SEPF

Okay, I admit that I only read 2 pages out of the 12 or 13 on here, and I am not replying to any of them, I just wanted to give my view on the people I know who are against vaccinations. I know a good number of people who are against vaccinations, some absolutely, and others unless absolutely necessary. Most of them do not think that anybody is out to kill their children, they are simply scared of what they don't know, or are inherently afraid of putting anything foreign into their bodies. This is why they are so quick to buy into the anti-vaccine idea, because it plays on their fears. Another thing to consider is that although most of us nowadays have governments and healthcare systems that are primarily helpful, many people I know did not always have this. Not long ago the only medical advice you could find on tobacco smoking was that it was beneficial to health. Many people alive today lived in (or heard firsthand accounts of) tyrannical oppressive governments that DID order or supervise the culling of certain members of the population. Thus, some of their beliefs are much more plausible than we might think, we just don't have the same context as they do. So before we go labelling these people as damaging to society,” writing them off as crazy,” or stating that they should not be allowed to have children, we should look deeper into the problem. Sure, there are some doctors” who are actually doing society a disservice by fear-mongering, and sure, there are some parents or patients who actually know the damage they are causing, but the majority of them are good, legitimately scared people who aren't too keen on accepting another concept just yet. People prefer the devil they do know. The solution, much like so many other problems in our society, does not lie in attacking or belittling the offenders, but in addressing the reason why they offend. If you go up to a mother who is too scared to let her daughter be vaccinated with an attitude like many of the comments I've heard about them, you will not convince her that she is wrong, you will just reinforce her belief that healthcare providers are do not understand her and are not on her side.

It largely depends on the school and on the place where you will be doing your clinical placements. In my experience what they mean by "closed toe and heel" is that if you get water (or an unknown body fluid) splashed on your feet from above or from a puddle, that the shoes must not allow any of the fluid to reach your foot. I know that some places couldn't care less what you wore on your feet, but I have also been in a hospital where they would fine anybody, including students, if they violated the rules. There still were some nurses who did, but when they heard that an inspector was coming around they would run off to the locker-room to put something better on. I was lucky enough to find some second-hand shoes that fit me and the requirements of my school, but am now looking for some better ones. Good luck with nursing, all the best.

I am a Practical Nurse in Ontario Canada, and have just applied to several colleges for the RPN-->BSCN bridging program. There are a couple schools here (affiliated with McMaster) that require all new nursing applicants to take a certain CASPer test to evaluate "non-cognitive skills and interpersonal communication". So, I am wondering if any of you have taken this test before, what I should expect, and how (if at all) I should prepare for it. Thank you, any insight is appreciated. (P.S. I am not posting this to the exclusively Canadian forum because apparently CASPer is a US based test that is also use in various American schools).

Hi, I just recently graduated from the Sheridan RPN program. The first semester is very relaxed, I had classes 4 days a week, including a tiny bit of clinical placement, but only during regular hours (but most days it was only 1 class). However, I know a few students who managed to move around their classes to only have 3 a week or something like that. The second semester is a different story, I had 3 days of class which were generally more full days (on Mondays I had classes from 0800 to 1800); and on top of that, you have 2 practical placements of 12 hours each (they usually let you off early, but not always). Once again, I know a few people who rearranged their classes in order to only have 2 days of lecture and then the mandatory 2 of placement (although that can involve staying at school until 2100, like one person I know). The third semester is not too different from the second. The fourth semester is where things really get hectic. For the first 2 months you are inundated with assignments, and for the last 2 months, you have to work the equivalent of a full time nurse (i.e. 5 8hr shifts a week, or 3-4 12hr shifts a week) and then on top of that you have a elective to worry about. As for homework, everyone does things differently. I learn well from lectures so did not allot any time for regular review (except a day or so before exams). But I did take about 1 day per week for writing papers, although I know you can do it in less. I had many classmates with kids or with part time work who made it through, however, so I know it's doable. Now that it is over a few of my colleagues commented on how glad they are that they can finally be a mom again. It can be hard, but if that's what you want then go for it and don't let anything stop you. Feel free to ask any other questions you like. Good luck New RPN.

"HAL was only trying to help; he's incapable of error, you know."

Does anybody happen to have an updated link to those tables? I love the information they have, but am sure it has changed over the last few years. Thanks.