catzy5

SoCal RN $6.00/hr level 2 trauma nonunion facility we hav24/7staff so your really only on call as trauma back up

I copied my tools for you, the attachments were too big so couldn't send as a file, but the one with the times I basicly use as my sheet to keep track of things, I come in, in the morning and look at all my patients meds and circle the times so I know I have something due at say 1500....I also use the spaces provided to make notes like called dr 1330 so when I go to do my charting I have an idea of what time things happened.. In the end you have to find what works for you but it's good to have some ideas to get you started. I work on a tele unit so mine is geared to what we need to know for most of our patients.

I went to MSJC yes I needed a 4.0 to get in there were a couple people who did not buy luck of the draw, so don't let that discourage you from trying if you don't have a 4.0 just try your hardest either way. It's a good program, you get out what you put in like any other schooling. There are some really good instructors and some really bad, again like all programs. It's not the best but by far I am sure it's not the worst! It's very grueling especially the first semester, but you will still have time for yourself and your family, just work really hard to find that balance. good luck.

I talked to a recruiter at Loma Linda, she was so nice really lovely! She said times are difficult now but please keep applying to any job that interests you. Each application is looked at individually so if you apply to one unit the other units will not be seeing it, so if you see something you like just apply, and personally call the recruiter and show your interest. I went to a job fair this summer and was so turned off by San Diego Hospitals they were so negative and wouldn't give me the time of day. Loma Linda, and County riverside, all agreed times were tough and they were not hiring but at least, they were honest and said please keep applying! They didn't want to burn any bridges with new grads and were very positive. So I say just keep plugging away and keep on the follow up! I have many classmates who have been successful this past semester with that technique.

I am starting there next week. They had an overwhelming response to the new graduate program, and they had very few openings. I Think you should keep trying and keep plugging away it is very difficult right now but I have seen my cohorts be offered jobs that we thought were closed. Keep up with all the new grad positions through this link. http://www.canursingresource.com/

I took the test on the 15 and passed, I finished school 12/18, but took some time before studying, I really cracked down after the first of the year. My date was set for 01/26 but moved it up because the anxiety of the test was doing more harm then good. As for what I studied, my game plan was to take Saunders NCLEX book and go over all the topics we skipped, or brushed over, I also went over all my lab values and charts I made during my 2 years of nursing. Then I just dove in. Goodluck

realnurseed (education for real nurses by a real nurse) i love this website!! it has really helped me.

I discovered the back rub last semester in my first clinical rotation, to me this has been the best thing I can give to my patients and it has won me over many a time! I had one gentlemen tell me he couldn't even get anyone to help him wash his face little loan offer him a back rub he was thrilled. I also had a patient with severe dementia completely snap back to reality she went from being on restraints to having coherent conversations with me, I discovered the magic potion is in the Lotion! I will always use this in my care as a nurse, my instructor brought out especially with some of our older clients coming in from nursing homes etc, having someone actually touch them is very rare and it is so apprectiated so yes, the message back rub whatever you want to call it, get your hands on your patient and give them care and comfort.

A good NCLEX book. I love my Saunders I use it for every unit we do, it has a break down follows my texts nearly exact and gives test questions at the end with rationales and test taking strategies for each subject.

I had 2 days of OB nursing school is mostly med surg then you specialize.

i don't know anything about that particular book, although i love incredibly easy books. if your looking for acid base balance, the below website is fantastic! on the left is a tool bar scroll down to the ez abg realnurseed (education for real nurses by a real nurse)

this is the best link i have ever foun in explaining acid base. realnurseed (education for real nurses by a real nurse) if it doesn't bring you right to the page look on the tool bar on the left hand column and scroll down to ez way to remember abg

yes you can study for this on your own, it's very simple math, but also it's things like measurement and conversions, there are some online sites. but i would also recomend getting a book and looking through that to self teach you. here are some links i have on tutorials. dosage calc basic drug calculations review nursing calculators

different things work for everyone, you have to find what works for me, I have to read everything, I can't skim.

