I'm posting up some resources to help those who struggle with nursing school up. I posted a forum thread up at allnurses.com on the Student Assistance forum asking members to assist me and give me any advice that may give me a more successful outcome than last year.
User Daytonite gave me an incredibly detailed post pointing me to all the right places to find some great NCLEX questions, study resources, and even a critical thinking flowsheet.
Most of this stuff will make my sidebar, but you can check out the original post here.
Thanks Daytonite!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Cool Blog...
Nursing School Journey is a really cool blog that reminds me quite a bit of my blog. I remember being where this guy is and the journey doesn't really start until you get to that first class.
Check it out!
Check it out!
UPDATE: Let's Try This Again...
Well, I know there's been a good bit of interest in this blog, so let me give you a massive update as to my status.
First of all, I did not successfully complete my first nursing course. I withdrew on the last day that I was allowed to because my test grades. I had some family issues, money issues, and not enough time in the day to do my nursing course along with another three credit course, Nutrition.
I did not update because I took this failure pretty hard, and blogging about it was not at the top of my agenda. I've made some great progress though and here's what I've been up to for the past few months.
First of all, I decided to take a CNA course to see if this field was for me. I'm now a registered CNA/GNA in the state of Maryland and I work part-time PRN at a local rehabilitation hospital. I love my work there, and I daresay I like it more than my work as a full-time sales representative for AT&T. I work crazy hours this summer to save money for the upcoming semester of school.
I've now taken all academic classes for my first year of nursing school which will land me an LPN licensure as well a Certificate of Proficiency in Nursing. Now, I can concentrate on one nursing class at a time and no academic classes.
I also reapplied for Fall '09 admittance, and was reaccepted into the program. This time I will be working nights, which works around my schedule exponentially better. I have the same instructor, but thankfully, I don't have that hippie clinical instructor I had last year.
I passed my clinicals last semester, but it was the tests that got me. This year... I'm going to be better prepared.
I hope I nail it this year... wish me luck!
First of all, I did not successfully complete my first nursing course. I withdrew on the last day that I was allowed to because my test grades. I had some family issues, money issues, and not enough time in the day to do my nursing course along with another three credit course, Nutrition.
I did not update because I took this failure pretty hard, and blogging about it was not at the top of my agenda. I've made some great progress though and here's what I've been up to for the past few months.
First of all, I decided to take a CNA course to see if this field was for me. I'm now a registered CNA/GNA in the state of Maryland and I work part-time PRN at a local rehabilitation hospital. I love my work there, and I daresay I like it more than my work as a full-time sales representative for AT&T. I work crazy hours this summer to save money for the upcoming semester of school.
I've now taken all academic classes for my first year of nursing school which will land me an LPN licensure as well a Certificate of Proficiency in Nursing. Now, I can concentrate on one nursing class at a time and no academic classes.
I also reapplied for Fall '09 admittance, and was reaccepted into the program. This time I will be working nights, which works around my schedule exponentially better. I have the same instructor, but thankfully, I don't have that hippie clinical instructor I had last year.
I passed my clinicals last semester, but it was the tests that got me. This year... I'm going to be better prepared.
I hope I nail it this year... wish me luck!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Clinical Difficulties
Well, it appears my nursing care plans are not quite up to par of what is expected. What is expected? I'm not quite sure actually; I think I fit the parameters of the assignment to the tee. However, I've scheduled extra time with my nursing instructor on Monday to hone some care plan writing skills and my assessment skills.
My assessment skills are another matter all together. I forgot to turn in my assessment at the end of class so my instructor was stating that my assessment skills were weak; however, I think the assessment, when I did turn it in, was much better than my previous one. I'm waiting on an email from my instructor to confirm whether or not this assessment was adequate. I hope it is; I documented everything. My assessment tool is a 12-page packet of papers covering absolutely everything about the patient. I hope I don't need work on this too; I'd really only rather have to have one thing to work on.
I've always been a straight A student, so being told my papers are not acceptable is something I'm not used to hearing. I got a friggin' 31 and 32 on the ACT exam in the English sections! I'm beating myself up pretty bad about it, but I'm not giving up; my clinical experiences thus far have pretty much forged in my mind that is the career I want to have, no matter what.
My clinical Wednesday went well. I spent lots of time with my patient assessing him, interviewing him, teaching him, helping him and working with him on various things. The highlight of my day was when two physical therapists came up to me asking for help. They wanted me to help a 600lb+ lady stand for the first time in months. I operated the electric Foyer lift to help get her in position, lowered it, and helped her stand. She was so happy she started to cry and everyone in the PT room was applauding. Definitely a moment that will stay with me. Forever.
Wish me luck thought, I guess I'm not doing as hot as I thought.
My assessment skills are another matter all together. I forgot to turn in my assessment at the end of class so my instructor was stating that my assessment skills were weak; however, I think the assessment, when I did turn it in, was much better than my previous one. I'm waiting on an email from my instructor to confirm whether or not this assessment was adequate. I hope it is; I documented everything. My assessment tool is a 12-page packet of papers covering absolutely everything about the patient. I hope I don't need work on this too; I'd really only rather have to have one thing to work on.
I've always been a straight A student, so being told my papers are not acceptable is something I'm not used to hearing. I got a friggin' 31 and 32 on the ACT exam in the English sections! I'm beating myself up pretty bad about it, but I'm not giving up; my clinical experiences thus far have pretty much forged in my mind that is the career I want to have, no matter what.
