baylay

So. California Previous ER (got phased out) now Urgent Care 4 yrs experience 22.99 + 1.35 night diff. + benefits

Now I can easily say "don't be scared." But looking back 4 years ago when I first started my clinicals, I was scared to death!! I had no medical experience at all. Other's were CNA's and had experience. I didn't even know how to work the bed. (go in a empty room play around with the bed, rolling it around etc.) So first off, don't be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes you'll fine a nurse that won't give you the time of day. Then find another. There are always others that are more than willing to help you. Hopefully your instructor is there to guide you also. Sometimes they are somewhere else and you're on your own. But always, if in doubt, ask someone. And the patients usually don't know your new. But is you're doing a procedure, and your instructor is there, you usually explain your a student and do they mind if you ..... but the patients are usually very nice about it and support you also! You will gain confidence after each try at whatever you're doing. But as a new experience comes up (foley's, first injection) you'll have those same jitters. But they will pass. Throw yourself in and try to do as much as possible. Don't stand in the back and observe. You learn by doing. Good luck, you'll do fine!!

I was very lucky to land a job in our ER where I live, 2 1/2 yrs ago. There was always talk of phasing us LVN's out but the ones that had worked there for years said they always said that. But I was the last one hired. As some quit, we slowly were getting pushed out of treatment areas and into the waiting room to watch for anyone needing treatment urgently. Since our ER is the busiest in California, most medi-cal, it was a mad house, getting yelled/cussed at etc. I finally just left for a job with Kaiser in Urgent Care. Our Kaiser doesn't have an ER here. I miss the learning experience of the wide range of things that came in to the ER, but have grown to like Kaiser. Do I regret becoming an LVN, yes for the variety of jobs out there. But other than that, no. I'm married so I don't need the extra income. Most RN's I worked with are single mom's and need the money. I'm 50 and not interested in going back to school, but I tell younger ones, just do the RN program. Another year of school and you'll be glad you did

I know exactly what you mean. It took me 2 1/2 yrs in a hosp. ER to start feeling burnt out. The clientele we get are medi-cal or no ins., yell at you for the wait time (only one Hosp. in a population of over 250,000) cuss you out for not getting the type of pain meds they want. Not that I have anything against medi-cal, but the type that live here act like we owe them something. Very rude. Never a thank you or kind word in return. Very draining at times. :yldhdbng: Just that one patient that is appreciative of what we do and says Thank You is the life-saver!

You will get all kinds of suggestions. This is what helped me. Saunder's and Exam Cram II PN. I found the 2nd good for getting you prepared for the way the questions are asked. Don't wait too long. Study, understand the topics and go for it! Good luck!

I took mine the end of Feb. I received my letter of passing (Yippee) 2 days short of 3 wks. Others in my class were about 3 wks or more. The most recent ones that tested received notification 1 day short of 4 wks. (that was last week) Sorry, but I think it's taking about 3 1/2 to 4 wks now. By the way, this is for California...

For California, 1 hr north of Los Angeles: I just got a job in the ER as a new grad. Pay: $19.00 w/o benefits $16.70 with benefits

Know one seems to know really how it works. Some get 85 and pass or fail, some get 130, 149 and 205 and pass or fail. Like you said, there's no rhyme or reason to it. It's a big mystery. And I think the Board likes it that way!

You know how we all get that feeling of "uh oh I'm didn't pass"? (or most of us) Well she just bought "Exam Cram PN" and realized she was reading into the questions too much. You can't do the "what if". Just stick to the facts on hand. But she did have an uneasy feeling when leaving... And I even told her "no one seems to fail with 85" after looking like you did at previous postings. Boy did I feel bad when she did!

One of the students that was in my class just failed with 85. It happens I guess, but not very often.

Wow. I worship you! lol No really, that was a lot of great info. We're probably getting off the "thread" subject too. I'm printing this out so I can look back and say "gee, he was right!" Thanks so much!!

A lot in my class were just like that. They all wanted to just memorize the answers if we got a study guide. And hence....they are the ones failing the NCLEX! I tried to tell them they needed to understand the material not memorize it. So now they are paying the price... But they were the ones cheating also. I guess there's some in every class. Hey postmortem_cowboy, have you worked much in ER? I thought I read you had? If so, any advice for me? Starting as a new grad in 2 wks. It's overcrowded being the only ER in a population of over 138,000. Patients sitting in the hallway in chairs, beds, etc. I'm on nights, so this also being new to me, how to get enough sleep? Thanks, you always seem to have such good advice!

That's exactly it I think. Some students would complain why we had to learn it so indepth but if you know it top to bottom you'll have a much easier time figuring out the questions like you said. Some think you should be able to just pick up a study guide with exact examples of the questions. State Exam...don't think they'd allow that! Know your topics and you can figure it out, along with common sense because some of the answer's are pretty "out there."

Well said...Also patient communication/education is important and must be clear for them to understand. If the patient is struggling to understand you they might miss something. I just had an interview and the director was from Scotland with a very thick accent. At times I didn't know what she was asking me and didn't want to keep saying "excuse me"? I would just nod mmm and hope that made sense. It was very hard to focus when I had to pay such close attention to what she was saying. Please don't take it wrong Lmex. We just want to give you advice to help you. We're all in this to help each other. And I got the job from the Scottish director, in ER. Yippee! Now I can finally start working. :yelclap:

I can imagine I'll be looking up quite a bit! I'm already panicking about how much I feel like I've forgotten. I need a job!! My school was so fast paced that I think I'd actually enjoy reading them more the 2nd time around. :)