butterfly134

Nothing wrong with a good cry every now and again! Having a good rant with nursing student besties works wonders because well you know that they are going through the same stuff. Sometimes if you have a good preceptor they can understand and talk you through some stuff, telling them that you never experienced this before...because face it at eighteen you don't have much life experience. For example I didn't know what ''DNR a.k.a NFR'' meant. Never heard of it before I started nursing, not the kind of thing you learn in school! My preceptor sat me down and explained it, then it made sense! Also when things are just like mildly upsetting or annoying rather than cry-worthy, I play guitar and sing away! When things are a lil bit tougher, journaling helps. If things get really upsetting, I call my mom

im aware that there are courses like that in Ireland too however, I feel like I will probably have to emigrate. Canada isn't looking to great but I know the UK are definitely taking in new irish grads. Do you know what hospitals/colleges offer these courses?

Hi, I'm an Irish student nurse and as I'm sure those in the UK know that a lot of Irish student nurses are emigrating to the UK to work post qualifying here in Ireland. I'll have a degree in general nursing. However, I really really want to be a childrens nurse. I've tried googling how a RGN can become a RCN in the UK however I can't find anything! Is there anyway a newly qualified general nurse can work in a paediatric hospital and be trained on the job, if so what hospitals offer this? If not, is there any course I can do? If so how much does this cost? I'm young and I want to get as much done as I can while Im young! Please help!!!

So I've done some research tonight and I see that the skilled route is closed, do you think this cud open again by 2016? We were told that Canada needs nurses, so now I feel really disappointed! Could you give me information about other routes? If not where can I get all the information?? I've been looking at a lot of the requirements so I reckon I will be okay there as I will have a degree and speak fluent English and I will be aged between 21-49. And the CRNE should be okay if I prepare, I'd be in the top group of my class :) I just don't want to move to Australia!!

so does this mean I can't emigrate to Canada to nurse?? :/

I have heard that Canada will be recruiting a lot of nurses in the coming years. Is this true? My story- I'm an irish student nurse and I will soon receive my bachelor of science in general nursing. I obviously have fluent English and we do a 9 month clinical internship on the wards prior to graduating (we also do placements before throughout our academic years, prior to starting internship). The situation for newly qualified nurses is not good in Ireland at the moment. Since 2oo9 (I think) theres been an embargo so basically nurses were not being employed but our government have set up a ''graduate initiative'' which does employ but at a 20% cut to our wage. We will earn less the the health care assistants, porters and cleaners. I'll be qualified before I'm 23, so I'm young, educated and a motivated person and I strive to excel in my career, which won't be easy to do in the Irish system at the moment. I'm thinking of emigrating. Canada seems to be offering light in this gloom :) Could you tell me what it would be like to work in Canada, particularly Toronto (because its where my boyfriend thinks he might be able to get work)? The differences in nursing? The pay? Prospects of career development? I would love to be a pediatric nurse? Is the entrance exam hard? Would I find it very difficult to get a job in a hospital? Would there be much discrimination or would it be welcoming? What do I need to do/ sort out to work in Toronto? Any other additional info/stories about emigrating to Canada?? I would truly value any advise!!!! Thank you!!!

In Ireland, as part of our BSN we do clinical placement and then we do a clinical internship for 9 months. Initially in first year we do a lot of observing and chatting to patients but after that a lot is expected of us on placement, particularly in third year and fourth year. We are expected to work and work hard alongside the nurses. We carry out patient hygiene care, take vitals regularly, BM's, document (and get that co-signed), follow up through contacting physio, OT, doctors (at first we are prompted to do this but then you just get into a habit of mentioning it to your nurse and then making contact). Like we do get to ask questions and if we don't feel comfortable or feel something is out of our scope of practice we can and do say it. However(mostly under supervision), we get to give injections, insert NG tubes, give NG feeds, wound dressings, female catheterisation, remove IVcannulas (we just aren't allowed to give fluids etc). Anyway long story short, the students appear to be needed on the wards, particularly 3rd and 4th years. And although most are 21/22 at this stage, we are expected to be professional. We work 12 hour shifts and work hard! Theres generally something to do, if its not making a bed in our spare time, its updating fluid balance documenting! So my question, is it the same in the US?? :) :)

