lazydaze22

We had an assignment where we had to do debates as a team of 4, 2 vs 2, in front of the class. We did whether or not we should go to extremes to save micropreemies. We actually got an "award" from the teacher for having the most original topic. Good luck!!!

Yet another long-time migraine sufferer here. Since I was 12 my head has constantly hurt. I get the real bad ones daily, the really, REALLY bad ones a few times a week. I quit going to the ER because the lights and sounds there nearly paralyze me with the pain. Urgent care is quieter and quicker if I can get there during their hours, or my GP will give me a tordaol/phenergan injection. I'm in my senior year of nursing school (TOTALLY understand the poster who is trying to do work and school and deal with these migraines! I really feel for you!). I have also wondered what to do if/when the time comes that I am missing too much work, so the FMLA info is great. Thank you. Sorry to detract from the OP, but any reccommendations for areas to work in from those who have migraines as well? I don't want to ask anyone at school because I don't want my grades to suffer due to someone else's judgment of whether or not I should be a nurse. I've had my share of nurses telling me I should never be a nurse and to just get my degree and find another job, so I'm not looking for that type of advice. To the original poster, I have known nurses who were on disability due to migraines, but they all had to quit nursing and then fought hard to get disability. It breaks my heart to think of how many really excellent nurses are out there but can't work because migraines disrupt their lives and there is nowhere for them to go where people understand. It's not just a boss that understands or a job that can let you work flexible hours, but the need to work a certain amount of hours to earn money to put food on the table. It's all so frustrating and I'm sorry I have no ideas to help you. I hope you are able to solve this problem and that your head lets up and gives you peace this week.

I have a BS in animal science, but decided in my last 2 semesters that I wanted to get a BSN (not many career options with the other degree and vet school was too much money and out of my reach for the time being). I was able to fill some electives with pre-reqs, took a correspondance psych class, summer school, and then only needed one semester of pre-reqs beyond that before I started. So the BS-AS took 3 1/2 years, then another 3 for the BSN (5 semesters of nursing- graduate in Dec 05). For me it wasn't too much time and since I had been planning on 4 years of vet school, plus another 1/2 year to take physics, I'm getting done earlier than I had planned way back when I started college. My nursing school is also cheaper than the other university. It's going up each semester but this past one was $1800. I live in Louisiana. Are there any other programs near you? I checked out everything within a 3 hour radius to find the best quality school that was also within my financial limits. There was a wide variety of both. My school started an accelerated program the semester after I started. They do 5 semesters straight, so includes 1 or 2 summers, depending when you start. I hope you find what is right for you!

Thank you both for your input! It does help to understand what you see go on in your units. I appreciate the time you took to respond, thank you!

DEFINATELY call!! My school never called or sent me a letter, unlike everyone else. I went up to the school and wanted to see my application and find out why I didn't get a letter either way. Well, my application was there on the desk with a sticky note to call me regarding my transcript from my first degree. Turns out they had just calculated it with some of the classes left out instead of calling me, so my GPA was too low! When they said my name wasn't on the list I said I had calculated my GPA higher than they did, so could I please see how they did it? Sure enough, it was definately high enough to get in and was basically a BIG mistake on their part. They were all sweet and everything then, probably hoping I wouldn't say anything. But I would call at the very least. If you think something isn't right or everyone else got their letters back, it is worth the time and gas to go visit in person. Plus, it can't hurt to get the office people to know your name and face. Good luck!!!

Hi, I'm doing a case study paper for management class. The scenario is based on the hospital shifting to using more LPNs and NAs. The unit is oncology with an avergae census of 24 patients needing total care. What they are "giving" the unit is 1 charge RN, 2 RNs besides him/her, 2 LPNs, and 2 NAs. I am having a hard time figuring out HOW on earth that can work. Can anyone help me out with what your average ratios of each type of caregiver to patients and what tasks each do on the oncology unit? I am really clueless about what REALLY goes on in that unit with the exception of how textbooks portray it. I really appreciate your time and expertise!

