pvjerrys

your friend needs to get legal advice.

we end the semester (prior to the final exam) with a clinical practicum that is incorporated into their total points. we look at all the skills / procedures that have been learned. we have short procedures (10 points) and long procedures (20 points). we set up 10 stations, with instructors at each station. students do not know which procedure they will be doing. we strongly recommend and encourage them to practice all of the procedures. on the day of the practicum, students randomly select the station where the short/ long procedures are already set up. we give the list of procedures to the students in the second half of the semester so that they can practice in the lab. we tell the students that this is testing day, not instruction day. instructors evaluate the student's performance with minimal verbal interaction and grade accordingly. their scores are posted after all the students are done. interesting postscript. there is always one student who gets a low score on the practicum and lament that he/ she practiced the other procedures, but not the one that she got.

puggymae we review all of our exam with students except the final exam. we used to have students hanging around waiting for their grades while we educators reviewed their exams. it was difficult leaving the room just to use the restroom because the students would all hold their breaths waiting for any kind of news. now we tell students to leave the nursing building after their exams and return about 2 hours later. life is much easier now. you're so right about students not understanding what one percent score means. we total scores based on points, then compute their percent score. as with you, one percent score could mean about 10 points away. nurse_educate i feel as you do about reading the cards students have written. i tell them that their notes mean more to me than the actual gift. i save those cards and read them when i am feeling sub-par. those special words always raise my spirits. goodoldnurse i totally agree with what you have said. what a great day when the student who had problems concentrating early on and been counseled, realize what it takes to be in the nursing program, and then make it through the semester. the students can't see us, but we are behind closed doors cheering for those students! (we can be pretty loud - so who knows, maybe they hear us!)

my first semester clinical group has performed the following in the clinical setting: insert & discontinue ng; insert & disc foleys; administer po, im, sqs, opiates; perform wound care (w-d, remove staples, apply steri-strips); administer enemas, e.g. harris flush; iv therapy (disc iv caths, change iv large volume); nasotracheal suctioning; learn how to assertively report changes about their pts to rn and mds. (list not inclusive.) i have given a list of procedures within their scope of practice to the units. i "troll" the units for procedures. the rns comment that my clinic students are very motivated & willing to do the procedures. and btw, for their experience, i have students give all ims in z-track technique. there have been bsn preceptees that have worked along side my students. they are amazed at how much these first semester students can do. for me, i take great pride in their competent manner and accomplishments.

i'm a 1st semester instructor in adn program. all injection sites are demonstrated. students have practicum and theoretical exam to evaluate their knowledge base. they must pass both practicum and exam before they can administer parenteral (ims / sqs) medications in clinical rotations.

10% dextrose (PPN) may be infused in peripheral vein. 20% or greater dextrose (TPN) must be infused via central venous line. Usually pt has more than one lumen for TPN so that lab draws or other meds can be given via other lumen.

florry: i wish i learn more, and sure i do, by listening to other people/nurses around the world!! hello from southern california, florry. here is a link for medical dictionary that may help. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/hp.asp dorsum: the back or posterior side of a structure. "dorsum" is the latin word for the back. something pertaining to the dorsum is dorsal. the opposite of dorsum is ventrum, which comes from the latin "venter" meaning belly. something that is ventral is oriented toward the belly, toward the front of the body. current nursing texts from the usa recommend the ventrogluteal site for intramuscular injections. they no longer recommend the dorsogluteal site. community practice usually lags behind current theoretical knowledge.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/ there is a list of approved rn programs on the bon site. you'll also be able to see the nclex pass rate for each school that will help with your decision.

Once you get your RN, go to some of the Job Fairs in southern CA. Some of these job fairs are listed with Nurseweek. We have an annual job fair at the college for the 4th semester students. These facilities have wonderful incentives for having our students work for them, including new grad program, paid NCLEX RN prep course review, specialty training, etc.

can someone tell me some good nursing schools in southern california? california state u system. http://www.calstate.edu/ university of ca systems. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/ is the weather in san diego nice? what is the weather in san fransisco like? i think san diego has one of the best all year round weather in ca. san francisco can be very foggy and damp, depending on how close you are to the coast. it's also much more expensive to live in san franciso than san diego.

MSN - Master's of Science, Nursing

Some institutions are now offernig a CNS/NP focus. This nurse is based in an acute care rather than in ambulatory care setting.

Less than 10% of RNs are master's prepared. Hence, an advanced degree is very marketable. You noticed after your BSN opened doors for you? With a master's degree in nursing, even more doors will open up. You will take core classes. You will then need to decide the specific area of focus. Good luck!

What is important when taking these practice tests is to read the rationales for both correct and incorrect answers. Remembering the rationales will help with your critical thinking.

This is probably another one of those "urban legend." One mother, dazed after delivering her child, heard a beautiful sounding word and wanted to name her baby .... lady parts. The nurse talked her into naming her baby Ragina.

