future_nurse_d

I am sure they will. Apparently this person wants to be an NP. LOL. Good luck with that attitude.

Hi everyone, I am a nursing student about to start my last semester of school. I work as an Nurse Extern as well. I have heard that, generally, it takes about a year before I will feel confident as a nurse. How long did it take you to feel competent and confident? I worked yesterday and learned a few new things. I learned yesterday that you can't dilute diazepam in a NS syringe for an IVP because it precipitates. Can you flush the extension tubing with NS before giving the diazepam and then flush again behind it without worry, or is it best to just remove the tubing and push the diazepam straight into the hub of the catheter? Do they generally just like to avoid giving diazepam IV for this reason? So many questions! I love learning! Nursing school hasn't taught me this. Lol. I also learned that a patient who goes into a short run of vtach can be started on O2 and then given magnesium IVPB. Pretty cool. So I guess my questions are...how long did it take you to feel confident? How did you learn all the intricacies of compatibility/incompatibility and are there any resources for this? I have the epocrates app but it didn't say squat about diazepam and NS when I tried to look it up...do you think my Extern experience will help me at all when I become an RN? thanks y'all!

Are you in nursing school? If so, do us all a favor and drop out stat. Seriously.

I think that you are showing a lot of promise by being able to acknowledge your shortcomings and weaknesses and to show interest in correcting them. A lot of people don't have that ability. I can resonate with you because I'm 22, so we are about the same age. I graduate with my BSN in May. I've had 6 jobs including the two positions I'm in right now. My first job ever was at Steak 'n Shake making $2.13/hour plus tips as a waitress. That lasted 6 months. Then I worked retail for 6 months and I enjoyed it. Then I worked at another restaurant for 3.5 years making $7.25/hr. Never saw a raise. Now I work as a tutor at my college and as a nurse Extern at a local hospital. I have never been labeled as a job hopper. When you're young and in high school and early college and don't really have any qualifications, I don't think anyone is surprised to see that you've worked multiple jobs before. I think that's probably expected. I used to work as a nurse Extern at a VERY large Level 1 trauma center in my area. While I was there, I did several shifts working as a tech/CNA. So I got experience in how to be a nurse as well as the CNA side of things. It was hard work, and I left due to different reasons - I didn't mind working as a tech. I actually enjoyed it, when someone wasn't calling me every 5 minutes asking for ice cream while I was elbow deep in poop. So, I do agree with everyone who suggests that you work as a CNA first. It's not the same tasks that nurses do, but there is some overlap and you will at least become exposed to the environment. I learned a lot. Do some research and try to get a CNA position and see how you like it. That's the best advice I can give.

I graduated from high school in May 2013 and started college in August 2013. I graduate this May with my BSN. So it has taken me just shy of 4 years. I don't have children and I started straight out of high school.

There are a few people in my cohort whom I don't particularly care for as well, but I've learned to deal with them. You'll always encounter people you don't care for. Just push on and stay focused on yourself and your success.

Thank you, and congrats to you as well!

Sometimes, it seems like it. That one comment made me immediately dislike this nurse. Very discouraging and it makes you doubt yourself.

I am definitely scared. I think it's getting worse now that I'm so close to graduation. That particular nurse had never met me, doesn't know my grades or how competent I am, and it wasn't the nurse I was working with... so I know it wasn't directed to me personally and I didn't really take it personally. But I just found it very discouraging...that's the best way I know how to explain it. I've done well in school and I've always received compliments in clinicals, and I'm fairly confident, but still scared.

Hi everyone I start my last semester of nursing school in January, and I'm very excited to graduate in May. Yesterday was my first day as a nurse extern at a small hospital in my area. I used to work as an extern at a very large trauma center in our area, but I was unhappy so I left and came to the hospital I now work at. Yesterday was a pretty good day. I shadowed a very knowledgeable LPN, but as the doctors put in and and removed medications during the morning med pass, I couldn't help but think...oh my gawd, can I do this? Am I cut out for this? How will I learn how to deal with this once I'm a nurse? How will I develop the necessary time management skills? I'm sure these thoughts are completely normal, but they are definitely scary. I also overheard a nurse say yesterday that students who do well in nursing school typically don't do well on the floor, and that doing well in school and being competent are two different things. I totally get that, but I think it's a little catty and I'm not sure if this was her attempt to make herself feel better or what...but this isn't the only time I've heard it. Kinda shocking, especially since she was around myself and another extern when she said it during a conversation with someone else. Any advice about any of this? Thanks everyone!!