RNinMay

Reyna, I just have to tell you that my daughter's name (she is three) is spelled exactly the same as yours! You are the first Reyna I have seen with that spelling besides my little one. Do you pronounce it ""raina?" People are forever calling her "Reena." Anyway I was also going to suggest the caring4you.net site. You can find great support there. I took the NCLEX in July, it stopped at 75 questions and I absolutely knew I failed. But I passed!!! I bet you will too. My classmates all had different numbers of questions, but we all did fine. Hopefully you can check for your license online in about a week. Hang in there!!

Hi Monica, I am a relatively new grad (May, as my name suggests ), and have been working on my unit since July. My preceptor is WONDERFUL! When I first started working there, I followed her for a day or two. We "bonded" and got to know each other's personalities. We also discussed the areas I felt I was weak in (like IV starts) so she had a clue about my strengths and weaknesses. Now here I am, going on my own in a week (I am in the ICU so I had an extended orientation). I still have so much to learn, but I also have come a long way since drawing up that insulin on my first day, scared to death. The impression I get about your preceptor is that he doesn't really want to be your preceptor! I bet he didn't volunteer for the job, I bet he was "assigned." Still, you deserve a thorough orientation. I want to remind you of something---you have your own license to worry about now. Even if your preceptor is supposed to be "responsible" for your actions, in a legal issue, you BOTH would be held accountable. If you signed it, you did it and you are held accountable too. I am telling you this because you NEVER should have done that first admission by yourself!! You are in a difficult situation, new to the unit so you want to get along with everyone, you don't want to piss off the preceptor or be made to feel incompetent. But at the same time, you want to learn the things you need to know with that "safety net" a preceptor provides. And it sounds like your preceptor doesnt' want to be bothered with a new nurse. I feel so bad for you! The next time he ditches you, tell him you have never done such-and-such, and that you feel uncomfortable doing it by yourself for the first time. If that gets you nowhere, then go to your charge nurse, that's what she is there for. On the flipside, if you have done an accucheck before, go ahead and do it on your own (or a dressing change, piggyback, or whatever). As time goes on, you will find yourself becoming more and more confident. Still, your preceptor should be checking the chart behind you, asking you questions, making sure you are comfortable with what you are doing and asking if YOU have any questions, and keeping a close eye on the patients! Okay I am writing a book here! Good luck with everything. Have a heart to heart with him.

I just graduated this past May. When I was in school, clinicals were one instructior to twelve students. Most of the time the instructors spent all day pulling meds out of the Pyxis system instead of teaching anybody anything. We were told the staff nurses could do procedures with us IF THEY FELT COMFORTABLE DOING SO. If not then we called the instructor and hoped the nurse didn't get tired of waiting for them to show up and do it themselves. These nurses were slammed with too many patients, and I understand that they didn't have the time or the patience to go slow and show a student everything, plus answer all their questions. Let's try to see it from thier point of view. As much as they may love to help a student, the fact is that they are there to do a job, and they barely have time to do it without having to look after a student. I think the best thing a nursing student can do is to work as a PCT, nurse's aide, whatever they call it where you live. I worked every weekend while I was in school, and the nurses showed me all kinds of things. I got much more experience and learned so much more than I did in school. It also helps you with time management and prioritizing because you have to organize your day in order to get everything done. AND------I went right into the ICU. I know some RNs don't think new grads should go straight to a specialty, but I personally think I am getting a BETTER orientation there than I would on the med surg floor. I have a 6 month orientation, complete with critical care class for 10 weeks and my own preceptor. I have been there a month, and am loving every minute! The staff on my unit is WONDERFUL!!! THey are happy that I want to work there, and even though lots of them are veteran RNs (like 20 years), they know that when you graduate from school you don't know jack! They don't expect me to come out knowing everything. I am so lucky. In addition to a shortage of bedside nurses, there appears to be a shortage of nursing instructors as well. Some of my teachers taught 2 classes and had 2 clinical groups. Not to mention part-time jobs to keep up their nursing skills! They were as worn out as we were!!

Hi Wildtime, I am a new RN, graduated in May. I wanted to let you know that in my nursing program, we did discuss such things as MONEY, fighting for it, and also the Codependency that is so prevalent in the nursing community. I don't think there were very many "Mother Teresa's" in my class. Most of us are in Nursing for the "career" more than the "calling." We had many a debate about salaries vs. hourly wages, unions, and all that jazz. Maybe it will make you feel better to know that these things are being discussed in nursing programs. None of my instructors tried to paint a rosy picture. Most of them worked out in the community or hospitals and were very up-front and down to earth. I myself think I am a sort of hybrid in that I do feel "called" to be a nurse, but on the other hand,I am not going to be a doormat. For my first job I did choose a hospital that pays a little less money an hour (like $0.30), but has a much longer orientation program. HOWEVER----that is just to establish my foundation as a nurse. Once I feel confident in my skills and have more experience, I will have no qualms about discussing the M word. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that at least in my program, the issues you mentioned were addressed.

I live in the Tampa area, and I am graduating with my ADN in 2 weeks! The hospitals in this area are starting new grads between $15.30-$16/hr base, plus shift diffs., and one group does have sign-on bonus of $5000. One group of hospitals, BayCare (5 campuses) pays more for BSN. So does the VA hospital. These wages were just raised from around $13.50/hr for new grads. The shortage is a huge problem here, with our large elderly population. Several of the hospitals also have student loan repayment programs. I think the travel idea for those of you who want to move here is GREAT! In fact, after I get my year of hosp. experience, I am going to travel every summer when the kids are out of school, to the beach of course!! I'll work pool at the local hospital the rest of the time (on my hubby's benfits ). PRN and agency work can get you $25-35 an hour. Another thing to think about--no state income tax in FL, and a relatively low cost of living (except in Miami!). Tampa and Orlando are two cities that are growing. I love Tampa, and Tampa Gen Hosp is a big teaching hospital, Trauma I and very hi-tech. Hope that helps! You can email me at [email protected] if I can be of further assistance! ------------------ Luv, Rachel