You'll do fine, clinicals to me are the best part, I really enjoy everything I do in that setting. Theory for me is more difficult but doable, just very time consuming a lot of reading and then just figuring out the "system" of the school. good luck to you!

just apply to as many schools as you can you will find a way! There are also many accelerated BSN programs for people like you who already hold a bachelors in another field, also direct entry MSN. Just keep looking. Your friend is right MSJC has no weight list if you have a 4.0 in pre reqs you have an excellent chance of getting in, however their numbers are low 12 in the fall and 24 in the spring. Also there are some schools like Mount Sac that have lotteries, just keep applying!

I am so sorry for your loss! yes I have been through this too, recently. My dad passed away at the end of my first semester last spring, he also lived 3000 miles away, I was able to fly out when he was diagnosed with cancer mets to the bones, he died 7 weeks after my visit. I wasn't able to get out again to see him after he was discharged or even for the funeral, it was very hard! Try and stay focused the best you can, but give yourself some time to grieve too. {{{hugs}}}} c

CC in CA is significantly cheaper than private schools such as loma linda, I am also attending a CC and I pay 20 a credit hour, I will graduate in 12/09 with my ADN and can start working as an RN right away, if I feel the need to move forward with a BSN I can get reimbursement from the hosptital that employee's me, to me it makes finiancial sense (plus I will finish sooner).

this is the absolute best flash card site i have ever found, helped me so much my first semester. the study stack nursing study resources!

I am not the OP but thanks so much I like this and will use it in clinical tomorrow! I miss getting report our instructor is typically an hour late so we never get to see shift change.

I get so jelous reading some of these posts, we don't do anything before seeing a patient, I wish we had a proper skills lab worked into class, we can watch videos and do things on our own (my friend and I often practice things by ourselves). No sturctured skills like most of you talk about.

Sounds like you are getting very good information,These are probably the things I would say to you as well. I don't know so much about a big back yard (track housing and all). There is plenty of horse property around in Temecula, just depending on your budget. If you PM me I can give you more detailed info on the better areas to live in (just don't want to give out too much on the public board). I have 3 kids 9,9, and 11 they love Temecula, my husband moves a lot for work and we talk about moving but my kids would be sad. We walk to school, they have been going since kinder (my daughter) and preschool for the twins. The middle school my daughter is starting at in the fall is also withing walking distance, we have community pool within walking distance and we have relitively speaking a good size back yard. I do love it here, we are very close to the beach (we go once a week in the summer). We go camping, there is mountains, wine country in Temecula is beautiful, the desert is close everything within an hour. San Diego is beautiful too but it is a bit far, and expensive but with housing taking a nose dive the way it is you will make out well here and it's sure to go back up again someday.

Hi michelle, I don't know really anything about the hospitals in those areas, I know we do a semester in the fall at Riverside community everyone seems to like it there. Scripts, Encinitas anything in San Diego really is better then here, however those are long commutes, Corona riverside would be easier for you. The coastal cities aren't too far, however it isn't very direct. As far as what cities to live in, we were in the same situation as you, my husband works north of here, he chose to commute rather than live in the city where he is working. There are some nice areas up north, but there are some areas you probably want to steer clear of too. I think you said Schools were important to you, so look around for good school districts, that was why we chose Temecula it's one of the best school systems in the district. It's a great time to move out here too, housing has really come way down! good luck catherine

Well coming from places that had a really good sized, well equiped updated hospitals, I feel like I am back in the dark ages. The area grew really fast and no one seemed to plan for health care, they are trying to build another hospital, but nothing has been done about it yet. So far the two hospitals I am familar with have potential but they are so small, understaffed and poorly equiped. The one in Hemet inparticular is facing finiancial crisis and has gotten rid of all but 3 CNA's (for the entire hospitals). The poor RN's work their tails off trying to do it all, the support staff too has also been cut back (no unit clerks on all floors usually a float) lack of equipment to do your job etc... I came here from Chicago I worked in the same size hospital that had computer charting, plenty of support staff and great benefits/ great patient care. I am not knocking any of these hospitals or their staff, I have seen some fabulous nurses and many have really heped me a great deal this semester. I just think the medical situation in this area is very very neglected.

I love the area, I live in Temecula have been here 6 years now and it is really wonderful. We are in dire need of good hospitals though and you will see it's quite a shocker. Palomar has a new grad program in the summer too and they also have extern positions posted right now too might be the way to go. I can't really say anything about Inland valley we use them for clinicals but I have not gone there yet, it seems like they have a good reputation among the other students, I should be going in the Fall, maybe I'll see you there )