FLORRY - THIS MIGHT HELP. Could you please provide a list of drugs that should be administered via the Z-track method. 18th January 2001 We are not able to specify a list of drugs - application of the Z-track injection technique differs from hospital to hospital and country to country. As a general observation, though, the Z-track method is used for intramuscular injections of substances which are known to cause pain to the patient if they seep into the subcutaneous tissues or cause permanent staining of the skin. To reduce the risk of causing irritation along the injection pathway, the needle used to draw up the substance is normally changed before the injection is given. The Z-track technique involves displacing the skin and subcutaneous layer in relation to the underlying muscle so that the needle track is sealed off when the needle is withdrawn, thus minimizing reflux (see diagram above). It is most commonly employed in the administration of parenteral iron solutions such as Iron Dextran (Imferon) and Iron Sorbitex (Jectofer). A drug which is highly coloured in solution may be administered by this method. It is sometimes used in the administration of Heparin into the abdominal subcutaneous tissues. Several studies have been carried out to compare the effectiveness of different injection techniques (eg: Keen, 1986; Quartermaine and Taylor, 1995). References Johns, M.P. (1989) Drug therapy and nursing care. London: Macmillan Press. Keen, M.F. (1986) Comparison of intramuscular injection techniques to reduce site discomfort and lesions. Nursing Research, 35(4), 207-210 (Jul-Aug). Potter, P.A., and Perry, A.G. (1993) Fundamentals of nursing: concepts, process & practice (3rd edition). St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc (pp 662-663). Quartermaine, S., and Taylor, R. (1995) A comparative study of depot injection techniques. Nursing Times, 91(30), 36-39 (Jul 26-Aug 1).

I see no reason why male RNs cannot wear support hose (panty or other wise). Support can only help with blood flow. I knew a straight guy who lived in north east USA who wore panty hose in winter time because he said it was great at keeping his legs warm. I thought he was smart for doing so. Panty hose is cheap unlike the expensive silks or other thermal materials. What is the big deal anyway as long as the use of support hose accomplishes the job?

We also use Perry & Potter as basis for practice. Students learn to give IM injections in the ventrogluteal site. They practice locating the site repeatedly in the lab prior to clinical. There are advantages to the VG site: large muscle site, lack of nerves or vessels, and, last but not least, the patient can be in supine position during administration. We also teach students to inject with Z-track technique for all injections. Meds are beter absorbed and students get to perfect a technique that they might otherwise not be able to use. I have observed students having minimal problems locating the VG site using Z-track for injections. Community practice usually lags behind current theoretical practices, so it is no surprise that nurses still use the dorsogluteal site. One last response: Always aspirate for IM. It s not necessary to aspirate for subcutaneous injections as there are minimal blood vessels in this area.

TriageRN 34 is right on! When you meet with manager & HR, speak in "I" terms, rather than even bringing up this other person. Speak only about your behavior and not the behaviors of other staff members. State your mistake & how you will prevent future errors. State, "I am sorry. I have learned from this mistake and will not do it again in the future." Do not bring up other staff members. It is not about them. This meeting is about you. Good luck. Give us update.

I'm in the dark here. Could you please tell me what CMSRN stands for? Thanks ahead of time. :stone

Preparation for the demands of a nursing program is very important. At our student orientation prior to start of semester, we advise students to talk to their family about time constraints for the next few semesters. As one 3rd semester said, "I told my children and husband that going to school is now my time. But when I graduate, that will be their time. I have to be temporarily selfish so that I can succeed." It is, more or less, a contract that must be created and agreed upon by all members of a student's life. Being in a program feels like forever. In actuality, the time goes by fast. If members of your family can agree to certain conditions during your student semesters, there may be less stress for you and your family. On the other hand, there are times when school may not be the appropriate time due to family issues. A student may have to temporarily stop and return after family issues are better and /or resolved.

This may be one of those times for flash cards that you read when ever you have a spare moment (at a red light, waiting in line any where, etc). Reminds me of when we had to memorize multiplication tables in grammar school. One side - cause. Other side - signs & symptoms.

First of all, you need to define "older person." :chair: What about basing your essay on the Nursing Process? I'd look at some physical changes in the elderly (if that is the "older person that this essay is about). Last, but not least, read the developmental changes (example: Eriksen) so that your essay will be individualized to the "older person."

"....it is a way for me to become more comfortable in the clinical enviroment." Great statement by iwannabeanrn. It is not necessary to be a CNA prior to starting an RN program. As stated in previous posts, the program will teach what you need to know as an RN. It is a good way, however, to be more comfortable in the clinical setting. One positive argument about not being a CNA prior to being a student in an RN program is that the student has no prior history of thinking. RNs are requied to look at the whole picture (assessment & intervention, psychosocial, prioritizing, triaging, etc). CNAs have specific assignments and are more skills oriented on ADLs toward an assigned group of patients. It's interesting to do a class case study in prioritizing. Given several situations, here are some responses: Students who were previously CNAs will provide a bedpan so that the patient will not be incontinent. The student without CNA experience will first see the patient who has a suspicious red drainage under the dressing so that the patient can be further assessed.

Our school has policy of "fitness" for both faculty & student. There must be a minimum limit of how much they can lift, etc. Other suggestions for you: Discharge planning, Risk management, Infection control, Case management. Nursing is one profession that one can find an eventual niche, thank goodness!