leslieanne

Hi, We've talked about this in class as well. How can I as a nurse, advise a patient to stop smoking when I've just come back from break and smell of cigarette smoke? How can I as an overweight nurse advise a newly diagnosed and overweight diabetes patient about lifestyle changes?? I think the only answer is just to talk openly with the patient. If they indicate that they think I'm full of sh** and have no room to talk, then we have to address that briefly. Right now, I am overweight and can see where this situation might easily arise in the future. I think I would tell them that I KNOW how difficult major lifestyle changes are, because I too am fighting the same battle. I would say that I am trying because I know how risky my condition is and I know that I am in line to develop similar problems. I think that I would then try to redirect the individuals attention to the positives and talk about the clients concerns and stumbling blocks, try to make a game plan to win the war. Oh yeah and in reply to your original question, I think that it is great if we can offer ourselves as examples og healthy living, but unrealistic to hold oneself up to an idealistic standard. I believe that the nursing population reflects the general population. It doesn't hurt that we show ourselves as being human too. les

Cotjockey, I've edited out the PMs in my post, I believe that I saw the abbreviation used in another thread, and assumed that it was ok. Besides, I was feeling lazy about typing that big long word!! :uhoh21: I'm afraid that I worded my post a bit harshly in the hopes of generating a response, I hope you don't hold it against me. Thankyou for your response, I appreciate getting any and all points of view on the matter. les

Hi Milenko, I'm a student nurse as well, and probably would not be able to answer your questions anyway, but I really can't figure out what you are asking about in the first part of your post. You've got a bunch of statements there and no questions. Try re-wording your post. I did some googling and found that osmolarity is the direct measurement of the concentration of dissolved substances in urine.(or water) http://www.diabetesinsipidus.org/whatisdi_glossary.htm I'll be interested to see the answers you get to your questions. later, les

Hey ya'll I need your help/input. My obnoxious little brother is going to school to be a paramedic and was telling me that paramedics can do more than RNs and that they might as well staff ERs with Paramedics!!! :angryfire :angryfire Now I am sure that there must be some excellent arguments out there against that statement, I'm just not sure what they are.:angryfire I have been reading in the archives here, and I know now that there are certain procedures that Paramedics can do in the field that RNs can't in the ER. But if Paramedics work in an ER, they can't perform those procedures can they?? Like starting a central line or intubating? Please, please help me put him in his place already!!! I love my bro, but he is so cocky and arrogant!!:angryfire thanx, Les

Nursing Eyes, You saw these things on your first day? I can't imagine. You are still a student? Most western nurses do not have to see these things, emergency room nurses and paramedics would be the closest to it. My brother is a paramedic and I know that after he experiences horrible bloody accidents he uses humor to deal with it. He laughs and makes jokes that can be quite shocking to people who don't understand what he has seen. I think this is the only way he can keep from being sad. But most of us, at least in the US and most of Europe have not had to deal with war-like situations. God's blessings to you and your co-workers. leslie

my heart and thoughts go out to you as well. this is horrible. here in Dk they're worried now too. hugs, leslie

Although I think the tone of doggiedaddy's posts are unnecessarily harsh, I have to agree with his view on the choice of LPN rather than RN. I am a lowly nursing student myself, so don't get me wrong. I just think that considering the investment of time, i.e. ca. 1yr for LVN vs. 2yrs for ADN, you might as well go for the ADN. I also agree with a previous post about Following faith having a heart to heart with hubby. FF, you need line up your arguments. Show him your financial records and all that, but more importantly, tell him why you are passionate about being a nurse. Hopefully he will listen and support you. But seioiusly, go for RN. les

I have read somewhere that 40-50% of women with PCOS are not overweight.

I too would be interested in hearing about this. I am also dx with PCOS. I'm wondering if ayone knows anything about dealing with symptoms of PCOS. I'll only to it admit here as we are anonymous, I've been experiences abnormal hair growth (whiskers under my chin) and my hair has been getting thinner here lately. I feel really selfconcious about it. My doctor said that if I tried to get pregnant while taking Clomid before I turned 30, it would be relatively easy to succeed. He said that after 30 it would be more problematic. Well, I'm 30 now and not yet ready to do it. I'd like to wait another 1½-2 yrs. This has all got me pretty worried. What if I miss the boat? I'd love to hear from anyone who knows about this subject. thanks Leslie

I agree with the others. Take advantage of the counseling and even if he stops, keep going with your kids. Your 17 year old is at a point in his life where he is going to have to be responsible for his actions. Lots of us come from difficult backgrounds. It's up to us to think about what kind of life we want for ourselves and make conscious decisions about how we act. I don't know how you can get through to your son, I hope you can get him to counseling as well. Your main priority is helping the 2 younger children. Good luck, Leslie

true true, according to the press you guys have a sense of humor that Danes can appreciate.. everyone loves Mary over here.... and now she's going to finally give the people what they want... a new crown heir!! les

