Krither

Hi everyone! I currently am transitioning back to working in my resident state. I had been travel nursing this past year, but decided to come back home as I have to help look after my parents who are getting older and facing different health issues. I want work that would be flexible so I am seeking two PRNs. At the time of this writing I am not working at all, but will start a PRN later this month. The orientation for that PRN will be two to three weeks. As I have only ever worked full time at one facility before I am not sure how to go about acquiring the second PRN and not have it conflict with the first one. 1. Do I wait until after I finish orientation at the first PRN job and am settled there to apply/obtain the second PRN job? 2. If interviewing for a second PRN do they ask about or care if I am only working a different PRN job? 3. If the subject of why I am wanting to work just PRN jobs comes up what is the best approach? I am fine being honest, but I don't want to come across the wrong way either. Thank you in advance for any advice/feedback!

Thank you very much. Your explanation was very helfpul. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

I am wondering if the lodging stipend and meals and incidentals stipend are together in one rate or is it separate? For example, let's say according to the GSA website Oklahoma City lodging rate is $95 and then $59 for meals and incidentals. What I am not understanding is if the $59 for the meals and incidentals is included in the $95? Or should the $59 meals and incidentals be on top of that $95 for lodging? Thanks in advance! This may sound simple to some, but when you're still learning these things it isn't always so straightforward.

Try applying to places outside of the acute care hospital such as long-term care areas like nursing home, facilities for people with developmental disabilities, and rehab facilities. The more desirable places that own would want to be wil require a year or two of experience. You may have to work somewhere you don't want to until you can find a spot where you do want to be. Give it a try. As nurse with little experience, just get what you can until you can get what you want. ^_^

I would have to agree with KatieMI. I have been in this sumilar situation as a new grad and while I am usually someone who is the utmost optimistic and giving encouraging words for someone to press on against the odds I think it may be a good idea to look for another job. From my own experience, once management has singled you out as one needing improvement, they have you on their radar. They are watching closely as you already know. You will improve over time and you will get to a point where you are less anxious when taking on stressful situations as you will learn how you need to best respond. But as I said, that will take time and the thing is 30 days may not be enough tI me to show the improvement that you will eventually reach. In my own situation as a new grad I needed better time management in general. I was given a month with extra review of things gone over in my original orientation. Overall I did improve, but not to where they apprently wanted me to be. I was doing everything I felt I I could, but after about 3 weeks I started to feel like even if I was expert in time management, I would not want to be working in that particular environment, but something more suited to a pace I am more comfortable with. I also began to note that while they were supposedly trying to help me, I was receiving patient assignments that the experienced nurses were complaining and up-in-arms about. Now that didn't make sense. Anyways based on the information I had in front of me, I decided to not continue what was not helping me anyways and go elsewhere. So in short I left, worked somewhere much less desired, but different in a rural setting for a year until I could find a job that I did desire and was a better fit for me. Overall, I would play it by ear. If they are giving you feedback with a smile saying toy are improving to rhein liking then that's a sing you'll meet the probationary expectations. However, if they are not giving any positive feedback that you are meeting expectations, then like KatieMI said, prepare to get out of there as you know what they have waiting for you at the end of the 30 day period. I wish you the best and I hope things work out the way you wish. Keep us posted. ^_^

Thank you very much this helps a lot for now! I just need a change of pace so I am gonna go for it and do my best! I will be sure to ask more questions if anything comes up!

Do shifts tend to be 8 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts? Or does it just depend? Which does 12 hours shifts, Maxim, Epic, or PSA?

Hello everyone, I am wondering what is the salary range for private duty positions in the Houston area? I am looking into private duty and some applications as for desired salary. Being that I worked in the hospital before I am not sure what the salary range is for private duty nursing. If anyone could help me out here, I would greatly appreciate it! Also, is it possible to keep up enough shifts to maintain a full time income? Postings tend to state that hours are "flexible' which could mean anything. Thank you in advance!

I think that is quite doable. :) Just keep doing what you have already been doing! Keep organized, keep a schedule, prioritize, and stick to it! I think you will do fine.

I could be wrong, but one thing that I might suggest is leaving out the part "State Nursing License, Pending NCLEX exam- anticipated June 2013". I just personally would not put the word 'license' anywhere on my resume until I actually had it. Being a new grad they will know you do not have your license just yet and will obtain it soon. Now after getting your GN permit, I would be more comfortable putting it down that you have it to begin working.

