Your one stop for all the most popular pressing questions on allnurses!

[NeoPediRN]

I am seeing SO many repeat threads here, so I thought I'd throw in a few words of wisdom.

Question: Is nursing for me?

Answer: No one can answer that but you. As with every job out there, nursing has its pros and cons. To answer concisely, if poop, puke, pee, catheters, blood, ostomy spillage, gaping oozing wounds down to the bone, or pus make you squeamish then the answer is no, nursing is probably not for you. Anything else you're just going have to work out in your head, heart, and your own state laws. We don't know you or your history, and i think I can safely say no one here can read souls to find out your true destiny.

Question: Should I move on from XYZ job?

Answer: No one can answer that but you. If you've given it enough thought to post about it on a nursing forum, you're probably ready to move on. If you're burnt out, exhausted, overworked, underpaid, underbenefitted, your nurse/patient ratio sucks, your managers suck, your coworkers suck, your commute sucks, or any combination of the above, then yes, you're probably ready for a new job. Be forewarned though, you sometimes go from the frying pan to the fire. No matter what field or hospital you move to, you're probably going to find at least one of the above things suck. If they all suck, run, don't walk.

Question: I have XYZ medical problem, advice please?

Answer: The answer is we have no advice. NO MEDICAL ADVICE CAN BE GIVEN HERE. EVER. NO MATTER HOW NICELY YOU ASK OR HOW STRANGE YOUR PROBLEM IS!

Question: What is a day in the life of a nurse like?

Answer: Shadow one in a position you're interested in. Every nursing job is vastly different, even from facility to facility. The only truly good way to experience a day in the life of a nurse is to witness it firsthand. Don't forget your rollerskates.

Question: Can you help me with XYZ nursing assignment?

Answer: Only if it's something you can't look up yourself, like an interview. Being on this forum is usually a way to decompress for nurses, and the last thing we want to do after an 8-12-16-20:uhoh3: hour shift is relive the glory days of nursing school by doing homework.

Question: What should I wear for an interview?

Answer: If we really need to answer this then you may need to go back to either Nursing101 or your professional role transition course. Also, just because it's usually the next question to follow, yes, send the damn thank you card.

Question: Why is XYZ nursing job superior to XYZ nursing job?

Answer: No job is superior to any other job. Nursing is comprised of many different fields, all with its own unique set of challenges, whether it's high nurse/patient ratios or vast amounts of paperwork. Anyone who think their field is harder than someone else's is usually playing the "mine is bigger than yours' game.

Question: What is the difference between an LPN/LVN/RN/NP/PA/MD/DO/PHD/BLAH BLAH BLAH? Followed by, which one should I become?

Answer: Do a search and stop asking this question. Only you can decide what profession is right for you, and you're on a nursing forum so take a wild guess what the majority of the answers are going to be?

Question: Is XYZ out of my scope of practice:

Answer: Check your facility and state policies. Every place is different. What one facility encourages may be completely prohibited by another.

Question: Is it okay that I never get a lunch, don't get paid for my overtime, work short-staffed to a dangerous capacity every shift, my manager treats me like crap, or that I get written up for arbitrary things because my hospital is in the process of converting to a hotel?

Answer: No. See question/answer #2.

Question: Does a new grad belong in the ED/ICU/PACU/OTHER CRITICAL CARE AREA, or is it better to start out in med-surg first?

Answer: You might as well ask if the chicken or the egg came first. It's six to one, half a dozen to the other. You're never going to get a uniform answer on this so just make the choice you feel is best for you and your career.

Question: What's your IQ?

Answer: Really?!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

did you ever think that these people want the interaction with others. i have wondered about something and yes there is already a post about it. now, if that post is 3 years old how is that helping me. maybe i disagree about someone's comment. what's the chances that i can have an interaction with that one person. if you see a repeat question and you can't be bothered to read it don't read it.

and it took us until post # 81 . . . .

[Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN]

I have a group project due tomorrow and here's the 15 questions I have to answer. Could you answer these for me? Feel free to send the answers to my email [email protected] and PS - PLEASE HURRY!!!

[NeedchangeofPace]

Hi!!

I live in Northeast Podunk, could anyone tell me the closet school to Northeast Podunk that I could attend?? I read about Florence Nightengale and am inspired. I too want to carry a lantern to find an honest man and avoid stepping on poop.

Also I am good looking ya know

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

and it took us until post # 81 . . . .

yep, i sure did notice that rubes...and i sort of responded to it in kind...was that so wrong????

d

[nursel56]

Can I be a nurse if I have small children? Do my classmates hate me because I am white/black/blond/male/female/smart/perfect/bangedBradPitt? How come all my instructors are picking on just me and gunning for me to fail? Can anyone tell me where all the jobs are? I only want NICU/L&D/ICU/ER/Day shift.

. . . .and what can be done about this mean old witch who wants Christmas Day off when she knows I have small children?!? What kind of plans could a dried up old prune like that have on Christmas anyway???

