rclimbr

I have been an Air Force nurse (Married w/2 kids) for almost two years now and still like my job. My general advise to someone thinking about joining the military is that it is a lifestyle choice. There will be things that you don't want to do but will have to do. IE: come in on your day off for meetings, go places that aren't very pleasant, or don't get to transfer to a specialty area when you want to. BUT there are advantages. I live on base in a brand new house 3bed 2 1/2 bath 5 min from work, I get paid the same even if I work 2 days a week (or 6 ) all my extra training and certs are free. My workday ( Before I was charge nurse) Max pt's = 4 3 if one was a pediatric or was an intrathecal ortho pt most of the time I had my own tech Life is good And I live 7 miles from the Las Vegas Strip :) If any one has specific AF nurse questions feel free to PM me.

Littman classic II and I wear it on my hip with a hip holster.

Fear. If he tells you that fundamentals is absolutely the hardest thing he has ever done, and then you take it and go back to him and say that it was easy then he feels stupid. Or maybe he feels the hardest part is yet to come?

I am also a guy in nursing school and most of your insecurities will go away once you get into clinicals. One comment did make me want to reply, I think that every one "expects" you to do well be cause they are playing off the traditional male-female roles, whereas the guys are suppose to be over confident in their abilities. The older guy in your class feels the same way he just doesn't show it as much. The only advise that I have is know your own abilities and build on your weaknesses. Most of all don't worry about what everyone else thinks about you.

1) what is the average age of a new nurse ?? My class 25 2)what made you want to become a nurse ? I want to help people and the respect from the community. 3) what age did you start nursing school ? 33 4) are you happy with your decision ? Best thing I have ever done 5.) did you work while you were in school ? full time or part time ? Part time as a tech (2 12s a week)

It is the only diploma program in the state. I am also going to school later in life and check all the schools in STL. Lutheran is a good school and you will learn good nursing there but you will be limited in your career progression. Most supervisory jobs require a BSN. Time wise it takes about as much time here to get an ASN as it does to get a BSN. Wait list for ASN programs range from 18m to 2Y. I have heard good things about Lutheran but checkout some job listings for positions other than bedside nursing and you will discover that you need lots of experience or a college degree.

I am 2/3 thru school now and started when my daughter was 4. I did my pre-req's at a CC and they had a great daycare on campus. My daughter thought that it was great to go to school with daddy. She learned quite a bit in 2 semesters. When I took her to the kindergarten screening the principal asked her if she knew her ABC's and she did it in sign language (and verbally). On the negative side, in the core nursing classes there is a lot of reading. Even on good days when I am able to read at home the wife and kids don't get to see me because I read a lot(adv 4 hr per day).

I have always stopped at the scene of an accident if no EMS are on the scene. A lot of the post are from people that say they don't know what to do. Most people in the general population don't know what to do. A nurse on the scene can 1. Asses/treat ABC's 2. Keep the victim calm 3. Do an quick assessment and report to EMS 4. Try and prevent further harm by untrained people trying to "help"

Check out the Red Cross website. The kits the sell are just like the other junk ones( Band-Aids and wipes) but they do have a preparedness list for disasters that is fairly complete. I keep a good kit in my car and one thing that you want to keep handy it a reflective vest. First time you jump out of the car at midnight for a MVA and you are wearing dark colored scrubs you will be glad you have it.

I am a college student(Nursing) and a transporter at a hospital w/ a mental ward. "Being a danger to self and others" is a big category. There is a big difference in being suicidal and being homicidal. If every college student that gets depressed and has suicidal thoughts was institutionalized, then half my class might be locked up.

Check Chamberlain College of Nursing, I think that they are offering an online program. You will have to have a hospital to do clinicals at. Let them know that you already have an advanced degree they might have a bridge program for you.

I am a vet that has used the VA system as a patient and I am also a nursing student. Just like anywhere, there are good hospitals and bad. St Louis has a bad one. My experience there was scary at best. I had a phlebotomy tech shaking a uncapped sharp needle in my face as she spoke to me, I called to get an appointment bc I had strep throat and they never called back, and went to the ER one time and the staff nurse(RN-BSN) that was working was one of the rudest people I have ever met. I met a guy that was a nurse at another VA hospital in Columbia MO and he had worked there for 30yrs. He told me to come and visit his facility before I judged the entire VA system. The VA Hospital in Columbia is very clean and modern looking. In fact I have thought about working there after I graduate.

Here is the link for the Des Peres flyer http://www.despereshospital.com/NR/rdonlyres/5F630BF3-DE43-44DE-9701-6601775ADB44/39762/NewGraduateIncentiveProgram.ppt

I also live in Kirkwood and am going back to school after 16 years. I am currently a sophomore at Chamberlain(Deaconess). My background is Army, computers, pawn shop manager.

I am just a student but do any of you that are having these dreams still have your textbooks? Look up stress and burnout and you will see your picture there. I am coming into Nursing from a previous career and I do know about stress, find and activity to get your mind off work before bedtime and you will sleep better.

Good luck in your quest. I was stationed at Camp Zama JP as my last duty station. My problem was with a job search. between the time difference and the fact that I had been out of the US for 3 years and I was disconnected from the US culture. At that time I was in computers and it was hard, I have been there. Might want to check with the military hospital first and see if they will let you do clinicals. You might have to wait till you pcs stateside. Good Luck

I am a current student at Chamberlain and its not that bad. One of the only complaints that I have is that there is little flexibility in scheduling classes.

Check with Chamberlain (used to be Deaconess)

What is the definition of a "good job". I have been payed very well to show up and keep a seat warm, but that's not good. I was bored out of my mind. I want to be compensated monetarily but I also need intellectual stimulation for it to be considered good.

As a guy, I have never even thought about my underwear. Can you see my boxer lines when I bend over? Now I am all worried about it.

Just a note to the others Climbingnurse, 5.10 on trad gear (i can do that) Roy F boot camp ( I did that and thought it was fun) I am in nursing school now and it is stressful because the amount of new info that we are required to learn but it not that bad.

I have heard though the grapevine that there is a lady in her 60's not only getting her BSN but also living in the dorms. Good luck to you

At 26 I was no where near ready to settle down and go to nursing school. (or any other formal thing) I am 34 now and about halfway though school. I am now a serious student and have a fairly good GPA. I did have a lot of fun in my twenties and don't regret any of it. I think GW Bush waited to get a "real job" until he was in his thirties also. You are never too old to learn new things.

I am not a nurse, but is nursing so much of a drain that ya'll can't at least do some of this stuff in your spare time? Get a part time job in a bakerey or a craft store just 15-20 hours a week, who cares how much it pays do it for fun or a stress break from your "real" job

I'm not a nurse but I dream of becoming one.