dex77

I think that might be another reason that I'm having difficulty making a good judgement about it. No, I didn't have issues during my peds rotation and I was truly happy to be there. It was probably the first time that I was actually excited to get to clinical. However, I didn't have any patients during this rotation that weren't going to improve. I know I wouldn't attempt PICU or anything (NICU I could handle-it's different somehow). I know what you mean though about being in control of your behavior. I'm just not sure I have the ability to 'turn it off' once it starts coming.

I'm about to graduate from an ADN program. I'm in a little bit of turmoil over what I should do when I graduate. I'm really passionate about working in peds or NICU. However, I'm an incredibly emotional person especially when it comes to kids. For example, I recently had observed in the ER when a young trauma patient came in. Being a student I had nothing to do to keep busy but, watch while this poor child had seizures and seemed to be deteriorating quickly. I couldn't help but come to tears seeing a child this way. It wasn't a full on sob or anything but, I was really affected by it. I had a difficult time trying to keep my emotions in check after this as well. I partially think that if I had something to do while this was going on I may have been able to hold it together better. Essentially what was going through my mind was how this poor child was probably terrified with what was going on and what the parents were going to go through when finally arrived to see their child in such bad shape. I guess this is my dilemma. I think that I would be a better nurse in peds or NICU because i'm truly passionate about it. But, this is the very thing that i'm afraid would make me terrible/miserable b/c I'm so affected by it. I'm just looking for thoughts on this or maybe some personal experiences r/t when peds nurses first started. How are you affected by it? Do you think that it's better to be unemotional? Were you like this when you started peds nursing and did you get through it/over it? I really feel that working with kids is what I got into nursing school to do but I'm worried that I'm my own worst enemy. Help! dex

DON'T QUIT!!!!! I know where you are coming from! My first semester was so intimidating and difficult. I also didn't walk into nursing school with any prior experience and I was intimidated by all those who did. It was an agonizing first year...but now that i'm in the 3rd semester...I no longer have the same anxieties as I did in the first. I used feel like I was going to vomit before walking into a patient room. I felt so stupid, so incompetent, so far behind the others...IN REALITY everyone was feeling the same way! Stick it out, if you cry everyday you come home it's ok! I cried all the time after clinicals...I don't anymore. The first year you have no clue what to expect. You just have to get some experience under your belt and you'll be fine! The only reason you should leave is if you truly don't think you will like it as a career. Keep in mind that the inexperience is temporary-you're not always going to not know what to do, you will learn what you need to know-it just doesn't come all at once. Hang in there-chin up and find a group of people in school to help support you when you're feeling down or inadequate. It really does help! Good luck, and I hope you find the strength to overcome your fears!

I also seem to have issues with anxiety related to clinicals entirely. The whole time i'm at my clinical site I have butterflies so badly that I feel nauseous. I'm getting a B in the class so far and i'm in the middle of the pack as far as clinicals go, not the worst but certainly not the best. My CI is not too bad, I can understand his frustration w/ me (I've gotten upset and cried in post-conf whenever he's had to tell me what i'm doing wrong). I feel completely incompetent. I can reason out well enough that i'm in the 1st semester and have NEVER done this stuff before. I don't think I SHOULD feel bad for not having all the answers. I am doing the best I know how. I think that it's related to confidence and experience (of which I have neither right now) and I think it will go away in time. However, I was wondering if anyone has taken meds for this while in school and has it helped?

I'm a 1st yr, 1st semester NS. I've been doing ok in my classes so far as far as grades go but I think I would be better off if I could remember the signs and symptoms for many of the topics we cover. For example, tomorrow I have an exam on fluid, electrolyte, acid/base imbalance. So, hypo vs hypervolemia, hypernatrimia vs hyponatremia etc. I usually need a lot of time and repetition to memorize things but, I just get these s/s so mixed up! Anyone have any mneumonics or other techniques to remember these things? I had a lot of trouble when we covered pneumonia, COPD as well.

Wow! I didn't know they did that w/ ESL students. FYI all, I'm not one of those. Not to sound snobbish but, now I'm even more proud of myself for making it in on my own merit. Kathyz-I have Williams for A&P. She's really good except that we have to do a project in addition to all the other work. It's just hard to get to all of the work sometimes. I have no life and I'm only taking 2 classes. I like Williams and Hutchcraft for the same reason. They are really organized. I need that to keep things straight in my head. They present the information well, although they both are tougher and more particular about they way they grade exams etc. I also took Samland's CNA course. It was cheaper, faster, and it worked better with my work schedule. It was a tough 5 weeks but it was worth it. The evening teacher (Eva-I think) was hilarious, which made it fun. Z1234-Good luck, hope you make it. I think my GPA is around 3.6, NLN I was in the low 90s and high 70s on the verbal score. Those that got waitlisted-chin up! You all sound like you were very close, try to beat your last score on the NLN and I bet you'll make it next time around! At least now we can retake it every 6 months.

Thanks, i'm still pinching myself. I feel like I finally accomplished something and I haven't even started yet. LOL. I'm in A&P Part Deux.....and English. I'm taking Human Development & Nutrition over summer. Who do you have for Micro? I was thinking of taking Hutchcraft b/c I had her for Bio and loved her. But, I keep getting warned not to do it. You're taking Organic? Are you planning to go for a BSN? I thought the NLN was tough. I could have studied for it more. Get a prep book for the NLN. There is one used by those that make the test. It helps you get used to the structure of the questions so you're not completely surprised. Personally, I struggled w/ the verbal section. The terms given are one's i'd heard before but only knew the words in context. The answers will be close so it's hard to tell exactly what it is. Some people are good at this though. I'm not one of them. I ran out of time on the math, it's a good idea to practice. I knew how to do the problems but, wasn't quite fast enough. BTW-you can't use a calculator. I probably did best on the science part. I had a lot of eye questions though...weird. Hadn't covered that yet in A&P by test time. Good luck on the NLN! Sorry, I talk too much....

