PghRN15

Do you have a NANDA book? That was my go to in nursing school. Keep it simple, they are just trying to teach you the process. I have honestly never used sleep deprivation.

As a hospice nurse I have given Dilaudid 1mg every 10 minutes at times. I know that this is not a comparison, and yes we use the concept that pain is indeed what the patient says it is. If a patient has chronic pain, his or her vital signs may not change. Pain is a symptom that we look for in advanced HIV disease. I am not sure where your patient is at in the process. Is it possible that because your patient HIV he could have been inappropriately labeled as drug seeker?. Is it possible that he is non-compliant with his therapy because he does not have the resources or anyone acting as his advocate? It is also possible that he is drug seeking. My point is that we don't know and we have to meet these patient's where they are. Please do not assume that people are drug seeking. If you have a concern that your patient is over medicated talk to the MD about it. Giving medications as ordered should not make you feel "dirty".

I am. I have 40 units to complete

Hi I am starting 11/1/15. I also have 40 cu to finish.

I started out as a CNA with a hospice agency, I worked as an LPN with the same hospice agency and now I am an RN with them as well. I have never done anything outside of hospice care. I am okay with that because that is where my heart is. I do often wonder if I have limited myself. I have never worked in a hospital.

Nicely done

It sounds like a major inferiority complex.

I work inpatient hospice GIP. It is all I have ever done as a CNA, LPN and now RN. We are a 12 bed unit with 2 RNs, 1 LPN and 1 CNA. In my opinion the biggest skill needed will be physical assessment and teaching. You will continually use the nursing process. You will assess, intervene and evaluate continually. You will teach patient's and families about hospice, medications, the dying process and many other things. The tasks that I use often are: foley insertion, IV starts for IV meds, dressing changes etc. Please remember, anyone can learn to do these tasks. Your skill will be knowledge ad compassion. Let us know how it goes.

The company I work for has an IPU. I work there and in the field. We are a small unit, 12 beds. We are not a hospice house but a short term symptom management unit. Very few hospices in my area have inpatient units.

I attended the Hurst Review in August. I paid $350. I attended with 3 of my classmates. I passed NCLEX the first time in 75 questions. I was the only one of us that passed the first time. Hurst had a lot of good content. I see that it had potential to solidify things that people may not fully understand. It was my opinion that the test taking strategies were more harmful than helpful. I didn't agree with them at all. I passed because I was prepared and didn't need that Hurst review but I tend to over prepare. I had a 4.0GPA and I did thousand of NCLEX questions through Lippencott and Saunders. My classmates failed because they put all their ducks into a Hurst basket and took their advice and only studied Hurst prior to testing. Do yourself a favor and spend $40.00 on a Saunders book and $40.00 on a Lippencott book. Study them cover to cover. Truly understand the rationale behind the answers. This will help you more than Hurst.

October here also!

I have been asked about the PVT and I simply state that it is unreliable. My results were on the SBON within 28 hours. I have a nurse friend that took her NCLEX about 20 years ago. She had to wait 6 weeks for mailed results. Imagine that....... The advice I get is prepare, test, and then relax. It is what it is.

I did a clinical rotation for my LPN - RN program. It was awful. Understaffed and mean employees that went out of their way to NOT be helpful. It was so bad that at one point my clinical instructor instructed us to give report and pulled us from the floor early and we never went back.

I passes my NCLEX in 75 questions on the first time. I mainly had prioritization questions, what would you do first? Who would you see first? I feel that the only way I was able to do this was my preparation. I had a Lippencott Pass Point program and I literally did 5,000 practice NCLEX questions. I maintained a 4.0 gpa in school. I sacrificed a lot to do this. My point is that there are many factors behind passing the NCLEX. I do agree that there should be a refresher after the second failed attempt.

Yea, I thought about that myself. I hope the OP meant mg.

I became an LPN at age 48. I work on a general inpatient hospice unit. I love my job. I was content to continue as an LPN, I did not want to accumulate more student loan debt going back to school. However, being an LPN on the unit limited what I could do and we were allowed to work to the full scope of my practice. However, we are acute care unit. I often explain it as an ICU for hospice patients. I could see the preference changing, LPNs that were retiring or quitting started being replaced with RNs. They gave me tuition, told me to go back to school. It took me 9 months. I am happy that I did because it allows me to stay in the job I love. I do understand what you feel I also got those questions. There is nothing wrong with loving what you do and being happy. I mean that is the ultimate goal is to love what you do.

Hi Everyone; I have a friend that lives across the country from me. She is currently getting chemo for Stage 4 breast cancer. I have been a hospice nurse since I have been a nurse so I don't know the tricks of the trade. She is experiencing stomatitis (she has magic mouthwash). She is complaining of very dry skin. I want to make her a care package to help with her chemo treatments. Do you have any suggestions of a good lotion that does the trick. I am seeing things like Lindi and radiation lotion but she is not getting any radiation treatments. I was thinking of including fuzzy socks and a nice fleece throw for chemo days? What helps your patient when they are getting chemo? Thank

I agree with you Mirandaaa

Yes, Pyridium is a bladder analgesic that is used during UTI. It will turn your urine and contact lenses orange.

I work on a hospice inpatient unit. I do start IVs regularly, I also worked in the field and did do them but not regularly. Don't let this stop you, they will train you and you will be great.

I have shed a few tears with a family member, I have never lost control.

Nursing is not for you!

Patient family: When do you think they might die because I have to book a flight Me: If it important for you to be here when they pass away then you should come now Family: I can't come now

I ride a motorcycle I enjoy a nice glass of "scarlet fudge" wine (I think this counts as two) I postpone mammograms

Being a nurse requires professional ethics. Based on your post, you do not have any. I would find another profession.