melissamabd DNP, RN

Hi-- I'm a nursing professor with 40 years of nursing experience. I teach pharmacology, fundamentals, med-surg, and psychiatric nursing. I'm not sure why any RN would state they don't need chemistry to function; makes me wonder what they do at work....

Hi-- my research is about medication errors. I am not convinced this was an error; and actually, nursing needs to change its culture. We are not perfect, never will be, just as we're not perfect in other areas of life. The edict that we should be ...

This question speaks to the very basic one: what do you want to do in life? If you want to be a physician, you want to diagnose and treat illness on a tertiary preventive basis. Nursing, on the other hand, is not at all like medicine. Nursing dea...

Pathology is the study of sickness; kind of a general concept. I am guessing they're asking you for pathological consequences of this disorder; in other words, what could happen? how serious is it? How likely is it? What would make these possibi...

OK... But think of the possible consequences. Were anything to go wrong, the first question from an adversarial attorney would be what was assessed and known prior to acting. I hear your real-time world perspective. So many things go into whether or ...

It's true... there are a few ways to fail. Is it theory, skills validations, clinical time? If it's theory, there are a few things that may help. You need to do more than master what the book, lectures, and powerpoints say... you then need to be a...

It's time to use these two episodes as learning experiences. You need to go back to nursing fundamentals and the rules of proper medication administration, and there are many. To give medications safely, you need to have an assessment on your patie...

How about weekend track? It's the most efficient use of your time; work your 24 hours, be paid full-time, with benefits, and have all week to do your schoolwork.

Yes, it's an unparalleled experience and whatever you do afterward, your experience (or the lack thereof) will always be evident to those of us who have done this. I know several APRNs with little to no experience and it's obvious they are missing a...

I think this is akin to marrying someone because he/she is an honest person with a job who doesn't hit you. It will become very difficult to negotiate the waters if you have no passion for this cause, it isn't your calling/vocation. Actually, it's ...

As a community health nurse of 31 years, I have to disagree with the idea that home care is a great last resort for new grads without experience. How can you make critical decisions alone in a house with no experience? Example: you are reassessing an...

I think you would do well to ask yourself additional questions here. This is far more than blue collar training for a "job". It's a profession, which is nearly the opposite. Will you be furthering your education? It won't be too long before a doct...

I think you need to reflect on why you have a 2.98, because nursing school is completely different and more difficult than the average prerequisite course. Many nursing students drop a grade or two once they matriculate in nursing courses because th...

I'm going to ask you to critically think about your questioning your educator. Does he/she have credentials such as a master's degree, R.N. licensure, and experience? What would enable you to reason about nursing issues more ably than this person? ...

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. As a nursing instructor, I do expect students to show the ability to read and learn accordingly, because that's a requirement for ongoing competency in the profession. However, you need a great deal of support as ...

Hi, I have been an RN for 36 years and am now a nursing instructor. One thing I tell all students is THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES. Humans are not perfect anywhere, let alone in the high stress environment of nursing. So welcome to the real world of nur...

Inserting a urinary catheter properly is a skilled task entrusted only to licensed nurses. The risk of catheter-induced urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is real—it's still the number one healthcare-acquired infection in the United States, represent...

Perhaps not the best choice for your population. However, for the homecare nurse all alone with this task, invaluable. Thanks for the feedback.

Not just like, LOVE this post.

I keep thinking about your introductory phrase... "I want to go into nursing, and I want to love it". If you're not sure you'll love it, why do you want to go into it? Tell us more about what you're saying, because it's intriguing. What if you fin...

I so agree. There's nothing less credible than a superior with an advanced degree who has never worked in one's position. And I am saying that from a 35 year, master's prepared perspective. The best managers demonstrate their commitment to doing t...

Sorry, no. Original formatting lost in submission of text.

Thank you; I didn't know that! I guess I was working off NYS standards. That's interesting.

As a nursing instructor and 35-year veteran in this profession, I have thought about this a great deal. I, too, am baffled by the disconnect between what people expect of nursing and what they find. Where do people get their ideas about the profess...

The original post here, that of RNdynamic, makes me wonder where he/she went to school... maybe a beautician program? LOL