Welcome to the new Nursing Student Assistance Forum

[RNPATL]

Wow ... it is finally here! A forum that is designed to help you get in contact with Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses, who can help you with your interview assignments. There has been so many posts in the past that Brian has made this forum available to you! :rotfl:

It is my pleasure to co-moderate this forum with VickyRN!!!!! :balloons: I am sure she will be along soon and will also post her welcome! Given that this is a new forum, I am sure we will all learn together and I know I am excited to have a forum that helps students.

So, let's start hearing from the students .... questions that you might have and ways in which you think you can use this forum.

Thanks Brian for getting this going! :chuckle

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Also, use simple terms that your patient can understand. If using handouts, use ones written on a 5th grade reading level with lots of pictures.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

I have to give a class presentation on educating a patient on any subject. All the usual subjests are already taken. I am a first semester student, and I am not sure what to do. I have never wittnessed a nurse educating a patient.:uhoh21: I would be greatful for any advice.

Thanks.

I can understand how this must feel--perhaps you are making it into too big of a thing.

When I am caring for a patient, everything I do for the patient has a purpose--a "rationale." So, if I am going to start an IV, I have a procedure to follow. If I talk to the patient as I do the procedure, I am teaching the patient. For example:

I'm going to start this IV for you. Your doctor feels that it is important for you to receive whatever (more fluid, your medications faster, whatever the reason is).

I'm getting all the air out. It would take a great deal of air to do you any harm, but when I've been a patient, I've worried about such things--I want you to know I am watching out for those little things so you can be more relaxed.

As I clean your arm (or wherever), I am going in circles so that the cleanest part is right where I will put the IV.

I'm drawing the skin over the site a little tight to help hold the vein in place.

I'm going to touch it to your skin with the needle very gently at first before I actually put the IV in. That way the nerves already know I am coming--sometimes that makes it more comfortable (I actually did learn this on an IV site online--and it works!)

and so on. This is patient education. Your rationale is that your patient's anxiety is decreased because much less is "unknown" and they are participating in their own care by being actively involved.

You also build rapport with the patient....

Don't know if this helps, but it would certainly open up the field of "subjects" for patient teaching!

[jschut, BSN, RN]

What a great idea for this forum!

And Chris~ good ideas! :)

[Beckylou642]

Here's what my textbook says about it: The teaching process involves development of a plan that includes assessment, diagnosis, setting patient objectives, intervention and evaluation.

You would be setting up your teaching based on the needs of your patient. If your patient has already been having a disease or condition for several years, you may want to change your teaching to something new or something more in depth. Also, you have to look at your patient's age and education level. What you teach a PhD will probably be on a totally different level then what you teach someone who never finished elementary school.

Also, you can do your teaching on drugs, not just their medical condition. Take a drug that they just started taking and work from there.

Oh, and from what I've learned the teaching shouldn't really last for more than 15-20 minutes because they get overwhelmed and stop paying attention.

Thanks!:)

[Beckylou642]

Also, use simple terms that your patient can understand. If using handouts, use ones written on a 5th grade reading level with lots of pictures.

Thank you, that is a good idea. :)

[Beckylou642]

I can understand how this must feel--perhaps you are making it into too big of a thing.

When I am caring for a patient, everything I do for the patient has a purpose--a "rationale." So, if I am going to start an IV, I have a procedure to follow. If I talk to the patient as I do the procedure, I am teaching the patient. For example:

I'm going to start this IV for you. Your doctor feels that it is important for you to receive whatever (more fluid, your medications faster, whatever the reason is).

I'm getting all the air out. It would take a great deal of air to do you any harm, but when I've been a patient, I've worried about such things--I want you to know I am watching out for those little things so you can be more relaxed.

As I clean your arm (or wherever), I am going in circles so that the cleanest part is right where I will put the IV.

I'm drawing the skin over the site a little tight to help hold the vein in place.

