old new grads (May 2009) - check in

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My 1 year anniversary at my hospital is coming up in a couple of weeks. Orientation was rough at first but then seemed to drag (12 weeks can feel so long!). There were some issues with my performance and teamwork, I had some mental health issues going on, but I pushed through. I've gotten a few write ups for missing work (for legit reasons) but my manager has emphasized that I've come a LONG way since when I started. I feel like I really "get" the routine, I know most of my meds, and I know what to expect as far as behavior goes for most of the diagnoses we see on my floor. There's been a few times where I've wanted to quit, but I think I'll stay where I am for now. I'm happy, really.

Other May 2009 grads - where are you now? Did you find a job that you like? Are you starting to feel competent?

Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
graduated may of 09 with a BSN, was looking for a hospital job, super competitive here in houston in the med center, i didnt want to move as i have my family here and little brother i take care of while my mom works the night shift. Luckily enough 6 months later i found a temp job just to make money at a one of the largest health insurance companies in the US (not sure if you can reveal employer here), started out with 13 people and was one of the lucky ones that got offered a permanent position. While some people may find it probably boring, i love it, hours are great, my boss is great, pay is about 65K a year no holidays/weekends, great benefits, and option to work from home if desired. I do utilization review for 13 states mainly medicaid, and i believe we are the only prior auth department in the US that does the medicaid LOB reviews for this company. Each nurse has to do around 100 cases a week and we are audited internally every month with monthly 1:1 with the manager. I am the youngest RN in the company, and im glad i actually got recognition from the vice president by starting to implement a process that has improved the company's productivity by 10%.

Wow - that's interesting! Sounds like you got lucky and it sounds like the job is interesting. Hey, if the hours, management and pay are great, no need to justify yourself. Hoorah for implementing a new process that increased productivity!

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.
Congrats on almost getting that year in. Care to share what just wasn't working out?

To me, it was very stressful. Each nurse carried around a phone, and I would feel a sense of annoyance whenever it rang because it felt like it was ringing all day and interrupting me many times. I felt like I was pulled in so many different directions at times. Sometimes I was so overwhelmed to the point where I could not think straight or talk straight. It's probably like this in most hospital areas, so I don't know what kind of nursing job I can find that isn't like this. Every job has some amount of stress in it, I just have to find one where I can learn how to handle it better. We shall see.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
To me, it was very stressful. Each nurse carried around a phone, and I would feel a sense of annoyance whenever it rang because it felt like it was ringing all day and interrupting me many times. I felt like I was pulled in so many different directions at times. Sometimes I was so overwhelmed to the point where I could not think straight or talk straight. It's probably like this in most hospital areas, so I don't know what kind of nursing job I can find that isn't like this. Every job has some amount of stress in it, I just have to find one where I can learn how to handle it better. We shall see.

Yess, we have those darn phones too!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I graduated May 2009 and was hired in June on a ICU stepdown cardiac/vascular unit. This place is tough, but I've learned so much. I'm feeling way more confident now that I did at even 6 months. Now with my 1 year down, I'm trying to pursue my L&D dreams, very hard to accomplish. I plan on attending an RN-MSN program Spring 2011. My graduating class is so sporadic I have friends still working LTC trying to break into the hospital and then I have other friends who are on their 2nd or 3rd jobs!

Great thread BTW!

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Specializes in Urology, Nephology, Internal Medicine.

I graduated in May 2009 passed boards 10 days later. I am doing well. I have been working in a chronic dialysis unit. It has been a smooth transition. The most important thing is that I believe in my skills and still read up to date articles and seek avenues for improvement. I have recently started my Master's as a FNP and that has been a little tough. I have been an LPN for 9 years before going back in 2007 for the LPN to BSN track. Don't be afraid to ask questions or pull out your medication or procedure book. I do it often just to keep me refreshed. Good luck to all and hope to hear that next year this time you all are still doing well or have improved.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Graduated in '09, landed in psych nursing. I never saw myself going in psych, but I'm certainly not complaining! I am having a blast--I'm lucky to have found my calling. I've learned a lot over this last year...I think that a year later, I'm a much different person as well a different nurse. Though it didn't sink in that I'm not a new grad anymore until I started orienting some 2010 new grads :)

I've already started on the BSN, and this year I'll be working on getting myself ready to test for certification at the end of this second year.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
Graduated in '09, landed in psych nursing. I never saw myself going in psych, but I'm certainly not complaining! I am having a blast--I'm lucky to have found my calling. I've learned a lot over this last year...I think that a year later, I'm a much different person as well a different nurse. Though it didn't sink in that I'm not a new grad anymore until I started orienting some 2010 new grads :)

I've already started on the BSN, and this year I'll be working on getting myself ready to test for certification at the end of this second year.

OMG I was thinking of getting ready to test for certification at the end of this year too! Yay psych nurses! I definitely feel you on the fact that it didn't hit me either until I was seeing externs and new grads on the floor. :)

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