+

Advice and
Information for
Nursing Students

November
Issue

MaSNA

From the MaSNA Board of Directors

On Saturday, October 25, 2014, the MaSNA Board of Directors came together from Worcester
State University, Boston College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Studies, and
University of Massachusetts at Lowell to defeat ALS. It was a wonderful experience to stand
side by side participants who know people directly affected by ALS by the annual Walk to
Defeat ALS

In This Issue
NEWS AND UPDATES
3

UPCOMING NETWORKING SOCIAL

EVENT

YANKEE CANDLE FUNDRAISING

OCTOBER CONFERENCE

ALS WALK

CHANGES IN THE NCLEX

ADVICE COLUMN

What you should know before

graduating from Nursing school

9-10

Top 10 Things I learned from Work

but not in Nursing School

11

How to Deal with Burn Out

12

What I learned as a Nurse that

Nursing School Never Taught Me

Upcoming MaSNA Events

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Although these social networking sites are a great way to keep
people connected, live interactions are invaluable. The ANA Massachusetts Career
Connections Committee would like to cordially invite you to the first Networking event of the
year, called the Networking Social. It will be held at the Hampshire House in Copley on
Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 6:00pm-8:30pm. Hors doeuvres and beverages are
included in the registration fee. Nursing professionals from across the state will be in
attendance. We promise an exciting and unforgettable evening planned! We look forward to
seeing you! Register online at www.anamass.org
Sincere Regards,
American Nurses Association Massachusetts
Career Connections Program

Upcoming MaSNA Events

GROUP CODE:
990070799

All deliveries will

be made BEFORE
the holidays!

Candles, car
fresheners,
decorations and
more!

YANKEE CANDLE
FUNDRAISER
[MA STUDENT NURSES
ASSOCIATION]

http://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/
GROUP CODE- 990070799
The goal of this fundraiser is to help the Massachusetts Student
Nurses Association board of directors go to Phoenix, AZ for the
annual National Student Nurses Association convention. Also this
organization is hoping to provide scholarships to other student
nurses interested in going as well! Start your holiday shopping early
while benefiting the student nurses of Ma!

Great, easy gifts

for the holidays!

Goes to a great
cause! These are
YOUR future
nurses!
USE THE WEBSITE AND
SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE
UNTIL YOU SEE A YELLOW
SQUARE THAT SAYS START
SHOPPING. IN THE GROUP
CODE SPACE ENTER
990070799 (DONT WORRY
ABOUT THE SELLER ID
UNDER THAT) AND BEGIN
SHOPPING! THANK YOU!

NEWS AND UPDATES

OCTOBER CONFERENCE
At the 2014 Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA)
October Conference at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, over
70 students attended from Regis College, Anna Maria College,
Worcester, Marquette University, Bay Path Practical Nursing
Program, Our Lady of Elms College, UMass Lowell, and
Westfield State University, MCPHS, Simmons College, Southern
Worcestern College, and Boston College. The Massachusetts
Student Nurses' Association (MaSNA) was excited to meet many
nursing students from different regions in Massachusetts. With
the help of HURST Representative Tara Price, MaSNA was able
to host a free NCLEX-Review session early Friday morning on
the topic of shock. After the NCLEX-Review session, the MNA
gave all nursing students scholarships to attend the annual
October Conference. Because of their generosity, many nursing
students were able to listen to situational crisis in Massachusetts
regarding the rise in heron epidemic. The line of speakers included District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr., Captain
Francis D. Leahy, and mother and Founder of Executive Director
of "Learn to Cope" organization Joanne Peterson. These three
individuals provided multifaceted perspectives on heroin
epidemic- one perspective from the law, second perspective
from the law enforcers, and lastly, third perspective from a
member of a suburban community. With the apparent rise in
heroin overdose and sometimes even deaths, nursing students
need to be aware of the current events and work together with
different societal forces to promote health among
vulnerable populations. In a hospital setting, nurses are known
to be the glue that keeps a team of healthcare providers on the
same page. Likewise, nurses need to carry the interdisciplinary
practice to the community setting. It was disheartening to hear
the number of adolescents who struggle with heroin, not out of
choice but due to addiction. Addiction occurs when one person no longer has physical or psychological ability to
overcome the need for the drug. As nursing students, we are called to educate the community and individuals on this
rising epidemic and it starts at our local
schools/universities/colleges. Let us join the professional
world of lawyers, police officers, and mothers and help them
fight this epidemic.
For more information on the Learn to Cope
program: visit http://www.learn2cope.org/index.php
For description on each speaker at the MNA October
Conference: http://www.massnurses.org/news-andevents/events/p/event/9028
For pictures from the MaSNA collaboration event with MNA for the
October Conference: http://www.mastudentnurses.com/mnaconference-2014.html

