level1

Just curious how often your program tests, mine is at random. Not saying I do anything, but if I'm ever out in Colorado...

Engaging in any behavior off the job, given that you've got a decent time frame (10-12hrs) prior to start of shift, is totally acceptable. As long as you are 100% mentally there, you can give your best to care for your patients while on duty. I would...

Exactly! I can't believe that one comment about the hospital banning smoking for its employees. I really hate how organizations are telling people how to live their lives off the clock. At work, I uphold my responsibility to demonstrate professionali...

Of course my career is more important. I just love getting the reactions of some of these people. However, I do wonder if Colorado nurses can smoke or still face hospital policy. If you're not doing it on the job...

Yeah, HIPAA got your back. Don't say nothing unless you are required to do so.

I agree with your stance. If I ever encounter a situation like that I'll send for the chaplain. Nobody's forcing religion on me.

Yeah, go the ER route. If you want to work in a slower, less advanced area thereafter, you'll be way ahead of the pack.

I'm just a nursing student, but I could not see myself in nursing if I couldn't work ER or CCU. I'm greatly attracted to the pace and rigors of the ER and general floor nursing is so boring to me. I think that it draws certain personalities for sure.

1. Don't procrastinate 2. Study even when you think you don't need to 3. Form study groups 4. Buy a coffee maker 5. Keep a healthy lifestyle (good sleep, balanced diet)

I think it's normal to be slightly nervous. Yes, you will have someone's life in your hands so to speak, but hopefully you were trained well in school and have good coworkers to help you out in times of need. I am a little bit OCD and worry how I wil...

Hey, The program I'm attending used to allow top students to have first selection for their preferred clinical sites, but they changed their policy. Now, I'm stuck with whatever facility I'm assigned to. Are you guys offered a choice or assigned a si...

This is true. Luckily, the ED at my hospital (level 2) has it's ER and a separate fast-track for the lower acuity cases. I'd much rather prefer working with the high acuity cases like the STEMIs and strokes we see on a consistent basis. We never have...

Unsafe hospital, you should leave that place ASAP. Shame on them for reprimanding you, they must be idiots.

It's easy to teach the course and submit all the documentation to the state, but getting the connections for students to do clinicals is hard. Most facilities have cc or university program's students there. If you started up your own you'd have to pu...

Fun to use for self-learning but not marketable to date.

CNA->LPN->ADN (RN)->BSN (RN)->APRN(typically an MSN)->NP(nowadays a DNP although still masters out there) Note: You can go straight to NP school after the BSN degree. Are you in a BSN or ADN program? You'll need the BSN before thinking...

Well, you've definitely got a lot of stuff to sort out, to say the least. At one point, I too was deciding between paramedic and nurse, but after a lot of research I chose nursing. Honestly though, if paramedics earned a higher salary and had opportu...

Emergency, I love the treat 'em and street 'em mentality. I'm also a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

You shouldn't let gender come into the picture at all. If you're comfortable with performing the procedure and your overall skills as a Murse, you need to project confidence, be professional, and get it done. When you start to think things might be w...

How many of you guys are dating/hitting on female classmates? Do you find it risky that a bad relationship would lead the women to gang up and freeze you out? There's lot of attractive girls in my program and I'm thinking if I have to think carefully...

Not ER but a good read is Gifted Hands. It's about the Neurosurgeon Ben Carson and how he came up from the gutter. Real quick read.

Depends, if they are classmates I'll tell them to bug off. If they are a friend I'll tell them that I ain't gonna let them down like that. They need to know their own **** in prep for NCLEX.

I do respect women. I'm not talking about hooking up so sorry if my post came out that way. I'm trying to find a serious girlfriend and what better place than at my school. I'm not the type to go out to bars/clubs to meet girls so I thought my best s...

Infection control is a funny thing. I find that at the hospital I'm at, most everyone wears gown & gloves for any isolation patient. I find myself gowning for droplet even though I technically don't need it (out of habit). My studying reasons I'd...

I print the powerpoints and scribble any additional info on them during lecture. When I'm studying I take a blank sheet of paper and write down any material from the slides that haven't learned yet/is still fuzzy. Less is more for me.