valpak

I also can relate!!!! I saw the title of the post and could not wait to open it! I am 6 months into my first nursing job and the stress is so unbelievable. I had no idea it would be this stressful. I am still at my job but wonder if I will ever "acclimate" to this type of nursing. I just feel like if anything this is my "boot camp" job and I need it to launch me into anything else. If I had known it would be this stressful I probably would have chosen a different path. All we can do I keep trying and keep our eyes open for opportunities....good luck in your search.

cracking up!!!

I LOVE THIS! Please keep'm coming (if you have time haha) ....I graduate in December!

This is very similar to what I am doing. I am in Associates program. Finished 3 semesters of nursing school, got CNA job on med/surge floor over the summer. It is float pool so I can work a lot over summer and cut down to 1 day a week when 4th semester starts. I am treating my job as an extended interview of sorts. My supervisor is able to see my work ethic and rapport with clients and staff. I am hoping that these things will give me an advantage when it is interview time in January. I am learning a lot about the previously mentioned skills such as transferring patients, handling patients, changing occupied bed (which we learn in school, but don't really do in clinical) multitasking, how to deal with difficult patients, computer systems etc. Also really small things like how to open the dumb tray table and how to operate the bed. Little things that my fellow nursing school students who are CNAs just take for granted that we all know how to do. I know that sounds silly, but I always felt dumb in clinical when I couldn't even figure out how to turn off the call bell in a patients room!! Just being in the hospital environment has boosted my confidence so so much. As another poster stated I am not making a lot of money, but the experience and connections I am making are worth their weight in gold.

thanks so much! That is something I had not thought of. That is why I love this forum!

I am a nursing student on the path to graduate in January 2016. I decided to get a CNA job so I could gain practical experience outside of clinicals. I am a career changer and am brand new to the world of hospitals and health care. I have been working as a CNA on a medsurge floor of my local community independent hospital for 2 months. I am gaining so much confidence and experience as a CNA. It is very very demanding and nonstop 12 hr shift but I enjoy the work and learning. I am, however, getting nervous watching how hard it is for the nurses to do their jobs. These are a really great group of hard working ladies, but many seem overwhelmed and stressed. From my perspective it seems that they cannot provide the level of care that they want to because they are so busy. Some have told me they are there for sometimes an two hours after their shift still charting/documenting. Everyone seems exhausted. Here are some of my questions... 1. Is it like this everywhere on medsurge floors? 2. What is a "normal" patient load? 3. How do I know if this is normal or a red flag? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I am trying to understand the pros/cons, differences between working in an independent hospital vs. a hospital that is part of a larger network. Pay difference? Nurse to patient ratio difference? Management difference? Personal opinions? Any links, ideas, discussion are greatly appreciated. Just doing some research as I will graduate in January with my ADN.

Geez Louise! Ok, i see that I formed my question all wrong....I was not looking for anyone to "do my homework for me", although i see i did say "looking for a care plan". i just couldnt figure out how some of the assessment findings were related. swamped with assignments and lectures and chapters as you all can relate to....after many hours just looking for a hand in thinking through the connection. I did find my answer from my own efforts and research.....next time i will have a more specific question.

Just looking for a care plan for pt with ARF/UTI and Anemia. Looking for some kind of link as to how anemia and kidney/urinary problems may be related. WAY elevated BUN,Creat., WBC. Very low HCT, HGB and RBC. Any thoughts