DecafMom

This is our last semester and we have not lost anyone yet. As a whole we have a 60% failure rate though.

I loved my psych rotation! It was so incredibly eye-opening. You'll be fine. Remember that although they are mentally ill they are just people, and everything will be great!

I have not received an A in any of my nursing lecture classes, only Bs, but my clinical grades have all been As. In the end my GPA won't matter. What matters is if I can pass NCLEX.

That's great! Congratulations!!

I don't know what it is either.

OMG, I'm so glad I've taken my last math test. Just reading those problems made me start sweating. LOL I know I will always need to have the knowledge of how to do the math, and I passed all my math tests, but it still makes me very nervous!!

We have to have a 75% on tests to pass. We are in our last semester (ASN program) and we have NEVER had anyone get an A on a test. Our class average on the last test was 80% and the one before that was 84%. I only missed four on the last test, but that's not enough for an A. Grrrr...I was so close!!

If you really feel you need extra help, you need to contact the disability office at your school and have them work with you to develop a plan. That being said, you need to take a serious look at yourself and your abilities. If you convince yourself that your ADD is preventing you from performing well at clinicals, then it will. It is possible that it is not related to ADD and just related to being nervous. How is everyone else doing? They may be feeling the same way and that may help you look at things differently.

There are critical thinking exercises. Do a search online and see what you get. I have a box of critical thinking exercises that I use with my five year old. Critical thinking is an excellent skill to have, but some need more practice than others. You'll do fine in your class!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

To be completely honest, I wish I would have bought one that was also a phone. I do get tired of carrying both around, and then I bought a Nano, so now I have three things. I could have put music on the iPaq, but I wanted something small to take to the gym.

We don't do anything like that in school. Do you do it full-time then? Do you get to choose the unit you do it on? That sounds like a great opportunity!!

I agree with most of what you said - especially number four! However, I don't think it's a bad thing to lean a little heavier on the instructor. I ask all kinds of questions, and I know it is not interpreted as a bad thing. If it's a simple question I look it up on my PDA, but a lot of questions aren't simple questions. I guess I have not been too concerned with what my instructor thinks of me - it could be a difference in our instructors as well. Ours elicits questions from us, so it's to be expected.

I have a pocket pc. I have an HP iPaq, but can't remember the model number. I just did a bunch of research, kind of narrowed it down and then went with which one I could find the best deal on. Good luck...I did not enjoy the search. LOL

Wow, I'm glad we don't have assignments to do over our lunch break! Well, sometimes we don't necessarily get one, but I wouldn't want to do an assignment during it anyway. I'm not even sure what a preceptor program is while in school. Maybe we call it something different??

I lost weight my first clinical year. While it was weight I could afford to lose, it just came off all on its own due to stress. This year I have not had that problem and my weight is up about 9 pounds from this time last year! LOL

Yes, the downloads do need to be purchased. Look around for deals though. If you attend any nursing conferences (especially national level ones) you will find vendors there usually offering specials on the software.

Wow, certainly makes you not want to miss clinical time! LOL I don't know your classmate, but he's lucky to have you, and I hope this is something that doesn't begin to repeat itself. You have a lot on your plate too.

Wish I had asked last year when we were doing ABGs. I had the hardest time trying to remember. Thanks for sharing!!

thanks! i have visited that page...i found it the same day as my clinical experience at the facility. i know that airway is first, but what my issue was decided exactly which diagnosis to use. after all, if they aren't breathing, they aren't living. :)

I'm so sorry that your nursing career is starting out this way. There are bad fits sometimes, and it kind of sounds like you knew in the back of your mind that this wasn't a great fit for you, but it would have been nice if you could have left them. I know it's hard, but remember everything happens for a reason and know that things will be better in the future and think of how lucky your new employer will be!!!

I hope it's not too late, but here are my thoughts. I currently work as a SNE on the OB unit at my local hospital. 95% of the time I am in the nursery alone. It is my responsibility to do the shift assessment on each infant on the floor, give them their bath, change their crib linen, and restock their crib. I then document the assessment findings. Throughout the rest of the shift I monitor I&O on the babies, and help with breastfeeding - which is one of my favorite parts of my job! One of my least favorite parts is preparing the babies for and being there when they are circumcised. Both of my boys are circumcised, but I'm thankful I didn't watch it. LOL I think helping with breastfeeding is the most rewarding part of my job. It's so nice to work one day and help a mom who is really struggling getting the hang of it, then come back the next morning and see that the baby is nursing like a pro. I just love it!

I have Epocrates Essentials, Pepid, and Tabers on mine. http://www2.epocrates.com/products/essentials/ http://pepid.com/products/rnscc/default.asp?product=SCC http://www.skyscape.com/estore/productdetail.aspx?ProductId=200&WT.mc_id=55555&WT.srch=1

Developmental issues are most definitely a concern. She suffers from profound MR. She was sleeping the whole time I was there so I did not get to see her abilities when awake. I have thought about going back down there to spend some more time with her if I could. She does have a G-tube, so nutrition was going to be one of my diagnoses, but I know that respiratory needs to be number one. Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it!!!

Thanks! See, this is where I get confused. Would you use Ineffective Airway Clearance as the top priority? I'm going to call the facility today and see if I can talk to her nurse and get some more input. We just didn't get enough time there and I feel useless!!