Calling all nurses! (Or nurses-to-be)

[npmommie]

LOL, get used to it.
If we aren't actually doing acts with a patient, we are dressed in a skimpy low cut outfit, or else we are portrayed as nothing but a handmaiden to a doctor, with no brain or knowledge.
even on ER it annoyed me to no end that Abby went on to be a doctor as if being "just a nurse" wasn't good enough and also most of the central characters on ER were always doctors.........there are just as many nurses as doctors in a "real" ER, I know its only tv but still
and how about Greys anatomy, where are the nurses
they virutally don't exist.
oh don't get me started on nurses portrayed on tv.

i have not seen hawthorne, i need to check it out.

 

[Beka]

LOL, get used to it.
If we aren't actually doing acts with a patient, we are dressed in a skimpy low cut outfit, or else we are portrayed as nothing but a handmaiden to a doctor, with no brain or knowledge.
even on ER it annoyed me to no end that Abby went on to be a doctor as if being "just a nurse" wasn't good enough and also most of the central characters on ER were always doctors.........there are just as many nurses as doctors in a "real" ER, I know its only tv but still
and how about Greys anatomy, where are the nurses
they virutally don't exist.
oh don't get me started on nurses portrayed on tv.

i have not seen hawthorne, i need to check it out.

I don't usually watch medical drama, cuz the inaccuracies are glaring and bug me to no end (Seriously, you just used a 3" needle in someone's anticubital area for a sub-q injection? -really it was big enough that if it were real & had gone in at the angle they pushed it in, then it would have come out the other side of this girl's arm- And why are you using the same size needle for insulin? Why is the doctor doing the MRI? Don't they have techs?) They need to do research!

*deep breath*

See, that's why I don't watch it. Though I do like Royal Pains (cuz the main character is cuuuuuute!)

 

[MinnieNurse]

I just have a question...i want to work in the NICU, do i decide that during the clinicals??? How do you get into a specific field of nusing (ie: or, er, NICU, ICU, etc) Thank you!!!!

Once you get out of school and get a job many facilities have internships for new graduates for specialty areas like this.

At the NICU I was the manager for several years we did a 12 week long internship that included classroom as well as direct care for new nurses and nurses new to NICU. Good luck to you.

 

[imabrat]

Is anyone involved with HOSA? Can someone explain what exactly "yearly dues" and "fundraising" means on the "contract"?

 

[Judy from Boise]

Is it a union? If so I will just keep my mouth shut since I wouldn't have anything good to say.........

 

[imabrat]

It stands for Health Occupations Student somethingorother. We have to sign the "contract" for class next year, but reading about paying "dues" and a lot of "fundraising" turns me off. I'm not really sure what it is and the teachers haven't said much about it, just that we have to join it.

 

[npmommie]

Is it a union? If so I will just keep my mouth shut since I wouldn't have anything good to say.........

back when I worked in acute care at the hospital I was at the nurses decided to unionize, voted it in. ( it was a large city teaching hospital)
BEFORE the union the hospital had no problems with staffing ratios that were downright dangerous to patients . Example, 7-8 patients to one nurse on a CT step down unit.........
AFTER the union the hospital was forced to abide by the staffing ratios set out in the contract.

BEFORE the union we were forced to do mandatory overtime,
AFTER the union there was no mandatory overtime


Unions can be a good thing.

 

[Beka]

http://www.hosa.org/whatis.html
"HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. "

Sounds like it's a school organization? Kind of like the SNA (Student Nurses' Association) yay SNA!

Oh wait, there's more...
..."HOSA is not a club to which a few students in school join. Rather, HOSA is a powerful instructional tool that works best when it is integrated into the HSTE curriculum and classroom. HSTE instructors are committed to the development of the total person. Those who join the HSTE-HOSA Partnership recognize the importance of providing students with training far beyond the basic technical skills needed for entry into the health care field. "

Never heard of it before

 

[aussiedaisy]

Hello! I am 29, live in Australia and work in the PACU as a clinical nurse specialist RN. I agree that nursing is a great profession to go into, there are so many different avenues and there is always work. I work 3 ten to twelve hours shifts per week plus on call one night per week and weekend call once every 8 weeks. It is a very stressful job as our operating theatres put out about 50 cases per day which includes day cases and large cases such as joint replacement, bowel surgeries etc so it is really exhausting but never boring!!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Welcome! How cool to have an international nursing thread . Can you explain to us the amount and type of schooling you had to get your current license/title/position ?

 

[legs22]

.

i have not seen hawthorne, i need to check it out.

I started watching the first episode and it was so bad and unrealistic I shut it off.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Also, you might consider getting a part-time job in an NICU as a secretary or CNA. Then you can find out more about what it's really like to work there, and you will often get first pick (over other new grads) for an opening once you graduate.

I know tons of people who have done this! It's a great foot-in-the-door to being hired on as an RN.

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

I just had to tell all of the nurses and nurses-to-be my great news!!! I took my NCLEX on July 1 and I passed!!! I'm now an RN!!!!

 

[Princessbaby]

I just found this thread!! Yay!
It is nice to see such a variety of nursing here.
I have been a LPN for 6 years and I will graduate this Dec with my BSN.It's been a long road but definitely worth it! It has been a challenge with a DH and three kids!!
I started out at one of the local hospitals in the in-patient rehab unit. I worked there for a couple years. I have also done short stents in long-term care and an urgent care clinic.
I am currently working on a surgical floor (have been here for 3.5 years). It was great in the beginning and it was a nice challenge to have as a LPN. But, now with a BSN degree on the way, there are too many directions to go in. Ultimately I would like to become a case manager or nurse educator.
I am doing my senior preceptorship this fall and I have changed my mind several times on what area I want to go into. At first it was surgical/trauma ICU (I was there in the spring and really loved it!), but thought maybe I should expand and explore cardiac areas because I have an interest there also. I went back and forth and recently submitted my request to go back to STICU (they kept telling me to come and work with them after grad and they were so welcoming. I think my preceptor there can give me a good recommendation).
Another area I would really enjoy is NICU. I figure I could start in adult ICU and transfer sometime in the future.
Anyway, enough rambling, I hope to continue to get to know everyone here!!

 

[lauradenise4779]

Hi everyone!

I'm currently in school, hoping to be accepted in the nursing program this fall. I've completed all of my pre-reqs and have a perfect admission score (yay! ) so right now I'm waiting for my letter. So, unless something has gone terribly wrong, I'll start the ADN program this fall.

I'd love to do pediatrics of some sort. I'll have to look into the CNA thing...it would be nice to have my foot in the door when it comes time to find a job!

 

[Beka]

I just had to tell all of the nurses and nurses-to-be my great news!!! I took my NCLEX on July 1 and I passed!!! I'm now an RN!!!!

Congratulations!

 

[Disneylover79]

I just had to tell all of the nurses and nurses-to-be my great news!!! I took my NCLEX on July 1 and I passed!!! I'm now an RN!!!!

CONGRATS!!!!

 

[joha]

I just had to tell all of the nurses and nurses-to-be my great news!!! I took my NCLEX on July 1 and I passed!!! I'm now an RN!!!!

Congratulations!!!!

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Congratulations!

CONGRATS!!!!

Congratulations!!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

[basketrn]

I am so glad to see this thread!

I've been a RN for almost 10 years now. Started out with my ASN, then got my BSN in '07. I am getting ready to apply for grad school, focusing on FNP. My husband is a Paramedic, and is also in nursing school.

My background is mostly ER, working 6 years in a Level 1 Trauma Center, and most recently for the last 5 years as a flight nurse on a medical helicopter.

I love nursing and love ER/flight nursing!