clf78

I am a new nurse. Barely 2 months into nursing. However, a lot of the issues you are presenting are not solely unique to nursing. Every job I have had over the past 15 years have many of the same challeges you are describing. There will always be those who do not give as much as you do. There will be some that give more. You cannot look to others and how they work for your satisfaction with your occupation. If where you are is no longer working for you, look somewhere else. The great thing about nursing is that there are so many disciplines available that you can move on to another area. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself if this is what you want to do. If not, move on to something else. I did, and am glad I did. Best of luck to you!

DOn't be embarrassed! I suck at math! I never made great grades in Algebra. But nursing math is different. It's also different for me because I can see the purpose behind doing the math. So far, most of what we have done are dosing calculations. It is entirely logical to me to do that kind of math. Algebra was always difficult for me because I didn't understand the purpose behind the equations. I did better at word problems in school. Nursing math makes sense to me and I have done much better at it than I ever did in school.

LOL! I would hope not as well.... I'm not saying to teach solely off tv....that's just silly. Just saying that particular episode did a good job of teaching and making one think. There are plenty of others that don't....

If I hear another instructor tell us in class, "It's not like Grey's Anatomy" one more time, I think I may scream. Of course it isn't like that. Grey's is television. Fiction. It's very nature is entertainment. However, I am never one to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water... I am currently a nursing student who still works at my local hospital as an aide and clerk on the weekends. Recently, I watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy that hit home. It's from season 6 and entitled "I Saw What I Saw." It's available on Netflix. It's about a chaotic day in the ER with mass casualties and all the typical drama that goes with it on tv. However, it goes moment by moment from different physicians' perspectives on what all went on during the shift that led to a preventable death. The ultimate cause? The assessing physician failed to look inside a patient's mouth during the initial assessment. Dr. Webber tells the doctor what a good doctor she is. But ultimately, she is fired. Although it is fiction, I think episodes such as this can be a valuable teaching tool. It certainly made me think. On another note, I have been watching their "code" scenes. Most of the time they shock, it has been v-fib. But I did see Karev break asepsis. Just sayin.... Any thoughts?

I wasn't nervous as much as excited. I knew this was what I wanted and was ready to get on with it! However, as this year has progressed and the classes have become more difficult, I find myself extremely nervous and agitated at times...except during clinicals! I LOVE my clinicals!

There is a saying I have heard since day 1...."C is for Continue.." Also, Straight A's in nursing school won't help if you can't pass the NCLEX. Those that don't pass the NCLEX are not called nurse....just saying. Nursing schools and advanced nursing programs look at more than your grades. That's why most have a point system. They look at your refereces, not only what they say about you but who they are from (their position, relation to you, their standing in the community etc). They look at your work record, what your instructors say about you. Your essay counts a great deal as well. Patient care is about much more than memorizing what to do when (although that can be important). It's just as important to know how to communicate with others whether it is with your patient, coworkers, physicians, charge nurses, ancillary staff, family, etc. You have to know what resources you have available. Nursing isn't just about what you make in class. Truly, you have to be knowledgeable, but knowledge without application makes you ineffective.

I have saved more money by using Amazon. They also provide free shipping for students. I noticed on several of the local colleges that the books required for each course are posted on the bookstore website for the college. Most allow you to purchase books on your kindle for approximately 3 to 4 months at a much cheaper rate. For instance, one book was priced at a bookstore for nearly $200 and only $63 on the kindle.

Well, we go back on Monday to finish our last semester of LPN school. Summer was really rough...but looking forward to finishing the semester! Good luck to you!