NEWS AND UPDATES

ALS WALK

MaSNA felt that it was a wonderful experience to stand side by side participants who
know people directly affected by ALS at the annual "Walk to Defeat ALS." We had a
good time enjoying the nice Fall weather at the DCR's Carson Beach. We encourage
nursing students to get involved in their communities through walks and events. As
nursing students, it is important to make an impact in our surrounding communities
and schools. Although #icebucketchallenge brought a lot of awareness to ALS this
summer, the ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter came together to help bring
more awareness to ALS. The goal was to raise $400,000 to support ALS research and
sustain the chapter in Massachusetts for the next year.
For more information about ALS, please visit the ALS Association Massachusetts
Chapter at http://webma.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MA_homepage.

CHANGES IN THE NCLEX

No matter which Nursing school you go to, we can all agree that the
major calls for many hours of studying and sacrifice. In the midst of our
studies or our clinicals, we have probably had, in one way or another,
daydreamed about what our careers would look like after graduation.
Wouldnt it be lovely if we could just jump into practice without taking any
more standardized tests? While we would all gladly take this privilege, we
all have to pass through one more hurdle: the NCLEX.
N-C-L-E-X. This exam is literally the only thing that stands between
our chance to go into the real world and practice what weve been learning
in school. With the changes that have been made recently, there has been
so much hearsay about this exam lately, such as how it got more difficult
throughout the years. Not necessarily; it depends on how youd like to
think of it. Based on the official National Council of State Boards of Nursing
website, heres how we have broken it down for you:
1. For medications, all drug names mentioned on the exam will be given in its Generic
name only.
2. The passing standards have been raised from -0.16 logits to 0.00 logits on April 13, 2013
3. Management of Care, which comprised of 17-23% of the exam questions, has increased
by 1%
4. Safety and Infection Control, which comprised of 9-15% of the exam questions, has
increased by 1%
5. The age categories for Health Promotion and Maintenance have changed
6. Laboratory values have changed
Ex) ABGs, BUN, Cholesterol, Glucose, HCT, HGB, HgbA1C, etc
*Please refer to https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm for more information*

ADVICE COLUMN
What you should know before Graduating from
Nursing School
By: Emily Houle, Nursing Student
1. During your Freshman year try to focus on meeting new friends in classes and
developing strong relationships with faculty and upperclassmen. Although it is very
important to get ahead with grades, making strong relationships and connections is
also important too. These relationships will serve you well in the future, whether it be
for filling in notes, studying, or for moral support during the toughest times.
2. Do your best in trying to attain a good GPA during your first two years in nursing
school. As you accumulate more credits and take more classes throughout the
semester, the numbers average out in in a way that makes it difficult to significantly
change your. I didnt think it was a big deal until I started experiencing it for myself.
Setting up a GPA cushion earlier in your nursing school years when the time comes
for you to take harder science courses trust me on this.
3. Try to get a nursing assistant job as soon as possible. When I did this, it not only made
school easier because I was able to relate to the material that I learned in class, but
also because even working per diem made a huge difference. The experience you get
will teach you so much about patient interaction and hands-on care.
4. Once into junior and senior year, the hardest concept that I dealt with was trying to
keep up with the endless amounts of chapters that the professors told us to read. I
always wanted to read these chapters, but it was absolutely impossible. Now that I am
a senior student, I realize that I must read some of the chapters so that I will know how
to be an actual nurse in real life. The key is only reading the segments and chapters in
the book that are very common or critical illnesses that are necessary for success
5. When it boils down to studying, dont just blindly memorize the material, but learn it
and know it for life. Just remember, in a few short years from now you will not
remember a bad score you got on a test. You will be a knowledgeable, professional
nurse with patients lives in your hands. Dont study for the score, study for the
wisdom.
6.
8

