Under All, is the Human

This is journal entry of my recent experience as a senior nursing student in the CCU with an intubated patient, labeled as combative and confused. After doing all of the clinically appropriate nursing interventions, I learned re-learned some basic skills. Giving a bed bath taught me an unexpected lesson about the human response. Labeling a patient with derogatory terms can be detrimental to nursing care. How, as future nurses, can we be mindful and caring of a patient with no voice? Read More...

Please help me with my written assessment - Academic Essay

I have my assignment due in the next 2 weeks and having trouble picking my nursing priorities. I found this forum and hope you guys can share or help me out. Here is my scenario... Read More...

[Toon] How are you celebrating your acceptance?

The all-important nursing school acceptance letter! Whether it comes by mail, email, or phone call, its always eagerly awaited. Tell us how you learned of your nursing school acceptance and how you celebrated. Read More...

Reality check: Are my expectations high?

I'm under the impression that if I go to a top 10 school and graduate near the top of my class, I'll be able to get a nice job making a little less than what is reported as an average salary for a nurse, and get a job in a hospital fairly easily. After job-shadowing a nurse at the local hospital (reassuring me that nursing is my career choice), I got told that all of the extra credentials (top of class, great program, relative minority) I'll be lucky to get a sucky hospital job working night shift for a couple years at $20 an hour. Are my expectations high? Read More...

Why do they always start with IV fluids?

In the pediatric unit I notice that every time they admit a child to the floor, the child is always started on IV fluids. why is this done? I've seen kids come in with knee abscess, seizures, RSV, or sleep apnea. They're always given fluids of at least 1000 ml or 500. Read More...

It's OFFICIAL!!! Tips and encouragement from a second timer!

First of all, I wanted to thank all of you. This forum has helped encourage, motivate and inspire along the way, especially when the going was tough!! You guys are awesome. I loved reading the success stories here, so I am posting mine, in hopes it will help others! Read More...

Why Do People Struggle With Math?

Year after year, responses to the annual Gallup Youth Survey reveal that teenagers list math as the subject in which they encounter the most difficulty. The difficulties tend to follow these teenagers well into adulthood, as evidenced by the sheer number of developmental and remedial math class offerings at colleges and universities across the US. According to Lopukhova (2012), mathematics was the most common remedial course reported by beginning post-secondary students: 15% of students in all types of educational institutions were enrolled in remedial mathematics in 2004. Read More...

Is nursing worth it?

Is all the stress of nursing school really worth it in the end? The stress I have experienced has caused me to lose about 4-5 pounds in a matter of 2 months. I had frequent migraines, hardly sleep, and just feel overwhelmingly depressed. I know these things may be common in nursing students, but I was wondering if going through all this is worth it? Read More...

I Completed a Non-Accredited Nursing Program, But Want Higher Education. Help!

What if you are a registered nurse who graduated from a non-accredited associate degree program or diploma school of nursing? Are there any nonprofit, legitimate, nationally accredited schools of nursing that will admit you into their degree completion programs? Yes. I have listed multiple not-for-profit degree completion programs that accept graduates of unaccredited nursing programs. Read More...

What the heck have I gotten myself into??

Overwhelmed, stressed, discouraged, surprised by the sudden change of roles from student to grad nurse. Wondering, did the university made a mistake in passing me. lol Maybe I should give my degree back? I'm asking too many questions while at work - I should know how all this works by now. It does get better right?

I hear the first year is the hardest. It's so hard to come home and not worry about "oh crap, I hope I mentioned this in report" or "should I have started that pre-op checklist already?" or "was that strip really such-and-such?" Read More...

I'm sick, but should I miss clinical?

I'm still nauseated and when I drink a sip of anything I have to run to the bathroom. My instructor told me to see how I feel in the morning and if I can't make it to just call her. Considering my "accident" today should I risk it? I feel terrible. Clinical tomorrow is just shadowing a nurse at a health department for 5 hours. Read More

Study Superstitions

So as I'm a year into my ADN program, curious if anyone else has study "traditions" that work for them? For me, I always take the day off work the day before, I get up at 8-9am, eat a good breakfast, make my area on the couch. Books, laptop, notes, etc. I'm in very comfy clothes. Red Bull is my best friend and I push until 4pm, going line by line on my study guide. Read More...