Life as an Undergraduate Nursing Employee

Getting to work as a nurse even before finishing my degree is such a wonderful opportunity and experience. I was blessed to land three nursing jobs in the following fields: Geriatric psychiatry, adult stroke program, and long-term care (which I don't currently pick shifts for). I get to work as part of the interdisciplinary team and is able to participate fully in my patients' care. Although my scope of practice is limited, but it definitely exceeds the scope of practice I had as a nursing student (NS). Working as an Undergraduate Nursing Employee (UNE) has its pros and cons, but the pros exceeds the cons definitely.

PROS: I have gained a lot of experience with patient care in terms of medications, assessments, psychomotor skills, and most especially patient interaction. I am now comfortable in the clinical setting and am able to interact with colleagues more freely. I am able to offer suggestions and I am now not reluctant to ask help or delegate tasks to co-workers. Getting a big jump in my income is definitely a huge pro to me.

CONS: As I have said, having a limited scope of practice as compared to a full pledged Registered Nurse (RN) does have it's shortcomings. I always have to bother another nurse to finish some of my work as I do not have access to certain functions on the computer. But again, these cons are not a big deal breaker. Working as a nurse without a professional license could be discouraging at times especially when you're introducing yourself to a patient. I have always introduced myself as a nurse, but haven't identified that I am a UNE. In my defence, there are different kinds of nurses: an RN, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). I guess the difference was that they had a license and I don't. I didn't want to make the patient worry and I didn't want them to think that I'm only a student, experimenting on them. I wanted them to know that I am a nurse hired by the hospital to give them safe, competent, and compassionate care. I never hid my ID badge from patients and if they asked if I was an RN, I always said that I am an undergraduate nurse.

This summer has been extremely busy for me. On top of working several hours, I have found my self dealing with an online course (Philosophy). I wanted to cut my load for the next school semester, but I kind of regret it now, as I don't have much time for myself to enjoy the summer.

I love being a nurse. I can definitely see myself in this profession until I retire, especially now that I get to work as a nurse.

How to Prepare for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)

When it comes to licensure examinations, sometimes enrolling for the test can be just as stressful as taking the test. There are a few steps you must take to correctly register and prepare for the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE), the official nursing licensure exam in Canada, and one of the best ways to ensure you take all those steps is to gather all the information you can about the test before you enrol.

Listed below are a few important bits of information you need to know before you schedule your exam date.

• As stated on the Canadian Nurses Association’s official website, “the CRNE tests 148 competencies that fall into four broad categories.” Those four categories are; Professional Practice, Nurse-Client Partnership, Health and Wellness and Changes in Health. 
• There are two ways in which questions may be presented; independent questions and case-based questions. Independent questions give you all the information you will need to answer the question, and case-based questions give you a set of three to five questions associated with a short health care scenario. - There are approximately 200 multiple-choice questions on the test.
• There are three times throughout the year that you may take the CRNE. Those times usually fall in the months of February, June and October. For this year (2012), the only remaining date to take the exam is October 3. 
• If you will be graduating from a nursing program in Canada, your program will provide you with the specific directions you will need to register for the CRNE. Follow these directions and make sure that you meet all deadlines. 
• If you will be graduating from a nursing program outside of Canada, visit the Canadian Nurses Association’s official website to learn more about what you need to do to enrol. 
• There are several tools you can use to prepare for the exam. One such tool that many nursing students find useful is the official CNA prep guide and practice test. The prep guide is titled The Canadian Nurse Examination Prep Guide, 5th Edition. Available in both English and French, this prep guide features a section with 200 practice questions, and in the back of the guide is an interactive CD-ROM with 50 additional test questions. This particular test prep guide (and other test prep guides and tools) can be found at your school’s bookstore or on any online book retailer that sells college education materials. 
• Another helpful study tool is the CRNE Readiness Test available online.
• If you live in Quebec, you will be required to take a different nursing licensure examination. For information on that particular test, ask your nursing program’s administrator. 

To make sure you do your best on the exam, decide on the best environment for your particular study preferences. Some students prefer to study independently in a quiet spot like the library or at home, and some students prefer studying in groups. Lastly, when it gets closer to test time, try to limit the amount of practice tests you take to avoid test fatigue. For example, if your test is scheduled on a Saturday, take your last practice test the Thursday before that day.

