abaloney77

Fail. There are tons of threads on this on this board, how Mrs. or Mr. 4.0 prereq student is now getting Cs on their exams.

Love this thread. I'm fully AGAINST the flu shot but I love nursing school so it's a no brainer. In my limited clinical experience I've had patients on dozens of meds and a medical Hx that was as long as a novella, and they were still jamming around. I think I'll be ok with a bit of eggy inactivated poison. The real problem to all of this is capitalism. The three dirtiest, filthiest words ever -- for profit healthcare. Corporations and lobbyists run this country.

Getting through nursing school isn't about being smart, it's about how well you can take tests. Nursing tests will LEVEL the smartest people out there. They mostly are not indicative of real world nursing. It's just another example of how our school system completely fails.

Get a Rx for adderall. They don't call it the study drug for nothing. It will help you concentrate. The fundamentals material wasn't difficult at all, it's just a lot of reading. The tests are really the hard part, you CANNOT read into the questions at all. It's a mix of law, nursing history, differences in culture, etc. I found it more difficult to really absorb all that than learning about TB. Read ahead, and what I find that works really well, GO BACK OVER THE MATERIAL AFTER CLASS. Go back over it, you'll be amazed at how much sinks back in a couple hours after class has ended.

She may have gotten ahold of copies of your test somehow. Our class takes all of out tests, with the exception of math exams, online. Apparently in the past someone hacked in and stole all the test questions. If it can be done, someone will find a way.

Just don't work on your clinical days so you can stay up all night doing care plans and you should be ok. Also, it's important to study the material that matters. The books are full of material you really don't need to know since we're not going to med school or pharm school. Learn the stuff pertaining to what nurses actually do on the job. Leave the rest out.

I'm an INTP and am just finishing up my first semester. I was sort of worried about the same thing, G_Lee, but when I saw my first patient lying in bed TOTALLY helpless, that fear was pushed aside and I focused on helping my patient any way that I could. I AM THE WORST at comforting people verbally, I never know what to say. Guess what, people don't want a speech when they're feeling bad, they want you to acknowledge their pain, ask how they're feeling, and they want you to LISTEN to what they have to say (pay attention to this extroverts). You can help by simply asking how you can help to make them feel better. It doesn't have to get mushy and deep. Chances are they're introverts as well and want to be left alone, like we do. Go be a CNA before nursing school for a while to see how you like it. I'm sure you'll be just fine.

I have Adidas clamshell shoes in all white. They are definitely not comfortable though. Puma makes an all white as well. I may try them next.

Have you gone back and read this truckin? You have a horrible attitude. Why should the instructor give you extra credit? You-are-not-special. Just repeat that and you will be ok. How old are you anyway? When I'm at the hospital I try to not think about just pleasing my clinical instructor. Everyone in that hospital I am in contact with is judging me, and watching me. I am friendly to the doctors down to the person who sprays water on the damn indoor plants. I smile, nod, say hello. Why? Because I'm not an ass first of all, second I may want to apply there some day. A bad attitude will follow you around and haunt you.

In my school we have the chain of command for complaints --> teacher, director, dean. If you haven't asked your instructor what her problem is (and yes I would just come out and be a MAN and be bold) then start with her. Then just go up the chain. I would record the conversation as well with everyone. Call me paranoid but I like to cover my ass.

No offense but you sound rather whiny. If you "keep score" it's going to bite you in the ass. Don't freak out on her or you'll be solo in no time flat. Nursing school isn't hard, it's just an amazing amount of stuff to get though. It never ends or lets up. I'm writing a paper at this moment and studying - yes on Thanksgiving day. It never stops.

My teacher and the class were just discussing this the other day. I'm in the bay area and apparently you need at least a BA to get noticed when you send out your resumes. She said some places were sweeping aside all ADN and BA degrees and going for Masters degrees. I will definitely be looking for an easy job after this first semester is over.

In my professional opinion, you have to be insane to date where you work, unless you're seriously looking for a wife, and you have that inkling she's the "one." If you're playing around and bouncing from nurse to nurse, it's going to catch up to you fast. That type of news spreads faster than MRSA. Just walking down a street in my crappy school scrubs I get interested looks and smiles. Don't sh!t where you eat, gentlemen!

What kind of calculations are you all doing? We had our first math test (1st semester student) and it was very basic, conversions (moving decimal point), and how many ml in oz/teaspoon/tablespoon, stuff like that. Very basic so far. Are you all doing harder stuff your 1st semester?