Fraggle

double diapers. It drives me crazy when a nursing home patient comes in with two diapers on and maybe a chux thrown in for good measure. I'm not a real fan of oral care, either. I've done it one in the ED b/c the patient kept showing me her teeth and some were bright booger green. But when I swabbed, they turned out to be actual hard green mucus pieces jammed into missing tooth spaces. I almost yacked that time.

I guess Raleigh in general. A couple we're friends with are moving there. I know the area is growing, but coming from Metro DC, it's much calmer. I'm really jealous, b/c I would like a change in the quality of life. We're both originally from cities smaller than DC, like Raleigh but not in the southern What is the area really like? Can we find a nice cape/bungalow/otherestablished home in a good neighborhood for about $350,00?. We're not really new construction people. What are the good hospitals (I'm in the ED.) What sort of things should I keep in mind? Thanks! Erica

I need to hear some opinions. I work in the ED as a tech, while in school. We've been married 5 years and had to postpone starting a family b/c I went back to school for nursing. I graduate this May and will be starting in the ED as a new grad. So we're trying and I could conceivably (:chuckle) have a due date just a month after orientation. (Orientation is 3 months long.) Is this insane? I'm 28 and I don't want to wait any longer to start a family. I'm a pretty relaxed person (although I know orientation is stressful) and things always go well for me (b/c I work hard) but how bad is this going to be? I'm also a little worried b/c many ER nurses are pretty hardcore and I hate to be the chick who goes and does something "stupid." Actually, a lot of them probably think I'm only 22 or something. And most of them seem to like me and are glad I'm coming there as a new grad. I hate to be looked upon poorly. (on the other hand I think: "big deal. All they can expect is that I'm a team player and competent." )

In terms of nationalized salaries... Fed salaries are pretty good. My husband is a Fed and is compensated very well. Teachers are part of state, county and local salary structures, which are known to be pretty poor.

I'd say Nursing is more difficult than the BS Engineering. But a different type of difficult. Most of my nursing classmates probably couldn't do Differential Equations or Calculus above level 2. A lot would struggle with Organic Chem (which our program doesn't require.) BUT, Nursing requires a whole other way of thinking that is very difficult. And it defeintely requires more reading in school In general, I've had to do more work for it.

I love wounds and abscesses. I also observed a penile implant and that was pretty cool. Not a fan of the sputum, though. Or when you cath someone and it comes out like pudding? I could stare at that forever b/c I am so amazed that can actually happen.

I loved Burned Finger Lady last week. She was screaming and crying bloody murder b/c she touched a hot pan. Then she proceeeds to point out all of her burned fingers to me in triage. I was squinting and getting close and I still couldn't see any burn. Not a bit of redness or blanching and I know, I've burned myself a few too many times. :imbar "and this one. this one. and this one here." I'm usually really sympathetic, but that drama was a little much for me.

Either CC of University, it depends on the school. I've attended both a Big Ten University and now my local community college. Both have strong points and weaknesses. I've found that some times the expectations are a little lower at the CC and others a particular assignment has kicked my butt. Same at the University. My only gripe is that most of my classes at CC have graded my written work too easily. But I think I have high expectations in that area. On the other hand, a lot of people expect the CC to hold their hands through education and it doesn't happen. Plenty of smart people have failed out during nursing courses. I wouldn't trade having been young and living away at university for anything, though.

Thanks for any responses. I'll be graduating in May. I'll do my orientation at the hospital where I already work as a student tech. Hopefully that will start in July and be finished in mid-October. But I've been waiting a while to start a family. Hopefully we will start trying in January or Feb. Which would put the earliest possible due date right after that. Is that a terrible idea? I just can't imagine waiting any longer. I'm sure I'll get the ":uhoh3: look at her. I can't believe she'd go out on FMLA right after orientation!" etc. On the other hand, I'm not against working hard to do well, either. The other problem: they always say not to tell people you are expecting until you have the written offer. How does that work when I already work there? Do I just not tell my coworkers? I'm not new to the working world, but I was always corporate before this is a whole new arena for me. It's a supportive place, but I know I'm under the microscpe as a new nurse, too.

Foleys are my favorite skill! :rotfl: Always aim a little high and point it upwards. If it looks big, that's not it. If someone is really fleshy, try separating the folds starting from bottom up, not starting at the top and working down. It's like pulling open opera curtains. If it's a hip fx and they can't separate their legs much, don't be too gentle with getting your hand down there. Make sure they are medicated first, but the more you are afraid to retract the labia the longer they are lying there waiting for it to be over in anxiety. I've only hit a lady parts once and sometimes I spend all day foleying. That woman was really strong for 99. Now, ask me how many enlarged prostates I can't get around. Actually, I'd really like some tips on that. I've held that little member as high and straight as possible and sometimes still can't get around an enlarged prostate.

Still a student, but a 2nd time around one. In terms of getting a higher degree and not moving up.. you get a degree b/c you like the topic and want to do it. Never get any degree just for the promotion or money. And who knows, maybe a higher position isn't right for a person at the time. It depends what is important in your life at the time, but the option is nice to have. And my pet peeve: higher education does not equal higher pay or prestige. In any field. Like all these people who send their kids to university and think they should all graduate making over $50,000 per year doing clerical work b/c they have a bachelor's degree.