ADVICE COLUMN
Top 10 Things I learned from Work but not
from Nursing School
By: Angelica Recierdo, Nursing Student
No page in a textbook could teach me about resilience. About how daunting life after the
hospital can be for some patients. The loss and the space in your heart will always hold
grief. Nursing school teaches you skills, technique, and medical knowledge from the buffer of a
lab or PowerPoint presentation or mannequin. Work will teach you how to care and infuse
technique with empathy, mastery with kindness, competency with advocacy.

1. Nothing takes the pain away quite like holding your loved ones hand.
When mom is by your side when inserting a peripheral IV into a pediatric infusion
patient things will go a lot smoother. In a scary new environment, having a familiar face to
look up at your bedside will soothe nerves and relieve tension. Right before a procedure or
right before death, if loved ones can surround them it will make the transition all the more
better.

2. Everyones normal or baseline is different.

Your AFib patient wont have a normal heart rate during your whole shift. The hypotensive
old lady is not going to change overnight. Dont swear by parameters because our bodies
are so different and what feels normal may not be clinically normal. Learn whats abnormal
for them.

3. Never turn your back on a patient with severe mental illness.

My eyes left a bipolar patient for less than a minute. She dashed for the exit and before I
knew it, security was restraining her in the elevator. For your own safety, protect your
physical space and dont let a mentally vulnerable patient out of your sight. Develop a
comfort zone and boundaries and maintain them with all patients.

10

+
4.The art of small-talk is the ultimate therapeutic intervention.
Ask them where theyre from. What they do for a living. Who they live with at home. When
youre inserting the Foley catheter or drawing from the central line, find out what gets them
going. Shift their mind to what they love so that any perceived discomfort or pain is relieved
in just for a passing time.

5. Meet them where theyre at.

You will meet a lot of repeat offenders and frequent flyers in your practice. Be patient
and headstrong. They have to ultimately want to take responsibility and want to change. You
just have to be there each time in case its finally the time it will happen.

6. People are a lot more agreeable after some sleep and food.
Its 6 AM. If you were sick and without your usual home routine would you want to get out of
bed? Make negotiations like promising to start the day after 30 more minutes of sleep or
after a bite to eat. Pace yourself with the to-do list for each patient.

7. Death is not just the absence of a pulse.

Life outside hospital walls means purpose and independence. Life can also mean sustaining
machines. You will see that people can be dead for weeks or months. Have dignity and
respect for every phase and transition. When there is nothing more to do medically,
promote peace and comfort especially to grieving family members.

8. Have your co-workers backs.

Check each others work. Cover each other during breaks. Thank them for lending an extra
hand. You will see these people at every hour and they will be the ones you go to with
laughs, questions, sorrows, and praise. Take care of each other.

9. How to wake up thankful.

Everything your body does on its own without you having to think about it is a blessing.
Every day you wake up without pain or ailment is a good day.

10. Take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
A 12 hour shift will not go smoothly without proper rest beforehand and nourishment. Keep
yourself hydrated and bring snacks on the job. Treat your body like a temple so that you
may be a role model and healing figure for others.

