anathema

I work in LTC, and we have medication cards with our residents pills in them. If I do drop a pill, I waste it, and pop out another one. Same with narcs. If the patient drops it, I tell them I will go grab a new one, but usually they insist on taking it anyway. If they drop it on the floor I insist on getting a new one (ew!!!) but if it's on their bed/clothes/tray I don't make a fuss. Super easy to get a new pill, and no gross factor!

I worked at my SNF for 4.5 years as a CNA before I became a RN, and frequently work as a CNA (for my per diem RN wages, and usually at time and a half). I do it to pick up hours, and because I really don't mind. It can be a nice break from the responsibility of the RN (34-44 patients per RN on nights) and I still can do "nurse stuff". The RN on duty loves it, as I can pass PRN meds for my patients, do assessments, etc, if I have the time, and during the night, they can take a break without worrying about their patients. I obviously don't want to do it all the time, as you do have to "switch" between RN mode (I am the nurse) vs. CNA mode (I'll have to go ask the nurse), but it isn't "beneath me". CNA tasks are part of the RN scope of practice/job description. Acute care nurses "float" and do the CNA work at the hospital here quite often.

Are online classes an option for you? The only way I was able to get my generals and pre-reqs done while working/watching my kids was to take online courses. The only classes I've physically taken at the school were A&P I&II, and my nursing classes. Your courses would certainly be "doable" for me, but I would be taking them online. Learning through lecture is not my forte, so it will also depend on how you learn. In the end you have to assess how you learn best, wether or not these are somewhat "easy" courses for you (The C's in Math and Chem are not helping your GPA), and what you are able to handle with school/work/personal life. Good luck!

I am currently pregnant in my sophomore year (hubby had a vasectomy after baby #3 was almost a year, Doctor tested him at two months, gave us the all clear, and I got pregnant the next month). I am due one month before graduation. I was freaking out quite a bit, as my school only allows us to miss one clinical (and you have to make it up) and two class days per semester. My previous pregnancies have been difficult in that I am exhausted and have had morning sickness the entire pregnancy. I did speak to my instructors, and they said they would work with me in my last semester (have me do my heavy clinicals early in the semester, possibly do some make ups after graduation), so that was a little comforting. I think it really depends on you, your current family situation, and your school. If I don't push through this pregnancy and keep going to school, then I will be pushed back 2 years, and I refuse to let that be an option for me! My family has made too many sacrifices for me to give up now! So far, the pregnancy hasn't been too horrible, and I haven't missed any days this semester, so I am hopeful for the future. As long as you don't have a high risk pregnancy, I think you will be okay!

It would be helpful to know which part of the problem you are having trouble with. Conversions? Infusion rate?

We were taught IV insertion during second semester on a dummy. We will have to show how to do an IV, d/c an IV, prime tubing, insert a Foley catheter, and insert a NG tube during the beginning of third semester. Our instructors have told us that we may not insert an IV in the field, but we are taught how to do them. I think that's it is pretty odd to not even teach IV insertion. :/

Run the calculation both ways. What is the difference? What is the infusion rate if you run 251.6 mL over 90 minutes vs if you run 250 mL over 90 minutes? Will it make a difference to the patient?

It is definitly not 167.7 mL/min. You are supposed to administer the fluids/med over 90 minutes, not 1.5 minutes (I think you did the calc based off of hours, not minutes). 1.6 mL is the patient dose, not the safe dosage range.

What exactly are you having trouble with?

In my nursing program, the math portion of the TEAS was very important. The math in the TEAS is pretty basic, and you have to use math a lot in nursing. My program (and quite a few others) give a math test at the beginning of each semester of nursing school. You have to pass with a certain percentage (85% first semester, 90% second and third semester, and 95% fourth semester in my program) or you cannot continue in the program. I would suggest finding a tutor, and using the TEAS study guide to get better with your math before retaking the TEAS. I do think you should retake it. We you in the 54 Percentile? Or did you get 54% of the questions right?

Our first day was as the previous poster indicated - we really just went over the syllabus. It was basically an extended orientation, with Q & A. We had tests for pharmacology every week, and tests for fundamentals every week. Our teachers did this so we wouldn't be testing over excessive amounts of material. They would incorporate some material from earlier in the semester, but the tests covered mainly the material we went over for the previous week. Every program is different, every teacher is different! Good luck! It really isn't that bad :)

How many prerequisite classes do you have to take? I'm assuming you are talking about a BSN program? For my ADN program our prerequisites were Psych, Sociology, A & P I, and meeting the minimum compass math requirements. This is easily accomplished in one semester (11 credits). Looking at the BSN program offered by the university in my state, their "prereqs" (general classes) are taken 17-17-14 credits over 3 semesters (48 credits total). I can see splitting this into 12 credit semesters if one were not able to keep up with a heavier workload, but this would only take 2 years. To spend 4.5-5 years (9-10 semesters) taking 48 credits, one would average 1-2 classes a semester. If that's all one can handle mentally, there's no way they'd survive nursing school!

Have you looked into taking a class from a different school online? I'm taking my microbiology class online during the summer through a different school because my school only offers it on campus, and I definitely did not want to take it with my nursing courses. (The credits have to transfer - you should talk to your advisor before signing up!) It cost me about $500 for the class (4 credits), book, and online lab program. I realize not everyone can pay out of pocket like that, but it's another option. Chemistry would probably be more expensive - in my school it's a 5 credit class.

You can apply for scholarships and fill out a FAFSA to help fund your school bill. That is how I am able to fund my schooling, but I am going to a community college that doesn't cost much. What is the price of tuition where you are wanting to go to school? With the way my school has the nursing program set up it takes 3 years to graduate with your ADN. It costs about $15,000 total, and I have had to pay very little towards that. My husband is able to support our family on his income for the most part, so I only have to work per diem. If you have to work, you can always go the loan route.

Wow! You have a full plate! I took A&P II (in class) and chemistry (online) in one semester. I ended up taking a total of 12 credits that semester, and with both those classes together (I was also pregnant and working 24 hours a week) it was a bit much. I don't exactly have a affinity with chemistry and although I usually do really well in online classes, chemistry was an exception!. I got a B in my A&P II class, and a C in my Chemistry class (I usually get A's and a few B+'s). I would recommend (from my experience) A&P I and chemistry. It can all depend on the professor, but A&P II is more in-depth, and requires more studying (again, in my experience).