MFlash

Thank you for your reply. Most the time I feel like it is my calling. I have this huge desire to learn more about the body and illnesses and to be able to help people. I have been an EMT for a few years and actually worked part time for a rural ambulance service. It was sometimes exhausting and humbling but I really enjoyed learning (sometimes from my mistakes).

Thank you for reminding me not to focus on the loss. Your reply was precisely what I needed to hear.

Hi I have just recently started to get anxiety about this major career change. I will be starting the RN program in August. I have been with my current employer for 18 1/2 years. They have agreed to let me go part time while in school. I am 51 and have just spent the last 4 years working on the pre-reqs. My anxiety is mostly from giving up 1/2 my pay for two years and the "what ifs". Did any of you that have switched careers late in life go through the same anxiety? Up until the last few days I was gung ho and then it hit me. I do get some negative comments, "you are going to give up your vacation, 401K etc.". ....plus I've read a few negative comments on this site. So, I would like some opinions from some of you that have already finished and started your new career as a nurse.

Consider hiring someone to come in once a week or everyother week to clean. I pay someone $50 every two weeks to come in for 3 hrs. She does a fantastic job and it saves me a ton of time and gives me a break. The cost of sanity is priceless.

My experience with Hospice has been on the receiving end. Both my father and my sister were taken care of by Hospice. My advice is to talk softly and directly to the patient and the family. Use lots of eye contact and touch the patient if the illness doesn't dictate otherwise. We had the experience of Hospice asking us if we had any questions. The problem was we didn't know what to ask. Offer a phone number to be reached if questions come up after you've left. You might consider stopping by a Hospice facility and picking up one of their brochures. Good luck with your paper.

I had a very different experience but my experience is in the same category (mind boggling). My dad died on February 15, 2005. Just before he died he was in a state of euphoria. One of the things that he said to me was that he could see pretty yellow flowers in my eyes. That alone is not that mind boggling but when you put it with the fact that he told my sister he could see streams of water flowing out of her eyes, it is. Especially when exactly four weeks later my sister died of cancer (she was 52). She had been sick with pnuemonia and some stomach issues but we had no idea she had cancer until the week after my dad died.

Hey, I know people with Phd's that can't spell. ....deal with it!

To all of you Hospice nurses out there. I want to say a heart felt thank you! I just recently lost my father and then within three weeks of my father's death my sister passed away. Whew. It's been a tough month. My father had been under Hospice care for sometime. However, my sister was diagnosed with cancer (colon and pancreatic) the week I burried my father. We had no idea she was that sick. So, we only had help from Hospice for a week before she died. But what relief it was to have them there to help. Each of the nurses that came out to help were professional, friendly and supportive. Oh yes, and thank you CNA's for coming out to bath my dad and my sister and for cleaning up after them. You folks truly give families like mine the strength we need to get through situations like this. Thank you!

So my question to you is ....did you take the opportunity to remind the EMT why he should put the pt on 2L of 02 rather that 4L or did you snap at him/her? Keep in mind. EMT's go through a few weeks of crammed training. Nurses get a couple of years and lots of experience. As someone that was once an EMT in a rural town that transported patients to a major hospital, I appreciated the nurses that took the time to show me (in a respectful way) when I did something wrong and tell me I did a good job when I did something right. They make all the difference in the world.

Trust your own instincts. You know it is innappropriate behavior. If you are the young mom, then perhaps a re-evaluation of your boundries and an appropriate response is in order. If you are not the young mom, then pay attention and choose your mate carefully. Would you want to be married to someone like that? Congrats on graduating this summer.

Hey Bluebirdinc I am happy to see there is someone out there older than I am. Thanks! I'm 50. I am on the waiting list but I am taking the patho class now so I'm making progress. (the school fills the empty slots with people on the waiting list) I've been in the process of sitching from the finance world for two years now. Have a great day. MFlash

Thanks for making me laugh!

I am laughing! I am now 50. I am finished with my pre-requisits and am now currently waiting to get into nursing school full time. I will be quitting a full time job to go to school again. Are you you to old at 41? Not likely!! :) By the way, what does CRNA mean? I have seen that a lot but I don't know what it is. Good luck. You will do great because you are following your higher self.

There are two ways to look at that. One is the belittling way (which until the generations change it will be there) and the other is that Gaylord loves nursing and refuses to do anything else although he has the grades to become an MD if he wanted. I prefer the latter. I thought the movie was hilarious. I laughed so hard.

I find it hard to believe but yes, even nursing students will cheat. I can't imagine why anyone would lower themselves to cheating let alone help someone else cheat. There have been times when instructors have used the same test and then students pass them on to the next students in line. It's discusting to say the least. I can't help but wonder how many of the students that got straight A's did it by cheating half way through their classes ...30% ..50% ??

It sounds like you just have a different management style than she does. I prefer people that are less aggressive and will follow them before I will follow someone that has to make sure everyone knows they are in charge.

That is a scary statement. However, I find it hard to believe that any doctor would even know whether or not you were an organ donor until after he/she did their best to save your life. It is probably one of those tales that circulate and spread fear. (...but who knows?)

When I read this I had to smile. I have a dad that is now bed ridden and pretty much talks to me the same way. He keeps telling me I need to cut my hair, my legs look funny, I've gained a little weight. Luckily, I no longer let it bother me. As I think about it, he has prepared me for some of the crap I will have to put up with as nurse (still on the waiting list). Thanks for sharing your story.

You are so right to follow your instincts. This man is dangerous. His behavior is not a joke and it is not funny. Do your peers and possible future victims a favor and turn him into your human resourse group. If he has not already abused or raped someone, the chances are great that he will based on his behavior. Don't allow him to suck you in by asking if you have "urges". Predators love victims no matter who they are.

That's funny!

Wow! Even though I am not yet in the nursing world, I have a similar story. The VP of the company I work for made a similar statement about me. He makes a game of making negative comments about the "underlings". His comment was something about me not being very smart. My comment to the people that heard his comment (unfortunately he didn't hear it, because he was walking away) was this, "I'm smart enough to understand that a comment like that says a lot more about his character than it does my intelligence"!. So, when I do finish nursing school hopefully the jerk I work for will have prepared me for the jerks that some of you have to deal with. :)

What is an LVN?

Sorry Lizz. I did wonder if you meant to be sarcastic. Have a great day.

What world do you live in? Regarding all the wealth trickling down. How I wish that were true!

WOW! Again. I guess this story will help the rest of us learn how to report without violating the patients rights. Is that possible?