HRLRN

Studies have shown time and again that institutions with unions have better patient outcomes (and isn't that the most important thing!?!) and more satisfied nurses. Read history and you'll see what life was like before unions. Don't buy the corporate right wing propoganda about unions being bad.

Just think of 3 "strikes" as 3 dead pts... it changes your perspective...

I went back to nursing school in my mid 40s. I was unhappy with my career and needed a change -- and nursing was it. Never let anyone tell you you are too old. 26 is a baby! Lets say you stay in your present profession (that isn't for you). You'll just get older and older, more and more bitter. Your performance will decline and you'll begin to hate yourself and your students. You won't be a good teacher. If you follow your heart (and granted, your heart may point you in several directions before you get it right) you'll wind up happy and your performance will be great. Plus, we need more nurses! Again, at 26 (or any age) NEVER let anyone tell you you can't do something.... unless its a nurse telling you you can't smoke:wink2: Go for it!

you are not a loser. the loser is the nurse that didn't help. the bottom line is teamwork that yields quality patient care.

It is a completely personal (you and hubby) decision. I don't know about your health but that should weigh in. What about your ability to care for and love future children? How would additional children impact your career choice? And yes, please consider the impact on the earth. Sadly, I've seen women who relinquish the decision about their reproductive plans to cultures, husbands/boyfriends and other outside influences that don't have the WOMAN in mind. Listen to lots of people but make the decision yourself. Good luck in nursing and with your family.

I'm a very-soon-to-be-graduate from Phillips Beth Israel SON in NYC. I was one of 100 or so selected out of over 700 applicant 2 yrs ago. Our attrition rate is very low -- nowhere near the 50% you mention. From what I've seen the criterea for admission to the school are diverse. GPA is important but the NLN admissions exam, life history and application essay are also crucial. We've got a well balanced class of new & recent HS grads and 2nd career folks like myself. The school's grads are considered highly by NYC hospitals and our NCLEX pass rate has consistantly been over 90%. I think other schools need to look past GPAs and SATs and at the motivations of applicant and what they can bring to the profession. First come first served is absurd! Its a lazy way out of an important responsibility -- selecting those who will be the next generation of nurses. As for exams, I think everyone has problems with questions. Yes, as mentioned above, some questions are poorly written. Problems also stem from the fact that nursing is a complicated art. A math question is simple, the answer not open to interpretation. On nursing exams there can be "grey" areas in questions. We just have to live with it. If you study and work hard you'll pass. If you fail, don't blame the questions. "The fault lies not in their questions but in ourselves."

You may have rebounded from a BG that crashed (you ate little all day). There's probably some website for carb counting. Your local bookstaore proably has something on carb counting. You may want your provider to give you a referral to a dietician. Good Luck!

I imagine its possible for type 2's to use a pump (like in pregnancy when oral meds are contraindicated) but I suspect the insurance companies don't like it. The pump is expensive ($5000) and there are less expensive options. Like everything in health care: it comes down to $$$$$.

I'm a student nurse (just a few months and the NCLEX away from RN) and I use a pump. The RNs I've encountered are always curious about my pump. I have found it reassuring to find that experienced RNs are still curious and continue to seek to expand their knowledge. Some folks have posted that we (Type I's) can eat candy, cake, etc. I would just warn that 1) those foods provide useless calories and 2) It becomes harder to keep close control over your BG with insulin when you increase your sugar intake so dramatically. We're better off without the sweets (just like everyone else!). I have found that my quarterly Dr. (and APRN!!) visits because of the DM keeps me in tune with my overall health better than the average male (who sees a Dr. once in a blue moon or when some problem has gotten to an advanced state).

Prevacid via peg tube. Those little hyprophobic balls never go down. Why they don't use a liquid substittue in my hospital baffles all.

So God looks down on my Associates Degree? Uh-Oh.:)

On a related topic: I'm a nursing student in my final year of school. This past summer I worked in our local VA hospital. I was trained in and had done many EKGs. For obvious reasons all my pts were male. One day a female pt came in (with her daughter) and I was told I could not do an EKG on a female (even with a relative in the room!). It was hospital policy. I've worked in other settings where there is no such policy and was shocked to see it in a government facility. It wasn't that I was a student either -- the regular tech (a man) was also asked to leave the room. Interestingly, the pt and her daughter had no problem with my doing the EKG. They didn't care I was a man -- they just wanted the best possible care. Their feelings on the matter didn't matter...

Welcome, Richard! I'm a male nursing student at PBISN (you'll never be spelling out the whole title) entering my last year. Some things about the school: If you are taking A & P (you probably are), "eat the book". The tests are tricky and straight from the book. The faculty is excellent. They are a little quirky at times but they know their stuff -- especially in clinical. Clinically, you'll get a great experience. You'll be on the floors by mid September doing vitals. Try to observe procedures every chance you get... then try to do them (they will work with you). As you get more experienced you'll have the chance to do more. I've discovered that the grads are highly regarded for their clinical ability. Use the clinical laboratory as much as possible and ask the teachers to help -- the Level I instructors will help you enormously. Very important: you didn't ask but it should be mentioned that your fellow students can be a great help. Find the good clinicians and "academics" and form study groups. It helps. BTW: My class (you'll get to see us occassionally) is almost 40% male (a staggering %). Finally, forget the negativity you will encounter. You'll see some burned out RNs in clinical with bad habits. Forget them. Follow the great RNs. They'll teach you and inspire you. If you'd like, email me and we can get into specifics. Welcome!

I took an EMT-Basic course. I was out of school for awhile so it helped ease me back into academia and some of the stuff I learned helped a little in various classes (plus you may be able to pick up some shifts as an EMT).

don't say things like "..a seasoned nurse or even an md". drs don't do nursing and they're not our bosses. nursing is its own profession. we work with drs (and nutritionists, pts, ots, etc.). sorry, just a personal pet peeve. as for weeding out, my school puts us through a very rough first year of a & p. if you can't cut it there, you wash out. it isn't designed to wash people out but if you can't cut it, that's life (only a couple of people fail). the school works very hard to get you through the (tough) program. our nclex first time pass rate is in the high 90% range. the school's policy seems to be ivy league-like -- be very selective about who you take (applicant to acceptance ration this year is probably 1 out of 15), keep the student faculty ratio low and work students hard.