MsApricot

If you know this then why post about the UK? My original post specifically referred to my own experience in Ireland, therefore your snappy retort about the UK was irrelevant.

As a student nurse, I still spend a huge amount of my time studying. But when I'm not, I love baking, reading, watching the odd bit of TV, having a good chat with good friends (both nursing and non-nursing ones), singing, dancing, listening to a wide and varied range of music genres, playing piano and searching for Mr Right... of course haha! In a way, nursing does define me a little bit right now, not just because I spend so much time involved with it, but because I'm so passionate about it and feel like I was born to do it! I thank God every day that I was lucky enough to find something that is such a perfect fit for me, and I pray that when I'm qualified I can live up to the ideals of my passion and be a truly great nurse. :)

Learn your general history. Ireland is not part of the UK.

Well done!

You are not dumb or stupid, you're learning :) Same as myself. Give yourself a chance, it takes time.

WOWZA, sounds like a Doc I'd love to work with. I worked with one last month for the first time who used to be a Nurses Aide. He helped us transfer and clean up the patient after the endoscopic procedure.. It was looked on as unusual by the other MDs, but in a way I think they were envious of the great relationship he has with the patient and with nursing staff.. they should all be like this!

Hmm, I'm not sure if we are ahead or behind the rest of the world, but in Ireland we don't have LPNs at all (I had to Google it after I came here!!). Also, everyone must train by BSN, you can't practice in the country without the degree. I do like it this way, its not as confusing..!

^This... makes my blood boil more than I can possibly express.. But generally speaking, in my limited experience, I don't really care when a Doc is rude/dismissive towards me or other nurses, what really gets me is if they are rude, gruff, or intimidating towards the patient.. Patients are worried and scared enough already, and a Doc totally lacking in social skills does NOT help. That said, alot of Docs appear gruff but you can tell from the way they speak that they really care about their patients, and that's what matters to me. In general I find the more senior Docs remember their hellos, pleases and thank yous, it's the more junior ones like the students and interns that often totally ignore you, or else make comments such as the one quoted above, grr.. But I like to think that time will cure them of their arrogance...

I honestly believe that your time training (I don't know how long it is for you, in Ireland it's 4 years) is made so much easier if you know that you really want to be there. If you're interested in what you're doing, the work doesn't seem so overwhelming because you know you're working towards something that you really love. Give it all you've got, and good luck! :)

Patients give me the best thing they possible could every day, their gratitude. It truly gives me happiness and it's the fuel that gets me through a 12 hour shift and then head home to hit the books!!

The level of guilt that you're feeling is really disproportionate to your problem... what you think of as your 'fatal flaw', others would think of as part of learning, since none of us are born knowing how to be a nurse. I urge you to see a counsellor, to help with your anxiety and self esteem. I can tell from the way you talk that you have the heart of a nurse, and that your worry stems from a deep desire to provide quality and compassionate care to people. It would be a shame if these feelings prevented you from enjoying what can potentially be a fruitful and fulfilling career.

That's the same method i was taught by tutors in a classroom, but as soon as i started clinicals the RNs in the hospital said NEVER to do it that way, that inflating the cuff more than once was causing unnecessary discomfort for the patient... Im still a student but i haven't done it the 'theoretical' way since my very first day of clinicals, its not realistic.

On remembering the function of the nerves, ie sensory, motor or both, i learned Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More.... heehee, i never forget it though!!