MInursingstudent

My friend and I just graduated and are studying for nclex together while waiting for our ATT.

My friend and I juSt graduated and we started a blog on studying for nclex, writing our resumes, practicing and dressing for interviews and how to fight off post grad depression in a humorous way. We both participate in these message boards as well. http://gradnursesguidetostayingalive.wordpress.com/

Well...all of you can stop debating b/c soon this will no longer matter. WCCCD has been putting everything in place for the past year (I graduate in December), and we were informed that we will be NLNAC accredited hopefully before the end of the year. I don't see any difference in our program from my first semester when we weren't focused on regaining the NLNAC to the 2nd semester when we were. WCCCD is a very difficult program, which I hear from experienced nurses produces intelligent, hard-working, independent RNs.

Hi Health Nut, I just finished my 2nd semester, and I have to tell you, everything changes...including your priorities. So yes, you will have time to be at the gym and work out, but then no, you won't have time to hang out with your significant other. You have to be great at time management or you will fall behind. Are you planning on working at all during your program? Your first semester will be the most demanding. You will be putting in extra lab hours while practicing, as well as extra time trying to figure out what the heck Care Plans are and how to do them. Also, studying for nursing exams is much different than for A&P, Patho,etc, the tests are based on critical thinking instead of memorization. So, I hate to tell you, but to start off, yes, your life will be devoted to nursing if you want to be a good nurse. And, it really does help to develop good study groups with good study habits. Good luck!!

Djmatte, I am a nursing student who just started looking into an externship. My clinical is on a tele floor this semester and I really like it. Do you know if your floor does externships or how I would apply there?

And I did not use your other suggestions only b/c he did not complain of dyspnea or SOB and his O2 was normal. Also, he did not have neuropathy in any extremities, only had the diminishing vision b/c of DM, so I wasn't sure if I should use neuropathy. But I thought the noncompliance supported by what could happen in the rationale would be a good idea. Thanks again!!

Thank you for your help! I will use ineff tiss perf r/t disrythmias, impaired sensory:vision r/t DM, Noncompliance r/t DM, Ineff coping r/t chronic illness, and Risk for Falls r/t syncope. How does that sound?

Oh, and I think I will also use the Noncompliance dx and a Depression one, maybe Ineffective Coping (the pt is depressed b/c of illnesses) I'm just not sure what my first three s/b.

Hello all, I am hoping to get some help with a care plan. I am in my second semester and my teacher is really expecting us to know what we are doing now...and I really need some assistance with this patient please!! 58 year old male, admitted with syncope r/t defibrillator failure (they called it defib syndrome on his admission forms, but I think that may be something else), he also has Diabetes, COPD, Depression, Arthritis (mainly in hands), elevated Cholesterol, CHF, and the defib was inserted after two MIs. O2 was 93% room air, Blood Glucose was 157 (before breakfast), BP 135/75, 68bpm. He is noncompliant w/diabetic diet aeb pt stating he knew his eyesight is declining rapidly and he "can't stay away from pasta"; he presents with slight edema in ankles and feet; Protime was 29.4 sec, BUN 26mg/dl, chest x-ray only states "maybe some medial pleural calcifications on left"; pt has no chest pain; BMI 39. Oh, and his ECG shows afib, with no T wave. Sorry, this is a lot of info...but I don't know what to focus on. We need 5 dx's for each careplan. If the BP and HR are within range, can you use Decrease Cardiac Output r/t defib failure aeb ECG results? I think I should also use Ineffective Tissue Perfusion r/t CHF aeb edema? All suggestions are welcome & will be appreciated!

Oh, and I think I will also use the Noncompliance dx and a Depression one, maybe Ineffective Coping (the pt is depressed b/c of illnesses)

Hello all, I am hoping to get some help with a care plan. I am in my second semester and my teacher is really expecting us to know what we are doing now...and I really need some assistance with this patient please!! 58 year old male, admitted with syncope r/t defibrillator failure (they called it defib syndrome on his admission forms, but I think that may be something else), he also has Diabetes, COPD, Depression, Arthritis (mainly in hands), elevated Cholesterol, CHF, and the defib was inserted after two MIs. O2 was 93% room air, Blood Glucose was 157 (before breakfast), BP 135/75, 68bpm. He is noncompliant w/diabetic diet aeb pt stating he knew his eyesight is declining rapidly and he "can't stay away from pasta"; he presents with slight edema in ankles and feet; Protime was 29.4 sec, BUN 26mg/dl, chest x-ray only states "maybe some medial pleural calcifications on left"; pt has no chest pain; BMI 39. Oh, and his ECG shows afib, with no T wave. Sorry, this is a lot of info...but I don't know what to focus on. We need 5 dx's for each careplan. If the BP and HR are within range, can you use Decrease Cardiac Output r/t defib failure aeb ECG results? I think I should also use Ineffective Tissue Perfusion r/t CHF aeb edema? All suggestions are welcome & will be appreciated!

I am in my second semester at WCCCD and it is a tough, but very good program! They started removing the instructors names from the lottery lists so students wouldn't pick according to which one they liked. I definitely recommend a med terminology course, but you won't have time for that in your first semester. Your first 7 weeks may be the most exhausting and frustrating you've ever had, depending on your instructor, but get a good study group together, people that you know will keep you motivated, and you will be alright. And, as a good incentive, I have heard that ---- makes remediation the worst hell you can imagine, so keep up on all your reading and be prepared!! Good luck

Hi! I am a nursing student in the middle of my second semester of the program. If you are not 100% before you get into the a program, I can almost guarantee this is not the right decision for you. First off, at my school, the instructors are very hard on you. It's like a boot camp for the first few weeks. It's mainly because they want you take it seriously, they want you to know what you are doing, but mainly because they only want the people to stay that really really want to be there. Second, if your husband is gone a lot, and you are the main person responsible for your children, home, etc...that WILL become an issue. Most programs just give you a schedule. My first set of clinicals I went straight from the hospital to a lecture, it was a 14 hour day. If one of your kids gets sick, or if something happens at home, the instructors don't care. They want you there at the hospital or in class, because whatever you learn that day could be vital to someone's life one day...or to your exam that week! I am exhausted most of the time , and thankfully have a very sweet boyfriend who helps me, sometimes he even irons my uniforms. I have seen quite of few people drop out or fail classes already, and quite honestly, most of them you could see it coming from day one, because they were always complaining, or just plain didn't care as much as the rest of us. If you aren't sure, try being a Care Tech or an Aide first. You need to know what the nurses do, because it is not about putting on cute scrubs and bringing home a big paycheck!!