Dear Nursing Students/Orientees: A Love Note from the Preceptor from Hell

Dear Nursing Student/Orientee:

Allow me to start my letter with a brief aside. Yes, I know there are things you are not taught at nursing school. I know that this may not apply exactly to your set of circumstances. I know that there are evil, vindictive individuals out there that will purposefully set you up, hold you down, and delight in making your every morning something to dread and your every evening a nightmare.

But I am not one of those individuals. I do not, under any circumstances, condone their conduct.

Nor am I some fluffy feel-good nurse that will hold your hand, coddle your mistakes and spout sayings freshly garnered from those horrid encouragement posters seen in every middle management office. You know the ones... Read More...

My Semester in Review

This article is a reflective look back on my first semester in nursing school, and highlights some of the challenges and successes that I faced and how I overcame them. It is my hope that this article might inspire and help other nursing students to find ways of achieving their goals. Read More...

Why does it feel like it's taking forever?

Some people have a difficult time learning, reading, or concentrating while in school. Are you one of these people? What do you have a hard time with? What do you do about it?

TIP: Write down a list of daily things to do. Start by doing the most important things first. Give yourself a time limit for each task. Once the time has ended move to the next task. At the end of the day, congratulate yourself for sticking to the list. Repeat this every day. Having a list and looking at it will reinforce the things you HAVE TO DO. Read More...

So...uh...when will I feel like I know what the heck I'm doing?

I am going into my 3rd semester overall in January in nursing school. I'm in a BSN program. I have only had one semester of clinical experience. This next semester will be my second clinical experience.

The first clinical was sort of helpful...we were only there for 6 hours once a week. I feel like I'm not ready for next semester, when more responsibility will be placed upon us. What should I do to prepare before for next semester? I can't wait until I feel more confident. Read More...

A clean room. A clean home. A clean person.

I have noticed that I cannot sit down and study or get things done until my room is in order and my own person is nice and clean.

Well I was delighted to find out my nurse was JUST like me. Before he began assessing, gathering meds, and charting ... he quickly wiped down his little nursin' buggy with lysol wipes and organized his IV supplies, injection supplies, alcohol wipes, and other materials. He had a nice clipboard, he gave about two sheets per pt... each sheet of paper containing one those stickers with the pt info.

He said ... yes it takes him 3-5 minutes NOW but ... it will save him running around and losing 15 minutes later. BTW ... I take and accept ALL little tricks of the trade (= so please drop by any tips you have in regards to organization or really ... anything. I want to know what yah got for me! Read More...

ADN Program Scholarships?

I was finally accepted into an ADN program after almost 4 years of applying!! I start this January 2013. Now I need to find some scholarships and/or grants to keep me afloat for the next two years! Although I have qualified for financial aid in the past, I don't any longer. Hubby got a promotion and makes slightly too much money now... even though we are barely able to keep our heads out of the water! Read More...

Pick Your Battles Wisely

Life is not fair, and neither is nursing school. After having dealt with various sticky situations while attending an LVN program, and later, an RN bridge program, here are my blunt two cents on this matter: suck it up, choose your battles very carefully, and focus on graduating. I know that my words might not sound therapeutic or convey the image of cyber hugs, but this issue is something that I feel I must bring forth into peoples' awareness. Read More...

Nursing Scholorship?

I already have a BA in another field, so I don't qualify for pell or any other grants and still owe on student loans from the previous degree, so I am looking for other realms to pay for all or help pay for my nursing school. I've run across a couple of scholarships but most I have found are only for the new nursing student with NO previous degree.

Does anyone know of any grants or scholarships out there for 2nd degree students, I haven't run across any yet but I am hopeful.
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Question about becoming a nurse

My husband is in the army and we could possibly move to Germany this spring. I have finished my pre reqs for nursing school and was planning on going to school at our next duty station. Can I go to school in Germany and get licensed here in the states? Or do I need to go to school state side. Our other choices are NY, CO and HI. Read More...

Synergistic Risk of VTE for Women With PCOS Using the Pill

For women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the risk of venous thromboembolism is increased for non-users of oral contraceptives, and further increased for users of combined oral contraceptives, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association. Read More...

Will being on anxiety medication hinder me from becoming a RN?

I have been on Prozac 10mg for the last two years. Prior to being prescribed Prozac I had never had any sort of anxiety, panic, or depression in my life. I had a series of extremely stressful and traumatic events happen within a 3 month period and it caused me start having anxiety attacks which led to panic attacks. After dealing with it for several months, and it getting progressively worse, I went to my doctor and was prescribed Prozac. I take it once a day and have had no side effects since being on it. I do feel as though I may need to up my dosage though. It just seems like the anxiety is starting to crawl back in and I would like to go see my doctor to see what we can do for it. Read More...

Ready for a career change...

What would the negatives be to become an LPN and then completing the LPN to RN program? I'm thinking that once I have the LPN I could at least start working and gaining experience in the medical field while working towards the RN. I cannot quit my job or work part time but I really am ready to start a new career somehow. Read More...