Asked about orientation? Is that mistake?

[tashby40]

I had a interview last Thursday, (today's Wednesday) and did pretty good, I thought. A friend of mine works there and ran into the Head E.R. nurse who interviewed me and she said they loved me. Well, here' my question, as I sit on pins and needles hoping to hear back from HR. After interviewing with the Nursing Director, Head E.R. nurse and 2 medical surgical nurses--I expressed to the Nursing Director that I had understood they had a wonderful orientation program. During the interview, the other nurses voluntarily told me that the Nursing Director had recently revised orientation so that all would feel comfortable. I had not asked them about orientation, but being they shared that with me, I told her they were impressed with her new revised orientation. The Nursing Director looked shocked and said, "I am so surprised, I'm not use to the nurses coming in and wanting to do orientation. They normally say, "Oh, I don't really need an orientation." I told her that I didn't feel that way and feel orientation is important. Now, I'm panicking because I'm afraid she thinks I feel I need an extensive orientation. I was just paying her a complement. Now, I don't know what to do. She said it was nice to hear the complement. I'm frustrated because I was not real concerned about orientation, I just want to be confident of hospital procedures. It is a small, rural hospital. What do you think? Should I have expressed my appreciation for a good orientation program. Does it make me look insecure?

Oh--the wait seems like an eternity!

[tashby40]

Well, I got the word yesterday that I did get the job! Yippee!!!! It has really been stressful waiting because I didn't apply anywhere else. This job is prn which I desparately need for the flexibility. HR explained to me that it was pretty tough getting all my reference checked out because they dated way back. They also had to explain to the administrator of the hospital that I had recently finished the FCCJ refresher course, or otherwise I wouldn't have been hired! I cringe when I think about that and am thankful I wasn't aware that was going on. I thank God that FCCJ provided this course or I wouldn't have gotten my dream job!

[iwanna]

Yay, tashby! I have orientation on this Wed. I am getting nervous the closer it comes. My classes won't start until the 22nd. But, I just wish this school would have given me some more info. i.e. what texts that I will need to buy. I guess that they will wait until orientation. The costs of the text was not included in tuition. I guess that I could pay for it, and ask if my insurance company could re-imburse. If not, then that is fine, too, as the cost of the course was more than enough. They are also going to pay for my room. I am staying in a boarding house that rents out rooms. This is where my husband stays at during the week. I think I mentioned in another post that he works about 81 miles from me, and just comes home on the weekends. I will have the room next to him. The rooms are small and only have single beds. But, I am there to focus on my schooling, so that is okay. What I don't like is that there is a community bathroom. Oh well, you do wha ya gotta do sometimes. I don't have the money to get a regular hotel room, as my insurance was not willing to put up that much money. I can't say that I blame them, as a "cheap" room would cost about $55-60 a night. But, they are willing to pay $75 a week. Also, they are paying an extra 10%, of my disability payment, for help with transportation costs. That will be a big help, as the parking & gas, of course, is expensive. The place that I am staying at is about 1/2 hr. away from the school, which is downtown Pittsburgh. That is another con, the rush hr. traffic is horrendous in Pittsburgh. Also, since I am on the outskirts of town, the bus schedule is limited. It would have been perfect, if I could have found a place right in Pittsburgh, as they have plenty of buses.

I will be looking for a per diem job/PT when I finish with school. I hope to get an agency/HH position. As I can only work PT, due to my health.

I am glad that things are moving for you. HR does take awhile in the hospitals. My sister told me that when she hires soembody that it can take up to a month, sometimes, due to HR.

[tashby40]

Iwanna, thank you for following my progress. I wish you the very best and am excited that your class is coming through for you. Being nervous, is so normal--I keep telling myself that. Your determination to get back into nursing will pay off. I looked at my 10 year old daughter this morning and said, "Can you believe that your mom is a nurse." I stopped my nursing career when I had my oldest son 22 years ago. So, they think it is really cool.

The last I remembered reading was that you were concerned they were going to cancel your class for not having enough interest. How many are in your class, do you know? How neat it is that you are going to be staying with your husband. Having a small room, with no interruptions is perfect!

