New Job! I'm SOOO EXCITED!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I currently work in LTC and while I love my patients, I HATE the hours!! I registered with the unemployment office in my town because I just wasn't getting a job after doing the first interview.

I was angry because my first job was such a failure. The anger carried over into my interviews and I wasn't hired. I wanted to work in ICU or critical care, but just couldn't figure out how to get the position and the hours I wanted.

I was upset because I had to work LTC. I was on my own last night and things went fairly well. I got a total of 2 weeks oreintation on 2 different untis. I worked by myself for the first time on Sunday with 25 patients [My weeknd unit] and last night I had 16, on my weekday unit. Everyone got their meds, I did bed checks and just feel like I am going through the motions of being a nurse.

I work 11-7 during the week and 7p-7a on the weekends. I have 4 children and want to be able to watch their activities, like baseball and band.

The job I have now, I found through the unemplyment office. I make 17.50 base pay but no benefits. Before I applied for this job, I got a letter from the unemployment office telling me about a positon as a Head Start nurse. The pay is 14.61 and the hours are M-Thursday 8-3 and Friday 8-4. I get 8 paid holidays, and 30 PTO days for 9 months work! :biggringi .

Plus I can get health, life, dental and vision insurance.

I found out today that the job is mine. :D :D :D :D :D :balloons:

I am going to give my 2 week notice at the NH on Friday, but I want to leave the door open because I don't work for Head Start during the summer.

Do you think it is possible to keep the door open? If so, how do I do it?

Thanks!!

_______________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

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Congratulations on finding what you like, but before you give your two weeks notice, why don't you try a day or two of shadowing a nurse in the Head Start program and see if that is what you like.

And also, I suggest that you keep the position that you have now and just see if you can cut down to part-time or per diem status. They have given you orientation and you feel comfortable there as well. There will always be time when you need extra money for something. But make sure that you really like the other offer before you just grab it.

And you will be able to work there during the summer when you want, since the Head Start program is not on then.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
Congratulations on finding what you like, but before you give your two weeks notice, why don't you try a day or two of shadowing a nurse in the Head Start program and see if that is what you like.

And also, I suggest that you keep the position that you have now and just see if you can cut down to part-time or per diem status. They have given you orientation and you feel comfortable there as well. There will always be time when you need extra money for something. But make sure that you really like the other offer before you just grab it.

And you will be able to work there during the summer when you want, since the Head Start program is not on then.

Great advice, Suzanne.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Sounds like an awesome job with awesome hours! Congratulations and best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I had a NIGHTMARE experience at work last night in LTC. The pt is in resp failure d/t COPD. Unknown to me, she was satting in the high 80's on day shift.She is a worry wart and calls to have her O2 sats checked at least twice a night. I grabbed the machine and went to her room. Her O2 sats were 85%!! She was sleeping and has obstructive sleep apnea. I woke her up and had her breath deeply through her nose. Her O2's fell to 79%!!

I monitored her all night. she flat REFUSED to go to the ER and the other nurses were of very little help. I'd mention something about how she was acting and they would say "Oh, that's just ________". That's how she is!' Anyone with half a brain should know that Sats in the high 70's is NOT normal!! She is a full code and I was scared to death that I would have to code her. The way we do codes here is: I get on the PA and announce that I need a nurse STAT to her room. Someone else gets the crash cart [which is good because I have no idea where it is]. I am also supposed to call 911 before starting CPR.

This was my second night by myself. The unit she is on requires me to be both RN and CNA. I have 16 pts on this unit and I didn't see any of them all night!! I was so ANGRY that no one told me that she had had problems. I found orders for a CXR, CBC, BMP, BNP and UA with C&S. it is the night shift's job to get all labs done so I ordered them, only to find out they had already been done!! :angryfire I didn't know where the forms were, that needed to be filled out. I had to bundle up med to be returned to the pharmacy so another pt could get credit for them. I didn't get my pertinent charting done, my med pass was late. I am still a new nurse and don't think I did a good job at all last night!!

When my charge nurse came in this morning I let her have it with both barrells!! If the ADON had been in this morning she would have gotten my 2 weeks notice. [she is getting it tomorrow.]

I have never had so little help from anyone as I got last night!! The pt was satting in the low 80's high 70's for crying out loud1!! I honestly think that the other nurses thought I was exagreating. Finally, I had another nurse [passed boards in Dec.] see what I was seeing. She called another nurse after I insisted that the other nurse come down and LOOK at my pt!!:angryfire

Thanks for letting me vent!!

___________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

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Specializes in Gerontology.
I had a NIGHTMARE experience at work last night in LTC. The pt is in resp failure d/t COPD. Unknown to me, she was satting in the high 80's on day shift.She is a worry wart and calls to have her O2 sats checked at least twice a night. I grabbed the machine and went to her room. Her O2 sats were 85%!! She was sleeping and has obstructive sleep apnea. I woke her up and had her breath deeply through her nose. Her O2's fell to 79%!!

I monitored her all night. she flat REFUSED to go to the ER and the other nurses were of very little help. I'd mention something about how she was acting and they would say "Oh, that's just ________". That's how she is!' Anyone with half a brain should know that Sats in the high 70's is NOT normal!! She is a full code and I was scared to death that I would have to code her. The way we do codes here is: I get on the PA and announce that I need a nurse STAT to her room. Someone else gets the crash cart [which is good because I have no idea where it is]. I am also supposed to call 911 before starting CPR.

This was my second night by myself. The unit she is on requires me to be both RN and CNA. I have 16 pts on this unit and I didn't see any of them all night!! I was so ANGRY that no one told me that she had had problems. I found orders for a CXR, CBC, BMP, BNP and UA with C&S. it is the night shift's job to get all labs done so I ordered them, only to find out they had already been done!! :angryfire I didn't know where the forms were, that needed to be filled out. I had to bundle up med to be returned to the pharmacy so another pt could get credit for them. I didn't get my pertinent charting done, my med pass was late. I am still a new nurse and don't think I did a good job at all last night!!

When my charge nurse came in this morning I let her have it with both barrells!! If the ADON had been in this morning she would have gotten my 2 weeks notice. [she is getting it tomorrow.]

I have never had so little help from anyone as I got last night!! The pt was satting in the low 80's high 70's for crying out loud1!! I honestly think that the other nurses thought I was exagreating. Finally, I had another nurse [passed boards in Dec.] see what I was seeing. She called another nurse after I insisted that the other nurse come down and LOOK at my pt!!:angryfire

Thanks for letting me vent!!

___________________________

In His Grace,

Karen

Failure is NOT an option!!

As far as I'm concern you did Great, good job but yeah leave that place, for your license sake and for your sanity .

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! What a nice change for you!

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