nurseinthemaking2010

I started my clinicals today and i was wiped when I got home. So I took a nap... I woke up the the sound of call bells ringing. I jumped up and started looking for the murses station. And I got laughed at my family was all together. my aunt who is a nurse damn near died when she saw it and I got a big welcome to nursing.

I have an at home set. It is sooo hard for me to find pants that are long enought and fit right and the scrubs fit like a glove so I got a set for home like on the weekends and stuff not for going out. And as for work scrubs I would prefer to put them in a biohasard bag and burn then every day but I don't have 30 to 50 dollars to get a new set. So as soon as i get home it is the washer for the scrubs and a shower for me. I have 2 small kids and I don't want MRSA or something I have on my uniform getting to my children.

I do not have any horror stories to share just yet... But next week I start clinicals at a local NH/rehab. And I must say I am using this more for education then humor. I like to know what I am getting into. Well now I know. But I must say my favorite so far that I have read is this thread so far (I am only on page 14) was the little old lady that pulled out the screamers cath and says now he has something to scream about. And I cannot say I blame her. Lol keep them coming they are a great education for us new nurses, LPN, CNAs.

HELPPPPP!!!! Last night I had a dream I was doing Peri care on a dummy they have in the CNA class! But today when i did it for practice I was great at it. Did everything perfect. I even remembered to put the bed down. I hope tonight I can sleep w/o notice of my dreams lol. That is all I have on my mind. Personal care, safety, is the bed down, did I pull the curtain, can they reach the call bell. ACCKKKKK!!!! If I am going to be dreaming of these things I think I am going to take advantage of if. In lab today I did great on my tasks didn't forget anything. Tonight I think I am going to be going over the supply list we got for all the tasks. I keep forgetting what I need other then the basics. . Samantha

About the only thing I don't like about my uniform for class is the patch. It is huge, they should just put a sign on my back that says look at me I am a greenhorn! Plus we have our badges. But I cannot wait to get my scrubs. I got to have navy blue and some nice croks. But when I start working I think I am going to get nursing shoes. I don't want to get my feet wet.

@ Ctmed... Lol that was funny. But at least it is in AC. My class is in AC and I freeze everyday. I am starting to like the 90* days I have when i get out. I finally get to warm up. I started doing the tasks s/ my cheat sheets. I still need help memorizing the supplies but the steps are starting to become second nature. Today we had a chance to review all that we learned last week and that was great. And I gave class mates mani and petis lol. They liked that. I am making sure I always have someone looking over my shoulder so I do not freak out on the day of the test. I took my first unit test today and I think I did ok, we shall see. But I really am liking this and I cannot wait to get on the floor. Oh and I found out that I will be on the dementia floor when I do my clinicals and I cannot wait. I took care of my grandfather and boy was he mean and stubbor but we still had a good time.

Lol @ crazier... Our scrubs are navy blue so I think if I don't need them for work they are going to be at home scrubs. I am just drawn to those big pockets. (can't ya tell i am a mother of 2) And I got really comfy scrub pants. They are men's but works for me. I have the hardest time tryig to find any pants that are long enought for my legs. Drives me mad. And these fit like gloves. On a side note. I got t.e.d.s for swollen legs because it was soo hot this summer does anyone thing I should wear them while I am on clinicals and working? I have noticed my feet go down a lot when i am walking and standing but ballon up when I sit. Another reason why I wanted to be in the medical field. I cannot stand sitting for 8 hours. I have to be up and moving a lot! If I stop I get bord then I quit. And I am guessing that will not happen when I start working.

I am only a CNA but my clinicals start next week I have 3/week on a 8hr shift. There is a local scrub shop that has great prices on scrubs 30 for a set. And if you ask me for the name brands that is a really good deal. I am getting dickies I think from the school I am going to. They are only paying for 1 set. So I am hoping that they don't get that dirty in one shift. But I did get lucky the NH I am working at for clinicals is right across the street from my house. So if I get real messy at the end of my shift I can just run home and change. But i am stuck in the dirty scrubs till the end of my shift lol.