I think they say that about 300 apply and about 80 get in (for fall). They have less openings in the spring. There really is no interview process. I had no letters of recommendation or anything. Go to a nursing information session there, they have them all the time. You'll get a list of all the classes you need to have to get in. Basically, a laundry list of requirements. Entrance is based mostly on the score you get on the NLN exam. Then, they go by GPA. You have to be in-district, your 'file' has to be complete. Meaning...take all of the pre-req's or they won't consider you. Also, everyone says take the gen ed's before you go in. It's a 2-yr program but each semester is jam packed with classes unless you take the non-nursing classes ahead of time. If you already have a degree...you should probably meet w/ a counselor to see what classes already meet the requirements. I've taken most of the gen ed's, I have 2 more to take this summer and then 2 to take while in the nursing program. The 2 yr program is actually taking me 4 yrs (going pt. time & working, w/ kids). ; )

Yep, just got a letter today. I GOT IN!!!! :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: Good luck, let us know how it goes!

My verbal score was 77. Not great but maybe it will be good enough. My composite percentile score was in the 90s so hopefully they look at that number first. We'll see....we don't have to bring the scores to the nursing department do we? I thought the scores were sent directly to Oakton also. I hear bad things about Pharmacology. I think i'm going to wait and take it next fall. Sounds like a hard class. Good luck w/ it Paula7! OH-BTW my endocrine test went ok I think, I'll find out for sure on Wednesday. :)

Did anyone take the NLN in January? I took it, it was pretty tough. I walked out feeling pretty bad about it. I did get my scores back and they seem pretty good (don't know if I should share them or not). I usually freak out about testing and do better then I originally thought. Keeping my fingers crossed. We should hear something in April, right? Such a long wait. How are everyone's classes going? I'm in A&P2 and EGL102. I have an A&P test on Friday and i'm flipping out because I can't keep my horomones straight! (Endocrine sys.) If anyone has any pointers or mneumonic devices to help memorize the flow and functions of horomones that would be greatly appreciated!

Paula7-Wow, congratulations on the job move! That's a big step! What are you going to be doing at the Physical Therapy office? I keep thinking that I should be looking for something in the field-part time. But, I have this cushy job that pays well and I can study while I'm there. I'm still very nervous about leaving it even though I've cut back to a part-timer. Good luck on the NLN tomorrow!

I got my grades-finally. I got an A in A&P and a B in English. I'm a little disappointed in the B because I really put a lot of effort into it but it's OVER. I only have one more semester of writing hell to go through. I HATE English! Paula7-Don't worry too much about the nursing home thing. You'll just get over the shock and the class is over before you know it. I had to change my work hours to do it too. I think it's worth it to go through it faster. I heard more horror stories about the Oakton program anyway. At least 5 weeks and it's done. The teacher during lecture time is a riot anyway. You'll have some fun. I'm not going to freak out too much about the vocabulary part on the NLN. There's only so much you can learn in 2 weeks. They don't base your entrance to the program on the number you get right anyway. It seems like mostly everyone is in the same boat. I'm just trying to study some root words, that may help a bit. I have to brush up on my math too, i'm slow when I haven't looked at it for awhile. I had Strond for A&P. He was really great about helping his students but I felt that he moved to fast in lecture. I couldn't get all the notes down. I haven't heard anything about Carney. You'll do fine in A&P if you remember to take a step back and DON'T FREAK OUT all the time. Review your notes often. If you're on the net alot try this website. It helped me memorize the bones, bone markings, and muscles. It's REALLY helpful. http://www.getbodysmart.com/ Just take the quizzes. A&P is mostly memorization and getting the terminology down. The concepts are not too difficult. Oh well, I better stop avoiding my studying. Have fun this weekend! :beercuphe :cheers: :wink2:

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. Don't be offended. I was soooo busy trying to get ready for my A&P final and writing papers for English that I wasn't checking out the site. It's nice to have some Oakton nursing hopefuls to vent to, though. I'm signed up for EGL102 and A&P2 next semester. I think my finals went ok but, you never know. I can't wait for my grades to come in. My A&P professor hasn't responded to my email request for the last couple of test grades. Nitsirk51-Who do you have for A&P next semester? I have Anderson....every day almost. I blame my husband for forgetting to pay my tuition on time for that one. I'm lucky I got in to a class. BTW-The math class is not bad at all. You probably won't have to do much homework for it. If you're decent enough at math you could probably test out of it. I'm not bad but i'm very forgetful so I took it as a refresher anyway. Paula7-How was the Chem final? Are you both taking the NLN next month? I'm studying for it now. I'm doing REALLY bad on the vocabulary part. I hope I do well enough to get in. I can not believe these words on here! I have never heard of any of these before! Oh well-Have a good holiday everyone! :icon_chee

I think i'm just going to take A&P2 and English 102. I'll be sooooo sick of these classes by the summer. :) I'm applying to Oakton's program for Fall '06. No plans to go beyond that at the moment. Nitsirk51-Sounds like a full course load. I was thinking about taking Micro with A&P also but the schedule doesn't really work out for me....good luck though, you'll be busy!