My clinical Wednesday went well. I spent lots of time with my patient assessing him, interviewing him, teaching him, helping him and working with him on various things. The highlight of my day was when two physical therapists came up to me asking for help. They wanted me to help a 600lb+ lady stand for the first time in months. I operated the electric Foyer lift to help get her in position, lowered it, and helped her stand. She was so happy she started to cry and everyone in the PT room was applauding. Definitely a moment that will stay with me. Forever.
Wish me luck thought, I guess I'm not doing as hot as I thought.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Hospitalist Thinks NPs are "Uneducated"
Check this blog out: The Happy Hospitalist
I've chosen nursing as my particular profession. I'm in school and eventually I'd like to become a Family Nurse Practioner (FNP). This particular blog is really rubbing me the wrong way... is this how I'm going to be seen by doctors? A substandard care provider? Uneducated? Will my 7+ year education mean absolutely nothing to the high-and-mighty physician?
My personal experience with NPs has been positive. I had a back injury a few years back, and I was under the care of a CRNP in my neurosurgeon's office. Saw my neurosurgeon for maybe 30 seconds after a total of 3 office visits. My CRNP was great, knowledgeable, and he even read my MRI. He suggested an appropriate course of action and followed up. He filled out my short-term disability forms for free and very quickly. And I formulated this opinion before entering nursing school; in fact, it was one of the driving reasons for me to decide on nursing and not PA school.
However, I love how this guy throws out comments about his superiority:
Do you think this an ego trip? I think so. Honestly, I know a few RNs I'd let do surgery on meand I know physicians I wouldn't want taking my temperature. And vice versa.
Medicine and nursing seem to be at each other's throat. Medicine says nurses don't have enough schooling to give primary care. Okay, understandable, but when community colleges offer 2-year Physician Assistant programs, I think that statement may be a tad on the hypocritical side.
I've chosen nursing as my particular profession. I'm in school and eventually I'd like to become a Family Nurse Practioner (FNP). This particular blog is really rubbing me the wrong way... is this how I'm going to be seen by doctors? A substandard care provider? Uneducated? Will my 7+ year education mean absolutely nothing to the high-and-mighty physician?
My personal experience with NPs has been positive. I had a back injury a few years back, and I was under the care of a CRNP in my neurosurgeon's office. Saw my neurosurgeon for maybe 30 seconds after a total of 3 office visits. My CRNP was great, knowledgeable, and he even read my MRI. He suggested an appropriate course of action and followed up. He filled out my short-term disability forms for free and very quickly. And I formulated this opinion before entering nursing school; in fact, it was one of the driving reasons for me to decide on nursing and not PA school.
However, I love how this guy throws out comments about his superiority:
"I know the value of my medical education and experience and how that compares to the education and experience of a nurse."
" There is not a lot beyond basic single step medical decision making that I would place my trust in."
"Would I trust them to be a hospitalist? Never. Not even close."
Do you think this an ego trip? I think so. Honestly, I know a few RNs I'd let do surgery on meand I know physicians I wouldn't want taking my temperature. And vice versa.
Medicine and nursing seem to be at each other's throat. Medicine says nurses don't have enough schooling to give primary care. Okay, understandable, but when community colleges offer 2-year Physician Assistant programs, I think that statement may be a tad on the hypocritical side.
Nursing Neglect Damages My Father's Hand
Restraints are very important for intubated patients. My father had a ventilator a few weeks ago when he was admitted to the hospital with complete respiratory failure due to his case of extreme CHF. He, of course, had soft wrist restraints to prevent an accidental extubation.
I'm not arguing the importance of the restraints, in fact, I'm glad he had them on. They may have saved his life. However, when I visited him, I found that one of his restraints was so incredibly tight that it was cutting his wrist and his hand was more swollen that I have ever seen anything and I know that I need to be able to fit two fingers between the wrist and the restaint , so I loosened them so I could barely fit two fingers and I alerted the nurse.
Well weeks later, he's back in the hospital. His hand is in so much pain, he literally is screaming in agony. He's been sedated with morphine for days now. He may have lost use of his hand permanently, though last update I got, he was able to move his fingers a bit. There was massive nerve damage in his hand.
Guess what the hospital diagnosed him with? Carpal tunnel syndrome. It couldn't possibly be related to his wrist restraints being on too tight, even though the pain happened after his hospital visit and he had no pain before the hospital visit.
I'm planning to complain to the board of nursing, and I plan on consulting a lawyer. I am happy they saved my father's life, but I am very upset that his hand is all but useless due to gross neglect.
Remember... check restraints every hour, or more if possible. Or you might end up like my father.
I'm not arguing the importance of the restraints, in fact, I'm glad he had them on. They may have saved his life. However, when I visited him, I found that one of his restraints was so incredibly tight that it was cutting his wrist and his hand was more swollen that I have ever seen anything and I know that I need to be able to fit two fingers between the wrist and the restaint , so I loosened them so I could barely fit two fingers and I alerted the nurse.
Well weeks later, he's back in the hospital. His hand is in so much pain, he literally is screaming in agony. He's been sedated with morphine for days now. He may have lost use of his hand permanently, though last update I got, he was able to move his fingers a bit. There was massive nerve damage in his hand.
Guess what the hospital diagnosed him with? Carpal tunnel syndrome. It couldn't possibly be related to his wrist restraints being on too tight, even though the pain happened after his hospital visit and he had no pain before the hospital visit.
I'm planning to complain to the board of nursing, and I plan on consulting a lawyer. I am happy they saved my father's life, but I am very upset that his hand is all but useless due to gross neglect.
Remember... check restraints every hour, or more if possible. Or you might end up like my father.
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