Alice b.

Sorry, meant to post this in the nursing student section and not sure how to move it!

Just had to share. A group of us at our school who are graduating in May (yeah!!) really did not want to have to wear a nursing cap in our graduation picture. These pictures adorn the long hallway in our nursing school and go back a few decades. In every single picture, every single woman is wearing a nursing cap, even last year. So we banded together, called on the staff to support us and called for a vote. It was heated but we won the right to choose. Now before you get all fired up, I'm not trying to start a big fight... I know people get wildly passionate about this topic. I would like to say that I fully support the right of those people for whom wearing the cap in the picture is meaningful. I do not happen to be one of them. This year for the first time ever some of the students will wear the cap and some will not (about 1/2 and 1/2) in the end. CHANGE IS GOOD!! Would be interested to know if this is an issue at any other schools.

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the replies. It's funny, the replies are very much divided, just exactly like my class! I really do support the desires of those graduates who want to wear the hat and I love the idea of those students having special photos taken seperately. I have not changed my opinion. The image for me does not represeent a modern, professional nurse. Frankly, I would be much happier to wear my steth around my neck, much more meaningful to me! I just wish everyone could be allowed to have the choice. Oh well.... I guess by May I'll be so excited to be graduating that I probably wouldn't object to wearing whatever the heck they want. Thanks again and hurry up spring!

I would love to hear feedback and/or opinions from other students on the whole nursing cap issue. I am graduating in May....Yeah! and there's a lot of controversy around the wearing of the nursing cap for pictures and pinning ceremony. In previous year's (including this one) a majority of students have voted to wear the cap and the nursing instructors have just said, if some of you wear them then all must wear them. I fully support the students who want to wear the cap. I realize that it is personally meaningful to them. It's not to me and I feel it should be an individual decision. Everyone says that it would look weird if some wore it and some didn't. I don't agree. At our school the insturctors don't wear them and of course the male students don't. Just wondering how other students feel about this issue.

Yes, here after you have finished your first year of nursing school you can work as a nursing assisstant w/o having a CNA licence.

Yikes!! I didn't even consider that aspect! I would have to work at the same hospital as an aid first and then a nurse next May. Bad idea??

The question is... lounge around and play this summer or work as a nursing assistant? I will be finished with my first year of nursing school in May. I don't go back to school until end of August. Unfortunately there is no nurse appretence progam at my local hospital. The only way for me to get clinical experence this summer would be to work as a nursing assistant. Does it really help prepare you to become a better RN?

I begin an RN program in August. I have worked hard in school and can't wait to start but... the one thing that does have me worried is what if I'm changing a diaper or something and the smell makes me gag?? Some of you may be cracking up right now! But I'm really nervous about that. I'm not a complete wimp, I do have a son and changing his diapers never bothered me, but I would just feel so badly if a patient were to see me looking green! Any advise or words of wisdom out there? Thanks in advance!

Hi, I am starting an RN program in August, Yeah!!. My very kind neighbor who retired from nursing about 30 years ago gave me her stethescope. I has a bell seperate from the diaphram and a little switch you move back and forth to active one or the other. I did not see anything like it when I was looking a new stethescopes online. I don't want to show up for my first day and clinical and get laughed out due to antique equipment!. It sound ok to my completely untrained ear but should I just invest in a new one? How nice a new one? Also, I am just finishing an online pharmacology course which I loved and I can't wait to start school next month. Any advise about school or encouragement would be much appreciated. Thanks, from worried about looking like a nerd!!

Hi, I am starting an RN program at the end of August. Yeah!! My neighbor who was a nurse about 40 years ago, very sweetly gave me her old stethescope. It has a diaphram and a bell. The bell is seperate from the diaphram and there is a little switch you move back and forth to activate one or the other. It sounds fine to my completely untrained ear but I'm nervous about showing up my first day of clinical and getting laughed out because of antique equiptment!! Should I just invest in a new one and if so, how good a one should I get? I would appreciate any info. Also, I am just finishing an online pharmacology course this week, it was great and I did well but am a little nervous about starting clinicals. Any advise or encouragment would be appreciated. Thanks!