[SeeTheMoon]

I completely see the point here, but...

4 points to make:

1: You have a ton of people going into nursing these days, including yours truly. This equals tons of questions. The. Same. Questions.

2: Maybe they are new to AN and haven't learned how to use all the searches. A long shot, I know, but just sayin'.

3: What was answered in 2005 is probably not always very relative to 2011. (Yes,I know...what was answered last week should be,but...)

4: I do sometimes need a boost. I'm blessed that my family is so supportive,but it is nice to hear an "atta girl" or "yep that's a good decision" from those that have already walked a mile or two down the road I am about to travel.

But for those of you that have been doing this for years and answering all these same questions for years...thank you for your patience. :)

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

I completely see the point here, but...

4 points to make:

1: You have a ton of people going into nursing these days, including yours truly. This equals tons of questions. The. Same. Questions.

2: Maybe they are new to AN and haven't learned how to use all the searches. A long shot, I know, but just sayin'.

3: What was answered in 2005 is probably not always very relative to 2011. (Yes,I know...what was answered last week should be,but...)

4: I do sometimes need a boost. I'm blessed that my family is so supportive,but it is nice to hear an "atta girl" or "yep that's a good decision" from those that have already walked a mile or two down the road I am about to travel.

But for those of you that have been doing this for years and answering all these same questions for years...thank you for your patience. :)

AH, But Doodle, you actually reinforce the point we "old grouchy mean sarcastic nurses who eat our young" have been trying to make here.....because YOU don't post ANY of those silly repetitive questions over and over...and also...if you have read the entire thread, we have really been harping on those absurd questions like..."can you do my homework" and "what is your IQ"....I mean "Really?" so, please don't think we don't want to chime in and help those young'uns who are earnest and are asking real live questions...even if they have been asked before...and NO, don't wear black thongs under your white scrubs....

teehee

diva

d

[SeeTheMoon]

AH, But Doodle, you actually reinforce the point we "old grouchy mean sarcastic nurses who eat our young" have been trying to make here.....because YOU don't post ANY of those silly repetitive questions over and over...and also...if you have read the entire thread, we have really been harping on those absurd questions like..."can you do my homework" and "what is your IQ"....I mean "Really?" so, please don't think we don't want to chime in and help those young'uns who are earnest and are asking real live questions...even if they have been asked before...and NO, don't wear black thongs under your white scrubs....

teehee

diva

d

Oh I know diva..even for a newbie like me some of them get a little old :) But hey, if not black, how bout purple thongs??

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Oh I know diva..even for a newbie like me some of them get a little old :) But hey if not black, how bout purple thongs??[/quote']

Purple would be ok but you would have to coordinate them with your purple Littman and the purple polish on your acrylic nails.................................

[rn/writer, RN]

Purple would be ok but you would have to coordinate them with your purple Littman and the purple polish on your acrylic nails.................................

Not to mention, your purple hair.

We love to give atta-girls (and boys) to those who are just starting out. But it does get old when people ask things like, "Why doesn't my instructor return my calls?" Why don't you give me her number, and I'll see if I can find out for you. Or "Will I lose (or loose) my license after a third DUI?" We've had so many of these that they now have their own forum. Folks just don't get that this is a BON matter and that each state is different. And why in the flip would a responsible person be getting a third DUI?

Conversely, we try to soften the fangs of seasoned nurses who think anyone under 75 is just a soft little cream puff who doesn't know the meaning of hard work.

There's balance in here somewhere. We may wince when we see the same old questions, but that doesn't mean we don't like the members who post them. Just give us something new and original now and then.

Like, "Is it okay if I bring my dog to class? She's teeny tiny and will sit in my purse and not make a peep."

Something like that would make me smile.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Not to mention, your purple hair.

We love to give atta-girls (and boys) to those who are just starting out. But it does get old when people ask things like, "Why doesn't my instructor return my calls?" Why don't you give me her number, and I'll see if I can find out for you. Or "Will I lose (or loose) my license after a third DUI?" We've had so many of these that they now have their own forum. Folks just don't get that this is a BON matter and that each state is different. And why in the flip would a responsible person be getting a third DUI?

Conversely, we try to soften the fangs of seasoned nurses who think anyone under 75 is just a soft little cream puff who doesn't know the meaning of hard work.

There's balance in here somewhere. We may wince when we see the same old questions, but that doesn't mean we don't like the members who post them. Just give us something new and original now and then.

Like, "Is it okay if I bring my dog to class? She's teeny tiny and will sit in my purse and not make a peep."

Something like that would make me smile.

Hey!!!! What about my cat? What have you got against cats? You left them out. I would think that you would have more of an open mind on a nursing forum like this...I am just going to have to cancel my subscription...you old nurses are just too narrow minded..you didn't even mention my poor, poor little fluffy. Meow....

[rn/writer, RN]

I'm allergic to cats. How thoughtless of you to even think of exposing me to feline dander. That really gets my dander up. Did you mean to be insensitive or are you just naturally inconsiderate???