crc2015

Cold and Clammy... Need some Candy. Hot and Dry.... Sugars High!

My story may differ, but I had a patient that said I tried to kill her. I work in a dialysis clinic and if a patient does not get heparin to keep the bloodline system from clotting during treatment, they get saline flushes every 30 minutes. I gave the lady her saline flush and she told everyone I put something in her lines and intentionally tried to kill her! It was the craziest thing, but luckily everyone knew this particular patient didn't like ANYONE, and I guess especially didn't like me that day. It's funny to laugh at now, but at the time...... was really frustrating to even deal with a situation like that of being accused.

I use a Littman Cardiology II, it was worth every penny :)

I've worked In dialysis for 5+ years now and honesty I'd say about 90% of the people that get hired (nurses and techs) have NO dialysis experience. Just apply to all of them, I'm sure you'll get a call. Dialysis has a high turnover rate for employees, it's a field that you either love or hate. I absolutely love it. It's great! But others have they're opinions about it.

I would do the RN program and just get it over with! If your concerned about financial issues, take out student loans to help pay your bills. You'll be making enough money after you graduate to be able and pay them back. Also at my school the ADN program only goes 3 days a week, so you're still able to work. Whereas the LVN go Monday-Friday because it is so crammed.

I've been getting "hit on" since I entered this profession! It was really awkward at first, but now i just kind of own it and reply the same way you did with "thanks" lol I think as a guy in a predominantly female field, "most" female patients really enjoy having a male nurse. And occasionally you will have a male patient that might enjoy having a male nurse as well. It does catch you off guard sometimes, but as long as you reply in a professional manner, it shouldn't ever really be a problem.

I had a 3.6 GPA but BARELY passed the TEAS test prior to entering nursing school! I was really worried I wasn't going to get in, but I did, and now I'm literally at the top of my class academically. I hate that schools base your acceptance into nursing school on a generalized TEAS test that is completely unrelated to what nursing is about!

Thank you for everyone's input so far! It is definitely a borderline situation to where most people would automatically jump in and help despite being under the influence and having possible repercussions from the legal aspect of giving healthcare while being under the influence. We are in the legal ethical part of the semester and just attended a mock nursing trial last week. There are a lot of legal issues you have to worry about with being an RN, it was definitely an eye opener.

My instructor said that the states are Louisiana, Vermont, and Minnesota. I just did some research on the topic and from what I found is that physicians are legally required to aid help in these states. I'm not so sure about nurses. https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/sick/2014/03/25/run-to-aid-or-run-away-the-legal-and-ethical-obligations-of-the-good-samaritan/ I've been CPR certified for a little over 6 years and have assisted with 3 codes. As a PCT/Nursing student I would personally feel obligated to help in any given situation. Just seeing what everyone else's thoughts were about this topic.

Okay... Looking for everyone's input! So in class today we are talking about legal and ethical obligations of an RN. We were discussing how as an RN you are legally obligated to stop and help if you pass an accident in certain states. A student brought up what if you were in a bar on the weekend having a few drinks. Someone at the bar has a cardiac arrest. And no one else in the bar has a clue about how to perform CPR or help this person. Even if you've had a few drinks... Would you feel obligated to help? Or could your license be at jeopardy because you performed healthcare on someone after having a few drinks? Thanks in advance for your input!!

I finally went to the podiatrist and he made me some custom orthotics! Insurance paid for every penny, however if I would have had to pay the $400 in cash it would have been worth every dollar! I have really high arches and no brand of shoe would every relieve the pain. Now I can put my custom orthotics in a $5 pair of shoes and I'd never know the difference lol

I'm at PCT at a dialysis clinic. Have been for 5 years now. I just started the RN program this fall. And while it would have been nice to go ahead and get started in the program, I feel that working in the dialysis clinic will benefit you as far as learning some medical terminology, being comfortable communicating with patients, looking at medical records...etc Good luck with everything! And yes I believe everything does happen for a reason so maybe it just wasn't your time to start! Also the plus side of working for a dialysis company (depending on which one) the company I work for will reimburse your tuition 100%!! :)

TEXAS!

