NURSING 101

So you want to become a Nurse. You checked out the college choices. Pretty sure you can ace the courses, at least the pre ones.  You’ve heard nursing is a great profession. You wont get filthy rich, unless Warren Buffett becomes your patient, falls madly in love with you and takes you off you shift in his private helicopter, (not going to happen!). But you can make a very decent wage and have great opportunities for advancement in many different areas.

Then there is the reality of nursing.  As a nurse, you will be asked to be soft and compassionate and at the same time hard as steel. You must have a poker face during a trauma or code alert and are only allowed to have a meltdown if you lose your favorite pen.

 Of course, NO meltdowns, of any type in front of the nursing instructor. You will come across fantastic mentors, friends you will keep for life, and incredible opportunities for growth, but you may also experience bullying, racism, and gender inequality.

You will see people like no one else does, sometimes even in ways, their own family members have not. The weak, the vulnerable, the destitute. Those that have made poor choices over and over again. You will then be asked to be part of the team that “tries to fix them”.  To put your social norms aside and treat everyone equally. 

It is the most noble part of nursing but sometimes the hardest. If you can’t put that aside, you won’t survive. The gay, lesbian, or transgender patient cannot be treated any less than any other patient. The color of the patient’s skin or their country of origin must be irrelevant.

Let’s be clear, a nurse degree is a SCIENCE DEGREE. It will be a challenge to achieve. It can be done, as many before have proven. But the face of nursing is constantly changing, evolving, and improving.

Let me help you with a few things that might help you to help others.

TIP #1

Start buying stuff. A lot of stuff In nursing you need a lot of stuff. Not just the normal, paper, pens, pencils stuff but the expensive stuff, 

Stethoscopes, expect to be $100 or more for quality and you will want quality when trying to detect that heart murmur or hearing the difference between rales or rhonchi.

Computer, Lap Top or Tablet, Printer $700-$1000 each

Voice Recorders ( some can run $300)

Compression Stockings ( you are on your feet a lot) $10-$20

Scrubs. Most schools dictate color and brand but they can run $50-$60 a set, even on Amazon. You will need 3-4 sets. Your in nursing school, do the math.

Good comfortable work shoes. Sneakers are more acceptable in nursing schools now but I always used Dansko. They can run $100.00 or more a pair but are well worth it to save your feet. I also purchased good insoles too. Another $100.00

Bandage Scissors, $10-$20

Strong well-made Back Pack, lunch bag, alarm clock. A good backpack can run $60.00

TIP #2

THE PRICE GOES UP’

Anything associated with nursing is more expensive than other similar items. Textbooks, study guides, CD tutorials, flashcards, pen lights.  You will need Caliper rulers (for cardiology and measuring EKG’s. You will need a watch with second hand. Yes, you still will be asked to take a pulse and do it accurately.

TIP #3

YOU WILL BE OFFENDED

 Purchase Peppermint Oil, Vicks Vapo rub or whatever lip balm has the strongest overpowering aroma you can find. You will need it. Save it in a back pocket.

In my opinion, the 2 worst smells (besides dirty diapers) are #1 BURNING FLESH ( expect this in your O.R rotation. It comes from the cautery when the flesh is cut open and burned at the same time to reduce bleeding (sorry it’s gory but the more you know the less chance of hurling during a surgery.)) #2  is dead bowel,  and rounding things out is GI Bleed and C-diff stools, You can use the oil or Vick stick directly under your nose and remember to breathe through your mouth.

Don’t let study groups become chatting sessions. Zoom helps a lot with this but keep the group small and sessions short.

Multiple sessions are better than just one multi-hour long one.  Allow each person to choose a topic that they need help with the most. Write down the topics and then plan a study session for each topic. 

Self Care – It can take many forms but your body must be nourished.  Get outside. A study by the Environmental Protection Agency showed the average American spends 93% of their day indoors. Being in school isn’t going to help, so you are going to have to schedule time for this and you should, even if you have to put it down as a set time each day in your TO DO book. 

Our bodies want sunlight. Take a 15-minute walk in the morning or during lunch. Take deep breaths while walking, really deep, count 1,2 3 slowly while breathing in and again 1,2,3 while breathing out. Do that 5 times while walking, clear your mind.  

Search out areas for Forest Bathing (yes, there is such a thing, google it). Borrowed from the Japanese, it is simply spending time in nature, absorbing the scents and sights. It can come from an ocean view or a walk in a green forest.  Even the local park will do. 

Mindfully notice the colors, smells, and sounds of nature. It’s not enough to put nature sounds on your computer as background when studying. Get out, Get some Vitamin D. Say hello to the sun and nature. Watch squirrels chase each other around a tree and laugh at their antics. Follow a butterfly and marvel at his colors once he lands.  RELAX, BREATH, AND RECHARGE..