lemmyg

Hey, hang in there. Every nurse I know says it changes a lot once you are working and not a student. There are also lots of areas which you can work in if acute care or med/surg is not for you, even if the hospital is where you don't want to be. Get your degree!! you have worked hard for it. Also I think you should talk with someone. There may be some counselling your school offers or even see your GP. Sometimes life events can lead to anxiety and even clinical depression and your description of crying all the time sounds like you may want to get some help or support right now. Best of luck xo

It does seem like there are alot. But, like it was stated above nurses can't come in if sick. Also Nursing is still very female dominated, this means that it might not be the nurse that is sick but a sick kid that causes absences. Just a theory and in no way an insult, just a reality.

I find that first placements (usually LTC) are always the worst. The placement I had there was no hot water. I had to let the tap run for 5-10 minutes before I could bathe my 90 year old resident and most days it was still cold (I ended up using the kettle, which I got in trouble for) We also did not follow best practice in medication administration such as education and not crushing (as was the agency norm) We were also not allowed to even take vitals for some reason, even though trained, and most patients were ambulated in ways not outlined in their kardexes by the OTS and PTs. My point is, It will get better. But also there will always be inconsistencies between what you learn in scholl and how things actually are. I would definately bring the non-working machines forward to someone there. That is extremely unsafe for patients/residents.

I am still new at it but I love nursing because of our intimate role with patients (no not the poop especialy haha). We get to be the eyes and the ears and even the noses. Doctors have their fancy diagnostics and 5 minutes with the patient but we are the ones that spend time and find out histories. Some of the best assessments are done while bathing patients. i would not want any CNA to take away this opportunity. NPs are still nurses, they practice a more advanced form of nursing with more responsibilties but it is still nursing, not medicine

"the population at my hospital is very diverse and many of them are homeless and this is the only healthcare they are going to get. I try to help as I can." If you provide some people with the only health care they are going to get than you are already in a position to make a huge difference. I have been working in addictions for years. It is extremely difficult to change peoples behaviors, especially those who perceive that there is no benefit in changing (I find these people are the depressed, isolated and feel they have little opportunity in a clean and sober life). If you can focus less on changing the behaviors that are out of your control and focus on the interactions that are in your control it will be more rewarding. For the COPD patient who still smokes- they know they shouldn't already and you will be another preachy nurse- ask them if they have cut down before and what helped, don't impose your own solutions, use theirs. Teach them how to tell if an exacerbation is approaching (harm reduction) Most of all these people need compassion and if they feel compassion, whether they show appreciation or not it will make a difference. I am sorry you have to deal with so much rudeness, do not underestimate the impact you have. :)

I think you should go to the Dean. If its only the usual suspects of complainers and students grasping at a chance not to fail than this does not give this unfair situation credibility. It is not fair to lose marks this way. This is your academic currency, if you want scholarships or a high GPA for future education reasons than these marks taken away unfairly can affect that. Your dean respects you, write him an email explaining that you are extremely soory to have to ask for his involvment as you know he is busy, but are going to have to on this. You have more evidence than you think. You have your emails to prove you notified the teachers of your absence (and for good reason, hope your feeling better), quiz to prove your attendence and syllabus & college policies to help back you. Don't let the bully win.

I am so sorry, I did not read your response yet when I worte the above comment, and did not mean to seem insensitive. I hope things do work out for you, best of luck!

On another note guys, Do you think this ever happens to residents/med students? (who, by the way, seem to be allowed to use smart phones constantly do to there convenience).

I am so sorry, what a terrible situation to be in. It reminded me of a story I read in the news a while back about a care aide that took a pictue of an elderly, obese resident at the care home where he worked, I guess because it was so interesting or gross or something. Not to say that what you did was that bad, but still there was some sort of seperation from the person and their body for you to make you feel like it was okay. If that was you or your mother or loved one that had to go in for a serious surgery, perhaps maybe due to a life threatening or altering disease, would you want student snapping personal photos because they thought the patient's organs were cool? You seem to repeat that there was nothing to identify the patient but that may not be the point, it was still a violation of privacy. It was so innocent though, I really hope you can go on. good luck

yes it is.

If you go to any colonized country, South Africa for example, the health disparities are huge between the classes. It is not a coincidence that more people who have had their culture and families torn apart have more social/medical problems. These are you patients, they have an illness, sorry their ilness if so distastefull to you.

any easy way i always use is. this: volume to be infused in ml X drip factor divided by number of minutes to be infused. so... 100ml X 20 = 2000 2000 divided by 40 = 50 gtt/ml just remember that formula.

It sounds like you have great talent based on some of the work you mentioned you have done in school such as forming the advisory board. You also mentioned you were maybe attracted to the prestige of the profession. I sounds to me like you would be GREAT working in policy or administration. There is alot you can do in nursing, maybe you should continue with more education. Not everyone is meant to work in the hospital and you should be proud of accomplishing what you have so far.

I think these are all totally reasonable. I would be willing to follow these rules as a student, But also as a students we should have some expectations of our instructors as well. The main one is to be treated respectfully especially, with all the prereqs, most of us are adult learners, not children at reform school. All nurses should be treated respectfully including showing each other respect and that should start in school.

how did you find time to study!? and projects, papers and clinical assignments!? I was working weekends but now barely can do that because I am so busy. Most of my classmates all quit their jobs and are all on loans now. I thought I could get scholarships because I have always been an A student. But in my program you need 90% for an A, 70% to pass...sign. You are an Idol.