LuvCatsRN

Ditto. We also measure the GFR to evaluate if we need to predose with mucomyst. The need/benefit vs. risk train of thought is the determinate. I have not seen an adverse reaction when the patient is premedicated.

I give my students small gifts such as a travel coffee mug or a change purse. Not all clinical instructors give gifts, but I like to acknowledge my students for their work. It doesn't have to be expensive and I always keep the items exactly the same across the board. Hope this helps.

Yes I did receive a gift from my students, but that is a custom that has been in place since I went to school with our instructors. A gift from your clinical group or students should always be acknowledged - I don't think it is unacceptable to do a thank you email, but a quick handwritten note would probably mean more. Hope this helps.

I agree with obtaining the skills necessary to function as an RN. When I graduated from Nursing school I needed additional skills to work on my unit. Thank goodness for a wonderful preceptor. I along with the other new grads coming from so many different schools lacked all the skills to enter the workforce and be able to function independently. This is normal. The one thing that I would suggest is to work an internship if planning to work in the hospital. Two reasons: 1. your foot is in the door, 2. You gain so many opportunities to practice your skills with an RN. I think that being able to practice your skills and see how the nurses' critical thinking is from one area to the other is crucial. The focus from one unit to another is very different. Do students double up on a frequent basis and does that hinder the learning process? I fear loss of interest for my students. This is a hospital that sends all cardiac and neuro out. It is not a Level 1 or 2 hospital. To give you an idea of the unit it is a split unit with 1/2 surgical and 1/2 peds. Thanks again for your feedback. :wink2: It is really helpful being able to gather information and replies to back my decisions.

I would like to have suggestions from the LPN to RN student about clinical experiences at a facility. I am a clinical instructor for an advanced Med/Surg class. All the students have their LPN license, but 2 of 7 have been practicing as LPN's for over 2 years probably in a LTC facility. Five of the group have just passed their board for the LPN but are continuing on to the RN portion. Basically bridging. The facility that we are going to use is smaller (70-80 beds) and the clinical is on Friday and Saturdays. Part of the problem is that the unit we will be stationed on is Surgical and may not have enough patients in order for each student to have an individual patient assignment on Saturdays. Also the clinical runs for 10 hours. I have proposed and been offered to use the ER, CCU, and OR areas of the hospital. The lead instructor does not want to do this as they state that branching out may be a liability and that students do not feel that they learn from going to other units. Does the student learn from staying just in one unit and having to double up on occassion? My plans were to incorporate a SWAT position so that each student will also have the opportunity to see what it is like to manage and help their co-workers. My intent is not to fill in down time with additional paperwork. Does one actually learn from extra paperwork or assignments? My problem is I feel that I have no autonomy with designing the best possible clinical experience for students. One thing that I left out is that the 3 of the 5 clinical groups are going to larger facilities. I want to keep a good relationship with the lead instructor, but want to keep the learning experience at it's very best. Thank you for responding.

I agree that infighting and lack of unity is a problem in the profession, but is this also being encouraged from organizations that we work for or from school programs? I had an individual from a local ADN program tell me after we introduced ourselves the first day of orientation that her instructors from her program always told her how far superior they were as nurses than the BSN grads from my university. Her statement also included that we were just great paper authors. (Her program did not require exhausting research papers) Now how should one take that on their first day trying to bond with coworkers? And no she wasn't young, she was a non-traditional student such as myself. Pity to those who don't have the ability to judge an person on their own merit but accept the nasty path of perpetuating division. I respect my coworkers - including the diploma grads. They are also a group that have not been spoken for on this issue. Thanks for setting the story straight Gerry :) We also did the horrid presentations! :uhoh21:

I have to agree that the BSN program I attended required more clinical hours than any of the ADN programs in our area (4 ADN programs are in the area to the one BSN program). Not only was the clinical time for our program 16-24 hours weekly, the prep time required prior to clinical was usually 4 hours in the hospital or clinic the day before to research the patients assigned - medical hx, social/psych hx, procedures scheduled, and medications. Please end the myth that BSN nurses do not put in the same amount of clinical hours. To add to the mix, how many ADN nurses were required to write a paper every semester that required a minimum of 20 pages not including the reference list? My total hours to acquire my BSN degree were 139. A local hospital in our area has required that all managers have a BSN within the next 2 years in order to keep their jobs. Where did it come from? From the requirements to gain magnet status. So where is the push coming from for BSN degrees?

:Melody: I passed!!! Yeah!! Good luck to all who face the NCLEX! Believe in yourself and your program that you have done a good job in preparing and being prepared. Good LUCK Again!! :)

1. How many questions did you take on NCLEX? 75 2. What study materials did you use? Did you take a test review course? Everything under the sun - Saunders, Mosby, Lippencott, Kaplan, FlashCards, Kaplan review course - you name it I probably did it in the past 6 months. 3. Did your SON offer any testing (ERI, ATI, HESI)? Yes. My SON uses ATI and requires an ATI exam at the end of every semester. 4. How long did you wait for results of the test, or are you still waiting? Still waiting. 10 hours to go. Feels like 100 days. 5. What were your thoughts coming out of the test (total disbelief, certainty you had failed, confident you had passed)? Numb. Total disbelief that the computer turned off. Wanted to ask them to turn it back on. I felt as though it was an exam for advanced practice. 6. Was this your first attempt at NCLEX? Yes, and hopefully the last. But just for everyone out there - Do your best, feel confident that you did everything you could have and be proud of yourself. :wink2: P.S. I prayed for everyone before the test - our healthcare system really needs us to join the ranks of those who have held it together. Thanks to all the nurses who have paved the way to a professional career.