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MissJulie

MissJulie

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I'm a first generation college student. I already had a AS in Biology before going away for a year to complete my BS in Biology. However, I got burnt-out and returned to the community college I had previously graduated from to do the ADN program.

MissJulie's Latest Activity

  1. MissJulie

    Favorite "Lay Terms" for diagnoses.

    MissJulie replied to OleMissRN's topic in Nurses

    Due to the fact that I work in a pain management office, mine are mostly related to narcotic medications. Some of my favorites: Zoma for Soma Anal-gel-eesick for Analgesic Naircotic for Narcotic Fearset for Fioricet But, the best thing is when patients complain of arthritis by saying that "Old Arthur's acting up." Oh, and before I forget, my cousin had put on facebook that her son was going to have a RMI done of his head to diagnosis the cause of chronic headaches, so when I saw her at the grocery store, I asked what facility the test was going to be done at, by calling it an MRI. She informed me that it was an RMI, and that I was wrong. I walked away, loudly repeating that an MRI is a Magnetic Resonance Image, not a Resonance Magenetic Image! Those are mine though...
  2. MissJulie

    Scrubs Make Me Crazy (long rant)

    MissJulie replied to coast2coast's topic in Uniform/Gear

    I'm 5'7" with a 42" chest, I don't know my waist and hip measurements and I don't care to! Anyway, I've found the most success with Cherokee Workwear pants, they seem to be cut for gals with hips, and yes, some have the "three in slit" in the side, but a few simple stiches could solve that issue! As for the tops, the best ones for me seem to be from either Cherokee or WalMart, I know, I know, but sometimes you've got to look outside the box! Or, if you can at least find the pants that you can live with, find a seamstress and have some tops custom made. You'll have patterns that noone else has and the necklines, etc. can be customized for your tastes. I've not ventured this far, but one of the girls I work with has a large chest and is pretty small in the rest of her body (almost to Pam Anderson preportions) and she's made her own, otherwise she would have wound up looking like she was hiding a family in her tops!
  3. MissJulie

    where do you buy your scrubs???

    MissJulie replied to Tippy-ta-ta's topic in Uniform/Gear

    I've bought scrubs form the Dollar General Store, Family Dollar, WalMart, numerous scrub shops, and of course different sites on line (my favorite is www.allheart.com). I've even done ebay and amazon... But, I have to say that it depends on what I'm buying for. For example, my clinical scrubs had to be a specific brand and color, so it was the scrub shop for me then! Normally, I'm all about cherokee scrub bottoms in solid colors, and then a scrub top in a coordinating print that I've purchased from a "cheaper" option!
  4. MissJulie

    Questions about how it's like to be a CNA

    MissJulie replied to klt324's topic in CNA/MA

    First, I want to note that I work as a CNA at a doctor's office, so some don't apply 1. I love my job as a CNA, and since I'm at an office and not a hospital, I have different responsibilities and experiences on the job. I've been able to assist the physician and the nurses in a number of different areas, as well as working with the lab. 2. I'm in Kentucky, but I get $10.00 an hour, which is on the high end. But, then again, I also assist in the medical billing department and sometimes medical records. 3. I don't work nights, my schedule is 8:00 to 6:00 4. The best advice I have for a CNA in a doctor's office is to always make sure to document everything! Now is your time to learn, take advantage of it. Depending on your work environment, you'll be able to do any number of thngs, take it all in! 5. The worst thing about my job is drug screens, granted we don't actually collect the urine ourselves, it seems like I always get to have the job of supervising drug screens... I'm not complaining about the urine, or about the patient being in the bathroom, but my recommendation to anyone do that is to do the 'ole bedpan breathing thing, if you know what I mean! 6. We get to work by 8:00 am and begin pulling charts, etc, getting ready for the day. At 9:00, we open the doors. Each patient must be "triaged," which is vitals and a simple list of complaints. The patient is then passed off to the nurse (who does the physical assessment), and then to the doctor for further examination and treatment. It's probably not what you were looking for, but it is a different look at what CNAs can do in the world of medicine and health care! :)
  5. MissJulie
    In my neck of the woods, we don't even have PCTs, as the majority of what they would do is done by CNAs, then other responsibilities are divided between other staff (phlebotomy by lab, etc.). I can't speak to the idea of the amount of money, but I do know that when I took the CNA class as a pre-req for my nursing program, I only paid for the three credit hour course (about $360) and the uniform (one set of scrubs only for clinical day) and then the exam. All in all, I was out about $500, at most! I currrently work in a doctor's office, and make about $10.00, which is actually high for my area, but I also assist in medical billing, hence the "extra." I had a friend that wanted to become an MD, but she thought that becoming a PA would be a good way to get "in..." So, I simply informed her of the difference, and the fact that the schools and exams are completely different! It was a hard thing for me to get across from her. It's not like becoming a CNA and working as one through nursing school!!! Anyway, just be up front and honest with her, and if need be, try to get a meeting scheduled with your advisor (or a member of nursing staff) so that your friend can hear it from someone that undoubtly knows the difference between a PCT and an RN. I have a quick question, though, does the program have her learning how to give meds, admin IVs, do tube feedings, etc.? If you ask her those questions, and she says no, maybe she'll get it! Good luck :)
  6. MissJulie

    Most Annoying Nursing Stereotype

    MissJulie replied to Mashira's topic in Nurses

    I'm not a nurse yet, but I HATE when people give more respect to a doctor just because they're a doctor! Don't get me wrong, I respect people who have gone through school and accomplished something in their lives, whether that person be a doctor, nurse, teacher, etc.! For example, a coworker actually stated that when she was having her child she would rather have had a medical student delivering the baby then a nurse alone. I say if that nurse has years of experience, let her in!
  7. MissJulie

    Which Job would YOU rather have??

