purplesteth

Good answer!!!

It's white all the way here in Italy too, at least for all nursing staff (surgeons are the only exception - teal scrubs). ... You can identify different staff by the coloured borders on their uniforms - blue for nurses, red for the sister/charge nurse, yellow for nursing auxiliaries... you get the picture :) I would agree about the lack of fashion sense (I would love to wear US style coloured scrubs!), but they're certainly not unhygienic.

I just discovered today that I'll be doing my first placement in Neuro - I have to say I'm pretty excited :)

Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it a lot! :) I'm always fascinated by the differences between different countries, different university and education systems, and different ways of doing things.

Before I begin, and hoping this is not going to sound trite... I have a lot of admiration for all you US nurses out there :) But seriously... It's up to you to get your pre-reqs before you even apply to nursing school - in the UK and Italy they're part of the course (we do three years, or sometimes four, depending...) Once you actually get your pre-reqs, and even with excellent grades... there doesn't seem to be any guarantee of getting in to nursing school. After working so hard for your pre-reqs... Then once you finish school comes the NCLEX... wow... Then once you pass your NCLEX, is there even a job out there for you??? :uhoh3: I don't really know what the point of this post was, other than to say I think you guys have it pretty tough, and that I really admire you for going through what you do. Good luck to all US nurses!!! I'm with you all in spirit!!! :heartbeat:redbeathe

I am studying in Italy, and here cheating is something of an art form!!! Every year, as the high school finals approach, the tabloid magazines are full of tips for students on how to cheat. I come from a different culture, and to me cheating just doesn't come into my way of operating or looking at the world. I recently sat an exam for my nursing course, and there were so many of us in the exam that we were practically sitting on each others' laps... And boy did the other students lap it up!!! There were more cheat sheets than exams papers in that room... I've sat four exams so far, and been passed cheat sheets by others in two of them. Afterwards I told them never to do that to me again. Because I'm not interested in cheating. I got a reasonable mark in the first exam, a pretty bad one in the second. But it was enough to get me through. And I know it was all my own work. To me, those who cheat are just shooting themselves in the foot. How are they going to function in the real world, when cheating is no longer an option?? If others are cheating... so what???!!! Concentrate on your own performance, and forget about them. They don't matter. You do. Be true to yourself, and you won't go wrong. ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

Yay!!! Me too!! And there are so many cute ones around now. :heartbeat

A sincere thanks to all for your advice; I really appreciate it. Just posting this on AN helped me put things in perspective and helped me realise what I have to do. Thanks again!!!

Definitely!!! If someone asks to see your work, just politely refuse and say it's nothing personal, but that you've had bad experiences with people plagiarising your work in the past (which would now be true!) As the others have said, we are adult learners, and we have to learn to stand on our own two feet. In my experience, teachers are only too happy to advise those who go to them for help.

+1

Agreed!!!

"The person who says it can't be done shouldn't get in the way of the person doing it."

So I am at nursing school in Italy, in my first year. Problem is, I just can't seem to find the motivation to study. I have five hours of classes a day (from 8-1), and this semester we've had a lot of skills workshops in the afternoon (vitals, catheterisation, venepuncture etc.) Thing is, when I get home I always manage to find a hundred different things to do to avoid studying. I'm more on less on schedule with my exams, but was unable to take some last semester because I started studying too late and I knew I wasn't prepared enough for them (here we decide when to do our exams; we can choose from various dates right through the three years). Help! I really want to do well on this course and go into nursing; unfortunately I can't seem to make that desire translate into time spent studying the course material. Any thoughts, advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. :)

I'm from the UK, where we have the same bra sizing system you do, but here in Italy they just have size 3, 4, 5... erm, ***** What's that all about? It's fine if you have "regular" size boobs, but if you have a small frame and large breasts, or vice-versa??? Urgh!!!

Z-coli? Is that a new kind of bacteria??

I think it's sad you would find someone's discomfort so amusing.

Good luck with school!! :)

It's great you went to a school with a progressive approach; as you say it's something I know a lot of students are uncomfortable with, but not all of them feel they are in a position to choose.

I thought we were supposed to be nice to each other? It's not very cool to wish unemployment on someone, just because you don't agree with their point of view. Let's focus on viewpoints, NOT people!

I don't really understand your confusion... they're completely different professions... I agree with the poster above; doctors treat diseases, nurses treat people. Good luck with your choice!!!

I'm one of the oldest in my class (39), and respect EVERYONE, until they show a lack of respect. In my classes there is a constant stream of chatter, rudeness, people snapping gum... ... and 99.9% of those responsible are the younger students. And believe me it gets really hard to concentrate sometimes... when subjects are hard enough as it is! So good on you for going to nursing school, just remember to treat others with respect, as you yourself would wish to be treated. :) Here endeth the lesson.

TBH I would refuse to do it. I understand that dissection is useful, but I don't think it's essential (others I'm sure will disagree). I feel perfectly prepared for my A&P exam without having done any dissection; there are so many other ways to prepare for exams, using models and other technology that do not involve killing animals. It's time schools moved into the 21st century, for heaven's sake, not to mention steamrolling over the ethics of those who see killing animals for academic purposes as unnecessary and are uncomfortable with the idea.

Sometimes I think some people simply cannot stand to see others happy. Or they have such a low opinion of the CNA role that they cannot believe anyone would want to do that job. But do you really care about the opinions of such-narrow people? There is nothing wrong with the CNA role OR being happy in it!! It's great that you do a job you love... I'm kind of jealous myself

My idea of partying is a cup of herbal tea and snuggling up to my boyfriend and dog on the couch...!

I am a student in my first year, not been on placement yet but going soon. I know I may be getting ahead of myself, but I really want to get an idea of what might be the right type of department to work in. And I was wondering what sort of personal qualities are needed for the OR, ICU, ED, ER and critical care.... Please forgive me if it seems like a stupid question, or if I've posted this in the wrong place... I'd just be curious to hear from those work in any of these areas, and your opinions on what type of person or personality you think best fits these areas. Thanks!! :)