[akrn70]

Hi, My name is Kim. I attended nursing school in Las Vegas Nevada, and moved the day after our pinning ceremony to Pennsylavina where I took my state baords. I passed my NCLEX on 3 October 06 and went to work at a local hospital on a med/surge floor. That lasted about a month...not for me. I felt the ratio was to high (11-14 patients) I knew I didn't want med/surge but felt like I should do a year of it since it was crammed down our throats in school. I really wanted to go into mental health or surgery. Instead I moved to a LTC facility and took a position as a RN Night Supervisor and am loving it. I enjoy the old people very much. I recently applied for my Alaska license because now we are moving to Alaska! In case your wondering I am married to an active duty soldier which explains all the moving! Anyway I'm glad to find the site!

[kimmymom]

My name is Kim and I graduated from nursing school in December. I took and passed the NCLEX in mid-January and am working at a local hospital on the medical/surgical and pediatrics unit. I was a nurse "tech" there on the same floor since June. I love my floor and I love what I do. My biggest frustration are the days when I feel like I know nothing! I hear it's common as a new nurse, but man, it can wear on one's confidence! I have one more week left of orientation and hopefully I will survive. Wish me luck!

[krisjazzer13]

Hi! I'm Kristin and I graduated w/a bachelors degree in Food Science Human Nutrition- Dietetics option in 2005...decided that instead of being a Dietitian, I wanted to be a nurse! So, I immediately went on to an accelerated BSN program, graduated in Dec 2006, took the NCLEX and passed in Feb 2007, and have been orienting in the ICU since the end of Jan 2007! I love the challenge, but it's very difficult to cram everything I need to know about the ICU into a short orientation period...some days I feel like I didn't learn much in nursing school!

[kimmymom]

I agree with you about feeling like some days you didn't learn much in nursing school. I, too, graduated in December and took boards in January. I am just finishing up my 6th week of orientation and it has been crazy! I can't imagine ICU, I just work on a medical surgical floor and that in itself is nuts. I don't know if this makes you feel any better or not, but you are not alone. Keep me posted on how you are doing!

[Anjann]

Hello fellow newbies!

My name is Angela. I'm 35, and I have had every kind of job and earned multiple less useful degrees until finally coming to the realization that nursing was what I was supposed to be doing with my life. So, after a particulary frustrating day sitting in my cube staring at TPS reports, I decided to quit my job, cash in my savings, sign up for A&P and apply to NS. After 2 years of hard work, I took my boards on Jan. 11th and passed! *whew*

I just started my first job a week ago on a Surgical/Ortho floor and I LOVE it! I work at a very nice hospital newly renovated with state of the art equipment and nursing stations designed to make the nurses run less and have easy access to everything we need. It's very nurse-friendly.

I just got married for the first time back in May, and am very excited about finally getting out from underneath the thumb of nursing school and on with my life as a wife and nurse and earning a salary! Then maybe moving on to a puppy and some babies!

My goal for nursing right now is simply to get very comfortable with the foundation skills and basics and find a routine that works for me. I'm not thinking so much about specialties right now as I am building confidence and general skills and critical thinking and organization/prioritizing. I'm pretty happy with the unit I'm on, though. I like having new kinds of cases every day.

And that is my introduction!

[parko]

hello hello, my name is Amy, im 21 and I finished my nursing degree in December last year. Im now in a New-Grad program at a large hospital about an hour's drive North of Sydney. My current rotation is in the division of Surgery, my ward is Orthopaedics. I have about 4 weeks left there (have been there 6) and move on to my next rotation (which i haven't been told yet!)

I did my nursing degree straight out of high school (like alot of kids do here in Australia). This is my first full time job (worked part time thru high school and uni), and my first shift-work job too!! Im a little overwhelmed (to say the least!) but the staff on my ward are so wonderful, they are very understanding and VERY patient when it comes to me asking a thousand questions.

During uni i had a few placement's that I really enjoyed- palliative care (i went there for 2 weeks at the start of last year, loved it so much that i requested to go back for my 7 week block), community health and operating theatres in particular. However, I'm hoping to just gain as much experience from this new-grad program as I can, so that I can hopefully find my niche and some day take my career further in a particular area.

For the time being though, Im content to act as a sponge and just soak up the real world of nursing

[thrboymom]

Hi everyone! I took my boards last Monday and passed at 75 questions. What a relief that is. I have been working for the last month at a hospital in New York with a permit. I took a position as a float nurse-nights, and love it.

Sharon

[gerry79]

Hello all! Gerry is the name graduated in December passed the boards in February and am now working on a cardiac stepdown telemetry unit at a hospital in Boston. I must say that being a nurse is harder than I ever imagined but thus far I like it.

[jejch1214]

Hi everyone. My name is Jeff and I am down to the last rotation in my final semester. Our white honors ceremony is on May 10th. I don't have a job yet, but plan to apply this week at a local hospital, on their med-surg floor. I have a question. How many nurses out there encountered nurses who refuse to give pain meds based on a patients appearance, h&p or other criteria, instead of whether that person said they were in pain? If so, how do you get around it to help the patient? Thanks!

[MelitaRN]

Hello to my fellow new nurses,

My name is Melody and I recently graduated from nursing school with my ADN. I took my NCLEX in February and passed with 75 questions. wooooot!!!

I am a second career nurse currently awaiting my start date for my first job as a labor and delivery nurse. I am thrilled beyond belief at getting a position in my specialty of choice. It's the reason I went to nursing school.

I am nervous, excited, anxious, thrilled, well, you get it. I'm happy and cannot wait to get started.

Best of luck to all my fellow new nurses out there. Congrats on your accomplishments; YOU CAN DO IT!