Hello everyone, I welcome any and all advice/tips/constructive criticism of my resume below and I also have a few specific areas of concern. If it helps to know, I have approximately 1 year of experience and I wish to go into ambulatory/outpatient care. 1. Skills section- If included on a resume, what types of skills do you list? Does this include things like "IV infusion therapy" or "EMR utilization" or something different? Could you give an example? 2. Work experience- I know this is a focus area, but how do I channel my experience so it stands out? 3. Student Clinicals- For someone with just under a year of experience, is it alright to still list my clinicals if I really want to? I mean is it still possible to draw value out of experience I got as a student? 4. Organizations- Is it alright to still list my student organizations? Particularly because I held leadership positions. Suzie Nurse, RN Address. * phone number * email PROFESSIONAL PROFILE - Hard working, self-motivated, and compassionate nurse. - Exceptional leadership skills in managing and coordinating multiple tasks and objectives. - Excellent observation, assessment, and communication skills. - Flexible and adapts to change. Works well in a team and with diverse groups of people. LICENSES & CREDENTIALS State Board of Nursing Registered Nurse License, 2012, # ****** Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association, 2012 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Heart General Hospital, City, State July 2012 - April 2013 Nurse I, Medical Surgical Inpatient Unit - Devised and implemented nursing plan of care: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation - Admitted patients to inpatient unit; performed admission assessments - Discharged patients from inpatient unit with appropriate instructions and supplies for follow up care - Initiated peripheral intravenous lines and administered prescribed IV therapies via infusion pump - Performed venipuncture to obtain blood specimens for labs ordered - Documented assessments and all other patient care activities via electronic medical record - Collaborated with physicians, case managers, dietitians, and others on interdisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care EDUCATION University Nursing School, City, State Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 2012 Overall GPA: #.## ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE Smile University Graduate School, City, State, Office Assistant July 2006 - August 2006 STUDENT CLINICAL EXPERIENCE Community Nursing, We Care Health Center March 2012 - April 2012 - Administered care to HIV/AIDS patients - Assisted with patient interviews for patients entered into care - Assisted in providing education for new patients - Assisted in triaging patients in clinic triage area Rotations (March 2009 - March 2012): Emergency, Adult Medical/Surgical, Adult Critical Care, Psychiatric Nursing, Family Health Nursing ORGANIZATIONS Willow Bend Student Nurses Organization, 2009 - 2011 - President, Spring 2011 o Managed core aspects of organization: volunteerism, peer-mentor program, cultural diversity o Oversaw planning and organization of Spring Celebration celebrating diversity - Vice President, Spring 2010 - Fall 2010 o Supervised volunteering and fundraising activities o Took initiative in goal setting: task completion; assisted various officers in goals of their office - Peer Mentor, Fall 2010 o Mentored junior level students by devising study plan for academic success o Study plan included assessment, test taking strategies time management tips; offered encouragement

Before my last semester in school I researched a bit about the major facilities in my area for when their graduate nurse residencies opened up. I put the dates all down and went from there with their application process. For those I had no prior estimate of when their application opened up I simply checked the website periodically. Some facilities opened their applications as early as January for those graduating in the April/May cohort. In my opinion as long as their is an application open/job posting then it is not too early to apply. One reason they call them new "graduate" internship/residency is because they know you have not graduated or obtained your license yet. They will usually give a time period for you to obtain your license and accept your GN permit until then. As others have stated it also depends on your area.

Alright so I have been on a med-surg unit for several months now just right out of nursing school. I had been having issues with time management since my original orientation, but it seems as though I did not get the type of specific feedback that I needed that would have been helpful to me. So a few months after my first orientation I have been put back on orientation to strengthen my time management skills. I very much appreciate this second chance to improve (I feel it is a blessing to even get another chance), however the conditions are that improvement must be made for me to continue working in my current position. What I am getting concerned about is that I am doing all I can and giving my best efforts (giving 100%/giving my all) to improve now that I have gotten the feedback that I really need. I understand the feedback, tips, and advice that I have received now, but with my best efforts to follow through, work hard, and meet the goals for improvement it has been determined that not enough progress has been made yet during the two weeks that I have been back on orientation and so additional time has been given. I have been seriously thinking about the time I have spent so far in med-surg and I am starting to feel that perhaps a med-surg floor is not the area for me. I can stick it out to the end with my best efforts which is what I have already been doing, but again I am concerned about whether med-surg is for me. Any advice, suggestions, or words of wisdom would be very much appreciated.

I keep things clean because I do not want people to get the wrong impression and that covers anything related to professionalism. I don't care to post where I work or what I do and therefore do not because it is none of anyone else's business. I'm a very private person to begin with so I tend to keep my business just that, mine.

Hi manzi fly I had posted in the thread earlier but it was on that day that the website lost some data. I was all emotional at the time and basically my post was about how you made me feel better about prepartin to take one of if not the most important exam I will take and your last paragraph actually got be tearing up because it just helped me to believe in the preparation that I had and also in that if the Lord brought me through nursing school, He will bring me through this exam successfully witht he faith I have in Him. I think it is just human nature to have worries and concerns about something so important to you, but sometimes you just have to let go, have faith in Him, and let him guide you through. Well, I took NCLEX today, I did try the trick and got the good pop-up, but yeah fingers crossed and looking for the results in a couple of days.

