Vegas New Grad

I don't know too much about Desert Springs Hospital and I was hoping that anyone out there can offer some advice. I'm scheduled to take a 'nursing battery test' next week. I've already done an assessment with Spring Valley and I completely bombed it....as usual my overthinking the questions got me again. I'm not sure if the test at Desert Springs is pretty much the same - do any of you know?? Thanks in advance!

i've heard the same thing and you're right, many nurses who also do this type of work have had some kind of experience. they don't generally hire new grads but i got lucky because the company is in the process of transitioning to have rn's do the procedures and so they're willing to pay for training. yes, it was the bon on sahara. i called them and it's actually outlined in the nurse practice act - rn's can perform botox injections, laser treatments, and a few other procedures. the bon explained to me that as long as i follow what's in the nurse practice act i will be within my scope of practice, so i'm really excited to get started!!

let's see when we go out packets we had a lot of information on different policies and procedures I think we also got a handbookfrom UMC. Then of course there are stuff for you to sign. Oh and it should come with your name badge! 'El Guapo' Student Nurse! not sure if you guys meet again...I started the program in the spring (of 2006) and we only met for orientation ideally you'd wanna get it before just in case there are any problems...without health insurance they won't let you start clinicals your best bet with the CPR card - do it with the American Heart Association. I had mine and was trained through the Red Cross but they didn't accept it

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!!!!! Some of you might know already that I just graduated so if y'all have any questions...just ask! And in case anyone might be wondering, yes I passed NCLEX...so I get to sign 'RN' after my name!!! Like ohmeowzer has said, you are now going to be part of the best nursing program in Nevada!! Hang on for the ride of your life!! And for those who didn't get in this time - don't give up! If I gave up when I didn't get in the first time I wouldn't be a Registered Nurse today!

I'm only speaking from experience when I say that it is REALLY hard right now to find a job as a new graduate. I graduated in December and still have not found a job (at a hospital). Lucky for me I found one somewhere else but not at a hospital. I know of a few of my classmates who are also still looking. Of course there are the ones that started working right after graduating BUT a lot of them were nurse apprentices while they were in school which made it 'that much easier' for them to get hired. I've applied to as many hospitals for as many positions I thought I would qualify for but still nothing. I've even applied at a hospital in Reno and they called me for the initial phone interview and I should be getting another call from the recruiter and then after that (assuming everything goes well) they'll schedule a face to face interview. So....sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's really difficult right now...good luck to you!

Thanks for your input. I thought about it all weekend and I think I'm gonna do it and just see how it goes from there. In the meantime I'm making sure that everything that I'm gonna be doing at work checks out with the board of nursing - last thing I need is to put my license in jeopardy...

I've been going around in circles with this for awhile now. Since about the third semester of nursing school I've always been bothered by how emotional I would get after taking care of patients. I know that eventually (hopefully) they get better, become healthier and go home (again hopefully). I broke down to one of my instructors at the end of my peds clinicals....even letting her know that maybe I wasn't meant to be a nurse! Well she, being the awesome instructor she is, reminded me that not all nurses want to work in hospitals...not every nurse dreams of doing bedside nursing....and there are so many other opportunities out there. So here I am. A Registered Nurse and I just got offered a job at a medical spa. They'll pay for my training/certification for different procedures and to make the deal even sweeter their starting wage is comparable to what the big hospitals start their new grads at - I emphasized starting because after the 90 day training period I will get a raise (if they decide to keep me). I've always been interested in dermatology which has some sort of relation to the treatments done at the med spa (not all)...but I guess I always thought that I had to go the 'traditional' route after graduation (working in a hospital). I think it would be a great learning experience....and considering what happenned during third semester....and what my instructor told me...this is maybe an epiphany??? idk.. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

oops. thanks for the reminder...sorry...won't happen again.

you're welcome...hold on for the ride of your life!! you'll do great!! let me know if there's anything else you have questions about...i'll be more than happy to try and answer them for you:)

thank you ohmeowzer!

