Rileycat

thanks for your input everyone!

I was looking at stethoscopes on-line, and some are offered in both 22" and 27" lengths. I have heard that the shorter the tube, the better the sound quality. Is there a big difference between a 22" and a 27" stethoscope as far as sound quality goes? I am slightly hard of hearing, so sound quality is a big issue with me, however, I don't need anything as extreme as an electronic stethoscope. I will be working in PICU, so I want a good quality scope. Any recommendations? Thanks!

I feel your pain! My problem is that I am tall and wide. My difficulty is this...if I go to a larger size, the waist is bigger, but the butt, hips, and thighs are the same as in the smaller size. My waist is not big...my problem is my butt and hips. Did you ever notice how they seem to make scrubs that are designed like a man's body? I swear,most scrubs don't even come up to my waist, but that may be more because of my height than my width (I am 6 ft tall). The women's sizes aren't too bad, but if I have to float to an area that wears hospital issued scrubs...forget it! Total plumber's ass hanging out! I swear I should design my own pants, skirts, and undies for plus size women. I found the brand that works best for me are the cherokee brand with the boxer waist band. They come in women's sizes (which fit better than the standard 1x,2x,3x) and the come in petite, average, and tall lengths. You can find this brand in most catalogs and nursing stores. I wish you luck in your pursuit. I know how frustrating shopping can be.

I just saw a breast reduction on TLC (the learning channel). I missed parts of the documentary, but I saw the woman after she recovered from the procedure. She was very happy with her results and said her scars were minimal. She was thrilled to be able to fit into regular tops and she was able to pursue her active lifestyle without the backaches and other discomforts of having large breasts. She felt so much more confident after the procedure. I don't know if you have cable tv or not. If you do, and if you have TLC...you may want to see if they are going to rebroadcast the episode. I think it was on cosmetic surgery in general. You may be able to order a tape if you are interested. They showed the surgery and everything, so it would give you a good idea of what you'll be getting into. I wish you luck with whatever you decide.

Where could one go about finding Birks or Danskos? I will graduate in one month and I will be working full time after I pass the NCLEX. In a previous post, many people suggested Danskos and Birkenstocks, but I don't know where to find them. Are these brands carried in Uniform stores or retail stores? Is there a web-site I can order from? I need to go shopping soon to buy some comfortable shoes, so your input would be appreciated. Thanks.

THANKS EVERYONE! I appreciate your input.

Can anyone out there recommend a good nursing shoe? I have tried a few different shoes and have been highly disappointed. Most shoes cannot hold up to the wear and tear that I put on them and my poor feet are killing me. At my hospital, they do allow gym shoes (as long as they are all white). I was hoping some of you could reply and tell me what brands/styles worked best for you. My feet thank you!

Hi all... My brother, age 30, had pain and swelling in his right testicle and felt a lump. An ultrasound confirmed the presence of a mass, the testicle was removed, and a biopsy was done. The tests revealed that the mass was malignant. The doc says it is Embryonal Cell Carcinoma, Non-Seminomatous. My brother will be undergoing a series of CT scans (chest and abdomen), a bone scan, and more blood work. I have no knowledge of this type of cancer (I'm still a nursing student) and I was hoping that someone out there could provide me with some information. I checked out a few web-sites that were recommended to me, but I still feel as though I need more information. Does anyone out there have any personal experience with this type of cancer? How aggressive is it? Are there any web-sites, articles, or books you can recommend? I could really use some help. Feel free to email me. Thanks.

Go for it! One of the honor students in my class is 48 years old. You can do it!

Thank you all for responding. Your opinions, advice, and encouragement are appreciated.

THANKS EVERYONE, FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.

Would you happen to know the phone number for the Genito Urinary Clinic at M D Anderson Cancer Center? If not, I'm sure I can manage to find it. Thanks for your help.

On Monday, Feb. the 19th, my brother had an ultrasound done on his testicles (he had a lump and his testicles were swollen). A mass was found, and on Wed. the 21st the mass was removed. The doctor says there is a 90% chance that the tumor is malignant, but we will not know until either Friday the 23rd or Monday the 26th. The doctor is waiting on the lab work to see if it is cancer, what type of cancer it is, and from there treatments will be discussed. Does anyone know of any web sites I can go to for more information? I am still a nursing student and have not studied about this kind of cancer yet, and my nursing books don't have a lot of information. I could really use some help. Thanks. [This message has been edited by Rileycat (edited February 21, 2001).]

