My First Post and Questions

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

Leelee...I think it totally depends on what hours you want to work, if holidays and weekends are important to you, if you want to take call, what kind of money you want to make, and what types of positions are available in your area. As far as I know, there are many places that will hire new grads in OB or peds, especially now with the shortage, it seems that everyone is wiling to train you. By the way, I PM's you.

SHandy

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

LeeLee,

Welcome, welcome. I've been at it for 28 years plus the time spent in school (3 different ones) and babies etc.

Your hospital must either have a tiny well satisfied staff, no desire to have to precept new nurses or.....heck I don't understand the whole thing. You'd think they would need more than 1 nurse a year. Your enthusiasm shines through and don't let anyone tell you that enthusiasm is pointless.

I haven't been able to work for 3 years now.....and how do I spend my time? Trying to keep up in part by coming to this forum. It gets in your blood and you can't shake it out. Keep on keepin' on......and let's hear from you as you travel.

Yes you see yukkies. When I worked headstart I had to have a bath tub put in because some of the children came in covered in feces, scabs, food, bugs, dirty clothes.....and I saw a few worms too..leeches, and maggots don't bother me, roaches and eyeballs do.....found a roach in an ear.....know how to get him out? If he's alive shine a flashlight in and he will come toward the light......but *I* really DON'T want to touch him......

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

oh man! Roaches!! can't stand em! EWWW!!!! I think I woulda had the heebie-jeebies for DAYS after that!

c.wicks · Jan 7, 2003

Keep an open mind and a sence of humor and never forget the impressionable experience you went through as a child.

The human body is a true work of art when viewed at its' peak of health. As a nurse, you can expect to become intimately involved with the internal reactions that it undergoes when it is adversly affected by injury, disease and time.

Our ongoing jokes and colorful remarks, reguarding body fluids, provide us with an endless supply of comedy and laughs, and dealing with these unpleasantries is a very small and insignificant part of the nursing process.

___________________

"...and never forget that beauty is only skin deep."

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 7, 2003

Welcome to nursing and the boards! Glad you found us. I don't have anything brilliant to add (it's just after 8 Seattle time) ---the above folks took care of it. Just wanted to say hi and welcome you.

leelee33 · Jan 7, 2003

I thank everyone for their warm welcome and for answering my questions. I'm really getting excited about starting nursing school in August. You all have really put my mind at ease, I'll try not to read anymore of the horror stories. LOL

Thanks again, LeeLee:roll

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jan 7, 2003

I work at a small hospital and training an OB nurse takes us about 6 months because we don't get the same volume or variety of deliveries a larger unit does. Then after the training we still have someone on call during the new nurse's shifts in case she gets something especially difficult or just needs to bounce something off someone else. So it is a big committment, and maybe they find one a year is all they can handle.

Nursula · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by P_RN
..leeches, and maggots don't bother me, roaches and eyeballs do......

Umm...I don't mean to get off topic....but... eyeballs??? Huh? :eek:

Dr. Kate, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2003

OB is an area that traditionally has very low turnover, so in a small unit there just may not be the demand even in times of shortage. Also, small units just cannot absorb too many new grads all at once, no matter how much they may need nurses. You have to have a mix of experienced and inexperienced nurses for the new ones to learn and the experienced ones not to end up frustrated and burnt out. And for the patients to be safe.

The best way to get into one of those units that hires only one new grad a year is to be working at the facility as an aid, preferably to be working in the unit you want to be in as an RN. When people know you and your work they tend to be more open to hiring you before some unknown person.

If there is one immutable thing about nursing it is that as long as you are doing patient care, you never have to question whether or not the work you do is significant, important, meaningful, or worthwhile.

Welcome.

ayemmeff · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by leelee33
I'll try not to read anymore of the horror stories. LOL

You'll be posting your own stories before you know it!!!!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 8, 2003

I'll take your post-op with epidural, bilateral total hip, diabetic, hypotensive patient if you will take my corneal surgery or the scleral buckling. Eewwwww.I can't STAND the thought of eyeball stuff.