Please keep us posted on your progress. I go Tuesday morning to fill out paperwork. I've already had the "Welcome to Shands" conversation and it was great!

Good luck,

tashby

[iwanna]

My class is on! I guess people just registered at the last minute. I had orientation on 9/3, and my classes willl start on 9/22. I am excited, but have a few concerns. For one, we are only allowed to miss one clinical,(meaning only one make-up day) and I get that, as it is only for 10 weeks. I am serious about this and have always had good attendance. But, things happen and you never know. The really bad thing is that you cannot go back and jump back into clinicals the following semester. The issue is with the Liability Insurance. So, any prayers for nothing to interfere that would cause me to miss clinical would be greatly appreciated. And, trust me, it would have to be "very serious" for me to miss a clinical. Another thing that I am concerned about is the instructor changed the time of clinical to start at 6:30 instead of 7. I cannot see to drive in the dark, and I am worried about it still being dark that early. Also, the location of the clinical is not in a good section of town. The clinical was not even announced until the orientation. They did not know when we asked about it prior to orientation.(and, every single student asked when they called for info on class) They just told us that it would be somewhere in Pittsburgh. I was hoping that it would have been at the university hospital. I guess they had too many other students doing clinicals. Nobody wanted the refresher students from community college. But, I am thankful that we have a place to do clinicals. Thank God! Another thing is that I checked out the room where I was going to rent, and I thought it was disgusting. It is absolutely filthy. I was in shock to see what a dump that my husband stays in during the week. It reeked of smoke, cigarette butts all over the place, and it was dirty. I was so mad at my husband for even mentioning that as an option. Funny, it was just a week ago when my husband changed his tune about me renting a room there. He told me that it may be below my standards. Anyways, we are now in the process of finding a one BR apt. I am unsure as to what I am doing about moving there. My daughter changed her mind about moving with me. But, we decided that we may be able to work it out where I stay with him several days during the week, and I will stay with my mother the other days. I am not sure as to what area where I will be working at. But, I don't plan on working more than PT anyways.

All in all, I am happy that the class is on. At least I have a chance now, and I am looking forward to it.

[tashby40]

Hi Iwanna,

I so believe in prayer. The Lord has been so good to me and is sooo faithful! I am excited for you as I see the Lord opening doors. It is a total faith walk, but when you feel in your soul that it's your calling--it is so worth walking through those doors. You can do it!

We also could only miss 1 class, but it worked out. The hospital we practiced in also was in the worse section of Jacksonville, Florida, but we learned so much. It was a great hospital and I could actually see myself working there if it didn't work out to get the job I applied for. It is known as a teaching hospital and I had trained there approximately 24 years ago.

Iwanna, the best piece of advise I can give you is to dive in and when you are in clinicals, put yourself out there. Let the nurse that you shadow know that you are willing to give meds and do procedures. Tell her to be with you if you aren't comfortable. By the time you get done with clinicals, you'll feel so encouraged. I believe I will begin my job this next week and I know I'll be nervous and this is normal. It will, however, pass.

Please keep us posted as you begin this exciting journey!

tashby40

[PsychRN98, ASN]

Iwanna, your start sounds similar to mine. I got my RN with AAS in 1998. I worked acute inpt psych right out of school (no med/surg). My first 2 years I worked full time nights. Then I transitioned to prn and per diem due to having my 2 children who are now 6 and 8. I quit my job almost 2 yrs ago and now I really want to get back into nursing. But here's my concern. I have never done an IV, not even in nrsg school. (Apparently at the hospital where we were doing clinicals something went horribly wrong when a student placed an IV that they were no longer allowing students to place them. So, I never got to do one.) I have never done blood draws. I barely used a stethoscope, etc. Those of you in psych probably understand how rare it is that you get to use/perform medical skills. Anyway, I would love to try a different area of nursing but I feel so out of the loop, so lacking in skills. I have perused the jobs in my area and one particular hospital is offering a 14 wk orientation for many different specialty areas. I have so much anxiety though, like heaven forbid they expect much of anything out of me, b/c I will feel like an idiot saying "Nope, never did that, or that, or that." Does anyone have any advice/wisdom to offer? Any similar experience to share? Thanks!