pinksapphire

Don't overlook community colleges.

Hi, I am in my final 6 weeks of nursing school and am working on preparation sheet for a simulation lab. I am having a difficult time finding information for the final question and am hoping someone can provide assistance. The question is: "If a patient has no Advanced Directives" and no immediate family available to make a decision regarding his care, what options are available to the healthcare team?" I found the following information on a website: If a patient lacks decision-making capacity and there is no person who can be identified as an appropriate surrogate, consultation with the hospital ethics committee is strongly encouraged. When it is decided not to request judicial appointment of a surrogate, withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is ethically acceptable a each of the following conditions are satisfied: 1) reasonable efforts have been made to identify an individual to serve as a surrogate, and these efforts have been unsuccessful; 2) there is a consensus of the physicians involved in the patient's care that there is no expected benefit of life-sustaining treatment to the patient; and 3) conditions 1 and 2 above have been clearly documented in the patient's chart. in addition to these conditions, when a life-sustaining treatment is going to be withheld or withdrawn for such a patient, consultation with either the hospital ethics committee or a physician who is not otherwise involved in the patient's care is required to confirm the patient's best interests are served in the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Is this how end of life decisions for a patient falling into this category would be handled (in general). Thanks for your help.

First check w the Profs. Our 1st semester Profs don't allow recording, but 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semesters do. I use my iPhone to record lectures. Works great and I always have it w me. Listening to the recordings helps esp on the difficult lectures ( fluid & electrolytes). Wishing you the best!

I am not sure how many they place on the wait list but I do know if you are wait listed make sure you show up to the mandatory orientation. There are always those who were accepted but for whatever reason decide not to attend. If you don't go to orientation on time you won't be accepted

Congratulations to all of you. I am currently in my 3rd semester at AACC and will be graduating in May of 2014. I would like to invite all of you to become involved in the NSA (Nursing Student Association) on campus. Looking forward to meeting you all at Orientation

I purchased the book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Lippincotts-Review-NCLEX-RN-CD/dp/1608311252/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER. I have found this book very helpful in all my nursing classes so far. Wishing the very best!

Praying for all those impacted by the tornado that devastated Oklahoma. Praying for the medical personnel that will be working long hours in stressful situations to assist all the injured.

Glad to see you trying finish the semester. Will be praying for you to pass your classes. Best wishes

Once you complete your first semester in the nursing program at AACC you are eligible for your CNA license. You do not have to take any additional courses or exams. Call MBON in Baltimore and have them send you the packet. There are lots of places that do the fingerprinting/background checks and photo. AACC NSA also offers photo and background checks/fingerprinting nearer to the end of each semester and the cost is around $70 +-. Hope this helps and good luck!

I am currently sitting out this semester (although not by my choice). I am a very focused student and was looking forward to completing my RN program in December 2013. I am in the 3rd semester. In our program semester 3 is divided into 2 8 week sessions, with spring great between the 2. The day following my final in Med Surg 2 (the first 8 week class), I had a liver biopsy scheduled to determine why I had been having high liver enzymes. This was scheduled to be an outpatient procedure with discharge occurirng anywhere from 1.5 hrs - 4 hrs following the procedure. Unfortunately this was not my case. While laying on the stretcher relaxing after the procedure I almost passed out. My bp plummeted and my abdomen became very painful. My head was lowered immediately and I was wisked away for a ct scan. CT scan showed a bleed into the abdomen. The surgeon came to talk to me and he said I had taken an involuntary breath during the biopsy and it caused the needle to skitter across the surface of the liver. They wanted to admit me for observation. So I was admitted to the Observation Unit (by far the worst possible place.. Private room (they all are in his hospital) very tiny, uncomfortable bed and no bathroom except a toilet covered by a curtain. no showers at all. I spent 5 days here while they closely monitored my blood pressure and blood levels. They did not find it humorous when my blood pressure dropped to 80/40 and remained there for a day. 5 days later I was discharged feeling a little sore still and exhausted from laying in bed all day. Now just to rest and prepare to return to classes in 1 week. Well that's not quite what happened. On day 2 at home I began to develop right sided abdominal tenderness and bloating. I initial ignored this but the following day while we were cleaning up after dinner I happened to mention that my belly was not feeling well. My Dad than promptly said go grab your stuff we're going to the ER. You are not going to drag tis out and have something happen that interferes with class next week. (Although I am grown with my on children and grandchildren) The answer was yes Sir. At the ER they took me in immediately and began examining my abdomen. Very distended and painful. Following the CT scan w contrast the fun really began. The scan showed what appeared to be a carcinoid tumor in the small intestines. I was admitted to the oncology floor and met with the surgeon that night. The following afternoon I underwent a full laparotomy with an incision that begins right below my sternum to an inch or so above the pubic bone. This was closed with 30 staples. Thankfully, Praise God! There was no cancer. It was a hematoma from the liver biopsy as well as remaining blood within the abdominal spaces. Once I realized I would still be in the hospital when classes began that following Monday I contacted the program head and my course advisor informing them of what was going on and to find out what I needed to do so that the withdrawal did not appear as a course failure. Needless to say this has been bittersweet. I have time to get to know my newest grand baby born the day after my 1st discharge. I am also able to catch up on quilting , reading, and yes even preparing for PEDS next semester. My graduation date is now May 2014 which was not the plan but there are blessings there too. My 2 very closest friends failed out of one of their classes so they had to retake the failed course delaying their graduation till May 2014. So we will still be able to study together and graduate together. I have realized that I do not make a very patient patient when it comes to slowing down and taking it easy. I have this unexpected time and amy trying to fill it with everything I can think of. Not my wisest move. In answer to augural, weigh out your pros and cons. If you are struggling financially right now its only going to get that much worse. Nursing school gets even more demanding and generally is very difficult to work with any kind of decent hours). I wish you much success in whatever you decide to do!

