"1 Year" Anniversary in Two Days: My Experiences

[EnigmaticParadigm]

This is pretty much how my first year in nursing went. Hopefully it will help those that are dreading the first 365 day journey:

Graduated on 12/16/06 in California. Was hired to ICU two days later. Took a good week off to basically drink coffee, play World of Warcraft, stare at the wall, and pack all my school stuff away (yay!).

Beginning of January I started studying for the NCLEX with a good friend from my graduating class. We lived and breathed the Saunders NCLEX review book (awesome study CD included). I practiced about 300 - 400 questions per day and wrote down all the questions and answers I got wrong. The hospital that hired me put on a free, week-long NCLEX review course with a MD; was an awesome refresher.

Took the NCLEX down in LA on February 24th. Computer shut off at 75 questions in 35 minutes. Found out I passed by checking online two days later.

Worked in ICU from January to May. I won't lie, the "real world" nursing is soooo much different than school. YOU are now the nurse and have to act accordingly. Took my ACLS, went to multiple codes, had very complex patients, and was loving it. However, I was on night shift (7pm to 7am) and was only making $24.75/ hour. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. I was getting burned out by realizing that the hospital I worked at didn't pay very well at all and was frustrated that I wasn't making enough money (for a house, car, etc). I loved the patho and science of where I worked, but I was monitarily depressed.

I was hired by CDCR in May and have never looked back.

Last year at this time I was working as Loss Prevention in a local Target. For the year of 2006 I made just over $7,000...total. As this year comes to a close, I have made almost $109,000 (go-go overtime). It's crazy to think how much can change in one year.

So, to all of the new grads and those that are trekking through your first year: there is light at the end of the tunnel. You will arise from a timid and insecure new employee to a confident and experienced nurse. I can't count how many times I wanted to quit, find a new job, etc. I was frustrated, wondering "why didn't school teach me this?," and wanted to call in sick numerous times. However, looking back, I can say that I have definately gotten my "land legs."

Don't ever give up. The longer you're in nursing, the more you realize just how many different kinds of jobs are available to a licensed RN. If you truely aren't happy with where you are at: MOVE. I love nursing; more than I ever thought I would. If you were smart enough to get through school and the NCLEX, you're definately smart enough to be a competant RN. Never doubt yourself, use every experience as a learning tool, ask thousands of questions, and do your thing.

All of the best to those of you who have stuck it out and I salute all of you who are getting ready to start your own 365 day journey. You'll all do wonderful.

Oh, and remember to unclamp haning IV bags before you turn the pump on. Not that I have done that or anything...

[baby_gurl0604]

I will be at my one-year mark on Jan 8th. Looking back, I see that I've come a looong way from where I was at this time last year. I work at a very busy, inner city, level-1 trauma center and ER. When I started, I was absolutely terrified, I felt like I knew nothing. I am kind of an insecure person in general, so that made it all the more challenging to become an assertive, competent nurse. I still have a lot to learn. But I am at the point where I am starting to feel comfortable there. I still get nervous when codes and level-1's come in, as you never know what they're going to be like until they get there. I still get frustrated a lot, carrying an average patient load of 4-6 patients most days. And I still feel like a complete moron sometimes, when my mind goes blank and i can't remember the name or dose of a drug, or I do something clumsy .

The biggest thing I can tell any new nurse is that it's ok to ask questions. You have to get used to saying "I've never done this before". Don't be afraid to ask for help. When you try to do everyhing on your own that's when you make mistakes. If you do screw up, think about what you've learned from it and go on, knowing you won't make that same mistake again. Above all, make being a SAFE nurse your #1 priority.

I don't know what the year ahead will bring, but I hope that at this time NEXT year, I will have come as far as I have in the past year.

[NebraskaRN]

I graduated from nursing school May 18, 2006. That was one of the proudest and most bittersweet days of my life.

I started :welcome:my job at the NICU at a regional center teaching hospital that is 1 hour away from my home but I knew was right for me May 25, 2006.

I took my boards:crash_com August 15, 2006. I changed the date three times and nearly hyperventilated when I walked into the building. I was so scared to fail my boards and lose all that I had worked for and let many people down. But I passed :yeah:with 75 questions and 44 minutes.

I have worked :smilecoffeeIlovecof in a very busy (50 beds regional center) and ever growing and changing NICU, for the past 1.6 years, and I am always learning. The learning never stops and you not only are learning the clinical aspects but as a new RN you learn the unit, people, patients, doctors, and normals. Therefore you have to be flexiable and listen always before speaking and dont ever think that you will look stupid for asking for help, maybe you can do it just with the support of others, then later try it by yourself.

I think that there are very hard times where you doubt yourself and your skills you think what is scary is that other people believe that I can do this! But then the things that scared you or that made you work hard become easier and you get the :up:thumbs up :up:from the people that taught you. You have to have people that can back you up and support you.

I think that as I became better:idea: with the basic skills that the other skills and changes were easier to accept still very challenging but easier to accept and you learn that ever medical person from PCA to the Attendings and Nurse Managers are always learning and can make human mistakes just like you. Any mistakes made need to be accepted and learned from and you can always do better.

I also think that everyone is scared that someone will die as their patient on their time, but I found at least in my line of work that is not the worst thing emotionally. The worst thing emotionally is when a patient needs to be able to be let go and is not able and you can not do anything that is the worst. But things will be different for everyone and you need to able to know what you need and when and this is the hardest learning curve that and what is best for you. I try to learn my weakness and learn from them and improve and I think that the best nurses never stop doing that.

I think to myself after my first year and a half that everything got scarier :chair: as I went. Going to nursing school and walking into the classroom for the first time. Then going to clinical and walking into the patients room and the patient expecting me to know what I was doing. Then graduating from nursing school and finding the job that I wanted, the interviews and resume writing. Then starting my first day of work on the unit. Then taking my boards. Then being off orientation and being "on my own". Then being considered not new and taking harder and more challenging assignments.

But then I think wow I got through it all and I am a better nurse:nurse: for everything that I have done and I can do more.

[iwannabeanurse06]

Congrats to all!

Just a note on pay. In Northern California new grads start approximately at $40/hr days, $44 pms, $48 nights. At six months most places bump you to staff nurse II and the pay goes up around $4. So working 12hr nite shifts 3x p/wk without any overtime you could pull in around $86k before taxes. It's a helluvalot!!

[lorabel]

Thanks! I'm one who found out where I dont belong! I had a horrible experience on my first job, yet i loved caring for my patients and I did learn a ton! i'm working on finding where i do belong! thanks for the encouragement...I was a 4 monther and starting to feel like i had a clue...then BAM something new came up and realized i dont havea clue..at least not about everything. My confidence was being drained every minute i was there. I quit before the very life was sucked out of me!