graddock

Hello All, I am in the Miltary Radio/Satellite comms field but my passion is Nursing, at least thats my only calling. There are so many better job offers but Nursing is my true goal-pay or not. I got excited the other day when I went to the local miltary clinic (Patch Health Clinic) and one of the NCO's overheard of my interest. Her MOS(Milstary Occupational Specialty) is not nursing but she too is striving for a career in nursing. She recommended Excelsior College which I have heard about. Since I am stationed in Germany for another 2 years I have been hard pressed to find a school that will pick me up with no background in the medical field. Herein lies the problem: EC will accomodate students in my position with one exception with one small exception. They will not take students with no prior medical experience and their standard for this allow for a variety of medical experience, NA's etc. I was dissappointed to the point of thinking that theyre was no hope of pursuing my studies abroad and honestly I want to begin as soon as I can, before my 2 year comitment here. Please help me understand as I am smart as I can be and a quick learner. Why is it this way? Can anyone point me in the right direction? Regards, Stephen Wynn

Thank You "CUTE_CNA" After getting some of that coffee in the system I have found the grammer errors in my previous posts. I believe "CUTE_CNA" found the pulse of the thread. At least the one I am looking for. In every aspect of work we find something we can manipulate so that it conforms to "me". I am guilty of it and it never seems to fail. We find ouselves working outside of the prescribed guidelines, I am speaking of anything as it applies to my commo MOS in the the ARMY. This is not nescessarily bad as it is a learning experience unless you look at it in the respect the you should follow all instruction to the exact T!! In that case I feel sorry for you as you have closed your mind to new ideas. I am beginning my transition to civilian life ATT. I want to see new ideas pop up in my area of interest. I also want to see the end of infighting within sections(Platoons, Etc...). I know the things I mention above sound odd. Maybe it's just the way I articulate my thoughts. In some recent posts I am starting to ask that you guys keep me in check when it comes to this kind of stuff. I am trying to not come out sounding like an AS*H***. Sincerely, Garrett

I mean't to ask wha it was that usually sets a nurse in the -course of action that is against their' "Better Judgement" '. What can be the deciding factor in these types of decisions?? Answer away as I care not who makes a reply. This thread is just to satisfy my curiosity. Even as I preview this message I can see how calllous it could seem and I ask that you not see it this way. Look at it this way: This is where I can learn from mmy class **NOT where they can learn from me.(*****) Not yet, at least.))))) Doest that make any sense??

What bring on the "Next excitement"?? Any???

I only say so because I myself tried quitting after 9 years. My findings:\\ WELLBUTRIN/ ZYBAN= complete VICTORY over the cig monster. No Reward Experience after a cigarette, no nothing. ***Unfortunatley, for me, I had side effects after 2 weeks of treatment that caused me to change tactics. Sevre Anxiety. **Complete Will= Heard to be SUCH A CUCCESS! Only those who actually know how it can be will laugh at this one. *The GUM= Face it(in my case and so many others) it is just another case where you Like the gum too much. Not in all cases but, unfortunatley alot of patients will, but it happens. I am still smking to this day w/ a quit date of FEB 01, 2006. Why FEB?? Think about it---> Christmas and the withdrawal syndrome you'd have to deal with. Same as Christmas. I guess it coninues, at least for me. Congratulations on all others who are successful at this.

Let me say hello to all, I am not a nurse but after my ARMY Enlistment expires, in 6 months, I will be pursuing a Nursing Career. My mother and grandmother are/was nurses. I have a "Nack" for sciences. Always have. I excelled in Physiology, Chemistry, Biology, and whatever else happened to catch my attention ATT. I even had a $1200 microscope which I was able to get when our local hospital did some moving around. That was at the age of 12. I dont count myself as unusually smart or gifted. I say this b/c when I enlisted my GT Score(ASVAB test) was 113 and in my MOS I have seen as high as 130's and up. All in all, here is my problem. I empathize with any situation around me. Not every single situation, but all I would have to do is focus on the situation long enough to get personal with it(Doesnt take long at all.) and BAM, I am on the verge of choking up! This problem is that this happens only with sad stuff or extremely touching stuff. Ive even had tears well up. I am a 24 year old male with no mental distress then and none now. All is great, I have just gotten married to my wonderful wife, and I have great plans for the future. I tend to be extremely analytical in the way I think and I have had to dampen that at times since I look at some things and break them down too much. I am "For The Record" a well adjusted person, and my drinking buddies would never know how "sensitive-Female like" I can get if the movie or whatever strikes me in this way. Nothing against females at all. I Love you guys. Your just as capable as men. Maybe more emotional about things:chuckle My big question is: Is this something you have ever heard of from a guy? In my case would I be a good nurse? Can I overcome it??? Numb it maybe?? P.S.- I even get teary eyes from reading some of the all nurses posts. Mainly sad stuff like hospice care and the like. Oh and I feel the need to add that I am a regular everyday guy with a "High & Tight" haircut.

