you guys think it is worth getting a nice stethoscope for clinical? The Classic II seems like a reasonable price, plus it comes in my favorite color, orange. I don't need to decide right away, I wont need it until I start clinical in January. 3) Any tips for surviving NS? I'd be glad to hear 'em. School has always come pretty easy to me and I'm scared NS is gonna kick my behind. I maintained a 3.8 in prereqs, so I'm hoping I have the brains for this. Like I said, any tips/input appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!!