maxcat

Are there any? Aside from the for profit places like Concorde career college, etc... I recently completed a LPN program (western slope of CO) and have a previous degree in biology. I would ultimately like to get my BSN, but it appears that places like CU Denver consider LPNs ineligible for their programs.

This article totally hits home for me. I will be a new grad LPN starting in LTC this summer, and am freaking out. I tend to be Type A, am extremely hard on myself, don't rein in anxiety well, and tend to take on other people's issues as my own (as in, "so and so failed their exam/got fired/lost their license, so I probably will too!!!"). I am saving this article to read, when I have my first screw up on the job... Love it!

Thanks for replies-what I ended up doing today is asking my instructor if I could re-do it. Not to pass or fail, but just b/c I wasn't happy with how it went yesterday. She was totally fine with that, and said she appreciated that I would make an effort to do that. I feel much better, it went 100% fine. Of course, the fact that it didn't really "count" probably helped, but still.

I prepare, and we have lots of time to practice. I practice in front of my group (of 4 students) and we have to check each other off. I wasn't even nervous before starting...I felt confident. Then, once I start, and I'm kind of talking through it as I go...my hands shake, I start to feel anxious, and that's when I am apt to forget something. It doesn't happen with every skill-mostly just the more involved ones (trach care, dressing changes...) that use sterile technique. I don't feel unprepared, I just feel that performance anxiety... not sure how to control it. If we catch ourselves breaking sterile technique, we can stop and start again. We do get a skills bag, so I have supplies...but some of this still can't really be practiced at home (suctioning on the mannequin, etc...)

I'm a LPN student, in my second year (I chose the part time track). This year, I have clinicals, skills class, and med-surg. I'm a 4.0 student (even in my RN prereqs), have worked as a CNA, clinicals are going well...I am doing fine at the hands on stuff. Except for when it comes to my actual check off in lab, with the instructor. I start getting anxious as I am doing the skill, and today I forgot a major thing. This is a skill I had done at least 5x with my group, correctly. I passed, nobody really fails the checkoffs, but we do have a final exam in Dec that can consist of 1 of a variety of scenarios. They are obviously a lot less forgiving of mistakes in the final, and I am completely hung up on the idea that I could mess up one thing, not realize it, and fail. And then would have to either repeat the whole year (b/c I can't continue this year) or switch out of nursing completely. I just feel like my whole stupid career is hinging on some detail like breaking sterile technique, being too many points off on BP, etc... I'm 38, this is a career change for me, and I need to be working-I can't afford to dink around and try another year of nursing school, hoping I make it that time, if I flunk this final. Any advice on keeping calm during checkoffs? I'm seriously thinking of asking for a xanax prescription... I know the material, I just need to keep calm and think clearly during these checkoffs.

well thanks! I feel slightly better, in that I've practiced and been reasonably accurate with the numbers. Still generally freaked, though.

I am freaking out. We have to be within +/-2 of whatever the instructor gets, for all three BPs. If we don't pass, we get some remediation, etc... but I am currently in school with 2 women who failed this skill last year, and are repeating b/c of it (they got +/-4...I suspect there could have been other issues, with these students, but according to one of them, that is the sole reason she is repeating the entire semester...). Anyone else's program this strict? I've been practicing BP, but it seems to be more of an art than a science. No other skill has me as worried, at all. I'm a straight A student otherwise (high 90's on everything). I am a CNA too, but we never have time to practice manual BPs. Someone tell me to calm down.

See if your family will help out, in lieu of you living with them. I am married, but my husband travels a bit, so I am always looking for babysitters, etc... My parents have given me $$ towards this. Even if we are late on other bills, the babysitting cash stays in an envelope, not to be touched. I know not everyone has this kind of assistance, but it may be worth it to your parents, to see you in school working towards a career and a potential income! My kids are in school, which helps, but I do need before and after school care.

I'm not sure that's always true... a RN at my LTC is starting at our local hospital next month. She's been doing LTC for maybe 5 years, started working at the hospital PRN a year ago, now she's going full time! I'm in school now, and most of my instructors have done some LTC and it did not prevent them from going to hospitals later on at all.

I work in LTC, where many residents have chair and bed alarms. I know for a fact that people forget to use them on occasion, and they are just sternly told "you forgot to put Mr X's alarm on". And that's it. Of course, I don't know of any falls that have occurred during those situations, but that's just dumb luck... I have never seen anyone get written up or reprimanded for it...it's an honest mistake that anyone can make.

I had a $15 sprague 5 years ago when I did my CNA class. It worked fine, I learned to do BPs with it. But I don't like the 2 tubes that rub together, making more noise...that's the last thing I need. Maybe when I am better, and know what I am listening for, I can use a cheapo one in a pinch! I didn't realize there's already an entire forum just for stethoscopes... ha!

I'll keep looking for the 2 sided one... I don't want to stray from what school recommends. Also, any input in a manual bp cuff? I need one of those too, and have no clue...

