New Nurses! Post here, Lets get to know one another!

msvegaslpn · Jan 24, 2011

my names michelle.....35 y/o new lpn here in las vegas....graduated may 2010 cant remember the date i passed my nclex.....i work IMC at a local hospital here in the vegas valley....love my city....plenty of hospitals, work, and night life.

DenaLPN2010 · Jan 24, 2011

My name is Dena, I graduated in June of 2010, I work at a LTC facility and love my job, I have a wonderful husband and three children ages 1, 3, and 6...I hope to go back to school and get my RN one day but am very happy with what I am doing right now. I live in Tulsa OK and never saw myself working in LTC I always wanted to do peds, but as it turns out I truely love LTC and find that I am really good at it. I get to know my residents on a personal level and that is very important to me..Don't be nervous about starting work, You will do great..remember you know this..

GEM27 · Jan 24, 2011

Hi My name Is Gina. I graduated nursing school in May 2010. And passed my RN boards in Oct. 2010. And just got my dream job. So I am nervous and excited. I am glad that I am not the only one going through this. Its great meeting you all and I hope we can also compare what we are going through. God Bless:)

nursingcares, RN · Jan 24, 2011

Hi I'm Jessica and I just passed boards this past friday the 21st. I have a job lined up at the VA so hopefully this week will be getting the paperwork started. SOOOO nervous about actually starting! During my preceptorship I felt much more like a nurse and I was able to take care of a full patient load on my own but I have a feeling this first year is going to be really tough! It's nice to see others on here who are brand new as well.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 24, 2011

Moved to the First Year After Nursing Licensure forum

avidhunter3 · Jan 25, 2011

nice to meet you all!

dukesgal · Jan 25, 2011

Hi there! My name is Tessa, I graduated from RN school in June 2010, passed my NCLEX in July and am currently working at an LTC/Rehab facility. I have been working there for the past 6 months so I am not really a "new grad" anymore, but still in my first year. I will admit it was really tough at first but I have gotten the hang of it and can finish my med pass and tx with time to spare. It required a lot of accomodation to the time management I had developed in nursing school, but I really do enjoy my job and the residents I care for. I don't plan to be in LTC forever, but I am getting experience all the way from acute care to hospice patients. I know God gave me this opportunity for a reason, and I feel like I have made a difference, no matter how small, in some of the clients and families I have cared for. All the hell I went through in nursing school is finally feeling like it was worth it! :yeah:

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Jan 25, 2011

It looks like this is an LPN party, but I'll chime in anyway.

I graduated from my masters-entry RN program the weekend before Thanksgiving, sat and passed the NCLEX-RN the second week of December, had a job interview a few days before New Years, and started working in the ED as a new grad last week. It's challenging, but I'm learning a lot, and I look forward to continually expanding my knowledge base with every new patient that walks through the door.

mRpeNa · Jan 31, 2011

lol...I'm chiming in as well... I graduated from the RN program in May 2010. I recently started working in LTC, which i love. I enjoy getting to know the residence on a more deeper level than I would if I worked in a hospital. So milford232323 if you can give me any tips on how to be more organized and how to finish on time, i would appreciate it! :)

pjp2u2 · Feb 1, 2011

Hi yall! My name is Juls, just graduated last month Dec. 2010, passed boards Jan. 14th, and started orientation Jan. 24th! I am super excited to start working in my dream job at the PICU and can't wait to grow and learn as a nurse :)

NurseVN · Feb 1, 2011

I'll chime in too! I graduated in July with my BSN, worked at a Rehab Hospital for 6 months. Just turned in my resignation letter :-) I will start at my dream hospital next week so I'm kind of nervous. The experience that I gained in the past 6 months will be valuable!

Tips to those who work LTC:

- Make sure you get a very good report from the previous shift.

- Stay calm.

- A good report will tell you this about each patient: Is patient alert or confused, fall risk, take pills whole or crush or G tube (always flush G tube before and after med), any tx required, when pt admitted and why, anything new or abnormal, any labs (i.e. PT/INR) u have to follow up on, who is the MD).

- You can't please everyone. Care for your patient and listen to them but also know your time management and limitations.

- Keep notes in your pocket so you don't forget when you need to give report or chart on patients.

- When you call MD, mention: patient's full name, background info, what happened to patients, what have you done, then what you suggest, or ask if MD needs to add new orders (ex: Hi Dr. XYZ, this is ABC. I'm calling regarding patient DEF. She was admitted last night after a TKR (total knee replacement). Her orders include Tylenol 650 mg and Norco 5/325 mg but pt still in pain, 10/10. Is there something we can add for pain meds? Btw, per patient, at the hospital, patient had 2 vicodin 5/500 mg q 4 h prn). Talk slowly and you will be in controlled. Some doctors can be mean when a nurse calls and does not have any info to provide.

- Help out your staff (CNA) when possible and they will help you. They can save you by reporting in a timely manner if anything different about your patients occurs.

- Take your break, eat, drink. It's a hard job and you'll get exhausted soon if you don't!

- If you have to stay OT, make sure your supervisor know. Ask about OT protocol and policy. Otherwise you will be disciplined and not paid.

That's it for now.

Best Wishes :-)