I'm going to touch it to your skin with the needle very gently at first before I actually put the IV in. That way the nerves already know I am coming--sometimes that makes it more comfortable (I actually did learn this on an IV site online--and it works!)

and so on. This is patient education. Your rationale is that your patient's anxiety is decreased because much less is "unknown" and they are participating in their own care by being actively involved.

You also build rapport with the patient....

Don't know if this helps, but it would certainly open up the field of "subjects" for patient teaching!

Thank you, I think you really understood my question. That is exactly what I wanted to know. Your reply has really helped me see what it is I need to focous on for my presentation. :balloons:

[Dsulyma]

Hello, I am new here. I am currently going to BMCC. This is my 3rd semester in the preclinical nursing. I am starting to get really discouraged. I am being told by several people and instructors that in order to get into the clinical program, I have to maintain a 3.77 GPA. I only have a 3.15 I am really nervous and feel that I wont make it. In all honesty, I cant see myself doing anything else other than nursing. Can you please tell me how your experience was as a nursing student? How or what did you do to get through the course?

I guess what I need is a little encouragement. Thanks everyone.

Danielle

[jncRN]

What a great idea...thanks! I'm sure it will be well-used.:)

[Lilme04]

dear nursing students,

this forum was opened for nursing students to use to ask nurses questions. if you have assignments to contact nurses or interview, feel free to post your request here. i hope you find this forum helpful.

enjoy!

please start a new thread for your request.

click here to start a new thread

brian short rn

allnurses.com administrator

thank you! thank you! thank you! :balloons:

[cpayne4]

Hello! I'm brand new to the forum, and I've been observing for about 3 weeks now. Everyones' posts have been informative, interesting, and helpful to read. I'm 19 years old and a first semester student of a 4 year BSN program, and as much as I have wanted and do still want to be a nurse...I'm very intimidated. I know this is a very general question, and for that I apologize, but can anyone give me some tips on what to expect in my years to come? Any information is so greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Chelsea

Indiana State University

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

It's not so much that your question is a general one, in fact, it is a wonderful question. It is that everyone's experience will be different, and everyone comes to nursing school with a different way of handling stress, other people, competition, frustration, etc., etc.

In general, I think this is what you can expect.

You will be excited, frustrated, your heart will be warmed, your heart will be broken. You will learn oodles and oodles, and if you are lucky, you will find a way to keep that exciting. You will be surprised at how your offers of help will be accepted by your classmates, and again when you are rebuffed for no apparent reason.

You may come to nursing with a romantic feeling. Many of us do. We are "called" or "drawn" to the profession. And it is a romantic one! Look at the history of giving care.

But it is also very much "real world." It can be a little rough and tumble. You will discover things about yourself that you didn't know before, both encouraging and discouraging.

Hopefully, you will also learn to roll with the punches. Because if you have always wanted to be a nurse, and you did what it took to get where you are, it is about 99% certain that this is where you belong.

So, hang in there. Never give up. Do the best you can do and let it go. Learn from your mistakes. Even better, learn how to have mistakes. Learn to accept whatever grade you receive, because there will be times when you are shocked at how low they can be, but this (hopefully) balances out with the times you are sure you crashed, but you passed.

It all works out. Take as little as possible personally. Keep your own counsel; in other words, don't share anything personal about yourself that might be the least bit inappropriate or questionable. Protect yourself: this means keeping your secrets secret, and it also means wash your hands a lot and wear gloves every time you might get something on you that you wouldn't want if you had a choice.

I'll think of a dozen more things. Others will too. In a year or so, you will come back, and see someone's post about what to expect, and you can share from your heart.

It's a cool experience, and a hard but wonderful one. Welcome!

[cpayne4]

Chris, thank you so much! I suppose I kind of hoped that's what I'd get as a reply...I just needed to hear it once again, and I'm sure I'll need to hear it again and again in the years to come. Your words are so welcome and mean an incredible amount to me. Thank you for making my day. :)