ltvixen

i'm in the ED! yay!!!

we try and relieve each other for breaks. zone 1 (minor side) is 2-3 nurses with 12-14 rooms. breaks are supposed to start at 0830,1130,1630 for days (each lasting 30 mins) and 1 30 min break and 1 1hour break on nights (although it's more likely to miss those breaks due to less staff - why is it that there is less staff on at night in an area that is open 24/7???)

hi everyone! i graduated in may and started in a local emergency dept the same month. finished orientation in july, and passed the RN exam, yay!!!! anyways, so i've been off orientation since the end of july and although there are many things i'm still struggling with/learning, i am soo far ahead of where i was in june it's like a miracle. here's my advice: first, know what you can do before the doc ever lays eyes on a pt's chart. protocols for labs, x-rays, lines, fluids, masks, etc will make everyone's life easier second, if you poke the pt 2 or 3 times and can't get the bw/iv started, get someone else to try and do something for that nurse in return! third, learn a polite but firm manner to deal with pt's and their families. i hate saying no to people or telling them to get something for themselves. however, someone who has a sore ear is perfectly capable of getting their own blanket/drink etc. if there are visitors with the pt even better. although i like being able to personally make my pts comfortable and happy, the bottom line is i'm more concerned about helping sick people get better, not get warmer. sounds harsh, but you don't have to mean about it, just firm. lastly, show the people you work with that you are willing to learn and work bloody hard and help them out with their pts whenever you can - it will be worth it when they have some time and come to help you!

sadly we don't have those here in our province. My orientation (just had a few details so far) includes: ~7 classroom days then 16 preceptored shifts, which can be extended if it is deemed necessary. This is only the 2nd year they have accepted new grads, but the one they took last year is still there and doing well, currently completeing the ER nursing course (it is only offered twice a year so the earliest i could start would be the fall). In an ideal world i would have found a position with a long and well-established residency, but alas they're not available here. Guess i'll just have to worm my way into gaining their respect and trust and then start pushing for them to develop such a program. oh and i just did 16 preceptored shifts in our local level 1 er, and that went pretty well, so really it's more like 32 shifts i guess. oh well, i'm still excited!!!

I start in the ER on May 22!

oh my god, i am getting a car too! this is the best week EVER!!!!!!!!!!! I'm almost hysterical i'm so excited! lol

HI everyone! I found out 2 days ago that I have been accepted for a fulltime position in the second biggest er in my area!!! i graduate the end of may, but general orientation starts the middle of may!!! i'm extra excited because generally as a rule the er's around here won't take new grads, but i managed to get hired anyways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then yesterday was my birthday and i got the cardiology 3 littman that i have been wanting for the last 3 years!!!!!!!! such a good week!! vixen!:balloons:

thanks everyone for your comments, i love getting lots of response! I'm currently doing my final NS placement in the er for the next 4 weeks and it's great, exactly what i always pictured it would be. as for masters, i'm so school-burnt-out i can't imagine going back before a minimum of 3/4 years experience! i need time to forget everything i don't enjoy about school! lol. thanks again! lins

Hi there, another question! I'm from canada and was just wondering if there are any canadian NPs on here that could explain a little bit about the pros/cons/difficulties in receiving your NP education in the States and trying to take it back to Canada? thanks!

Hi there, i was just wondering if people wouldn't mind posting how many years nursing/healthcare experience they had before deciding to enter a NP program. I'm just graduating with my BSN so i have no intention of pursuing it in the next few years, just curious mostly. Thanks!

i have talked to them at job fairs and i got the same impression, too good to be true, but i have yet to talk to/meet someone that has actually worked with/for them. i'm just graduating from NS but if after 1-2 years i haven't heard anything negative about them i think i will probably give them a try. let us know if you hear anything else

what a great sticky. i'm going to have to copy and paste all the great tips onto one document to take with me! i graduate in ~2 months but will do my final practicum in the er starting next week. being even slightly organized in there will make me feel so much more prepared. thanks everyone!

Hi there! i'm about to graduate (May) in canada and i'll be working here, likely in a med-surg unit for about 12-18 months, but then i would really like to experience travel nursing in the states. My questions are: 1) do any of the agencies place people in a longer term assignment (i feel that as i will only have 12-18 months expereince and none of it in the states it would be good to have a chance to get a feel for lay of the land before jumping in somewhere new every 13 weeks) 2) i have read on these threads about maintaining a 'home' for tax purposes. is it possible to claim your home in canada? or do i need to maintain an apt somewhere in the states while i travel? thanks for any and all advice/suggestions/comments. god i can't wait to get started!!!! vixen

did you start out as a new grad into the er? that is what my original plan was, but it's essentially impossible to do it where i live, and because of bills i couldn't wait around to start the whole nclex/america process with no income coming in. so im committed to stay here until ~next september. But i do still want to get into the er asap, and that is where i'm doing my final placement (yay starting next week for 5 long busy weeks!) thanks again for your help

wow sounds great! would you mind if i asked you what type of nursing you do and what agency you are with?