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GrnTea, you're such an awesome teacher. I have an awesome care plan book but now I see that I did myself a disservice by not getting the NANDA-I.

A paradigm shift in thought process, which leads to development of critical thinking. Once you begin to learn/study/experience through critical thinking eyes, nursing school becomes much easier.

I am preparing my clinical paperwork for Tuesday. My pt has a malignant neoplasm of breast with fungating wound. I am grateful that you've shared your experiences so that I can better prepare myself to help the pt. Thank you!

I am preparing my clinical paperwork for Tuesday. My pt has a malignant neoplasm of breast with fungating wound. I am grateful that you've shared your experiences so that I can better prepare myself to help the pt. Thank you!

Glad to have found this thread. Do any of you seasoned nurses have anything to add about whether or not you use an otoscope in your practice?

After I walked out of my A&P2 class today, I passed several 1st semester nursing students who were stressing over their upcoming pharmacology exam. Some were crying. Some were cussing. Some were laughing at the sheer frustration of it all. Some of them said they'd see me next semester in MY pharmacology class because they didn't think they'd pass. That was pretty eye-opening.

A community college in Alabama. Can't wait to get started!

I received my acceptance letter and paperwork yesterday! Whew! Now I have to get my immunizations (which my kids think is funny) and CPR. Orientation is 12/17. So excited!

Most of the residents with whom I am paired haven't had visits from family members in years. I realize that every situation, like every person is unique. I also realize that everyone deals with family, illness, and aging differently. The phrase wasn't meant to sound judgmental. As you eluded to, everyone has their own history, their own battles, their own choices and struggles. But there are also some children who drop off their family members and never return.

Thank you! The manicure idea is definitely something I can do, and hand massage. That decade as a licensed massage therapist will pay off! I'm not sure about favorite foods, but I can certainly ask! Thank you for the encouragement. I love these residents and hope I can make their days a little better for them.

I will be going back to visit my new friends later this week. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

I love the unique options on Etsy. However, most of the scrub tops there are made for generally smaller body types. I'm pretty tall and have a hard time finding tops with a long enough torso.

Last month, I began volunteering at a nursing home. I work 1:1 with residents who have been "forgotten about" or who do not receive much special time with others. One lady, in particular, suffers from dementia. Her communication goes back and forth between sounds, repeated words over and over and over again, and some distinguishable words. In the midst of that, she goes back and forth between her Spanish, Catalan, English, possibly French, and a little Italian. Communicating with her is quite challenging, but we manage to do it. We even laugh together. She has a great laugh. Each week, I bring large books with beautiful pictures. Mainly, I've brought picture books from her hometown in Spain. (She is here in the States with her daughter.) We look through them and she "talks" to me about everything. At times she is quite animated, she may be happy about a picture or mad about it, emphatically saying "NO NO NO." If I bring a book that is written in Spanish, she often corrects my pronunciation and laughs at that. I have such fun visiting with her. She does not wear corrective eye glasses. Her sight is really great! She often reads the small words on the pages of the books, and can read them well enough to know when I'm butchering the name of a cathedral or Saint. Another lady is totally with it! She is a former chemist and keeps up with my progress in school (waiting for my acceptance letter, and currently taking A&P 2 and Psych 202.) She doesn't enjoy the books, but prefers to talk about her family and my family. She's been quite exhausted lately... just doesn't seem "right" but I know that's ever-changing with this population. I'd like to know if anyone has any suggestions on other ways to reach my new friends. They are both immobile except for their wheelchairs. The second lady is totally unable to even use her arms. Thanks in advance!

I love my friends that I've met in the nursing home! Still pre-nursing, I hope to begin the nursing program in January! I am waiting for my acceptance letter. Last month, I began volunteering with the activities department of a nursing home here. I work 1:1 with residents who have been "forgotten about" by their families. My first day, I brought a few large picture books. One was of state parks, another of Spanish cathedrals. The ladies enjoyed them so! Even the lady who doesn't speak English and I communicated perfectly over art. For every good day that my new friends have, I feel like we have about two not-so-good days. When I have an off day, I get cranky. When they have an off day, they shut down. It took some getting used to. I am there every chance I get, and I adore them. I am learning so much! And I look forward to continuing to work with them. You will hear that it takes a special person to work with the elderly. It's true. Because the elderly don't open up to just anyone. This week, one of my new friends passed. It was such an odd feeling for me, to be happy that she had gone. But the truth is, her quality of life was less than stellar. I'm so happy that I got to be part of her smiles and laughter before she left. I may not end up working with them when I become a registered nurse. I hope I do, but that remains to be seen. Right now, though, I can't think of any other place I'd rather be!