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I am in my 3rd semester and I have found the following to be extremely helpful when studying for exams in Nursing School. 1) Review lecture power points and class notes 2) make Concept Maps 3) Read text books (or at least topics I am not clear on) 4) Practice NCLEX style questions (My favorite book is Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Review and my favorite iPad app is NCLEX QB) 5) Get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast before the exam Also if your course/program offers test reviews prior to the exam make sure you participate. These made a huge difference in my grades. Best wishes!

1st off I agree with the other responders "Stick with it". Even if you fail you will be ahead of the game when you return to retake the classes. 2nd-Do not be defined by your circumstances. I don't mean to sound harsh and I do sympathize with your circumstances. Losing a loved one is difficult no matter what. Did you let your professor know prior to leaving for the funeral? I have found by being open and honest with my professors they will usually try and work with you. I have had 2 circumstances while in nursing school that I have had to ask for exceptions. By contacting the professors ahead of time I was able to take a final exam 2 days after the scheduled date in the testing center (due to a documented eye injury). 3rd: Make a list of why you want to be a nurse and keep this list where you can see it frequently. Nursing school is not for everyone and it requires much sacrifice. More than most would ever guess. Maybe you are meant to be a nurse but maybe the timing for school is off. It might be better to complete this semester and than withdraw for a semester to get your life straight so that you can return to school and focus on school. 4th: Can you cut back on your work hours? I know there are a few students in our class that work full time but our professors have told us that it is extremely difficult to continue working full time through out nursing school. I thought my 1st semester was extremely demanding. But as I have continued on I have realized that every semester has become even more demanding ( I am currently in my 3rd semester). Ultimately you have to decide what is best for you and your situation. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

This topic reminds me of our society in general. Don't hurt their ego, make sure everyone passes, there are no winners or losers. Make everyone feel warm and cozy. I am a 3rd semester nursing student (non-traditional). I work extremely hard for the grades I earn. I have taken tests with some pretty bad questions and even worse answers. I have also taken tests that the professors have 1. Discovered a mistake with the answer key prior to publishing the grade or 2. Listened to the rationale given by the students for why the supposedly "incorrect" answer was chosen. As a general rule it has been my experience that if a test question/answer can be proven by what was in the text or PowerPoints than either the question is thrown out if there in fact was no right answer, or both answers are accepted. But to throw out questions or increase points to make sure "everyone" passes? I most certainly do not want that nurse caring for me or my loved ones that "passed" nursing school by instructors increasing scores so that their pass averages look good. I have approached instructors in a respectful and private manner to provide textbook information that supports the necessity for changing a test answer. I have not received a test grade that was altered to increase the class average. I do feel that there is frequently not enough "proofing" of exams prior to them being given. This causes anxiety and frustration to those of us taking the exams. When a nursing program has been around for a long time and they questions have been recycled I am not sure why debates should be necessary over questions or answers. I would think this would have already have been corrected, but possibly it is the first go around for that question. I do support correcting an accepted answer because it should be corrected. I do not support changing grades just so everyone passes. And I realize that the NCLEX should wean these people out but I would think that even if you can pass the NCLEX you may not be an acceptable nurse. There is not room in this profession for very many if any whoops. And even less room for excuses. But just my humble opinion. Now off to study for my final in Med Surg 2!

It is sad that these tips are even necessary. As a non-traditional nursing student pursuing my life's dream I was raised in an atmosphere of respect. Respect for ones self as well as respect for my elders and superiors. I was also raised that while you may not respect the person you should always respect the position. I do not understand why anyone would think it is ok to leave your home to anywhere in pajamas. I am sorry but IMO pajamas are for at home and bed, not going shopping, to school, the doctor's and most especially to a job interview! I also do not go anywhere without make-up but that is my preference. I have to wonder what type of nursing school these people are attending to think it is ok to show up to an interview in pajamas, with non human colored hair, piercings and or tattoos showing. In the nursing program I am a part of we are written up and can receive a clinical failure for just about anything but especially for being "out of uniform" which includes human colored hair neatly up in a bun and secure off our collar, one pair of post non-dangle earrings in our ear lobe (if desired), one wedding band (leave the diamond engagement ring at home), white closed back shoes, white plain support hose up to the knee at least, clean white unwrinkled uniform, tattoos covered. Nursing is a highly respected profession. If someone has a problem with conforming with the rules of the profession as well as the school and the employer than I suggest applying for a job at the mall where anything goes. For those of us who have followed the rules, conformed to the code and take pride in the profession of nursing, it is embarrassing when others are so disrespectful. It is sad to think that these tips are even necessary but thank you for taking the time to write them out, possibly someone can avoid wasting everyones time by taking them to heart.