Chelonophile

I am currently a nursing student, nearly ready to graduate. I'm very pulled to ICU/Critical care areas of nursing, but I'm very torn between peds and adult nursing. Is there a job that you can work with both populations in? I know maybe in some smaller hospitals with combined units. Do you think it's feasible or safe to work with both populations - maybe with two jobs or one part time/one PRN position (or any set up like that)? I just really like all populations and can't seem to decide on just one. I know I need to go in and get my experience starting in one area only, this is all just thoughts for my future. Thank you in advance for any help, advice or input!

Hi all! Current nursing student here. (Graduation is in May YAY!!!) I am interested in working in the ICU when I graduate - either adult or peds - and later on I'd love to travel nurse. My question is, are PICU/peds jobs prevalent? I feel like adult ICU jobs would be much more available but I have no experience in the matter. Is it hard to get a PICU position? Are they as wide-spread across the country or only in select states? Thanks in advance!

U.S. I'm in an accelerated program and the classes I take allow us to sit for the LPN exam after our junior year. Many of the seniors in my program are already practicing as LPN's.

Sorry if this topic is elsewhere, I did look for it a bit, but didn't see anything specific to my situation. I am a BSN student, just about to finish my Junior year. This allows me to sit for my LPN exam. I know that the scope of practice is different and the questions on the NCLEX will be different for the different tests. I wanted to get a Saunders review book & study a different section each week, maybe align them with my classes. This would give me around 8 weeks of study time to prepare. My overall goal is to pass my NCLEX RN, so should I study as an RN the entire time? Would using an LPN study guide during my courses hinder me come RN test time? Or is the RN study book still a good study tool & I could use it to pass my LPN test? In summary: Should I get an RN Saunders or an LPN Saunders book to review for NCLEX PN while I'm a BSN student?

Hi all, I hope this is in the right thread. I have searched for this issue in the forums already but couldn't find anything exactly like I'm talking about. So, I'm a bigger person and I'm having trouble finding scrubs that don't..."poof"? up in the crotch area. I hesitate to call it a camel toe, because they aren't tight, but the shape they form is the same (sorry if that's too obscene, but there's really no other way to say it). All the pairs I've tried on recently do this and it's getting frustrating. I'd rather not have to wear super long shirts to cover it, and I also hate how so many of the pants either don't cover my butt enough or go up to my arm pits. So I guess my question is, is there any good brand for bigger people that don't look like a puffy tent and that fit comfortably? Could a tailor fix that? (And before anyone goes off on me about working out and losing weight, I'm already doing that, but I can't get fit in a day or even a month, so this is more an in-the-meantime fix.)

Again, thank you guys so much for the advice, there are lots of things I hadn't thought of on here that I'm definitely going to be implementing. I'm excited and nervous all at once and if nothing does actually start on time, it's going to drive me crazy! I'll get used to it of course. You can bet I'll be using allnurses for any more issues or questions I have about this process. Good luck to everyone!

Hi BuckyBadger, this is the chart they require us to have:

I've been in a CNA course and to me, it was pretty easy. I also tend to study hard and pick up on things easily and I also had no other classes or kids at the time, though I did have a part time job. My course was once a week for 8 weeks with two days of working in a local nursing home. I found most of the material to be common sense, but it's really important to get your routine down and to know what to do, when to do it and the various names for different positions (supine, etc). Practice your hand washing especially! Get good at it. After you finish your micro class, you'll understand why it's so important. For your big CNA test and some other general knowledge, talk to the dummy they give you to work with, make sure curtains are "closed" before you start (say you're doing it, you can't block their view), make sure you know which side to start dressing and undressing a stroke victim, and NEVER leave without making sure the call light is close to the patient. With Micro, you're really going to have to put in a lot of time because it's a lot of information with regards to various cell types, their structure, diseases they can cause and why, things like that. I found it helps to always go back and link what you're learning with what you learned earlier in the course, it helps tie everything together and keep everything fresh in your mind. Also, having had Biology first is a big help as well. English will depend more on you for how hard it is. Some of my English classes have been a breeze, others wanted full 6 page pages every week. I hope this info helps!

