jenfro

Thanks for sharing that story, Gooselady. I think it was just a shock, partially because I had never seen anyone in a comatose state with a tube in their throat...It was just rough first experience moment. But you're right, I need to face it head on. I'm planing on going in as soon as she's off NPO. I don't want to go in if she's starving to order her parent's food, as she is mostly awake. I'd feel so bad! Like you said, I'm sure once I actually get to nursing school and gain more experience in a hospital in a more clinical setting it'll get easier.

Thanks for your response. How do you deal with things you see and experience?

I treated them like a part time job when I took them and I think that's the only reason I did so well (my school has them as separate classes *groan*). Anatomy is basically pure memorization, but physio is comprehension. Just spend more time than you think you need studying. If they offer mentoring/tutoring/review sessions, GO. Use any study guides or extra materials that the professor suggests or posts. Record the lectures and listen to them as you're studying, or really doing anything. I listened to A&P lectures so much I could pretty much repeat parts of the lectures The coloring books are actually a really great tool! Plan on staying in on the weekend before a test to make sure you know the material. Youtube is awesome, especially for physio topics! Sometimes another textbook will explain something better, so check out your university's library for other texts to reference. These classes aren't supposed to be easy, in fact, a lot of times they are meant to be hard. Just put your head down and power through and you'll do great! Be prepared for it to be your bread and butter over the next 16 weeks. Anatomy is SO much fun, you'll really love it!

Hi all, I'm not an RN yet, in fact, I'm still working on prereqs and deciding on a school. I recently started working at a children's hospital (just as a room service rep.) but I LOVE it. I so enjoy interacting with the patients. I have a few that know me by name now and I try to spend some time with them when I get the chance. Anyway, a few weeks ago I encountered a little girl that just stopped me in my tracks. Normally the kids I see are pretty sick, but it doesn't usually bother me because I know they are getting the best care possible at my hospital. But this little sweetie just crushed my heart. Every time I went in her room I had to hold back tears. I wanted to just sit with her and hold her hand or rub her back. She was so ill. Her father was there 24/7 and he looked so burnt out and just so broken. After getting off work at night I'd call my mom and cry talking about her. After a week or so of her being on a normal floor, she was moved to the ICU. I didn't realize she was there until I had to deliver some food to her mom and realized it was her. I froze when I walked in her room and I must have had a horrified look on my face because her dad, who must've recognized me, kinda patted my arm and just sighed. I didn't see her again until this week when she was moved out of the ICU. I've been avoiding her room like the plague which is easy since she's NPO. I just want to know that it's normal to have a patient that just makes you question your faith and your optimism. I'm still new to the hospital setting but so far it's going well. She's the only one I've been tripped up on. Have you ever had a patient like this? How did you cope with it? I don't think she's going anywhere soon, based on the unit she's in...and I'm sure I'll have to start going in her room again. Any help/advice would be appreciated!

I work in a hospital and honestly, the nurses don't seem to be understaffed, but that may just be the hospital I am at. The only time they were was during the holidays, but we all were then. Nurses do have a high burn out rate mainly because it is a high stress job. As for unemployment...I have had two friends go through accelerated programs, and both took on part time patient care intern/associate jobs after their first semester of clinicals. Just one or two shifts a week on the weekends, nothing huge. This wasn't to live on or anything, but it was to get experience. After they graduated they were hired on as RN's by the hospitals they worked in as PCAs. Even so, here in Indiana, there are numerous RN job listings. I think the benefits would outweigh the cost, and that's why I'm working on my prereqs for accelerated programs. You could always do a job shadow or something too, just to see how you like it. Since I started working at the hospital I am more motivated than ever to get started with nursing school!