saintlouis

At least at my school, we don't practice on each other. We use dummy's, then it's off to the races! I think the "practice on fellow students" think went out when HIV, etc. came in.... In all my clinicals, I have only had one pt. that didn't want a male nurse, student, tech or anything. And she wasn't assigned to me, I just wanted to watch a precedure I'd never seen.... I don't think the gender thing matters to 99% of the pts. If you're sick and hurty, you just want TLC, no matter where it comes from. Only once have I asked a female to do my duties because of gender conflicts, and that was a bedbath (complete) on a 80yo nun. And I'm not even Catholic! I still took care of everything else, and she seemed happy I was there. BTW- I asked a female tech to do it, and I offered to do 2 pts of hers for the trade. I fess'd up to my instructor, and she laughed at me and told me I got the raw end of that deal.... The pt didn't ask for a female, it was I who wasn't comfortable.... I'm sure you'll be fine. Welcome!

I realize it's the primary nurses responsability in the end, as they are an employee of the hospital, but in my clinicals it is stressed from day 1 that if you signed it, you own it. It's my initials in the chart, and if I'm ever called on it it's MY butt (along with my INSTRUCTOR'S butt) on the line. If I do something wrong and don't ask, I'm accountable. Along with my blessed instructor, who is accountable for giving me the task in the first place.... I think a lot of the frustration stems from RN's asking students to do something, only to be told "I can't" or (worse) "I don't know how." If it's within my scope of practice, and I don't feel confident, it's MY job to track down my instructor for guidance. The Primary's job isn't to teach, and for them I think it's often easier and quicker to do it themselves. My only bad experience was a couple of weeks ago, and she was cranky, mean, and generally annoyed I was there. After I chatted with her later in the morning (after the AM rush), I found out she was a floater, a recent Do your best, and remember you will have other nurses. And remember your first job is not to make more work for your primary. Then try to learn something. Help your fellow students, and smile a lot. In the end, MOST of them are grateful you are there to lighten their load....

the Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health offers a Holistic NP program. They are mixed in with Barnes/Jewish Hospital and Washington University Medical School here in St. Louis. http://www.jhconah.edu

Yes, in a city with 50 hospitals, there's only one magnet. I bet you can guess which one... Come on, if you're not from here, try to name more than 1 hospital in STL.... From all I can tell, magnet status really says more about how the administration views the nursing staff than about the working conditions. Around here, it seems to mean that the nursing staff have a say in all decisions, but that doesn't mean they have the veto! I think it says more about the CULTURE of the institution- I am currently doing clinicals at another of the same health group's hospitals (not magnet), and I am shocked at times how "old school" they seemed. I don't mean the technology/care/facilities, it's just at some time in the semester it wouldn't surprise me if I see a nurse stand to allow a doc to sit.... This place is run by the MD's, and it's obvious. At the magnet, I understand the nurses have more autonomy and are much more involved in the Plan of Care. They at least SEEM to value the complete role of the nurse, even if the ratios aren't quite right, etc. However, I've heard the magnet facility tends to attract a nursing staff less likely to help you if you need it, as they (mostly) are out to make a mark for themselves- think "supernurse!". For me, I am intrigued by the higher acuity of the magnet, and honestly the prestige. I don't know where in the country (or the world!) my nursing career will take me, and I could do worse than stating my training came from there. I just don't want them to know that I really want to work there, as I'd like for them to suck up to get me.... You know, if you're saying something nice about your hospital, ya'll could include the name-

I'm in my second (of four) semesters at Meremac. Paid for Clinicals?!? Nope- but you do get the bill for the uniforms, the books, the coffee (lack of sleep...), and now the drug test/background check... It's a "pay your dues" kind of thing. I'm in clinicals Tues and Wed, from about 6:15am to noonish. And of course the average 5 hours preparing for clinicals doing the paperwork on Monday. Lecture is Mon and Friday, with lab times on Thursday. Yep, that comes out to 5 days a week. And I work full time (actually, just down the road from SCCC...) on top of it all. It's really difficult, but I love every single minute of it. OK- MOST of it.... It's hard, no doubt about it. But that's what you get when you go to a school that turns out some very, very good nurses. There is another program in town that is probally less work, but good luck passing the test! I hear they have a good year if they get 50% to pass.... Good luck, and just remember you are doing exactly what you want to be doing. There are not a lot of people who get that chance.... kev

Why don't ya'll point your guns at those without "RN" anywhere in their name- PA's and AA's- rather than each other? After reading the statement, seems to me the intention is to get all advance practice nurses a bit more respect by allowing the social title of "doctor" to be used.... all in all, not a bad concept, huh? Seems like the real folks with a beef should be the NP's- let's see, I'd like to spend a ton of clinical and class time, only to make a small percentage more than a ADN, and hear folks say "I want to see the REAL doctor..." CRNA's may not get the respect they deserve, but I'd be willing to hear anyone argue they are not fairly compensated for their efforts. According to the national averages, CRNA's make (on average) a fair bit more than your average Primary Care Medical Doctor. If it takes a change on the diploma to get advance practice nurses the respect deserving of years of education and (more importantly) clinical experience, along with fair compensation deserved, I'm all for it. And that goes for ALL with ANY form of "RN" after their name. I'm just a lowly ADN student (with goals for Advanced Practice), but it still amazes me that when I pass the NCLEX and get handed a key to the cabinet full of things that can kill people, I will take a cut in pay from my current (18 years!) job as a well-respected (ha!) HAIRDRESSER. There is something horribly wrong with a system that pays people less who provide lifesaving care than those who spend the day teasing hair and increasing the hole in the ozone layer. Mind you, this is in no way an argument that hairdressers should make less money.... What it comes down to is that none of us will make the money we deserve until we stand up TOGETHER and say STOP IT!!! to the pencil-pushing weasels who write the checks. If it takes a change to the diploma's awarded, I'm all for it. It should have happened sooner.... It's not about how many classes you've had in Invertibrate Zoology you've had, it's about respect. flame away, I like a nice, warm room!

that's an easy question: if you work an 8 hour shift, you will be on your feet for 8 hours. If you work a 12 hour shift, you'll be on your feet for 12 hours... unless the next nurse is late or a no-show, and then it will be longer.... Seriously- I'm a nursing student in stl, and you get used to it. Think of it as multitasking gym visits with work! I've been a hairdresser for 18 years, and some things never change- If I'm working, I'm standing. And you thougth nurses wore those goofy shoes for fashion... I don't know if I would let that make the decision for a career choice though. There are many other reasons not to be a nurse, and just as many to be one. Be a nurse because you CARE. That is, if they didn't beat that out of you in Law school.... (OK, sorry 'bout that. I'm sure there are many lawyers who care, as there are many nurses who don't...)

I, too, am a clipboard junkie. But I've been looking at the PDA's... big selling point is the quick reference to a drug guide, but I've seen a few programs that will keep track of pt. info- vitals, labs, etc. that you need to carry around. Seems like it would be easier to slip into your pocket, less easier to loose (I set my clipboard down and the race is on to find it, but I USUALLY know where my pants are...), and has the added bonus of being able to take an MP3 file of some very soothing music for when things really get screwy. Anyone else switch to the PDA thingy's? What works, what doesn't? Perhaps we should start a new forum.... Student in stl

I'm currently at Meremac. Good luck! I suggest you get all the prereq's out of the way before you start the program- it will be a lot more time consuming than you think. It's reported that the comm. colleges (stl and stchas) have the highest pass rates on the test in the metro area.... Good Luck!!!