I don't buy nursing books from school. I either get them from a student a semester ahead of me if it's something I MUST have or buy it on Ebay or Half.com or any of those places, and use the library if I have the time. Brown bag your lunch and bring something to snack on for the drive home from clinicals so you don't give in and stop at McDonalds. Two girls in my clinicals take turns bringing lunches for each other. They might have sanwhiches, salads, leftover tuna helper from dinner, etc. Take your water bottles home and wash them and reuse them instead of paying $1 each time. Try to snag a graduating senior before you start needing scrubs for class. Chances are they will be happy to have their ugly uniform scrubs go to a good cause. Also check area Goodwills around graduation time.

We did bedbaths and head to toe exams on each other, but we wore shorts and sports bras or tank tops for both and did not have to do anything that would be overly uncomfortable or invasive. We did verbalize how to do care for the genital area but that was all. We did do SC injections, blood draws, and IV starts on each other, but that was it. Foleys and NGT's totally out of the question. They have plenty of models and dummies to practice those skills on. I like the idea of abstaining from being a guinea pig. Alot of us had bruises on our arms and hands for awhile there.:)

If you are too scared to ask your instructor, ask other nurses on the unit. I have found everyone from the nurses to the pharmacists to the doctors to the unit clerk to the nice man who mops the floors to have something to add to my education. If you are nice and respectful they will probably answer you. Of course, don't barge in on them in the middle of a code, but if you are quick and concise many will be willing to help you!:)

I was on Lexapro for 2 years but built up a tolerance to the highest dose so had to be switched to Trileptal. Some drugs give some people side effects that are miracle workers for others. And if this doesn't work for you there are MANY other drugs out there to try. Check with the NP before you stop cold turkey too. I'm thinking that is one you need to wean off, but not positive. Always a good idea to consult with your NP/doc before doing so unless it's something life threatening. Good luck, I hope it helps you!:)

That is SO nice to hear! As a student, I sometimes feel in the way of the nurses and that I slow them down. I do truly learn so much from the nurses though and every one I have "leached" onto for information has been wonderful. And YES! I LOVE it when I have a nurse go with me when I try out a new skill instead of my instructor. They give great tips, aren't rushing to get to the next student, and even say I do a good job! Thanks!!! My favorite part so far is the chance to give a backrub or a squeeze of the hand during a visit from a doctor with bad news. I always hold my patient's hand if they allow me and speak directly to them even if they can't respond. I like the feeling that I am caring for their whole person and not just hanging fluids and shoving meds. Any little thing I can educate patients and their family on is a fun thing for me too.

I pop toast in the toaster as soon as I get up and munch it as I gather up my things, or driving on the way to the hospital. I second the yogurt smoothie idea, those are great too! I hit the floor my very first day in the hospital 1st semester and it was so terribly embarassing. Now I eat something at least every couple hours. Check out the applesauce aisle at the store. They have every imaginable flavor now, many without added sugar. They work well for any meal or snack. Bring some juiceboxes. If you get the Juicy Juice kiddie ones you can slurp one down in 30 secs if you don't have much time, but it still gets that glucose to your brain. PS- Don't feel too bad about the nearly passing out. When it happened to me just about every nurse on the unit came up to me to recount THEIR story of passing out or nearly passing out while they were a student! It happens to just about everyone at some time. :)

http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm A wonderful poem to read.

http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm A wonderful poem to read.

Thank you, for being such a loving and wonderful pet owner! Too many let their furred or feathered loved ones suffer so much longer than they have to, just because they aren't ready to let go. I am sure your kitty thanks you for letting him leave his earthly life now, in love and that decision made for him by one he loves too. I am so sorry for your loss. It is an asbolutely heart wrenching pain and I hope the memories help you smile through the tears. My dog of 15 years, there since my earliest memories, had to be put down due to CRF too. Once my family made the decision, it was amazing. Looking back at the pictures he was radiant and there is an actual glow surrounding him. He was more alert that he had been in months. It made such a difference to know how happy he was at the end and how he left this earth surrounded by love and not alone and scared and in pain. You did a good thing for your kitty. Sending many warm thoughts and hugs your way.