Hello all! I'm posting this here because I wanted an RN's opinion on this (not another student like myself). Alright so I am a nursing student in my last semester of clinicals. In my management clinical I have worked with several nurses all of who were nice and receptive. However, there is a particular nurse that really stands out. Not only is she nice receptive, but she loves to teach students and it shows, she's patient and understanding, she guides me in what I need to know and things will be when I start working, she encourages me, she gives me good constructive criticism objectively, my experience with her has far exceeded any other that I have ever had in the past (only one nurse in my first semester even comes close), and she's the example I wish to follow as I mold my own nursing philosophy, and lastly she just carries with her a sense of purpose and meaning with her nursing practice that I don't think I have encountered before. I've never felt this way about a nurse preceptor and while I have given out thank you notes/cards in the past I want to do something more. I would like to know what would be a wonderful gift/momento to show my appreciation? Already asked classmates, but I want to hear from those who are already nurses. What is something that you feel would be nice yet appropriate coming from a student nurse that you worked with? I would appreciate any suggestions/advice. Thank you in advance!

Also somethings you can do to get ready for school would be: Get your finances in order regarding how you will pay for school, housing, transportation etc... because trust me this is the last thing you want to worry about while in nursing school. Be it financial aid, money you have saved up or what have you, just get it in line before you start your first semester. On that note, apply for scholarships, in fact during your visit to the school ask about scholarships so you know what is available to you. If you have young children, arrange for childcare ahead of time as you don't want to be worrying about this in the midst of the semester when you'll be very busy. Garner up support systems whether it be your spouse, parents, grandparents, or siblings. Even have them come with you on your visit to the school if you like. There may be a need for them to pitch in more around the house or someone else may have to do the grocery shopping sometimes or help with cooking dinner or what have you. You'll need their support and understanding even more during your journey through nursing school. : ) One more thing, since you are planning to begin in the fall, I suggest looking into taking a class during the summer before you start your first semester.

Hi pips9 I did not do my prereqs at UH, however I would suggest stopping by the school, bring along your converson grid and the course catalog for UH main or simply a course list from their site, so that you can clarify which class is the appropriate class to take. You don't want to spend time and money on a course that will not be accepted. If in doubt, always ask. : ]

Were you getting the pain in the back or on the front of your hand or wrist? Was it a stinging, burning pain or something else. I'm wondering because I'm getting CTS and it would be great to hear that a brace really helped someone else. How long did you wear the brace for your hand and wrist to start feeling better?

In case you don't already have the study guide, here's the site where you can buy it. It is found here. >>> http://www.eriproduct.com/detail.aspx?ID=1 In addition to this study guide a practice test is offered on the website that I also think will be of help. It can be found here. >>> http://www.eriproduct.com/detail.aspx?ID=88 These are two sites that have tests that you can use as practice. >>> http://www.testprepreview.com/net_test_breakdown.htm >>> http://www.mo-media.com/bonus457/netsecretspractice.pdf Now this is a link I found around the site and it takes you to some other school's web page so just ignore the part where it talks about going to the Learning Lab. >>> http://hfcclab.info/NET/index.htm What really helped me was to practice my timing since in the past timed tests weren't my strong point. However, I found that with practice by timing and pacing myself I was able to comfortably take the test without all the stress of worrying about the time. Some people may find this test hard and some find it very easy; it depends. If you are not prepared, it may be hard and it really is easy if you know what you are doing and know what to expect. Put simply, if you prepare yourself well, you will do wonderfully!

I don't think your being scared of fire is such a big thing. I even feel uneasy lighting matches. I'm not afraid of fire, but I tell you when My family got a gas range I was pretty scared to use it you know because we'd always had an electrid kind. But after a little while I got used to it and now it's no problem at all. I'm still a little bit uneasy with lighting matches because I don't do that too often. but I will do it if I need to. This assistant responded in a way that was uncalled for. I would strongly suggest doing labs with other classmates if it is a group lab. That way someone in your group or your lab partner is bound to be fine with lighting the Bunsen so you don't have to.

Thank you both of you. I asked this question because a fellow student said she heard that there was some sort of fee that had to be paid within two weeks of acceptance to the program. I'm relieved, because it puzzled me that there would be such a fee that was not mentioned in the application. The amount this student mentioned would be difficult for many people to come up with just with a two-week notice.

I have a question, are there any up front fees that have to be paid soon after the application is turned in?

Is it normal to be contracted with an agency? Also, what is COBRA?

I didn't quite know how to word that, but my question is it required that assignments are consecutive or can there be time in between? Also does one have to have a certain number of assignments per year or can you decide how many you want? Or when you want them? Are travel nurses given that option?