Best of luck! Lauren Bailey is a freelance blogger who loves writing about education, new technology, lifestyle and health. As an education writer, she works to provide helpful information, pointers, and the most recent online college news for students looking into online degrees. Lauren welcomes comments and questions via email at blauren99@gmail.com.

Buy A Quality Used Car From Riverside Used Cars

The fact that you are buying a used car is not permission to compromise on quality. The first thing that you need to realize is that you will be the one who will use that car and so buying an old, rugged car is not advisable. Many people misinterpret used cars. They assume that if you are to buy a used car then you should buy it really cheap. This is actually a lie. If you opt to buy a really cheap used car then chances are that it will break down very fast. There is no point in buying a cheap car and feeling proud of the bargain, then having to part with a lot of money so that you can get the same car repaired and fixed. It does not make any sense at all! You need to check on a few things as you look to buy your used car. First of all, check the under parts of the vehicle to see if there is any rusting or a replacement of new parts. If the same car has a beautiful exterior but a rusty under side, then chances are that the same car has a rusty pane or a terrible dent which is covered up by a fresh coat of paint. Steer clear of such a car. Riverside used cars are reputable and will sell you a car that will last you a long period of time. They have no under handed deals aimed at duping you. They value their customers. Used cars san bernardino is the same and is sure to provide you with the best services. One thing that will help you to get the best deals when it comes to buying a used car is creating a rapport with the sales person. Maximise on the opportunity and ask as many questions as you need answers for before you make such an important decision.

How to Shop Organic on a Budget

There have been news stories, articles and research done and it seems that the only way to eat these days is organically. The problem is that most young people are on a budget (thanks student loans) and shopping organic is not within our means. Eating organic is a healthy lifestyle, free of harmful chemicals, better tastes and bettering your local economy. So before you give up, try a few of these techniques out:

Try Local: Hit your local farmer markets on the weekends. It’s not just fun for music and fun crafts. These farmers are local and you can guarantee they take care of their crops. Or check your area for local farms that sell throughout the week. By helping yourself eat better you are helping their business and your local economy. Also a possible great date idea?

Extreme couponing: Ok so you don’t have to be that crazy person with 189 coupons in hand but use coupons and watch for sales! As much as it doesn’t seem like it, organic food does go on sale. Toward the end of the food’s shelf life, stores will sell it for less. It’s great for that last minute dinner idea. Also check your local paper for produce coupons and online deals. You will be shocked about how much you can save this way.

Grow it yourself: Have a small space in your backyard? Start researching and start growing your own food. Check out Pinterest, there are at least a thousand helpful pictures. It’s fun and easy and an amazing learning experience for yourself and of course your child. Even if you don’t have your space in your yard, try building an indoor growing garden, think potted plants.

Doesn’t have to be all organic: There are some fruits and vegetables that you would be fine not to buy organic. Most people go organic to save themselves from pesticides and other chemicals companies use. A good rule of thumb, if the veggie or fruit has a hard outer shell like asparagus, avocado, mangos, pineapples then they are least affected by these harsh chemicals. Softer shells on fruits and veggies like celery, bell peppers, spinach grapes and strawberries, then buy organic.
These tricks will help you purchase better foods for a better you. Another helpful hint is to always plan ahead before preparing a meal. So start eating organically and start saving!

Author Bio

This Guest post is by Christine Kane, a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about a wide-variety of subjects including internet provider for different blogs. She can be reached via email at: Christi.Kane00 @ gmail.com.

My Dream Car: A Nissan 370Z

I can’t help but imagine about getting my dream car once I finish my nursing program. I have always wanted something that is fast, sporty, and eye catching; All that I wanted in a car is in the Nissan 370Z.

I had always loved Nissans ever since my family bought our first Nissan, a 2009 Pathfinder. Our Pathfinder is very dependable and has helped us forge through the worst of weathers, especially in winter. I loved how we never had a problem making it start even in -40 degrees Celsius. Plus our Nissan may look bulky and huge, but it can accelerate pretty fast. Don’t even get me started in its towing capabilities.

In terms of style, the Nissan 370Z is a sexy beast. It will perfectly match the urban scene and it's sleek aerodynamic design would definitely make heads turn. The 370Z is a perfect mixture of technology, luxury, and power as it boasts a 3.7-liter V-6 engine rated at 332 horsepower running up to a 7,500-rpm redline.

Just thinking about being behind the wheels of this car gives me an adrenaline rush.