I am 29 and due to graduate in May.

My school had a similar test and if we did not pass it we would be dropped from the program, regardless of GPA. My advice to you is to see if there are any tutors available that understand dosage problems. My school had one...I went to her and I passed my test with no problems. She explained the formulas used and gave me practice problems. I found the one on one sessions made the math more understandable than the books. As with the others that posted, I also had a chart of equivalents to commit to memory. Also, don't view this test as a one time thing that you'll never touch again. My school has a test every semester, they incorporate the math on regular examinations, it'll show up on NCLEX, and some hospitals give you a math test that you must pass before you can start orientation. Good luck to you. [This message has been edited by Rileycat (edited February 09, 2001).]

I worked as a CNA in a nursing home making $9.75/hr for registry with $1.00/hr afternoon differential and $3.00/hr weekend differential (in IL). The regular CNAs made $8-9/hr to start with the same differentials, depending on experience. I currently work in a hospital as a CNA and I am in the hospital's flex pool (in IL). I don't know if my wages differ from full-time CNAs, but I make $12.75/hr base salary with 10% afternoon differentials and 15% differentials for night shift. I only have 8 months experience. I don't know if my wages reflect the rest of IL ( I live in a subarb near Chicago), but I have friends that also work as CNAs in hospitals and they make $10-12/hr.

Hi everyone... I am due to graduate nursing school this May, and my teachers are really pushing the students to take review classes prior to taking the NCLEX exam. Is it really necessary to take a review class? How helpful is it? Will doing practice questions on disks and in books be sufficient preparation? I want to pass the NCLEX exam on my first try and I want to prepare myself thoroughly, but the review classes are so expensive. Are there any cheaper alternatives that work well? Any advice would be appreciated. THANKS!

You know you've been a nursing student too long when: You're not tired...You suffer from sleep pattern disturbance related to late night study sessions...related to anxiety...

Michele... I am a 29 y/o nursing student, due to graduate in May 2001. Congrats on your courage to go back to school and pursue nursing. I won't lie...Nursing school is tough, but with dedication, time management, and a few sacrifices you can make it. I attend a community college and what tends to make the program rough for many is the time commitment involved. Many students work, have children, and have to maintain a household. Many women feel they have to be superwoman and their school work suffers because they try to take on too much without help. Don't get me wrong...these women succeed, and some of them do better than the younger students. If you have a support system, you'll be fine. If at all possible, try to limit work hours, have your basics done before you take nursing classes (sounds like you do), and don't worry about keeping the house clean! My personal experience: Nursing school seemed overwhelming at first. There was a lot of reading and we had lecture exams weekly as well as weekly skill examinations and clinicals. The tests are applied knowledge in which you need to know what nursing action is priority. Just knowing the facts is not enough. My teachers seemed to do their best at weeding out weak links. My class is down to 37 from a starting number of 80. The biggest sacrifice I made was my social life and quality time with my hubby. It seems I'm either working, at school, or in my room studying...but I'm sure it will all be worth it. On the positive side, now that I am almost finished, school has gotten easier and the instructors are more relaxed. All the information is falling into place and I am glad I stuck with it. I too hope to go into ob. Good luck with your schooling. You'll do fine, just remember your goals and keep your priorities straight. You sound like a good student so you will have success. PS... a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh will do you wonders!

Hi everyone... I am currently in my last semester of nursing school, due to graduate in May 2001. My desire is to go into OB/L&D. Is it possible for a new grad to succeed in this area or is it necessary to do one year in med-surg first? I'd really love to jump right into my desired area, but fear that I won't have enough knowledge/experience behind me to give quality client care. The hospital I intend to work at has 3 months orientation for OB. Would this prepare me enough, or do I need that med-surg background? Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

For NurseJane: Where in Indiana do RNs start out with such a good base pay? I live in Lansing, IL which is right off the Indiana border and would love to work in Indiana since it is so close to me. The Indiana towns close to me are Munster, Hammond, and Dyer. I have not investigated all the hospitals/nursing homes in this area, but the ones that I interviewed with did not have good starting salaries. Three nursing homes only offered me $7.25-$7.50/hour as a CNA with experience and a certificate and the hospitals offered a salary within a dollar of my previous post upon graduation as a RN. I was aware that nurses with experience can make a good buck in IN, but I haven't known a new grad to make that much. Since I have only investigated a couple of towns I shouldn't make judgements on the whole state. Sorry! Crown Point is not that far away from me...how is their base pay? I am interested in working in the hospital setting so any updated/correct information would be appreciated. THANKS!

