May/June 2007 Grads......How are you all doing????

NYRN08 · Jan 16, 2009

After graduation..I took the long week Kaplan review that June...(also used the Kaplan online study) took my boards in Sept (failed)with 265q's. Continued to work as an LPN for a year started to review again on my own with Suzanne's Plan (July) sat for my boards (2nd attempt) in November and passed also with 75q's. I have been looking for work and applying everywhere. It is now January and I still am not working as an RN. Also, I can no longer use my LPN license so I'm out of a job competely.(Where I was working as an LPN it was with an agency and they do not employ RN's.)

I am hoping that things turn around within the next few months.

bubbly · Jan 16, 2009

Hello :) I graduated in May 2007, passed my boards in June, and started my internship for a neonatal icu in July. Its been a long journey and lots of consideration if this was what I wanted to do or if I could handle the stress and workload of my chosen career. I now have 18 months experience and glad i stuck through it because I am really starting to enjoy my job, feel more comfortable and knowledgeable doing it, and feeling like I am making a difference for my patients and their families. :) I do not feel regret because I truly love my nursing specialization and patients. :heartbeat

Galore · Jan 16, 2009

I graduated in June, started orienting at the end of July and have been on my own about 3 months now. I have some good days where things go smoothly and I feel pretty competent, but there are many nights where it's still stressful just because I have to ask so many questions. I just have to remind myself that it's my license and my patients' safety on the line, so it's always better to appear clueless and ask lots of questions to make sure I'm doing things right. I just worry that I don't look very confident or assertive to my coworkers.

It's amazing when I look back at where I started, having never even set foot in an ICU environment during clinicals, and now I am trusted with handling fresh post-op patients, new deliveries, lots of intubated babies, etc.

I would definitely advise new grads to hang in there as it really does get better, assuming that your stress is mainly from just being new (if it's a toxic work environment, that's a different thing!). I have learned to grow a thicker skin and ignore the few nurses who are unhappy and find something to complain about no matter what (I have realized to not take it personally and just do my best to steer clear of them), and appreciate the staff who are helpful.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 19, 2009

I got married right after I graduated in June 2007 and moved out of state for a while and did volunteer work. Took boards in Aug 2007 (board of nursing lost my paperwork...NICE!) and moved back to my homestate in Jan 08 where I took my first NICU job. Stayed there till Nov 08..it was 4-5 baby assignments in a small combo level II/III..but mostly what I'd call level 2.5. I was bored with all feeder/growers and irritated with poor staffing so I went to a level III only in a WAY larger hospital. Staffing is still bad, but at least I get really interesting kids (cooling blankets!) and I'm never bored anymore!

NeosynephRN · Jan 20, 2009

Well I graduated May 2007, passed boards on June 1st! Started right away in the ICU...stayed on that unit for 1 year and then we moved cross country. Got a job in another ICU right away and it has been great...allready got a promotion and I really am glad I am past that first year and all is going well!!

Nurseismade RN · Jan 20, 2009

come on guys....let's hear how your FIRST plus year has been......remember this board is titled FIRST year in nursing!!!!

Interestingly.....i see that like me some changed jobs within the first year.....

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 20, 2009

come on guys....let's hear how your FIRST plus year has been......remember this board is titled FIRST year in nursing!!!!
Interestingly.....i see that like me some changed jobs within the first year.....

I did change, but I made it alllllmost a year at my first job! The first year has been up and down but I feel pretty confident I can handle whatever is thrown at me.

texas2007, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2009

but at least I get really interesting kids (cooling blankets!) and I'm never bored anymore!

Wait till you get off orientation :) You'll be stuck with 3 screaming, fussy children for days, until you request a new assignment.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 22, 2009

Wait till you get off orientation :) You'll be stuck with 3 screaming, fussy children for days, until you request a new assignment.

Sounds like heaven! I am used to 4-5 fussy screaming kids with no bedscales, no line team, lots of missing and malfunctioning equipment and 90% of them with Spanish only parents (nothing against them, but I don't speak a lick of Spanish and it takes a lot more time getting someone to interpret). I feel very spoiled now! If it turns into heck, oh well, at least I have latex free gloves that will fit me! A lot of people complain at our hospital, but I think it's because they don't know what other NICUs can be like.

Nurseismade RN · Jan 26, 2009

come on guys....let's hear how your FIRST plus year has been......remember this board is titled FIRST year in nursing!!!!
Interestingly.....i see that like me some changed jobs within the first year.....

Thanks for the responses thus far guys!!! sure it will be helpful to newbies. I am seeing on this board that some are not happy with their present job and feel because its less than a year should they stick it out.....

let's hear your experience with this during your first year. As I mentioned I did change jobs after 5 months to one that I love. I just let my interviewer know I was looking for a better fit.:)

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2009

I graduated August '07, can I play?

Graduated August, immediately had my gallbladder removed (I had been fighting with it all through NS!) Took and passed NCLEX-RN in September. Started work in October on the Cardiac Step-down unit where I had done my preceptorship in the last semester of NS. HUGE wake up call - my orientation was shoddy at best. I guess they assumed since I had been there in a student role, I did not need mentoring to get used to an RN role!!!

At the strong urging of my husband and friends who could see how miserable I was, I applied for a job as a school nurse, even though I wanted more experience before I went that route. I was hired, but I agreed to stay on PRN at the hospital Step-down unit. Started as a school nurse in Feb '08, delierously happy, quit the PRN job and now I am almost at the 1 year mark as a school nurse! I feel like a nurse (not just doing tasks) in that I am actually helping the kids.

I cannot imagine ever doing any other kind of nursing, at least not FT. I have considered trying to get back into the hospital on a PRN basis, maybe in Peds or Psych, since that is what I see the most of. Or maybe even an urgent care clinic or Peds clinic. Just to keep my foot in the door or bedside nursing, but I am head over heels for "desk-side" nursing!