Unfortunately I don't get a summer off, I would have loved that because I would have spent it as you all suggested and studied my butt off, especially since I didn't have a very good A&P I teacher. I really have been wanting to go back and review. But I"m coming straight out of school for my prereqs and get about a week off in between until my nursing course starts. I had to wait until the first of this month to order my books since I'm renting and before that they would have been due back before the end of the semester. As soon as they get here I'll be studying ahead though. One book is assessments, the other is pathology, which is the one I'm worried about retaining information from. I'm a CNA so I have a lot of the basics down like bed changes, patient interaction, etc. Unfortunately my CNA class was the only time I ever had to do manual BP and that was about 4 years ago. Luckily my mom is a nurse (actually teaches at my nursing school - not my classes tho!) and she is going to be helping me brush up on heart sounds and BP before I start. I'm also married and my husband is my way to decompress, he keeps me grounded and calm when I start to freak out about not having a plan or get too nervous. He is pretty worried about not getting enough time together, but he knows it's only 2 years so I think we can make it. I will definitely be coming here to rant/vent/get help/talk to/thank everyone, so far the community has been amazingly kind and helpful and I'm so happy to be a part of that. :)

Oh my gosh, thank you guys for all the great feedback! I do have really neat pens that are pencils and four ink pens in one (and they're not ugly or bulky or expensive - yay!). I am coming out of doing my prereqs so I also have highlighters, post it notes, folders, etc. Thank you for the test advice fangirl, I'm definitely going to remember that! My school requires the pen lights and BP cuff, as well as an eye chart and couple other small things. I've looked into/fell in love with an awesome sounding printer, but I won't be sinking in the money to upgrade unless I find I absolutely must (I have one currently that I fight with, but still works). Jenece312, I bought my backpack after reading a lot of reviews on the forums here, there are lots of threads about good ones. I have a High Sierra from ebags (they did free shipping) and I love it. Lots of space, laptop sleeve, little pockets and areas to organize and fairly roomy drink holder on both sides, which I need because I go through a lot of water during the day. Oh, and it rolls - a must for me. Mine was on sale for about $50 when I found it, they have a huge selection. AZBlueBell, I found the recommended stethoscope on mystethoscope.com (again, from the forums here). It was cheaper than Amazon and they did free engraving. The cheapest shipping was $10 but it's two-day so I can live with that. Mine's actually a red Littmann, yay for being a little different? My school actually offers the required BLS course the day before orientation, I'm all scheduled to go and they offer insurance if your personal one doesn't cover. I know I'll be learning a lot more at orientation, but that's only a week before classes start and I worry about not having enough time to get something I need before it's required, hence my post here. Again, thank you guys for all these great ideas - really helping soothe those plan/worry-too-much nerves! ^_^

Hi all! Soon-to-be nursing student here. I got into a pretty selective BSN program and I'm super excited ^_^ I'm very organized and like to be prepared ahead of time and have plan B, C, D and E all ready and laid out before I go into *anything*. Unfortunately my school is slow on the details this year (going through staff changes). So I was hoping to get some advice about general gear I should look into and maybe mental preparedness. I have my stethoscope, scrubs, books, a great backpack, watch, badge clip, pocket organizer etc. I know I still need good shoes. I'm not sure if I should go with compression hose or socks? Do I need a portable pulse ox? Everywhere I've worked before has had their own so I'm not sure... Are there any good books about what to expect/how to handle nursing school? I have one my school recommended on test taking, but that's it. I just can't help but to feel I'm either over or under prepared and I just want to make sure I've thought of all I can. Is there anything helpful gear or study-wise that you all found helpful in your programs? Am I forgetting anything? Thank you in advance for any help and advice!

I was looking for something similar as I'm a huge organization fan. I found these pocket organizers on Amazon that sound like they'll do the trick for you, I'll link an example. They come in all different styles and colors as well, so browse around and see if this might be right for you. I plan to get some before I start my clinicals. Good luck! Amazon.com: Nurse Belt Loop Organizer Pocket Pal Kit ~ Purple: Health & Personal Care