S hart: Good news! There are grants available, but don't limit yourself to just nursing grants. You don't need to be 18 and single either (I am 30 and married). I go to a community college and for the past four semesters I have been receiving a returning student scholarship which has covered the cost of my tuition. The scholarship is for those who have been out of school for at least 4 years (I think; The time criteria may be longer). There was also a new beginnings scholarship offered with similar criteria. These scholarships are designed for older students. There are also book scholarships available and grants that target specific nationalities/ethnic groups/and women. My advice to you is to go to the financial aid dept. at the college you attend. They will be able to give you forms to fill out for any scholarships that you qualify for. I would also talk to a nursing instructor/advisor because they are often aware of the nursing specific scholarships that financial aid may not know about. I live in IL and we have grants that are given through the IL Dept of Health. I may be wrong, but I think these grants do not need to be paid back as long as you work in the health field for two years. The nursing instructors/advisors would know more about this and can tell you if your state offers something similar. Some hospitals also give grants if you agree to work for them. Fill out all the applications for grants that you can to increase your chances of getting one. Good luck to you!

colleen10: I put off nursing for a long time because I wasn't sure if I had what it takes. I thought I would throw up cleaning up BMs and was fearful that I would be a chain puker if someone would vomit. I was also nervous about giving shots and taking blood because I didn't want to hurt anyone. Pretty silly now that I think about it, but I didn't want to get into the field unless I was sure I could handle it. Well, here comes my truth: You are never sure until you do it. I joined the nursing program without knowing how I would handle the less than appealing aspects of the profession. I am in my last semester and so far I love it. I found I can handle what has come my way so far and I hope things continue that way. Through my clinicals I have gained confidence in my skills and I am no longer worried about hurting someone with a needle. The BMs don't even phase me anymore and as far as blood goes...I hate having my blood drawn, I hate being jabbed with needles, and I never watch. I can see other people's blood or inject them and that doesn't bother me, but my own blood forget it! I wouldn't let the blood factor stop you if nursing is your dream (unless you can't handle seeing blood of any kind). Even then, there are avenues in nursing where you won't need to deal with it too often. The hospital I work at has its own lab and its own IV team, so unless a nurse works in ER, he/she never has to draw blood. I know there are several hospitals in my area that are the same way. Check the hospitals near you. You may not need to worry about drawing blood afterall. Good luck with your pursuit!

For eventsnyc: I agree with some of the others that there are many reasons for people to drop out of the nursing program. I think many people don't realize what a time commitment is involved to succeed in this program. Many sacrifices must be made and not everyone is willing to do that. I also believe that people don't know what they are getting themselves into. Nursing can be very mentally and physically exhausting, therefore the people in it for "a quick and easy buck" bail out quickly. I go to a local community college with a great age variation. The biggest reason for dropping out at my school is simply life circumstances. The finances are not there, a family member gets a terminal illness, a single mom has no one to watch her kids, etc. I think another huge factor is that people bite off more than they can chew. They think they can be in nursing school full time and work full time. No one is superman so this doesn't work very often. Eventually something must give and since bills need to be paid, school is often dropped. I'd like to add that the most successful students at my school are the older ones who are finally returning to school now that their own children have graduated. These folks have such dedication and desire. I really admire them not only for their success, but for having the courage to return to school after all these years. My hat also goes off to all the moms out there who are in the program. I can't imagine the energy it must take to accomplish your goals. You guys do it all...care for the kids, maintain the household, laundry, cooking, quality time with the family, and then study on top of all that. Bless you all!

It disgusts me how unappreciated the nursing profession is in some areas. Some of you that have posted are receiving great wages for an LPN, but the rest of you are getting the shaft. I can't believe some of you don't get paid more for the hard work that you do. I can really understand why people change careers or relocate. I work as a CNA in IL. The average starting salary is 8-9 dollars/hr. I work in a higher paying hospital and my base rate is $12.75/hr plus 10% afternoon differential and 15% midnight differential. Full benefits are given to those who work 20 hrs or more and anything over 8 hrs is time and a half (even without a 40 hr wk). I'm not sure what LPNs in IL make, but the average starting salary is 17-20 dollars per hour for a RN (this is for a new grad). The one place not to work is Indiana. A RN there only starts at $15/hr and CNAs only make around $7/hr. I don't know how much the LPNs make.