10

11

ADVICE COLUMN
What I learned
How to as
Avoid
a Nurse
Burnthat
OutNursing
School
Never
TaughtRNMe
By: Kristina
Wickman,
Burn out is something
every new
nurse will experience
By:that
Kristina
Wickman,
RN at least once as they
transition from nursing student to registered nurse. My first job at Brigham and Womens
was on amy
busy
15-bed
workedof40
hours a school
week, including
IHospital
can compare
first
year medical-surgical
as a nurse to allunit.
fourI years
nursing
on high
days,
nights,
and
evenings.
I
can
remember
one
particular
12
hour
night
shift
when
I wasI
dose steroids. I learned an exuberant amount of information every day that
caring
for aI confused
elderly
lady who
wasa impulsive
wasthat
pulling
at every
worked.
took care
of patients
with
multitudeand
of agitated.
medical She
issues
I had
only
tube
coming
out
of
her
body
and
no
matter
what
I
did,
she
continued
to
put
her
safety
at
risk.
learned about in nursing textbooks. One important thing that I learned as a nurse
I had four other patients that I was caring for that night and I remember feeling so behind on
is
that I have more autonomy than I had ever imagined! I am the eyes and ears of
all of my paperwork and medications. I was inundated with work and was overwhelmed at
the
patientoffor
a whole
can utilize
my own because
nursingit judgment
to
the thought
finishing
it all12
by hours
the endand
of myI shift.
I was exhausted
was my fourth
advocate
fora row,
my patient.
I dont
always
have
to agree
with and
a doctors
orderasking
and I
night shift in
I barely had
anything
to eat
or drink
that night,
I felt insecure
can
voice my opinion
feeling
uncomfortable.
tend to learn
a lot
ofthere
task
my colleagues
for help. without
As I reflect
on that
overwhelming We
experience,
I realize
that
were
signs
of
burn
out
that
I
did
not
recognize
at
the
time.
oriented stuff in nursing school, like how to put in a foley or how to start a

peripheral IV. This is all stuff that we can perfect with practice and experience.
The most important thing you can do to avoid burn out in your first year as a nurse is
Something
I learned
as a nurse
howout.
these
tasks
take
a back
seat mental
to your
to recognize that
and identify
the initial
signs ofisburn
These
signs
include
physical,
ability
to critically
think! IfItpossible,
is essential
to putting
use your
critical
skills,
especially
and emotional
exhaustion.
avoid
yourself
onthinking
3 to 4 shifts
in a row,
when taking
care
of such
patients.
Now
the time to
refine your
nursing
especially
if you
rotate
shiftscomplex
as a new nurse.
This can
beisphysically
exhausting
as your
judgment
and critical
skills,
you
will
beasahead
ofworking
the game
onceshifts
you
body
is adjusting
to thesethinking
long shifts.
Afteras
your
first
year
a nurse,
several
in
a row
be a lotThe
easier
to adjust
to. Also,
to eat with
healthy
drink
a lot
of will
start
as will
a nurse!
nurse
director
thatremember
you interview
forand
your
first
job
water.
water bottle
with experience
you everywhere
go,
and your
make critical
sure youthinking
put your name
want toCarry
hearaabout
a patient
thatyou
you
used
skills
on
it
so
you
dont
lose
it.
Dont
take
baby
sips
throughout
the
day,
chug
the
water
like
you
and not an experience that your performed a task.

have never chugged before. Before your shift starts, eat something with a lot of protein so
you areI not
starving
one hour
passinggood
your medications.
also
learned
that into
despite
or bad outcomes, the nurse-patient

relationship
based
on two
in theclearly
profession
of nursing:
trust
and
Anotherisway
to avoid
burnbasic
out isconcepts
to communicate
with your
colleagues
when
compassion.
is fundamental
inassignment.
the relationship
because
must
have
you are feelingTrust
overwhelmed
with your
Remember
that the
youpatient
will always
have
a
confidence
reliance
that the for
nurse
provide safe and
optimal
care to lead
charge
nurse and
available
as a resource
any will
questions/concerns.
If you
are feeling
especially
overwhelmed
day, take
a minute
the backroom.
Take
to the best
outcome. one
I learned
that
trust and
andexcuse
good yourself
rapporttocan
be established
some
big
deep
breaths
and
realize
that
you
get
to
go
home
at
the
end
of
the
day!
On
your
within the first few minutes of meeting a patient. Compassion is also fundamental
days
off,relationship
sleep in, but not
too late.
You want
to keep
a regular
rhythm for
body. Also
in this
because
every
patient
deserves
empathy
andyour
kindness
when
remember
to
take
good
care
of
yourself
by
exercising
and
spending
time
doing
things
that I
they are in a vulnerable state, being any alteration in their health and wellness.
you love, like spending time with your friends and family. Burn out is all too common
will
leave you with a piece of advice that I implement everyday into my nursing
among new nurses, and I hope that these tips can help you avoid it as much as possible!
practice: Always care for your patients as if you are caring for a member of your
family.

11

MaSNA

Massachusetts Student Nurses Association

Advice/Information for Nursing Students Issue
November 2014