Emma_H

Brandons, The hospital system can be frustrating, I get it. I can only imagine how difficult it is working in emergency. It sounds like you have great experience for primary care. I think emergency training will be so useful. I am sure you will be able to recognize when someone requires immediate medical attention in the primary care setting quickly. Where are you currently living? What schools are you thinking of applying for? Fireywoods1988, I think a lot of schools require a 3.0 out of 4.0 min average to apply, but a 3.5 would be competitive at many universities.

Yes, a lot of factors to consider! Thanks :)

Yes, I am thankful young! 24 and have been nursing for 2 years in both acute and primary care. I love the idea of being an NP.... I love learning and a challenge. I am also open to relocating for both school and employment right now.

Jumper44 I can totally understand where you are coming from and I agree. I would have really appreciated a biochemistry course, more pharm, more anatomy, physiology, path, etc. We did take a full year of anatomy/physio and patho which was very useful but I would have liked more. Through taking some speciality courses and just being in the workforce I have learned a lot but I feel like I will never fully understand the biochemistry behind medications which I wish I would know. I guess with further education and maybe taking a clinical/practical masters I will learn more. I think the relational/arts courses are beneficial but more of a balance would be better... well at least I think.

Relational practice was learning about how to form relationships with patients and families. Active listening skills, understanding yourself, your values, beliefs.... leaving those at the door when dealing with ethical issues, etc.

Yes, thank-you, I will have to start reporting and documenting... It is a regular occurrence with many nurses.

I don't mean electives... I feel those make students well rounded as well. I just mean in my program we had I think at least 3-4relational practice classes that were not designed all that well. As I said I think they are important, maybe 1-2, but 3-4 seemed like too much... so most of us dreaded going. Considering we would get 1 hours of pharm each week and then at least 3 hours of relational practice.... just thought it could have been evened out a bit more.

Do you feel their was too much "fluff" in your nursing program. I think relational practice courses are extremely useful.... but I think maybe 1-2 of these courses are enough. I feel their should be more focus on pharm/patho in nursing, as I feel this would be more useful. How do others feel? Maybe it is different in certain programs?

I am getting tired of feeling nervous calling certain doctors and them making my job that much more difficult.... some older GI docs literally make me feel like a piece of **** when I call them and make me feel helpless. I generally think I know my patients well, what I need, etc. but there are certain doctors who consistenly get mad at you for calling because they don't have time to deal with it or are maybe just having a bad day and take it on you... I can understand that they may feel burnt out and are over worked but the issues are often not my problem but they end of being. For instance, I call a doctor the other day about a patient and family wanting to see and speak with the doctor on the plan as this doctor has not seen the patient in 2 days... and he yells at me. It leaves me in the difficult position with the patient and their family, and I am left feeling helpless. Yes, I can give the patient and family a general update/plan, but if the plan is not clear to me then what am I suppose to do!?

On the unit I work on, patients are frequently requesting not to have specific nurses on my unit. I can almost always guess who they will request not have before they tell me a name. I know of two particular nurses on my floor who have strong personalities and often have issues with patients or their families. It makes it awkward when you have to tell the nurse of the request but also necessary at times so that specific nurse will not be covering this patient while you go on a break or something. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks everyone! I have heard benadryl is helpful, will have to try it!

I work part-time at a women's clinic and I am often amazed with the nurses that I work with and their ability to make women feel comfortable and supported. In most situations, before the women meet with the doctor they sit down and chat with a nurse for an assessment and to discuss what brought them to the clinic, their options, etc. We are often in roles of counselling patients about contraception, abortions, miscarriages, etc. Generally, nurses are empathetic, compassionate, good listeners and non-judgemental, which are all essential qualities in situations like this. When I think about the nurses that I work with, and their impact on the women we see at the clinic, I can't help but think that nurses rock. I am often filled with an overwhelming sense of emotion when I see other nurses speak with the patients or listen to them speak of patients and their need for support. I am sure there are many other situations that make nurses feel this way... would love to hear!

I often struggle sleeping the day post night shift. I often have to take half of a sleeping pill to get at least 4 hours.

Anyone here thinking of going down the primary care NP route at some point? Or has anyone done this or are currently working on this? Would love to ask some questions and hear fellow nurses stories!

Interesting. I can see high intensity areas always sticking with RN's but I have heard that they are going to be gradually increasing LPN's scope by increasing their length of program and further educating current LPN's. This may mean we will have more LPN's on medical/surgical units. Currently, generally there are around 7-8 RN's on a unit and maybe 2-3 LPN's here on Vancouver Island, BC. I know in some provinces such as Alberta, LPN's can give IV medications, access PICC lines etc... this has yet to come yet in BC.

I am having trouble threading for sure... seems like there are always new IV's coming out!! Thank-you.

Thanks everyone :) Great tips.

Thanks for sharing all of your personal experiences within your health authority. I appreciate your experiences. Just getting a little worried about what the changes will be looking like this coming January as things are changing within our health authority. No one is apparently displaced from their job but we will have to re-apply to lines as they are going to be shifting the way care is given to utilize the healthcare team in bit of a different way.... i.e. more of a team nursing approach and approaches to saving money.... possibly hiring more care aides and LPN's.

Feeling a little disappointed on my IV insertion skills lately... mainly my technique. Any advice?

Just wanted to know your thoughts on the shift from using more LPN's on units instead of RN's as they are cost saving for health authorities. We are beginning to see this in my health authority gradually. Any thoughts?

Just wanted to know if any of you fellow nurses have ever worked in a team nursing setting? The "team" is made up of an RN who is the most responsible, sometimes an LPN as well, and then 1-2 care aides who perform all the personal care to the patients. This takes nurses farther away from direct patient care, more into the role of administering medications, documentation, speaking with the interdisciplinary team, and overseeing the care. This is apparently the model that will be coming next year on many medical and surgical units within my health authority. Any thoughts?

Hi dng_503 I have some questions about how like/liked the Athabasca FNP program? I currently live in BC and am thinking about applying to Athabasca and then also some local schools. I know schools like UBC train you well for the OSCE and the American based written exam. I am mainly just wondering if you feel/felt prepared to write the OSCE and American based exam studying through Athabasca? Thanks so much!!