Way back in June, I received a nurse scrub top from  spring/summer collection to review and tell you all what I think of the product. Unfortunately, life got in the way. I had started a new job and moved on top of everything else. They mailed me this style top: You have to picture it light blue or they call it "island blue" . Of the choices I was given, that was as close as I can get it to my royal blue (University of KY blue) uniform. I found the top very, very soft. It washes up well. I wish I could wear it to work, but unfortunately, it is the color of our nursing aide staff ..read more

 is to set the date. How true it is! Nothing puts the fear of GOD into you like knowing you could possibly waste $200 if you are not prepared enough. Our school required we buy this online tutoring program. It is supposed to run you through the 7 areas: fundamentals, pharmacology, pediatrics, mental health, medical-surgical, maternity, and nursing management. This company places you with a tutor, and you do an initial assessment. You go through the books and after each one, you take a test. If you don't score 60% or better, you must do homework to help you improve your score. Then you ta ..read more

So, it's down to this. This one little test. Well, not really "little". It can be as "few" as 85 questions, or as many as 205 on the NCLEX-PN. Am I terrified? Is the pope stepping down? Terrified doesn't quite cover it. I've been working at a private duty nursing place since May of last year, and now that I'm not in school, I've been working full-time.  When my patient is taking a nap, I catch a few pages.   Also studying at night when I get home. Our school had us purchase a review package from a "nameless" company. It was very expensive, and not very worth it as far as I can tell ..read more

     I MADE IT! LPN grad November 30, 2012 ..read more

I worked this summer with a terminally-ill patient who was deteriorating quickly. It was hard to watch, but that experience taught me a lot. First, you are never going to be able to pick your patients unless you're a psych doctor. Secondly, there's always a reason why you have the patient you have. My lesson was compassion. I know you must think that a nursing student should come into any given program with it, but  it truly doesn't kick in until you see someone faced with death. What in the world could you possibly say to someone with numbered days? Nothing. Just be there. So t ..read more

Or so they say, whomever they is....I took my clinical adviser 's advice and got a job as a CNA this summer. It was probably the best thing I ever did for my education. I keep my assessment skills up, and am able to make a buck or two. Not saying where as I don't wish to get into any trouble, but it's a good fit. I'm working 40 hours a week until school starts back up in 7 weeks. Then, I hope they can still use me part-time. My instructor mentioned to me that working with patients is probably what I need to build my confidence, and she was correct, (as much as I hate to admit it).  Initia ..read more

It's been awhile. I was reminded by a dear friend that I've not updated lately and looking at my calendar, I see why I haven't. So, here we go with the Top Ten Things I Learned Second Semester of Nursing School....  Number 10. Don't worry about not having a life in nursing school, none of us do. Sounds profound, but it's just the nature of the beast. If you are a very social person who parties, goes shopping, attends church, has outings with your family, goes to your child's school functions....I'm talking to you. You can kiss all of that goodbye in second semester. Nursing school is kin ..read more

I know, I know, you think I don't love you, but I do.....just been busy trying to pass stuff, get through clinicals, ect. To say it's been crazy has been putting it mildly. My first week of school we were required to do two days of skills to be checked off on. I made it through the foley cath check off just fine. The trach care and suctioning...not so much. I ended up redoing that one. I also missed one on my med calculation test that we had to do for Pharmacology, so I repeated that one, too. But it's all good. That stress is over. Last Friday, I completed my IV check off skills, and that wa ..read more

I survived my first semester of nursing school. While that may seem trite, I think about those students with much younger brains who didn't make it to second semester. And I'm sad for them.  One of my group didn't make it and when she told me she was dropping, I felt like someone died. I wasn't that far behind them as my pharmacology didn't come up as I planned. I made it by .5 for the C. C's are different in nursing school. Mine start at 83 and go to 78. Anything below that range is a D. My other classes I did fine: How to be a nurse 101- B; and Intro to Nursing- A. Toward the last of it ..read more

so, I apologize. And I deleted it.  Stress was getting to me. Still is. A friend told me that she benefited the most from putting lots of time into notes. And I have to admit, she's right. Only I can dig through that text and totally understand what notes I've written. So, if I sounded judgmental, I think I was just feeling unappreciated by those I had shared notes with. They don't want to pitch in, it's really about them. I had another test today and patiently waiting for her to post the grades.I'm feeling pretty good about it. Next week, I have vital signs check off and injection chec ..read more