1.  A nursing student was instructed to give her patient a tylenol suppository.  Imagine our surprise when she came out of the med room with a tylenol caplet and some lubricant!!!

2. Another student and I were in the same room beginning our assessment of our individual patients.  I was busy getting my vital signs when I hear the other patient say "OW! That hurt." I hear my cohort apologize and less than a minute later the elderly patient again says "OW!!! What are you doing????"  After a quick nursing student huddle in the corner of the room, and when I finally stopped laughing I showed her the proper way to use the thermoscan (a digital thermometer used in the ear.)  The button that she thought started the temperature scan was actually the "eject button" for the thermometer cover.

3. When it was time to start IV's a fellow student offered to go gather supplies that we had on our list: Tourniquet, alcohol swabs, 16 or 18 gauge catheter, tape, clear dressing and a heplock or injection port.  There are no words to explain the look on the nursing instructor's face when the student walks in with an arm full of supplies including a foley catheter stating "I could only find a 12 french."

I could go on and on and on, but I will save more for later.  For my wonderful nursing students who read my blog, here is some advice that will be priceless in your career:

Don't beat yourself up. You are going to make mistakes, you're new at this and nursing school only gives you a small perspective on what to expect. I can't tell you how many times I went home crying because I felt like a failure. You will feel this way too, prepare yourself. And if there ever comes a time when you feel like you know everything...stay away from me and my family. No one knows everything and it's scary if you think you do.

Always work as a team. Nursing is about teamwork, not about who got the highest grades, who can run the quickest code, who can chart the fastest or who has the most knowledge aka: SuperNurse.

Be a Mentor. When you are a seasoned nurse, be kind to those nursing students who show up with bright eyes and an eagerness that reminds you of your own.  I do and there's nothing better than helping a new nurse become an awesome nurse.

"Every time you help someone it comes back twofold."

In India,in Community Health Nursing, when I studied, i.e in 1988, we should conduct 3 home deleveries along with 30 Hospital deliveries, on our own under strict clinical supervision, after that we have to stich and give 6 pairs of dresses for the newborn, do postnatal visits, it was a lovely experience. we had ruarl & Urban field experience.,

Really those are very sweet memories, still live in memories. we had good experiences in hospital & in Public Health too. When I am reading Sister Teresa's posting student days, it took me my school days.

Tnq Sis., U R always special