Sage611

Just started nursing school and it is overwhelming! I anticipated the rigors of a new program, but I go home with heart palpitations. I can't sleep. My mind has a running schedule of deadlines and preparations, not to mention very real worries of feeling adequately prepared for jobs to come. What is the easier transition? From school to world or world to school? I bought a planner, have essentially scheduled my life. (Kids/husband, leisure, sleep, chores); but I could use advice and ruminations on what's to come. What were your experiences? Do you feel you evolved into a good nurse? Do you have helpful hints? Was school harder in comparison to that first job or the other way around?

Blows my theory out of the water! Ashamed of myself for being sexist.

I worked for a dentist who got mad when patients did not get numb...and directed that anger at inanimate objects. Temper tantrum. I always saw that behavior as childish and undeserving of patient retention.

I do think stress is manifested as condescension in these cases...and displaced anger. It's too uncomfortable to blame oneself. Even so, the offending physician should be promptly put in his/her place. I will not be a punching bag for an ego that cannot take responsibility.

Ughhh....testosterone. Curious if women doctors are as demeaning.

What the bleep is wrong with those people? Smh

Those hours are a disaster waiting to happen. Is that even legal? Please go to your supervisor and tell them you are concerned about making a critical mistake or compromise a resident's safety due to your exhaustion. If you do not receive some relief, leave! Your first priority is your own health. Also never think for a second this impedes your ability to be a RN.

Yeah, seriously. Unwarranted name-calling gets my blood boiling. I would have probably said something to the effect of, "Only an idiot would assume that nurses are mind readers and that patients should consent to a nebulous procedure."

I used to have debilitating anxiety and took SSRIs for years. I didn't get nauseated, but I would blush, which in turn embarrassed me, making me blush. I got so that the fear of anxiety initiated a panic response. I am now off all meds, because I think there are long-term consequences that are not known. I have some little tricks that may help you: Concentrate on wiggling your toes in your shoe or wear a hair band and snap it...when you feel panic coming on. It will help you focus on a sensation and not your anxiety. Talk yourself out of it. I would say, "Calmmmm," with the emphasis on the m. You can talk yourself into an attack, and you can equally talk yourself out of it. Try to limit caffeine. Tell someone, "Excuse me, but I'm experiencing acute anxiety right now. It will pass soon." I know that sounds ridiculous, but when you share your fear, it loses power over you. Realize that anxiety is a self-centered condition. Focus on other people. Live outward, not inward. Try yoga to center yourself. Hope this helps!

There are also hygienists who work on commission. I was never one of those hygienists. But I believe commission should never be in a healthcare setting. Just my opinion.

Yes, I see your point. I have actually worked for honest dentists. You would not know you're being sold to. Case in point: dentists get referral fees from specialists. I had patients who were referred to orthodontists when they had periodontal disease. Ortho alignment can exacerbate a periodontal condition, worsen it. Patients have had to extract loose teeth because of it. Cosmetic dentistry is huge business. It is subjective...not objective. I have seen dentists with dollar signs in their eyes, when a patient expresses an insecurity. I am about health. If the person is insistent on correcting something they don't like, I tell them their options and benefits/ramifications of each. I have seen dentists push harder for things when production is low. There are always exceptions, of course. But at the end of the day, it's about money, not the patient. I know for a fact doctors have to meet quotas for hospitals. They used to tell me that, as dental patients. But... nurses aren't billable providers.

I have to agree with you. Having read several responses from that poster, I could never be friends with that type of person, who seems to relish putting others down and hurting people. I don't care how many "likes" he/she has. I know nasty when I see it.

Reminds me of Greg Focker . He was straight, fiction or no. Don't worry about how you come across. Preconceived ideas reflect on them...not you.

I love to knit and crochet too. I need to go to Yarn Addicts Anonymous.

I thought I'd chime in, since I'm a dental hygienist going to nursing school. One thing about dentistry that disillusioned me is that there is a lot of pressure for production (selling whitening trays, pushing cosmetic treatments, implementing periodontal therapies...whether or not it's entirely needed). Corporate dentistry is the worst. I genuinely wanted to help people. I felt like a crook. The morning huddle was deciding how we'd make more money throughout the day, setting goals for crowns and other interventions to "improve smiles." The day is also very scheduled. The good thing about dental hygiene is that it's predictable and routine. Work week is usually 4 days, no weekends. But, now after reading all these nursing comments, I'm starting to feel apprehensive about my new career choice. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

This is just terrible. I start nursing school next week and have been second-guessing that decision ever since the discovery of this site. The general consensus seems to be nursing is the pits.

What an encouraging post. Good sound advice too.

Good for her! That's abuse and uncalled for. I worked for a dentist who threw instruments and would talk with his teeth clamped together. Reminded me of a bull.

I think you can show true affection in your acts and deeds, without necessarily telling them you love them. I am not a nurse yet, but I was a hygienist for many years. I did bond with some patients, seeing them bi-annually year after year. I would hug them, hold their babies, ask about their sick dogs, send them sympathy cards if they lost someone dear. I probably breached the line of professionalism by doing so, but I also know that we are social creatures and some people really benefit from that interaction. I do not believe in feigning affection. I feel that's disingenuous. But, a pat on the hand, listening to a story, or just showing you care as a person can greatly impact a patient's health.

There is no excuse for the departure from human decency; I don't care how high up on the totem pole you are. I honestly don't think I could keep my mouth shut and would probably be fired. Maybe I'm stubborn, indignant or plain old stupid, but I would not tolerate abuse in any form.

I think it's 3 days. Monday is basically classroom lecture 9-12. No class Tuesday. Wednesday is all day clinical, 6:30-4:30. Thursday is classroom lecture like Monday, then a simulation lab. Afternoon is Pharmacology. Friday no class. It's 11 hours. I'll be happy to tell you what it's like after I get a feel for it.

I am actually just beginning my nursing career, but I've always been female. Nursing, in general terms, is a caring profession. I equate your situation to walking in the park. Some men are there with strollers and dogs, and some are in a pack playing basketball. Nothing charms me more than seeing a man show vulnerability, unconditional love, and the ability to nurture. It demonstrates that you are comfortable being in your own skin. You don't cower to societal norms. Don't question your masculinity due to your chosen profession. Like I tell my kids, if the person can't see your worth, they're not worthy.

You're in a difficult position, because relating this news now will seem that you were withholding pertinent information. I understand your quandary and my heart goes out to you. You have worked so hard to be where you are. In my experience, being upfront and honest is the best way to go. Disclosing your pregnancy at the end of a productive interview would have been ideal, but now I would just be as real as possible...tell your prospective employer that you are thrilled with he opportunity and were not expecting such a wonderful offer in your 3rd trimester. If they are incredulous, apologize for any confusion, saying that you felt your condition was obvious.

My husband says "commode." He never spills anything; he "wastes" it. Regionalism influences word choices and pronunciation, which I think is different from poor grammar.