gonzalal

Well I've been a OR nurse for over a 2 years, still learning a lot but I hope this helps. During the day I see lots of ortho,general cardiac cysto and the occasional emergency. recently I started working nights, 7pm to 7:30 am, boy I rushed my learning curve, at night there is only two nurses and two techs to run two rooms only 9during the da we run 21 OR, so there is a big difference in help available. At night I see emergencies from ectopic pregnancies to GSW or MVA and everything in between. I have the chance to work very close to great anesthesiologist and surgeons and when we have a code the nurse is the one stepping in to do the CPR so we have a lot to do. I help intubating the patient, placing foley cath the occasional IV and if I'm comfortable I can scrub a case. Best decision ever, becoming an OR nurse.

I work with a group of oral surgeons as their assistant, part time, since school is so demanding. One of my instructors told us the same, to volunteer or find a per-diem job at a hospital. In one of my clinical sites we encountered some combative patients, one of them "assaulted" the nurse as I was walking by, what an experience! I helped her, took control of the Pt and at the en of my clinical the head nurse talked to my instructor telling her that as soon I graduate she wants me in her team! Take every opportunity you can, can't hurt in your future!

Nope, at all, know all your normal values for Na, Ca, K, Mg, and P , signs and symptoms are almost the same for all so I made a little table with the main differences between them. It's overwhelming at the beginning but you'll get it! Good luck!

I'm in the same boat, I busted my tail off and barely get a 77 average.... I'm speechless! From being an A student to a C? My clinical where amazing, in fact the head nurse of the floor where I did my clinical experience told me to apply for a job in that hospital as soon I'm done with school, she will recommend me for the position, that was very good for my ego but my grades....I just hope they allow me to stay in the program. On a positive note, I need to improve my notes and test taking skills, is this your case too? I've heard some crazy stuff that some of my classmates do, it might help! Let's keep going, we can do it! It was too hard to get it just to gave up!!!!

I can't believe someone has the time to cheat in a relationship while in nursing school. Being married, part time job, two kids and full time student... Can't even keep up with all my reading assignments

Thanks for answering! As an update, today I talk to my manager about why I have't got an answer from her to what she reply: " two years ago I was asked if I wanted to change sites and you declined it; Now, you do your job, but you don't go above and beyond so I cannot give you a letter of reference with my name on it...." I declined that position because I live two miles from my clinic, the one they wanted me to transfer is 17 miles away also my daughter day care is closer to me than to my wife job so we decided (my wife and I) that someone should be "closer to our baby daycare". I am beyond upset, if at that point in time my manager comes to me and tells me " we are moving your position to this other clinic" I have no option!. Instead they ask me "would you like to go?" and I said no for my own reasons... no she is retaliating against me! I'm talking to Employee Relations but I'm sure nothing will happen... can't stand it! Sorry for the rant!!!

My Hospital offers a program called "Tuition loan forgiveness" for nursing students, were you sign a contract for two years after you graduate. I know I qualify for it, but my manager does not give me a letter of recommendation to apply for it. All my attending and residents have no complaint about me, but my manager just don't like me. Example, my wife was about to give birth to my daughter, I let her know that i might be out for three days depending on delivery, to what she reply "you don't have enough paid time off for that". I need to cut my hours to assist nursing school, she denied it, and she is asking me weekly when is may last day... should i go to HR? Is it worthy? When I start my clinical it will be in this hospital too, that's why I feel like just let it go, but it would be nice getting paid to go to school and have a guaranteed job at the end!! just a rant :/

I honestly don't think you are going to find any discrimination with instructors or female nurses, what you might find is, they love to have guys around to help!... I've been in a couple of floors where all the girls are so nice and I can't think of an instructor is going to be discriminating at you because you are a guy! Don't stress about it and enjoy/learn from all the experiences, that's why we are in nursing school to men up! Good luck!

Creeping death. From Metallica. Too harsh? ; )

Thanks MrChicagoRN. This is true! Is only for NC. I have already filled FAFSA but I only got the necessary to cover my first nursing class, since my wife and I work full time and again the problem is that the nursing counselor, and a bunch of different nurses recommend me to get a periderm job or to focus only to school and my current FT employer does not want to help me with the hours that I would be at school... Thanks for your answers and tips! There is only one thing for sure! Nothing will stop me to become an RN!

No, they did not accept any of my credits. According to the ECE transcript I have 137 credit hours but according to any school they are too old or not transferable... It is what it is! De que parte de México eres?

Thanks a lot for all your answers! I know it will be worth at the end but my wife gets really concerned about it! Latroyashort, thanks I will look in to it...

Hi everyone! like title says, i'm in trouble. I cannot keep up my FT job so i'm planning to get a per-diem job so I can study and do everything nursing school requires. but my wife does not sees it that way My sister in law is a nurse and she told me to get a student loan, Nusing school is too hard to do both. One of my co-workers, her daughter is in the nursing program that I will be and she told me to get the per-diem one, other wise I'm not going to make it... I've been researching for student loans and I can't find the right one, the one I filled in the application ask me about financial aid, which I have, and it was denied.... Also I have to mention, I have two daughters a mortgage, two cars and all the bills that this comes with... so... any help with pointers or advice on loans is more than welcome!!!

I got my spot at GWCC, need to finish all the paperwork but I'm in!!! I think I'm very lucky since this was the only nursing program that I applied!