Student Nurse Teacher

Whether you are a nurse or a nursing student, chances are you feel overwhelmed, and stressed, at least a few times a week 😄 We work in a demanding field with a high level of responsibility. No one, no matter how seasoned or how smart, is immune from the pressures of healthcare. So how do you deal with the stress of the your classes or job? There are many avenues of #selfcare and hopefully you have already learned your favorite ways to unwind. Here are a few of mine! -- Hang out with friends, especially those who remind me I am not alone in this journey -- Play the piano (love me some Rachmaninov  if it was an especially stressful shift 😉) -- Get outside and enjoy nature So what about you? How do you find refreshment after a tough day? Cheering you on, Laura Follow me on Instagram

Meet Priscilla! Like  Kimberly,  Priscilla and I went to nursing school together. We actually met the very first week of freshman year--in Chemistry lab! After many successful (and some not-so-successful) lab projects, we became great friends: encouraging each other through tough nursing classes, jamming together, and discussing life. She has had a dream of becoming a Labor and Delivery nurse since before I met her, and it has been so neat to see her live that out. What type of nursing do you do?  I am a labor and delivery nurse on a large L&D unit in SC. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose that specialty?  I always loved the OB specialty, even when I was a child. My brother was born when I was 7, and I very clearly remember going with my mom to her doctor appointments, seeing the ultrasounds being done, and just absolutely loving all the excitement during my mom's pregnancy. I had a lot of curiosity about OB, and ...

Introducing a new series here on Student Nurse Teacher: nursing specialty interviews! I will be interviewing nurses of various specialties, giving them a chance to share why they love their job, and giving you a glimpse into their roles!  The first nurse is my friend Kimberly. Kimberly and I went through nursing school together. We sat together in classes, shared clinical experiences, and now support each other in this grand adventure of nursing. She is an excellent PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) nurse. Here is her story.  What type of nursing do you do?  Pediatric ICU - the ratios are 1:1 or 2:1. I can get anything from a seizure kid who is intubated on sedation drips/paralytic drips to a full-blown septic shock case on 3-4 vasopressors, sedation, intubated on the oscillator and on nitric. Also sprinkle in there the Level 1 traumas post car wreck, some of which end up being organ donors.  Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose ...

With the holiday season upon us, perhaps you have been wondering what to get for that nursing student or nurse on your list. I reached out to a few of my nursing friends for some ideas and they came through big time! (Thanks, friends!) So without further ado, here are the best gifts for nurses and nursing students. They are organized by category and then loosely organized by price, so you're sure to find something that fits your budget and warms their heart! Food: Chocolate If you stop reading here and buy chocolate for everyone on your list, you are already a winner. Coffee Coffee is always a good option. Arizona Green Tea I love this tea! Cute lunch boxes Water bottle Especially ones that keep drinks cold for hours like  this one . Mug Contigos  are the way to go! They keep hot drinks hot! Tervis A  Tervis  serves double duty: cold drinks stay cold, and hot drinks stay hot. Tools: Retractable Badge Clips You want one that can rotate 360°...

Group projects shouldn't look like this--one person giving orders and everyone else going in different directions!! Do you enjoy group projects? Or do you inwardly groan and hope you don't end up in a group with "that person"? They can be effective and even enjoyable if you follow these guidelines. 1. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Never assume anything about any part of the project. Discuss roles, deadlines, ideas, everything.  2.  At the beginning, look at the project and divide it up evenly. Make sure everyone knows what they are expected to complete.  3.  Set early deadlines for your group. Is the project due Friday? Have everyone in the group finish their part by Wednesday and come together to make sure you didn't forget anything.  4.  Be honest when filling out those group evaluations. If you think you did all the work and your classmates did nothing don't be afraid to speak up, but do so kindly and always assume the best ...

Nursing school includes a lot of tests, and they are different from other tests you have taken. Many nursing test questions are designed to give you practice for NCLEX-style questions, so learning how to be successful with them will help you tremendously when you take the test-of-all-tests to become a Registered Nurse. Here are my top 5 test-taking tips. 1. Read the question carefully.      Understand exactly what it is asking. Does it say "which of the following is NOT a symptom?" Or, "what is the FIRST thing the nurse should do?" Break the question apart and reword it in your mind. Even before looking at the answer choices, get a good grasp on the question. Figure out what material it covers: therapeutic communication, respiratory system, nurse-patient relationship, etc. 2. Look for key words.     These are words like FIRST, MOST IMPORTANT, ASSESS, OUTCOME etc. These words are the key to understanding the question. There may be more than on...

Growing up, I didn't want to be a nurse. Never even considered it. I liked science and math, but I also liked English and history and all my other classes (I was a bit of a nerd). I was going to be an elementary school teacher. And then, 8th grade hit and my life changed forever. First was the tumor, and visits to the surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist. Then my surgery and subsequent recovery. A few months later, I dislocated my knee and was in physical therapy for months. And after that, I got mono and was sick for several months. One health problem after another and hours upon hours in doctor's offices and hospital rooms. These months gave me a greater understanding of and appreciation for the medical community, nurses in particular. The nurses were always there, taking care of me as a person. They were the ones who answered my call light, and most of my questions. They were the ones who took my vital signs, gave me my medications, and brought me an extra blanket. The...