jwha

"warriors" vs "royal advisors" - this, to me is the perfect description of the HSP. Personally, like many HSPs, I was drawn to nursing because of compassion, but from a practical perspective, it's a poor fit for me. I'm dropping out of nursing school because I've found my personality & aptitude is such a poor fit that clinicals (and I'm sure the career itself) was making me miserable. I'd easily ace the exams, but when it came to actual nursing I felt like a headless chicken being pulled in all directions & would perplex my preceptors with how daft I could be, because being put on the spot all the time made me bewildered, forgetful & unable to think straight. The 1st time the nurses on my ward realised I'm not stupid was when a few of them couldn't work out a dosage calculation & I gave them the answer off the top of my head while they tapped it into their calculators (quiet peaceful drug room... go figure). My preceptor was like "You should be an accountant". Funnily enough, that's what both my parents are (genetics lol!). That's when I realised I'm awful at being at the front lines (it makes me deeply unhappy too), but better at working behind the scenes. I'm transferring to bachelors of medical science to become a lab tech. It's a much better fit for me. That's not to say that introverts & HSPs don't make great nurses, many do, but the process is significantly more painful for them than it is for a natural people person who finds chaotic environments energising.

Hi guys, anyone tried this nursing iphone app or know nurses who have used it? What are your thoughts on it? NurseMind | the home of nursing time management

Hey dear, I'm in the same boat as you. Wanted to be a nurse since my early teens, but 1.5 yrs in (particularly after I contracted latent tb from a patient), I realised I felt completely out of place as a nursing student at clinicals, & that I had 0 aptitude at it. I'm extremely introverted & horrible at multitasking & working in an unstructured environment. Both my parents (who are similar to me) are accountants, so that should tell me alot about my personality and skill set lol. Anyway, I'd easily get 1st class honors in all my assignments/ exams, but when it came to actual nursing? Oh boy. I was awful. I feel guilty, feeling like I'm weak or a quitter, but sometimes when something isn't the right fit, you just know instinctively, as I do. Right now I'm mourning the loss of my identity because especially after working at an oncology ward I admire nurses more than anything. I'm currently planning next move, feeling like I've just broke up with an old boyfriend. Cried my eyes out last night saying goodbye to the nurses at my clinicals because they're such lovely incredible people genuinely passionate about their jobs. Anyway, I see you wrote this post last yr, would be interested to hear what you're up to now. New career? Or did you pull through with nursing school? :)

I've been a pt a few of times, & my fave nurses were always the quiet unassuming ones who just got the job done, then got out of the room to let my have some rest. The loud chatty outgoing ones with tons of questions about who I am, where I'm from, what I do etc exhaust me, cuz being sick, the last thing I wanna do is chit chat. I imagine many pts (of course not all) feel the same way. I myself am a quiet polite nsg student (not a chatty boisterous one), & my preceptor's happy with my pt rapport/bedside manner. However, the main problem I have (like you), is connecting with the other nurses on the ward. At the staff room during lunch break I'm quiet as a mouse, cuz I'm very shy & don't like talking to a roomful of people. One of my classmates made a snide comment about that, & my response to her was "well you've just got an opinion on everything, don't you?" - & what I meant by that is that she's constantly gossiping & criticising people, including pts (eg comments on an obese pt: "I just don't get how anyone let themselves get that way, does he have no self-respect?? blah blah blah")

Hi guys, I'm an RN student, & I struggled with the pace of my med/surg placement (wide range of complex illnesses, drugs, demands, incontinent & morbidly obese pts I need lots of help to clean). I'm starting to feel scared about being a grad nurse, bc I don't feel like I'd be able to keep up! I'm thinking about doing a midwif masters after my BN. I might be able to handle it better bc the pts have no self-care deficits, most are healthy, & I'd find it easier specialising in a single area of expertise rather than the generality of entry level nursing. Is midwif as stressful, overwhelming & complicated as med/surg? Or is it even more complicated bc of the wide discretion midwives have re. labour etc? Am I just jumping from the pot to the fire?

I caught latent TB within 6 months of nursing school at my very first clinical placement, despite impeccable hygiene practices. Questioned my decision to become a nurse ten times over, then cried buckets over it.

Hi guys, I'm a nursing student - when is it enough to use a alcohol rub & when do u need to actually wash your hands? I know certainly after visible soiling, handling bodily fluids... & before invasive procedures like wound care, injections, IV equipment? any other situations? sorry if it's a bit of a silly question, I just need a bit of clarification.. thanks for your help! :)

Hi guys, I'm a 1st yr nursing student, I'm wondering, is the rule of thumb never to discuss pts over the phone except to colleagues involved in the pt's care? Was just thinking about the Kate Middleton prank call nurse suicide tragedy, & would like to be 100% clear on the rules

I attach a carabina clip to my nursing pouch, then hang the stethoscope from there. I double loop the stethoscope so it doesn't hang too low https://www.google.com.au/search?q=carabiner+clip&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wGIFVNL2CcS8uAT30YGwAg&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=667

Hi, I'm a nursing student, what PPE do nurses wear when toileting & bathing patients? what about pts with gastro, the flu, vomiting, incontinence, pneumonia? When would you wear glasses? when would you wear aprons? thanks for you help :)

Hi guys, I'm a nursing student who received a positive latent TB result which I contracted from a hospital placement :( I will be getting treated asap. I understand that healthcare workers get annual TB tests, & that even if I'm cured of LTB, my blood tests will always turn out a positive result. Does this mean I'll need annual chest xrays for the rest of my working life to prove good health to future employers? that would probably be really bad for my health, right? (although, of course I understand it's an absolute necessity to protect patients.) Anyone have any experiences like mine or have colleagues/ class mates with similar experiences? I feel very lost at the moment & in need of someone to talk to, thank you so much in advance

Hi guys, I'm a 1st yr nursing student. I guess most nurses don't carry pharmacopeias around cuz they're heavy. Do you guys just google meds you're not familiar with, or do you subscribe to/ download a pharmacopeia onto your phone? If so, could you recommend an online/downloadable one to me? thanks! :)

Hi guys, I'm a 1st yr nursing student about to go on my 1st placement. I know this is an odd question & the answers may seem obvious, but just wondering, how do you guys usually greet your patients & initiate friendly small talk with them? (so there's no awkward silences while you're bathing them or something)? Things like "How are you feeling today?", "Did you sleep alright?", "Have you had your breakfast yet?", "So are you working or studying at the moment?" ...