Oh and i am doinng the steps on the flash cards and I am finding myself going over the steps in my head over and over again. I was making dinner and my daughter came in a asked who are you rolling over mommy you are cooking. I also want to thank you all for the support! It really helps! Thank you Samantha

My aunts FiL died from a dirty cath. It was never cleaned and he got a UTI. I got my scubs for free from the class so those should be here soon. I just found out we are going to get some stuff for clinicals too a watch and something else but i forgot. I found a great way to study I have a 6 yo and a 4 yo. I have made the bed 100 times this weekend and my kids had a blast. I did some repositioning too. And my daughter got her teeth brushed by me. I think I created a moster with that one lol. In class I am doing ok, I got my first grade and it was a 94 got one wrong stupid mistake. Oh i know I will never change the system but it just makes me sad when I have a teacher tell me that in one local NH the residents that had their real teeth never got their mouth care. And the one that really stuck with me is one my other teacher told me. About a person that was contracted and the persons hads never got any ROMs and the nails grew into their hand and caused infection. It was a long time ago but it still happened. I am not here to change the system but just try to make a few old people live the best they can till they pass.

I wish I could blame hospital corners on my training but I got that from my Grandmother. She worked in a hospital for 30 years and would help out on floors whenever she could. This was also before the 80s and you needed to be certified. And to this day when I make I bed I have to have corners lol. Now I have my daughter doing it. But I did just learn the pillow case trick this week and I love it. Makes my life a bit easier. And I got a real sad one. When I was picking up my kids from daycare I found my son took his wrist and looked for an ID band. That told me two things. 1. I need a nap... 2. I am in trouble lol. I have not had the scrub pocket thing yet but I say by the end of clinicals I will be having that problem too. I live in my pockets. I hate bags and rather use pockets.

This is where I am having trouble personally. The only reason I don't want to move up in the nursing field is because CNAs have the most interaction with the pts. And that is the one thing I am looking foward to the most. CNAs are so underpaid. I have to put my children threw college so I need to move up on the ladder. And this is what my teacher told the class. "We all have to start at the bottom and if you want work your way to the top. But don't get into this field if you have a problem with body fluids and solids for that matter." And one more thing... How do you think the people you are cleaning up feel? They can no longer give themselves basic care. And if you have the mind set of this is gross I am not going to do this and I want to find a way to get out of the nasty things. Then (this is just my opinion) you should not be in the nursing field. We need nurses that care and want to do your job not do it for the money. I know I have gotten a few nurses that were there just for a paycheck and I did not get the help or care that was needed. IE. My son has epilepcy (sp) and the doc put him on keppra and insisted on upping the dose to the point where he was hitting everyone, and he is 4. And he might be little but he can hit hard. To the point where he got me off guard and knocked me clear on my face. And I had my 5 yo daughter with us. I yanked the call bell off the wall to get some help and all the nurse did was just watch. I needed help with either my son or take my daughter out of the room so she doesn't get hurt. Well long story short... It took me screaming for another nurse to help me hold him down so we could get some meds in him to counter act all the keppra. And my poor daughter is hiding in a corner crying and me in teas from pain and just being upset. While the first nurse was just standing in the door. And no I did not go down to the ER to get checked out. I just delt with the goose egg on my head and slep with an ice pack that night. I was not leaving my son's side after that. So moral of the story you really need to be in this 100% if you want to be anything in the nursing world. If you don't things will get ugly fast. Update on my son... He is 4 no longer on a violent rampage but still very off the wall. But nothing we cannot handle and he loves every nurse he sees. Lol the one that help him down scared him. But didn't hurt him!

That is a good one for needing to know. I am going to be doing my clinicals next week at a nursing home.

And that is where I start to take it personal. Most people know going into CNA class that you have scut work. I knew this at least and so do most of my class mates. We are from all walks of life and the large majority are not there for the paycheck. We are there to help, I have heard it so much this week I am getting sick of it. But anyway... If you know what you are getting into why do it. Yes I know that some may not be able to do the 2 year degree for the RN and some may even have a hard time with the one year LPN. I do plan to go and at least get my LPN. I really want to go higher but I need to see how life is going. I am young so I know I have the drive and energy. And my children have proven to me that they can keep up with the crazy pace and are loving it. I think my point is why go into a field knowing the poop is coming your way wether you want it or not. But they you can also go into a specialty. Where poop is not there. But you are going to have to deal with it at some point. You need to get threw clinicals, and I know in NY in my area even regular nursing students have a few clinicals at a nursing home. But when you are done with school there is drug rehab. But don't think it doesn't get messy there. Like many have said it is just one of the uglier sides of nursing. And if you heart is not all in it why do it! There are people out there like me who have been trying for 6 years to find a good CNA class and the funding to take it. And it you don't want to be there you are taking a spot for someone who really does.

Sad to say when I was a teen I did just that. That was when I learned flying is not fun and there is no way to hide that power surg from your parents. And that is 2 minutes of my life I will never completely remember. I got one too. NEVER NEVER Thing you can make a snow make with a snowmobile on an icey night. Yes sad to say i did that, I was wearing a helmet but I brused up my stomach real bad.