I'm 20 and a student nurse, I'll be qualified soon and I think I want to specialise in peds but I don't know if I have what it takes. My grades are really really good, I love working with children and infants because on my ped rotation I was smiling a lot, I like to think I'm caring and kind and I'm quite a softie and I'm fun (in a giggly way- I'm 20 okay ) however, my main concern is that although I think I might make a good pediatric nurse, I don't know if I could deal with children dying. Do you toughen up, did anyone else ever have this fear? would appreciate any feedback :) :)

Thank you so much for your help, really appreciate it! :)

YOU ARE A STAR.....I think I've worked it out...(I must sound so stupid! )..pH would be acidic???? WBC's always present in urine in infection or is it just UTI??

1) I know that more than 300 l/min is generally the normal rate for men. But what would these figures be in a moderate copd exacerbation? My guess is 200-250 l/min however I'm not sure 2) So therefore a chest-xray may appear normal even though the pt is coughing up purulent sputum? 3) Your right about the physiology, I know the different systems separately but have to start putting them together now. I don't think there is a relation, but if there isn't then why would one be done? Or is it just to rule out UTI?......I really appreciate your help!

I don't know if I'm posting in the right place but I need your help! I'm studying COPD (BSN Student) at the moment and I'm just so confused, please don't tell me to google or read a text books or read journals because I have, I promise! So if someone has an exacerbation of COPD due to infection, what would be the peak flow readings be if it was mild? Also would a chest x-ray determine the cause of this infection or is it done simply to rule out cancer etc? And would a urine sample show any abnormalities due to copd exacerbation caused by bronchopulmonary infection?? I would really appreciate your help because COPD is very common and I know I will encounter it on clinical rotation!

I'm still in nursing school but the hardest part so far was working with a nurse on clinicals who was in a really bad mood and criticised unconstructively for the 12 hours we worked together, by 6pm I was in the bathroom crying. Don't mean to scare you, I've worked alongside some fantastic nurses who are lovely and willing to teach you. Clinicals can be emotionally draining when you see stuff that you aren't prepared for, on my maternity rotation, I witnessed an instrumental birth.......lets just say I needed to get some air because I was a virgin never mind ever seeing a baby being born instrumentally ( and there was an appesiotomy as far as I can remember). My point being that some situations can be extremely overwhelming and emotional. However, nursing can be really fun too :) :) and although I know at some stage I will probably feel faint again, or somebody will upset me, I know that nursing is something I want to do because it is rewarding and there are more happy moments than sad times :) :)

I was the quiet, shy kid with a few close friends, studied hard, didn't cause much hastle, didn't really fit in and fairly innocent to be honest.....that all changed when I left high school and started my BSN, I met kids who I had something in common with, really came out of my shell and my confidence has improved immensely!!!! :) :) :)

Hey nurses, I know I'm a general nursing student but I wanted to post this on your page because I need a response from you guys. Basically, I'm 20 years old and I'm on clinical rotation at the moment. A few days ago one of the patients I was caring for was really sick. The patient had to have an NG tube inserted and was so scared. I'd never seen it done before on a real patient. Afterwards me and the nurse I was working with gave her a bed bath. On the outside I looked cool and collected. But on the inside I was so shook up. I'd never seen someone so scared and ill and in pain. I just wanted to make everything better but I knew I couldnt. And I wanted to do was cry but I couldn't. The nurse I was working alongside was great, she gave the patient support and encouragement. And she didnt seem one bit emotional where as I felt a little helpless. It just came so naturally to her and she didnt appear to be effected by it at all. Does it come with age? or experience? Like although I act professional and I feel im competent at the level I'm at, sometimes I feel like a kid! Do I need to grow a ''thicker skin'' and how does one even do that? I just want to be the best nurse I can be. Thanks for reading!