Hi, I've been wondering if there are any Danish nurses working in the States here at allnurses? I'd really love to hear what you think about working in the States as compared to Denmark. What is better, what is worse? Did you feel adequately prepared for the job when you are arrived? I mean did you feel overqualified/underqualified? How was the NCLEX? I'm asking because I am an american studying nursing in Dk and plan on eventually returning to the US. I've been thinking alot lately about what the transition will be like. I really like it here actually and I'm worried that moving back to the States would be kind of hard when it comes to work environment. For example, here on allnurses, you read all about nurses eating their young. My experiences in DK are quite the opposite. The nursing staff that I've worked with have always been really friendly and open to answering questions. So, I hope I hear from some of you!! På forhånd tak!! Leslie

I think the most important thing to remember here, is that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I started nursing school with no relevant experience and was pretty concerned about how I would do in clinicals. I'm also older than most of my fellow students and was worried that I wouldn't fit in. I soon found out that it didn't matter too much, not the age or inexperience. We have to identify our weaknesses and then focus on them and build ourselves up. I've also found out that being older, I have more confidence and more perspective than many of my classmates. For example, in regards to testing, sure I might get a little nervous, but I don't allow myself to get too worked up. It won't be the end of the world if I don't pass. ok, I'm getting off subject here. Also, I have a few friends at school who like the OP are good with their hands. They've been doing fine. They struggle with the theory more than I do, but they're doing fine, and have no problems with their clinicals. les

I'm just guessing here, but I would think that decreasing the heart's workload is first priority. I would position the pt. with the head somewhat elevated and perhaps elevate the legs a bit. I would think the edema would be secondary and hopefully treated with diuretics. I'm a student as well, so I look forward to input from the pros. les

Can they fit in your pocket? How robust are they, can they take a few knocks? Don't they get in your way when you´re working? Been wondering about this for awhile.... - les

I had the same thoughts that you did when I started school. Additionally, I have PCOS, so my biological clock is ticking away doubletime. I've just finished my first year of a 4 yr nursing program and after arguing the issue back and forth, have decided to wait until I get done with school. I'll be 32 then, so I hope I still have time to have a baby. The thing is, is that I know myself. I know that I would more than likely take a break from school to stay home with the baby, and who knows if I would go back. I would be feel like the worlds biggest failure if I didn't complete my course of study. Besides, I don't want to stop at one baby. Would I take another break a year or two later?I'm not getting any younger you know. So, for me the right choice is to wait. Only you can decide what's right for you. My advice would be, that if you don't have any fertility issues as of now, go ahead and wait. Once you get preg, there's no turning back, you can always change your mind about waiting later on. les

Thanks to all for their input. This has really answered my question. I'll have to put the same question to my clinical advisor when I see her next month. We don't have JACHO over here, and the little country hospital I'm at hasn't started using electronic pt. journals yet. Progress moves slowly in socialized health systems. I'm sure they must have some sort of policy/binder or something. I'll find out. thanks, les

Hi, I've been wondering about this for awhile. I'm finishing up my first year of nursing school and have had about 3wks of clinicals altogether. not much I admit. Anyway, the point is that at school there's alot of emphasis on care plans. But when I've been out in the real world, I haven't seen too much in the way of nursing diagnoses, setting of goals, evaluations and so on. I imagine that the new generation of nurses are supposed to bring these skills to the fore, but I've been wondering if there aren't already plenty of nurses out there doing all of this already? Perhaps the ward I'm assigned to is a bit shoddy? I'd really appreciate some feedback on this, so please let me know what your experiences are. Leslie

Thanks PJ Mommy!! mmmm... chunks hunh? I've got alot to look forward to here. Can't wait to get acquainted with rectal bags. Les

ok, help me out here, why would this be ordered?????????gross me out!!!! but seriously, why? les

In Denmark, your hair has to be up. If your hair hangs forward at any length you have to pin it up. Ponytails are ok, as long as they don't swing forward too much. If you have long hair --- it's bun time!!

Hello again, Well I have to say that when I come back to the states one day, I don't think I'll be going south of my hometown!! We have alot of mexican-americans in Victoria, but they've mostly all been there for awhile. Of the mex-am. friends that I have, most of their families have been americans longer than my own family has. I can't imagine having people cover their eyes because they saw a blond - how weird. Those people- are they the mexican equivalent of hillbillies?? I've never heard of such a thing. Kerry - yes, obviously I do plan to return to texas one day. I miss my family alot. I'm getting my nursing degree over here tho, and the work environment over here is alot different, alot better I think. I'm kind of getting cold feet about coming back. thanks to everyone for their replies, I'd love to hear more. Les

For a while now I've been reading about the so called nursing shortage and today I read a thread that discusses this issue and the general opinion that the problem is the poor working environment, pay etc. So I can't help but wonder why we aren't organized. Surely if ALL of us were unionized we'd be in a better position to negotiate. I live in Denmark where 97% of all nurses are union members. Things are not perfect here, but better than the US I think. So, what do all of you think? Why aren't we more organized? Seems like I've read somewhere that ca. 30% of american nurses are unionized? I'd like to hear what ya'll have to say. leslie anne

kassy and hellllo nurse thanks for your replies. i would imagine that the further south you go the more spanish or "tex-mex" is spoken. i went down south of corpus christi once, to "the valley", and felt like i was in another country. so i guess nursing in tx is the same as other places then...? thanks again, leslie