Darts or seams on the tops, for the women at least. Talls that are actually talls in women's styles

1. Money 2. What you can do when not working Two very important factors. And yet, they don't say anything about what you want to do 3-5 days per week. Don't get me wrong, you need to consider those things. But while teaching and nursing have commonalities, they're very different. You can rationalize it any number of ways. I'ver heard teachers don't make that much per hour when you include the number of hours they work outside of the school day. Or that nurses salaries as a whole don't increase much over time. What do you want to do? What kind of things do you want to do all day? And yeah, we all want to help people and not be sit around all day. :chuckle One of these professions is more right for you at this point in your life. Identify what you want, then you'll know what's fulfilling day in and day out.

While we're on diapers... please do not send your residents to us in the ambo double-diapered or with chux or washcloths stuffed down them. This is why we change briefs on occasion. My husband's great aunt was brought to a family picnic with a chux stuffed in her diaper, too. Her daughter, not an uneducated woman, thought that was what you do, since it's always like that at the facility. Okay, one more. Families, please by your elderly women bras that fit. I once had to stuff an DD or larger, wheezing COPD into a 36 C underwire, b/c she refused to go braless and that's all they gave her. I was new, I should have told her "no," but mom shouldn't get your leftovers.

I've never heard of a nappie. I say "brief." The only problem is sometimes people don't understand "brief" and they say "oh, you mean the diaper?" Adults do not wear diapers!

LTC, first clinicals. Nasty, uncooperative, 300+lb woman. I wanted to cry and go home and never come back again! I had her again a few weeks later and she finally started trusting me. I remember wanting to throw the brief/diaper, though. How was little old me going to roll a gigantic woman over and fit only an XL diaper on her, while holding her in place and changing the sheets?! Now I can roll and change like the best of them. Who knew I would be able to roll a big person over so far, hold them with one hand and change the sheets with the other! Or a bedpan. The first time, I was thinking "you want me to wedge this little plastic thing the whole way under there? And then have the person actually go into it?? And hold it down while they roll over again and unwedge it??" I still don't know why facilities don't stock diapers over size XL, though.

ha! We have the same name and year! :chuckle Many hospitals offer PCT positions for nursing students. Most require you to finish Fundamentals first. Many are non-benefited. They vary widely in programs, pay, responsibilities, requirements, schedules. I'm in one now, though, and enjoy it. Pay isn't that great, but there is a lot of experience to be had. CHeck out websites and call the HR offices for more info. Along with scholarships, they usually require some sort of work commitment. There's also the Maryland State Nursing Scholarshio, which requires a work commitment.

Don't live off of loans. You don't want to graduate with thousands of dollars of debt. I can pay as I go, too. Or they also have a monthly payment plan. The community college is only $1000 per semester, which is insanely cheap, but there are a lot of people that can't afford that, even. Or they could but they have different priorities.

From where are you moving? I used to live in the apts across from Merriweather, corner of Broken Land and Hickory Ridge Rd. I forget the name, starts with an S. Nice apartments, some crappy neighbors. The Avalon next to it looks nice too. Apartments are expensive in Columbia. You might want to try renting a condo from someone. Or getting a roomate if finances are an issue. There are some nice ones on Little Patuxent, back where it loops around. Or you can rent my basement and pay me one meellyon dollars! :rotfl: I'll be working at HCGH as a student (new grad next year!) Congrats!!

Marilyn is a columnist with a really high IQ. She used to do only trivia and mind game type questions. Now she also does advice and other type of questions. Whenever she strays from mind and logic puzzles, it's pretty obvious that her high IQ doesn't always equal perspective or sense.

Speaking from experience, you need to have a talk with her first. You're the only one that can take charge of your feelings. God, that sounds cheesy and self-helpish. But it's true. You have to be bold and be willing to make your decisions with confidence and without fear of regret. You treat people with honesty and respect, and hope for the same in return. If you don't receive it, oh well, such is life. After I realized that cutting out my mother wasn't going to work and that I should try and have at least a polite relationship, I was very lucky she didn't hold it against me. I mean, it's not all sunshine and roses and she still pisses me off. But you get through it with what you can and focus on your happiness. :chuckle

I bought them online. I had to buy the pants online b/c I need talls . So I just bought the shirts online too.

I just got my first scrubs for a nurse extern job this summer. We can wear any kind we want. So I ordered LA Rose pants. All of them fit a little differently, though they're all the same size and color. I can deal. But I ordered 4 printed tops from Fashion Scrubs, LA Rose, and one other brand I can't remember. The Larges are kind of big. I always wear large size tops, though. Sometimes XL if my chest doesn't fit :chuckle Are scrub tops sized large? If I wash them, will they shrink up? Or should I exchange for a Medium?

In some ways I agree that a BSN elevates the profession. But I also really like that nursing is more accessible as a career with multiple paths. It helps that we all take the NCLEX, too. I like the educational balance a BSN provides, but I think we do provide access w/o compromising having well-rounded nurses.

That only makes sense if the claim is filed against you the employee only. However, insurance or not, who has deeper pockets? The RN with an insurance policy or the hospital? So 9 times out of 10, the hospital is going to be named with you. And they can't just up and drop out to leave you to fight alone, b/c they are named also. Bottom line, if the hospital thinks they don't want to defend you along with themselves, they're not going to. We're dispensible, even in a staffing shortage. They'll cut their losses if they have to, but not simply b/c you have your own insurance policy. They'll focus on themselves b/c true or false, there is a reasonable case against you and they want to distance themselves. They'll do that if you carry malpractice or not.