I graduated in December 2008. Hmmm...good teachers?? IMO all of them were great in their own way! If you take their teaching styles personally then your feelings about them will become way more personal than they should really be. Two in 101 - with these two it's hit and miss. They are tough and some might even say that they can be condescending - I disagree. They just don't mess around. I always though one was a little strange in her ways and the other was in the Army (or comes from an Army background..idk?)...so that explains her style For for clinical - I though one did a lot to help you learn. She was very approachable but she also doesn't let you slide. If you don't know your 'stuff' and are not prepared....just be prepared to hear it from her. I took pharmacology online (something I wish I hadn't done) but I passed. For Mental Health - I loved the instructor!! She is funny as heck. She doesn't like hugs, she loves carrot cake and she really knows her stuff! Very, very approachable and she always goes out of her way to make you feel comfortable....she's great!! For Med/Surg I - One is a charcter himself - he can be sarcastic BUT don't take it personally!! It's not you - it's just his personality! He likes to question you not to make you feel stupid but to get you thinking....like a nurse :) The other - wow! She will give you some of her background info and then you're gonna think wow....now I really have no excuse not to successfully complete this program! She's also notorious for starting off her lectures by asking you questions...a ton of them and she will stress that she wants you to 'THINK LIKE A NURSE' For pediatrics - Instructor was always helpful, approachable and funny. There's never enough time in her class. She makes learning so enjoyable that time just flies and you don't want class to end. I also had her for clinical and she was always available if we needed her but she didn't 'hover'....she let us do our thing...another thing is she's very protective of her students in clinical...she makes sure you're always being treated fairly and with respect by the hospital staff!! One instructor was alright. I didn't care too much for her teaching style because she jumped all over the place. So after realizing that that's just how she teaches I just started jumping all over the place with her. Pretty straightforward though when she feels like you're not paying attention - she will say something... For Med/Surg (4th semester) - She is great - with a sense of humor that I loved (kind of sick....but then again not surprising for people in the medical field) she again will challenge you to think...you can just tell that she only wants you to learn but she can be tough at times...pushing you until you feel like you can't be pushed anymore... Well that's my :wink2:

I think libbyjeanne is talking about the math tests that they give you each semester...you MUST pass these tests to continue on in the program and they consist mostly of calculating medication dosages which in turn consists of a lot of conversion and using ratio proportion to solve the problem BUT... It sounds like you're really just starting out - so personally, I wouldn't worry too much yet about it until you get into the program. That being said, I also graduated from CSN in December and I'll say the same thing she said 'IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN!' okay not ANYONE, but anyone who has the drive and is willing to do the work!! You asked about the bio course you should take my initial answer would be take the one that you feel would most useful in your nursing career. It might seem like neither of them do...but if you had to chose... BUT then again, if you are anything like me and bio scares you...take the one you think you get a better grade on. I say this only for the purpose of getting the highest possible grade that will give you more points :wink2: Okay I'm rambling now...but good luck!

Hi, I don't have any specific names of apartments that are considered 'family friendly' but from my experience (I've lived here for 8 years and rented 3 different apartments before purchasing my condo) all the apartments I rented were family friendly. I would recommend the Henderson/Green Valley area or an area around Summerlin and not just because of what I've heard. I've actually spent 4 years in Green Valley and now live in the Summerlin area and both places are relatively safe. I say 'relatively' because of course crime can happen anywhere. I would say stay away from the central part of LV, west is ok, south is ok, east can be ok (the further east the better), and the same goes for north. Hope that helps a little :)

Thanks so much for the advice....it makes a lot more sense the way you explained it. I think for that question I selected 'somewhat effective'. I guess I was really trying to put myself in that situation and I kept thinking that I wouldn't run directly to the nurse manager for every little problem that comes up. Hence, my thinking that all the answers could be possible.....it just depends on each particular situation. I thought about the chain of command and again, that's why I didn't think I'd go to the nurse manager first....I guess I did what a lot of 'newbies' do - I over thought the question and made up scenarios in my head...arrgghhh!!! I get it now and it makes sense. Although I do still wish that the assessment was done face to face that way they can see that I do have critical thinking skills because I'd be able to explain where my thoughts were coming from. Well, I guess that explains why I didn't get interviewed. I'm a true believer in the saying that 'things happen for a reason' and if I was meant to get the job, I would have. I'm just getting a little worried that I won't find anything here...and of course, like many others out there, I NEED a job! Just trying to stay positive - I know in time I'll find the job that was meant for me :) I really appreciate the input. Thank YOU!!

It's been awhile since I've posted. In the meantime I was consumed with studying for NCLEX and finding a job. The advice I was given by a lot was to 'worry about finding a job when you pass NCLEX'. Well, I passed about a month ago and have been looking for a job since. I've applied for every position (I believed I was qualified for) and out of almost the 20 jobs I got a call back for one. I won't mention the hospital but it's part of the Valley Health System. Anyhow, I was so excited. A phone interview was done and I guess I passed that part because the next thing the recruiter wanted me to do was an online assessment. Once the online assessment is done (assuming they like your answers) they call to schedule an interview. Well it stopped at the online assessment. I didn't get a call for an interview. It just really bugs me that the assesment had questions like....'a patient is complaining of the kind of care he has been receiving'...talking to your nurse manager would be -very ineffective -ineffective -somewhat ineffective -effective -somewhat effective -very effective I had to chose one. There were over 20 questions like this one and really, it could be all of those answers....the recruiter stressed that 'there are no wrong answers'...I just feel the assessment wasn't completely fair. Sorry I'm just rambling....many of my classmates are now employed and I just wonder if anyone on here works for any of the hospitals and can offer some advice. One thing I keep hearing is to go to the hospital and speak with the nurse manager - just go the unit and ask for him/her. I don't want to come off as being pretentious that's why I haven't done that. PLEASE, if anyone out there has some advice I could sure use it right about now because apparently what I'm doing is not working. THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!