    MissJulie replied to Sl1011's topic in Nurses

    I'm not a nurse yet, but I do work as a CNA and Billing and Coding Tech in an office right now, working four 10s. I think once I get my nursing degree, I'd be better off working in a hospital setting to develop the skills, such as IV, PEG tubes, etc. Maybe later in life, working in an office could be better, working around a child's school sched. ect. My dream job: CNS in Pain Management!
  8. MissJulie

    is there a good way to get blood pressure right?

    MissJulie replied to italy's topic in Students

    The way that my CNA instructor taught us was to make sure to feel for the pulse of the brachial artery first, so that you know where to place the stethoscope. Then, make sure to firmly place the steth on the skin, and hold in place with your pointer finger (not your thumb because you could pick-up your radial pulse instead) and begin to pump up the cuff (make sure that the bulb is closed completely) and when you hear the first loud beat (or when the needle on the gauge "jumps"), that's the bottom number. Pump the bulb so that it goes up 20 more and then begin to let the pressure off, when you hear the last beat, that's the bottom number. Hope it helps!
  9. MissJulie

    How long do you study...

    MissJulie replied to Darkpk55's topic in Students

    We can't record the lectures, and we have a "team taught" class where each unit is taught by a different instructor. That said, we've all had to come up with our own ways to study and learn the material. Here's what I do. First, I try to get the chapter read before lecture so that the instructor is reiterating (Is that spelled right? Oh, well!) what I've already read. I take as many notes as my hand will allow! Second, I outline the chapter for easier review later. Third, our book came with a workbook that helps guide studying, so I do that. Fourth, we have an online portion to the book which will read the chapter summaries and also has some NCLEX questions, so I do those... All in all, I wind up reading the chapter about four times, and then I review before the exam. I'm glad that I've outlined all of the chapters because we have our final in about three weeks and it's cumulative, that's 40 chapters on a 100 point exam! I think a big part is where you study, I find that for regular reading, almost anywhere will do, if there is minimal noise. But, before the exam, I've got to get to the library where there's no noise! Good luck to you! (Oh, and it took me about 5 hours to outline a chapter this evening!)
  10. MissJulie

    nursing and paperwork; what paperwork?

    MissJulie replied to johnnyDoGood's topic in Nurses

    As a nursing student who is still getting the hang of paperwork, I have one thing to say... If you don't know, don't judge!
  11. MissJulie

    Where do CNA's work (other than the hospital)?

    MissJulie replied to rnintwo's topic in Nurses

    I work at a pain management office on Thursdays after class and Fridays, and I'm a CNA. The hours are pretty flexible, and no weekends!!! Almost anywhere that you find a nurse, you'll find a CNA, except for surgery or something similar.
  12. MissJulie
    I'm not 100% sure I understand the question, so I restate it as it seems to me... It seems like the question is "Can a person work as a nurse while studying to become an RN. If so, would it be as a CNA." "What would the salary be, would it be equivalent to CNA or more?" In short, the answer is this, some hospitals will hire student nurses to work, but many won't due to the fact that these students are working without licenses, and are therefore open to legal issues should something occur. Also, it wouldn't necessarily be as a CNA as a CNA has completed a training course, or the fundamentals of a nursing program, and taken a state exam to become "Certified." Some hospitals will hire UAPs (Unlicensed Assistive Personel), which do similar tasks to that of a CNA but without the certification... When it comes to salary, it depends. In some areas, CNAs make a substantial amount, depending upon if it is a hospital or a nursing home, etc. If one was able to work as a student nurse, I would imagine that the salary would be around that of a CNA, due in large part to the fact that student nurses cannot work in a full capacity as a nurse (RN or LPN). Good luck to you! :)
  13. MissJulie

    Can I go from ADN to BSN degree?

    MissJulie replied to bens11's topic in ADN/BSN

    That's probably the most common degree progession, from ADN-BSN, although you'll usually find it listed as RN-BSN.
  14. MissJulie

    Nursing noob. So lost and confused..?

    MissJulie replied to rileyc's topic in ADN/BSN

    Usually the prereqs are part of your gen ed courses, and their designed so that when you complete your degree, you'll have the courses needed to graduate with that degree. Also, when it comes to prereqs, they are chosen so that they will back-up and support the information in the program. For example, the reason behind taking anatomy and physiology is because it will help students to already have an understanding of body systems and functions when discussing different diseases and disorders of those systems.
  15. MissJulie

    Do you wear mostly solids or prints?

    MissJulie replied to cobee's topic in Uniform/Gear

    I work at a pain management office, and I wear my printed scrubs to work, but on days that I have class, I have to wear my clinical scrubs, which are solid royal blue.
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