becka9058

I do days but I normally do nights as a three in a row kind of pattern. 7PM-8AM. I normally sleep 9AM-3PM when I'm on nights. Not very much considering I would normally sleep 10PM until 6AM for a day shift... I also find it soooo hard to switch back into 'day mode' after I've done my night shifts... I sort of turn into an owl; wide awake in the night and then sleeping through the day.

I am coming to the end of the first year of my degree. I have had pretty consistent grades from my assignments or written work over the year and I am happy about it but I would like to better myself over the summer. Basically, in all my feedback that I have had in order to improve; they have all basically said that I need to expand my 'academic language'. Now, where I do know exactly what this means, I was wondering if any of you could spare the time to direct me to some resources such as some books or websites that have helped you 'think' in academic language whilst you are writing assignments. I was to change my way of thought when I am putting sentences together for essays so that by mid year 2 I will have developed it enough to right it 'automatically' in said format. Thanks to those who contribute!

I suppose that it is hard for families to grasp the reality of the truth of death; their loved one will die at some point. It takes very strong and brave person to sign for a DNAR for their family member but unfortunately this is the only thing they can really do to stop the suffering for someone of whom is very ill. Otherwise like you have said; we will give medications and more medications to counteract the side effects of the first load. It's a vicious circle and most of the time it's just not fair. It's selfish of all of us in a way because if someone has the responsibility to make decisions for their relative then 9 times out of 10 they will ask to preserve life as long as possible even if it prolongs suffering. Sometimes I feel that this is because they can't empathise with their relatives; what would they want if the tables were turned?

Basically, I am a student in the UK starting my first placement next week. Prior to this, we have been doing skills sessions at university where we have been doing BP and TPR. In skills we have been borrowing the university stethoscopes which are Littmann Classic II. I find them very hard to hear. I have created this post as an appeal for advice. I have also tried the Littmann Master Classic II and also can't hear this one either. I'm sure you'll probably wonder if I'm using it correctly; I'll just clarify that I have been noticeably hard of hearing since I was a teenager. My question to you is simply: Could you recommend a stethoscope I would be able to hear through? I understand that there is the option of an electronic stethoscope where the sound can be adjusted volume-wise. However, I am reluctant as I do not want to have to explain myself to the staff on the ward why I have bought it as well as the thought of it getting lost. Plus, I see that as more of a last resort. My university has recommended that we buy a stethoscope and my friends have got theirs which are the ones I have mentioned above and tried out. If you have some advice for me I would welcome and wholly appreciate it. Thank You

It sounds a lot like you aren't taking enough breaks to do something else in between. You'll be fine! Good luck and take a few regular breaks and your brain might not get as stressed out

Okay, I'll answer questiin number 2 first. I study anytime after noon. Whenever I can. Between classes, before dinner, after etc. I take breaks often and read about half a hapter of a book (I know what you're thinking.. 'how could I possibly want to look at morewords on a study break?!' Well fir me, I read to relax. It works for me to not get out of the frame of mine and concentration of using my mind but instead keeps my brain active and can sometimes help me remember stuff. By this I mean in exams I might be trying to remeber say one of the principles of care. And I can go 'oh I remember reading about that. It was when that character moved into their new apartment before villain caught her.' Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. As for question number 1; I study with music on or with the TV on in the backhround playing something I've seen many times so I don't mind missing parts while I'm studying. Most of the time I'll tune out background noise such as this but its always nice to look up once in the while during say a sip of coffee or whatever and not be in complete and utter silence, for me just doing something different even if its for less that 5 minutes; gives me enough time to have a mental break and decide whether to continue with the topic I'm studying, test myself or start on something else. For me, I listen to music and need no distraction until I can get into 'the zone' when I'm writing my coursework, essays etc. because everyone starts off slow with those and then gets faster and faster. But as for studying for exams I can do it anytime, anywhere. Sometimes I study in the car before class when I arruve a bit too early. On sunny days I'll inflate my air bed and sit out the garden surrounded by books with my iPod plugged in and on days off that are sunny when I plan to study for most of the day, I use a quick pitch tent, fill it with pillows and all sorts of stuff, a jug of water/squash and retreat there in my owm little study sanctuary. Little thungs like this make me able to concentrate for long periods of time. I love socialising with fellow nursing students, they are the only ones who can understand the demands we have to deal with but study groups don't work for me. Being alone while studying is what works best for me and I live in a student house during term time and share with two business students, and I find their perspective on things so enlightening sometimes because they have their own demands for their course and it can be refreshing to talk about their course for a change.. get to know what other people go through I find helps you to reflect on your own learning, try their techniques and apply it to your own studies. It may be the best thing you do, if it works great. If it doesnt try something else. Since ive started college/uni one of the most valuable things as far as studying goes is to establish the right atmosphere for you BEFORE you begin studying. Bevause, if its wrong, you might find yourself procrastinating and thats never good because you start to think you'll never learn this procedure, you'll never remember this legislation that protects vulnerable people from harm. You will, you've just got to find the environment that work for you,

Wow that is so wrong. They should not be claiming to be nurses. Nurses have to be registered with a body and they have to do CPD. Assisstants don't have to do they? I'm not being funny but isn't this actually dangerous? If they are doing the duties of a nurse then shouldn't they need to be trained to do so?! Then there's the legal issues if something goes wrong, this assistant and indeed the practice/office that they work for are going to face serious consequences for 1. Allowing someone falsely claiming they are a nurse. 2. Carrying out procedures despite the fact they are not a nurse 3. If something goes wrong they may seriously harm someone. Something definitely needs to be done about this. In the UK it is much easier to distinguish between assistants and nurses (thankfully) because they wear completely different colour uniforms as do student nurses.

