MJeanRN replied to laylasmom's topic in Pre-Nursing
Sure there is...if by "nursing shortage", you mean that the hospitals are requiring nurses to take on more and more patients and increase work loads without staffing much needed additional help. It's not because there aren't enough nurses to fill th...
I happen to live in a state where employers are not allowed to "discriminate" against smokers. I found out one day while reading one of the state labor laws posters. Guess it depends on how much big tobacco contributes to the local economy/government...
MJeanRN replied to nervousstudent's topic in CNA/MA
Calm down and breathe. :) Starting anything in nursing is sometimes confusing and frustrating. Whether it's a CNA course or obtaining your registered nursing degree, you have to realize that at some point you have to take resposibility for your own ...
I would say it depends on the objectives. If they're anything like mine were, then it probably isn't feasible (ie, care for a patient with a trach, etc- there may not be a trach on the floor during clinicals!). I would definitely focus on the skills...
If he had the Haldol ordered (depending on what the order stated: ie, prn agitation, etc.), I would have used it. Climbing out of bed at all hours of the night makes him a danger to himself. What if you hadn't caught him doing it those 6 times? Did y...
Practice NCLEX questions, and read ALL of the rationales. Make sure you read the rationales for the questions you get right too, and why the other options weren't correct. Reading and truly understanding the rationale will help to validate whether or...
So, after repeatedly being put on standby (after being promised "all the hours I'll ever need"), as well as a litany of other reasons, I've decided to start looking for a full time position at another facility, instead of staying PRN where I'm curren...
Just last night my tech reported to me at 0600 that one of my patient's BP was 198/86 during her 0400 vitals. I immediately jumped up and did a manual pressure and got 152/84. When I went to chart it, I saw that her comment for the 0400 BP read "nurs...
Out of all the applications I put in, the ONLY call I received was from the small community hospital the next town over. I truly believe that the reason they called was because they weren't all tied up in politics like the big city hospitals are. Whe...
MJeanRN replied to EyeLoveNursing's topic in CNA/MA
Yes, your exam will be on a dummy. We were required to be CNA's prior to nursing school, and the one that I attended had us write out each skill on paper, and then in addition, the critical steps on notecards. Write them out to help commit them to me...
Thanks for the advice! It's not that I can't hold out for 6 months, as much as it's my bank account may not be able to (and to a lesser extent my sanity). It's currently a PRN position that I'm in, and I've been put on stand-by for the last 5 out of ...
I've always been told that above a 60 on Kaplan tests indicate passing level, especially since all of the QB and TT are considered by Kaplan to be "passing level questions" (critical thinking, analytical questions). That being said, don't focus so m...
Mine sure as heck was! Our second year started with the instructors saying, "you got through first year, it's our job to make sure you graduate". But, each program is different. You'll be surprised how much you learned in first year that will help yo...
Any nursing job should give you valuable experience that will bulk-up your resume. As far as hospitals discriminating against you for nursing experience, I don't personally believe that it's true. Make a list of pros and cons for yourself to help mak...
MJeanRN replied to f_nurse2b16's topic in Job Hunt
Where I live, HR for hospitals expect you to contact them on a weekly basis to keep in contact regarding open and upcoming positions. In fact, one of our hospitals puts your name on a board at first contact, and puts a check by your name each time y...
"Milking" the finger after the stick can result in interstitial fluid being mixed with blood and causing abnormal glucometer readings as well. Make sure you're getting good circulation prior to a finger stick.
:yeah:Congrats on getting in! I felt the exact same way before I started nursing school...and then every semester until it was over! Nursing school is hard, there's just no other way to put it. Keep your chin up, and study, study, study! My advice to...
MJeanRN replied to peppapig123's topic in Pre-Nursing
My mom told me once that I shouldn't become a nurse because, "it becomes your life". Well, duh, that's what a career is, lol! I never let her comment bother me, because she was the one that told me growing up that I can be anything I want to be. You...
I very rarely go off of my "night shift" during my time off, so I just eat like I normally would during the day. If I can't get a bowl of cereal in before I go into work, I take some type of granola bar and an apple or orange and eat it on my way to ...