summer-dreamer

Thanks a bunch! :)

Hello! I hope I am posting this question in the right area: I'm working on a math sheet to challenge a nursing calculation course at my college. I answered most of the questions okay, but there were a few I'm confused about: 1. Calculate the drip rate for 500 cc of IV fluid to be given by microdrip over an 8 hour period. Wouldn't that be 63ml/hr? My answer key said 63gtt/min (I thought it would be ml/hr, not gtt/min). But in order to get the gtt/min, wouldn't I need to know the IV set first? 2. At 8am, an IV is infusing 35gtt/min and there is 750 LIB. DF 12. What time will the IV finish? Not sure how to set this one up. Also, I've never seen the abbreviation LIB before. Is it suppose to be AD LIB? 3. A patient is to receive a 40% solution of Osmolyte-HN by PEG tube. How many mL of water must be added to a 6oz can of Osmolyte-HN to administer this feeding? Also unsure how to set this one up Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)

I can handle bodily fluids with no problem, but the one thing I cannot handle (ugh, just thinking about them makes me feel a little ill) is skin grafts ._.

Sorry to hear the bad news I think someone already mentioned saunders and exam cram. I highly recommend both. One thing my instructor at my school told my class in order to prepare for the nclex exam was to do at least 50 practice questions a day. It helped me out.

upstate ny substance abuse treatment facility $17/hr PRN

I had a hard time finding work. So many places do not want a new grad; they want people w/ experience. That doesn't make things any easier. Luckily, I heard back from a place and was offered per diem. I'll admit it wasn't what I had in mind setting-wise, but at this point, I'm just happy I got a job. I'm still looking for at least part-time because per diem isn't going to help out with the bills much. But yeah... the jobs are out there. It just takes a LOT of searching. Sometimes, talking with other nurses and asking about where they work helps out. That's how I found out about my current job.

I haven't been in nursing for too long, but I do remember one funny incident while still in nursing school. I was on an out-rotation visiting a same-day surgery site. While watching a pt's gamekeeper thumb injury being repaired, the scrub nurse assisting the surgeon walked past me to grab something. All of a sudden, I heard a loud BRRRRAAAAPPP. It took me a few seconds to realize that the nurse had let loose some gas! No one really paid any mind about the escape of flatulence and continued as usual. And I respected that; everyone still needed to be professional. But still... that was one very loud blast.

It really isn't easy for new graduates to find a job especially in this economy. I graduated from a practical nursing school back in June 2010, took my boards and became an LPN back in October. Up until January, I was having a really hard time looking for a job. I tried looking in so many job search sites, including local job sites, and pretty much all of the postings looking for an LPN wanted someone with experience. I thought how could I get experience without working??? It didn't seem fair to me but nevertheless, my search continued. I contacted an old classmate of mine online and asked him how his search was going, and he recommended to me one job looking for LPNs that deals with substance abuse clients. I sent in my resume, got an interview quickly, and boom: I got a job! Really, if I didn't ask that classmate, I'd probably still be looking for work. Right now, I'm per diem. It's not what I wanted, but at least I got work and can now start building up my resume. Keeping in contact with people and simply asking around certainly helps, like it did for me. Now regarding about whether or not you should either work one year and reapply to the RN program next summer, I would recommend going back to the RN program and giving it another go, especially since you mentioned the lack of job openings for an LPN. In my area, there are plenty of job openings for an LPN (experienced though, but job openings still). I think since you already had your foot a bit in the door by having been in the RN program before, to try again. Maybe in your area, a new RN may have a better chance of landing a job than a new LPN. Good luck with everything! And don't give up!