It really depends on the school. I'm a PCT and also just started nursing school. Admission to our nursing program is off of a point based system. You get points for your GPA, points for your grades in you're pre-req classes, and points for having previous healthcare experience. I've been a PCT for 5 years now and I can say that it does help with the patient care aspect of nursing and being comfortable taking care of patients, but as far as the "nursing world" I really don't feel like being a PCT gave me a huge advantage over anyone else. If I were you and didn't NEED to work while your in nursing school, I'd go ahead and apply, hopefully get accepted and go ahead and start the nursing program. I wish I would have started years ago!

I have always worked and went to school. I really had no other choice. And to be honest, it's really not all that bad. I just manage my time wisely, when I was taking my pre-reqs I was able to work more then than I do now that I'm in the nursing program. You can do it!

My school only starts the ADN Program every fall. After I finished my required pre-reqs (A&P1&2, Micro....) I went ahead and did all of my core classes(english,psych,nutrition,algebra...) I'm so glad I did that because now I only have two nursing classes each semester plus my clinical. I'm able to work part time, have plenty of time to study and still enjoy my life without having to feel like I constantly have something to do. Like me, you definitely have an advantage over some of the other students! Enjoy it

Just noticed this was an older thread. I need to start reading the dates before I post!

I didn't study at all. I thought the test was going to be a breeze, boy was I wrong! Lol I made above the national average... But barely! I would definitely study or just review one of the study guides for the Teas V Test. I scored low on the Teas test but it didn't keep me from getting into the RN Program because my GPA was really high. Our school looks at several other factors other than just the Teas.

Hey! I just started the RN Program this fall. My first suggestion is not to focus too much on preparing prior to school starting, just enjoy the time you have before your program starts. Secondly, the first day and first few weeks feel overwhelming. It's a lot of information and figuring out the schedules, how the testing works and what all they are expecting you to know. Take nursing school day by day. Accomplish what you need to accomplish for THAT day. (Unless you just have a lot of free time). It does get easier as you progress in the program. Figure out which learning style works best for you (auditory, recording lectures, making note cards, reading the book...) you want to know pretty quick into the semester which way you learn best. Nursing School is extremely "Do-Able". I still work part time, I'm married. I'm making an A in pharmacology and a High B in my foundations class and excelling in my clinical right now. I'm also the VP of the ADN Club & Participate in the national honor society (resume builders for CRNA School later on) and still have PLENTY of free time to enjoy life! If you have any other questions just ask! Good luck to you.

I know exactly how you feel! I seriously don't know what I'll do when I graduate college. I feel complete when I know I have deadlines and due dates for homework. I thrive under pressure and stress and hate it when I have NOTHING to do.

I have really high arches and let me tell you I've searched everywhere for the "perfect" shoe and have yet to find it. My feet used to hurt so bad I finally made an appointment to the foot doctor and he said with high arched feet you have to have support. He made me a insole that was custom to my foot and I've had NO foot pain in the past 3 years. I can take the insoles and move them from shoe to shoe also. Even better, insurance paid for all of it. However, if they were $500, It would have been worth every penny.

Hi, I'm in my first semester of nursing school and like you, I was told that nursing school was REALLY hard! By any means, it's not EASY but it's not near as hard as what people made it out to be. I feel as if I'm an average student. I made a's and b's in my pre reqs, and scored an average score on my entrance exam. I'm married and still work part time. I don't study all day everyday. Actually, I rarely ever study and still make A's and B's on my nursing tests. When I do study I make the most of it, sure I could sit there all day and study or I could study effectively for a few hours and be done with it. As compared to A&P I really wouldn't compare nursing school to that at all. It's on another level of thinking. Critical thinking is taking what you've learned and applying it to something else. Nursing school is achievable and really only as hard as you make it out to be. And anything worth having isn't going to be easy! Best of luck to you!!

It's hard to believe that after all this time. Tomorrow is finally the day!

I got an email from Lisa Lindsey saying that on the first day we can wear whatever. I'm just gonna wear regular clothes. I kinda have a feeling that they're gonna tell us we have to wear scrubs daily.. To lecture and skills/clinical like the other ota and pta programs do.

I met my wife at the dialysis center where we both worked... didnt really like her at first but grew to love her lol. been together 3 years now!