Yea exactly. I didn't say that random online posts and things you might come across we're more reliable I said they were less reliable than things published by a more reputable author

Of course, I know the importance of basing practice on research to keep up to date with new issues and all that - we don't need to get into it right now. I was just wondering if the subscriptions that we can pay for i.e. Magazines etc. such as the Nursing Times are worth parting money for. Can you find similar online? Do you think that it is worth paying for these sort of research and articles because they may present themselves to be more reliable than say one we might find online? i.e. more reputable. I was just wondering about this and others' thoughts on this sort of thing and if so could you share some links to point me and others in the right direction of relevant ones that may not have been listed?

I don't think people think that nursing is very easy at all; yes the NHS pays our fees in the UK but you failed to mention the sheer amount of competition and the painful interview process that a prospective student nurse needs to go through before they can even start seeing nursing in their future. Getting into a nursing program is tough and by no means the " soft option through University/College" Seriously? People are committing 3 years of their life to a difficult course and obviously there are going to be people who drop out or just don't want to be there but if they hate it that much then they are not going to stay there long anyway. Those three years of learning are just the beginning of what it takes to be a nurse and I can see your point coming across about how you have to be dedicated but to even begin to suggest that students randomly choose nursing is incorrect. The interview process is difficult. It is competitive and it can even knock a person's confidence; there just aren't enough places and knowing this I don't think people would lightly choose a course like this at the drop of the hat "oh well, I'll just be a nurse then." No. They have to pass a literacy and numeracy test in most universities, then they have to go through a group interview/group activity and then they might also have an individual interview. Now I might be crazy but does anyone think that someone would go through that on the possibility that they might want to be a nurse or that it was a final option? I don't. I know so many people this year who haven't been able to get into a nursing course (even more for midwifery) and have to try again next year and possibly again after that. People who are devastated that they could not fulfil their dream. I'm sorry I'm going on a bit but after seeing people I know lose their self-esteem and confidence after not being able to get into a nursing program because the competition for the sheer lack of spaces makes me wonder how a noticeable amount can walk into this with their eyes shut. Of course there will be a few but focus on the majority of students who are so focused they would do anything to become a nurse never mind all the social side and the things you have to give up; if you want it that badly then people should just go for it!

I was in a paediatric ward and had come in at 7AM for the hand over and at 11AM I had just come back from my break which wasn't even that long and two parents of a child who had come in were standing around so naturally I approached them and asked if I could help them. They began telling me that they had been "standing here for ages" so I politely told them that I am sorry they had to wait and had just come from my break but I was more than happy to help them to which they sarcastically responded "oh, so they have breaks now when they should be doing their job". Now I'm more than happy to cut short a break or delay one entirely if it means that someone needs my help but since there was an entire wall between me and them during the time I was away, it was a bit difficult to know they were there since I'd left my x-ray vision down in radiography. I just don't understand sometimes how patients and their families can expect us to give quality care and then have a go at us without taking into consideration the length of our shifts and how many shifts we've had to do in a row that week. I wouldn't change what I do for the world but some people just don't understand

Try going for jobs in health promotion and health campaigns or you could go into teaching nursing and other health related subjects. Health promotion will be a desk type job, you'll be able to use your team-working skills from nursing as well as feeling a sense of achieving something when you get to the end of it. You'll still be able to help people; just more indirectly. You won't have their lives in your hands as you put it but you can still influence others to have a healthy lifestyle and awareness. Hope this helps =)

Just as ironic as the doctors and nurses telling people they shouldn't smoke and then heading outside to light one up...

Be careful how you behave outside of clinicals and university. Don't mention ANTHING about your course or wards on social networking sites - trust me it's for the best. Also, when you are wearing anything that identifies you as a student nurse, remember to set an example; you can easily be traced back and it could have serious consequences. For example, someone from my university was shouting at someone in the street while wearing their uniform. It was reported and she got into a lot of trouble for it. I would recommend covering your uniform under clothing until you get into the hospital. Hope this helps :)

I know it can be tough when you're working with people you don't like, annoying people, disorganised people but I think that's sort of the point of why you are doing it... it's all to do with developing team working skills and management. Set out clear routines if you can; as a group decide what days/hours to keep free just in case and establish a notice period where you have to give a certain amount of notice rather than telling you a few hours before or the day before where you need to cancel your plans. Provide feedback to each other - don't be cruel about it but give feedback, recognise each others strengths & weaknesses and use them to your advantage. I know it's easier said than done but implement things like this as early as possible when starting a group project and it may well prevent things from getting out of hand further down the line.