MrsCannibal

THIS is the main reason I fought my nurse mother over going to nursing school. I finished pre-med, because I wanted to be the one helping people, not like my (obviously) helpless mom, just looking cute in her white nurse uniform, scampering around for the Dr. But then I gave birth to a preemie, and we spent months in the NICU, and my eyes were opened to what amazing people nurses are, the dedication and hard work and patient education and advocacy. Oh, and autonomous thinking and critical decision making! I went back for my nursing degree, and I've never regretted my choice! And, btw, my family hates watching medical shows with me, I spend the entire time yelling at the TV, lol!

I made the unfortunate choice to include my husband's name in many of my user names, years ago. The Internet was still fairly new then, and I was in love. Fast forward through a lot of years, a divorce, and my own last name, which is constantly mispronounced as "cannibal". I'm remarried, but kept my own name, so it just made sense to change it when I wandered back onto allnurses :-)

When the only people who can make it through an entire Thanksgiving meal are yourself, your nurse mom, firefighter/paramedic sister, and nurse brother-in-law. We always lose the kids and spouses once we break out the wine and start swapping stories!

right now I'm working 5-6 days a week, at least 13 hours a day, and every weekend from August thru January...and it's not really a "choice" at this point since we are super short staffed! But wow! The paychecks are amazing!

Ewwwwww. That is dedication (or crazy?)!!!!

I agree with the above posters-jump in, follow other nurses, find out what you need to do to start IV's. I was lucky; during my OB clinicals in NS, some of the nurses decided that we needed real world experience, and 3 of them offered up their own veins for us to practice sticking. Amazing the lengths some nurses will go to to help out newbies!

You might also try joining a study group...I did some of my best learning with at least one other study-buddy! Good luck!

That is a really great idea...a career counselor might be able to help you see a bigger picture and narrow your focus in a way that helps you feel more comfortable with your decision. Good luck in whatever you choose!

I think that many people would be shocked at how many LOL's have tattoos...my grandmother gave herself a gift for her 65th bday, a small bird tattood above her left breast...she said she wanted the "bluebird of happiness" over her heart! My mother was scandalized, my brothers and I thought it was great!

:yelclap::w00t::icon_hug: I love me a survivor...good for you, lashawn (and your little sis, too)!

I think it is more the time and place; like if you have the time, and you don't mind, go for it. If you are super busy, and the family just doesn't want to deal with poor Ol Granny that they have dragged along, and they expect you to do it "just because" you are the nurse/cna/etc, I think that is in poor taste. I think that it is very nice that you were able to help preserve her dignity; however, I had a visiting family member change an adult diaper, and THROW IT AT ME AS I WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM!!! I was a nursing student, and 8 months pregnant, I nearly up-chucked when I realized I had just caught a soiled adult diaper. The family was pissed because the nurse wouldn't change the visiting family member...lucky me, eh?

This is a real learning experience, and I will bet you will do things differently the next time...like nancynurse08 said, ask questions! Find someone to mentor you, someone that you feel comfortable with. I don't really believe that nurses eat their young; as a new nurse, I found too many experienced nurses who were more than willing to share their insights, time, and expertise with those of us who simply asked. Good luck, I hope this works out in a positive way for you.

While I think it is totally your choice whether or not you want to spend more time and money to pursue the BS in psych, I can tell you that as a nurse administrator who hires and oversees nurses and social workers for a family advocacy program, I cannot look at any resume with less than a BSN...it doesn't matter if the applicant has an ASN and a Master's in Psych...it doesn't matter as far as the nursing credentials go. Which is actually highly ironic and quite hysterical: I couldn't hire myself since I only have an ASN, but I can hire other people!!! :roll

Hi, everyone! I can't believe I didn't think to look for this forum sooner, duh! I graduated from IU 2006 with my RN...I started the distance RN-BSN program Fall '07. So far I love ISU, and I really LOVED my "Transition To Professional Nursing" Professor, Dr. Frank. She totally ROCKS!

During nursing school, I brought in the morning bathing supplies for a patient, and asked her if she needed anything else from me...she leaned back, lifted her gown up, put her arms behind her head, and told me, "Just put a shine on the monkey for me, honey!" I'm not sure if that qualifies for dumbest, weirdest, or what...