A friend of mine (also in my program) who is a CNA at the hospital, says all the nurses have the Cardio III one... is that overkill? I don't care about the $$ for this purchase, but it may be more than I need... I guess I am deciding between those 2 kinds.

that's the other one I am considering...

I'd post over in the student nurse forum, except I thought I might get better (more) responses here... I start clinicals this fall and need to purchase a stethoscope and a bp cuff. Our program recommends the Littmann brand, but one that has 2 sides...ie, not one where you just put more pressure on the chestpiece...one where you can flip it over b/c it's easier for students. However, I can't find any new Littmann's that do that...they all seem to have the first kind... What do you recommend? I am in a PN program, but plan on pursuing my RN/BSN/MSN... so I want a good one that will last, one that I can hear very well with.... I'm willing to spend the $$, but just don't know what to get... the Littmann Cardio III is one that I keep coming across.

yes, Peds all relates back to growth & development...how does xyz disease/surgery/hospitalization affect G&D for a kid of a certain age?

oh, I live in CO too! Most of my fellow students struggle with exercise/fitness during school. But I know some nurses who ride their road bike 25 miles to work, work the night shift, and ride home again in the morning! I consider myself fairly athletic and I like to exercise...but wow.

Don't bring any cash for the vending machines. That's my advice. Otherwise, bring healthy food for lunch and to snack on. I buy those greek yogurts when they are on sale, specifically for snacks during breaks. Raw almonds, pack a salad with leftover chicken or canned tuna, hardboiled eggs, lots of fruit, cottage cheese... I bring my own coffee in a cup (no high calorie Starbucks drinks). If your school has a gym, schedule a time to go. Plan on say, working out there and showering before class. Or going right after you are done. I don't know how I'll get through my next year-it's 5 days a week, with clinicals, and a huge commute... and our school does not have a workout facility. I'm planning on utilizing my weekends and bringing healthy foods to minimize the damage.

I took this last spring (just the lecture, no clinical till next year). Can't remember the book author, but it was OB/Peds combined (OB in the beginning, Peds was the last half of the book). I'd recommend studying up on OB-the anatomy involved, pelvic shapes/diameters, fetal circulation...those things. Peds-memorize Erikson's stages of growth and development! We really focused on those topics.

This is the kind of thing that absolutely terrifies me to the core...as someone who has chosen nursing as a second career, and is starting clinicals in the fall!!

I'm a CNA in a LTC (I'm half way through my LPN program). In that specific situation, it does sound like she would have had time to sit with a patient. I would have said "sure" if I were her, at that moment. To say "it's not my job!" OMG. I can't imagine saying that. But more often than not...no, there's not time, at least in my facility (which is OK, I think). The reality is not ideal. I am often in the position of having a patient use their call light to request more pain meds, or whatever... I tell the resident that I'll tell the nurse, and I do. Often, it's not time for more medication-the nurse can't give it right away, and gets annoyed...oh well. I'm just the messenger.

It can be uncomfortable and upsetting at first. Don't try to "correct" them...just go with what they are saying. ftmp. Some residents, you can "reorient", but not always-sometimes it upsets them more. You can kind of redirect them, to an activity, or food, or the medicine... Just listen, and you can say things like "oh really? yes, you're right..." whatever. They move onto other topics quickly, or just nod off, IME... As you get to know them, it will be easier. Follow the lead of what your coworkers do too. And listen...sometimes they say some amusing things (not that it's appropriate to laugh *at* them, but you just never know what they'll come up with next). Simple confusion/forgetfulness can often be dealt with via redirection, reminding, reorienting... true full blown dementia-just going with the flow of what they are saying tends to work better, while you are working.

I may have posted on this a long time ago, but anyways, I make a base rate of $11.50ish per hour. $2 for weekends, $1 for evening, $3 for night. So on a weekend night, you are at $16.50. And $1/hour if you take a call in or heavy duty shifts (working short). It's not horrendous, here.... in western CO. LPNs start at $18...not much more than the CNAs!

I'm currently a part time LPN student, planning on getting my BSN, and ultimately want to become a nurse practitioner (I have a BA and a MS in another field, hope some stuff may transfer). What's the deal? I know that position required a MSN up until very recently...is it now a DNP? What is the purpose of a MSN, now? Is it just for teaching?

After your first year of a ADN program, you are typically eligible to sit for the LPN boards, so I'm not sure why anyone is bashing LPN. I have a graduate degree, and a biology undergrad... I am doing my LPN right now (part time). It is the only way I can be a nurse in my area b/c the ADN/accelerated BSN programs would require that I move 3+ hours away from my family (kids and husband). Some people can do that, I just can't-for logistical reasons. So, LPN it is, and there's an LPN-RN bridge program an hour away after that. Same thing, in the end, only I get to work as a CNA/LPN while pursuing my RN.