Hey, Though I am not a nurse just yet, I would make a special sheet just for her and get so critically perverse in all reporting and then turn it in. All the way down to patients color and BM. For BM's just put in color and doc the odor. I know that may be way out there but if I were on the Rx(Recieving-radio speak) end I'd probably get the point. I realize that this is not easy due to time constraints but hey, if the time is right go for it. At least get your kicks w/ this nurse. She's getting hers w/ you. Sorry for the vent as this is a similar problem I have been dealing with and am in the process of doing just what I wrote above. Good Luck, Garrett Wynn

Hey, I took Prozac for depression and OCD at the age of 17-18. About 4 months of Prozac therapy I was switched to Paxil. Paxil 20mg once every morning provided me with excellent recovery and adjustment with virtually no side effects at all. I stopped taking it after a year with no issues to report such as siezures or behavioral/mental distress. Prozac produced a slightly more energetic release whereas Paxil did not. Good luck. :)

Hey All, Thanks for the great responses and I will try to respond individually to some if possible. Get this as it turns out I live right next to the middle/high school and the majority of those students live here and also at Kelly Barracks. Something I wasnt aware of was the fact that Kelly Barracks was quarantined due to, of all things, Pertussis(Whooping Cough). So that just may be what I have. I am unsure of the treatment at this point but I will be seen tommorow hopefully. I have noticed the coughing spells increasing throughout the day. I will just try to cough into a handkerchef (sic) while traveling as I would hate to spread this as much as possible. Apparently they have been very strict on this quarantine at Kelly Barracks but me living the life of a shift worker has me blind to everyday going ons. If anyone knows the treatment protocols for this please let me know. I know that each doctor does his/her own thing and I wont take any responses as gospel but any ideas? Sincerely, Garrett (PFC Wynn)

No Problem, I did look into Pertussis and the symptoms do seem fairly related. It reminded me of a comment my Fiance made a week or so ago after a coughing fit. She said that my lips were bluish. I guess I should have looked in the mirror to confirm for myself but stupidly dismissed it as the lighting within the room. I should mention that I am 23 years old and otherwise fairly healthy. I will go to an Urgent Care Facility in Spokane/Cheney Washington area as soon as I arrive tommorow. I must and will stop smoking. I will continue to monitor this thread by the hour. Sincerely, Garrett

I will look into what you both have said. You are also absolutley correct. Smoking must stop and I will set a date ASAP. Another question I am curious about is if the doctor decides to treat with medication, would it be inapropriate for me to request a certain medication. I.E. something that has worked well before?

Hello to all, I am currently serving in the ARMY stationed in Stuttgart, Germay. I will be ETS'ing next year where I will be pursuing a career in Nursing. Now onto my problem. I know that I should only follow a doctors orders, etc. but I just need some feedback as your vast knowledge & experience will help me find some answers, guesstimates, whatever. My history: 73" 195lb Male. Smoker x 1/2 pk "Marlboro Reds" for approx. 8 years. Throughout that time I had only the usual seasonal upper respiratory infections etc. This time I have been experiencing something just unusual in its severity. I will be leaving tommorow for Spokane, Washington to marry my Fiance and would really appreciate some feedback soon. Below you will find an excerpt from an E-Mail I had sent earlier concerning my problem. It dscribes the symptoms as best as I can. I will monitor this thread every hour or so to answer any questions you may have. Excerpt: "By the way, I have begun to get a serious upper resperitory Infection going on here. It is too late to go to the clinic. I know I will need Antibiotics which should clear it up within a week with plenty of time before the wedding. I have been experiencing the worst, most painful cough I have ever had. I want to say I have Bronchitis but it doesnt sound Bronchial nor do I produce anything. Its strictly a dry cough. I have tried 4 different cough preparations here and none have worked so far. I know smoking has alot to do with it but it has been so severe this last week that I can only tolerate 3-6 cigarettes compared to my usual 10-12. The cough feels as if it is in my upper lungs and not from deep within. It is so severe that my face turns red as blood and my eyes want to pop out of my head. Usually I get bouts of this every so often throughout the day but mostly before bed, during the night, and early morning. The coughing usually lasts about 5-6 minutes where afterward I can only draw in short breaths of air. If I were to attempt a regular breath I start another bout of coughing lasting no more than 3 minutes. At no time will I ever produce any sputum etc. I have tried anti-histamines but to no avail. I know a post-nasal drip when I get one but this thing takes the cake. No fever or wheezing. Whats up with this I wonder. I didnt have time to go to the clinic this past week but the only thing they would have done was to give me an antihistamine, Tylenol, a Z-Pack, and OTC Guiefinisen cough syrup. If they wanted to give me a stronger cough syrup they only have the same type of cough syrup with 10% Alcohal, 8mg of Codiene, and the usual Guiefinisen. I told the clinic it was worthless and besides I am intolerant to Codiene b/c of side effects. Military medicine goes to the cheapest, and I mean cheapest bidder, so they have little else for cough. I may attempt to go to an Urgent Care Facility in Spokane, something like our Pri-Med. I need to get some antibiotics in me or I fear the worst could develop. Besides that I need an INHALER that can open me up so I can breathe better after coughing. Last but not least, I need a heavyweight cough syrup like Tussionex or Kwelcof to give this horrible cough a Southpaw it'll never see coming ;-). I mean I literally am drained after coughing like this. I could go to Faichild Airforce Base located there but thats military medicine which is just the same as here. I dont care about a $100.00 walk-in Appointment fee. Nor the price for the meds either. We've got the money, but this cannot go on. Whats your take on my symptoms?? E-mail me back when you get this so I'll have something to read like you did yesterday." Thanks Alot to everyone, Garrett My E-mail can be provided upon request.