Gingerbell

I work long 12 hour shift in ICU and I swear by my runnings shoes! Used to wear nursing clogs (sanita & danskos) for years, but the random ankle rolls and calf cramps got to be so much I had to switch to tennis/running shoes. Too bad though because they were super cute! I discovered running shoes worked better for me by accident. I stayed the night with a family member, work begged me to come in, all I had was my running shoes (I'm a distance runner), so I wore my runnings shoes and some OR scrubs my manager had grabbed me. My legs, feet, calfs, and even my back never felt better! Haven't worn clogs since. Don't get me wrong, the clogs are amazing for other nurses feet, just not right for mine. However, I do buy separate running shoes for work than for my runs. I'm kinda a germaphobe that way. I also tend to wear surgical booties over my shoes since they are a permeable canvas on top (although I do have a couple water proof ones I don't always cover). Since I wear these pairs for work only, they are considered part of my work uniforms and I get to write them off at the end of the year. My favorite for work are my Saucony Triumphs (I have many shoes, many colors). I also wear Brooks from time to time to change it up. But I did just order a pair of Salomon shoes since a lot of my coworkers like them. Some nurses also wear the Hoka brand. I wear Hoka's when I run but haven't tried the for work yet. Others find Sketchers best for their feet. Very few of my coworkers wear clogs anymore. I recommend you go to your local running store and have them measure and assess your feet and foot strike. They can tell you about your arches, how you walk, what part of your foot hits the ground the most and with the most impact, if your feet are narrow/wide, whether your feet pronate or supinate, etc. They can tell you what kind of support you need to shop for and what you should stay clear of for your you. Never been to one of these stores that didn't do this for free. If you go to a feet store, they'll probably charge you if you're not buying their shoes. All the shoes I mentioned are pricey (except sketchers). Don't get caught up in buying the shoes right from the running store just because they measured and fitted you for a certain shoe. Shop around. Higher price doesn't mean better shoe, lol. I'll be the first to admit I go to my local Fleet Feet to try on new running shoes but then I go home and order online for a much lower price. The Saucony Triumphs, Brooks, & Hoka's can (not always tho) get expensive so look online. I love Amazon for this reason. I get the previous year's model at a fraction of the price and they're still brand new! Lastly, if you do decide to go with a tennis/running shoe, make sure you check with your hospital policy regarding permeable top shoes and if it's ok to wear surgical booties over them if needed. Good luck! Let us all know what works of you, maybe you will find the new holy grail of nursing shoes that we can all try! ~ GB

THANK YOU amzyRN, jadelpn, SoldierNurse22!!!!!!!!!!! I took the advice and went by his office. As it turns out, he had been extremely swamped with staffing issues and had several RNs give notice all at the same time. He offered me an impromptu interview on the spot, which saved me from the dreaded "panel interview"!! Two days later I received an offer letter! I start in 2 weeks!

Opinions needed... A week ago I received a call from the manager of a unit I have been trying to get onto for a very long time. RNs just don't leave this unit so I had to wait forever for an opening. I was driving when I received the call so he asked if I would like to call him back when I'm out of the car and we would set something up. I called him back the same day (left voicemail) and followed up with an email 3 days later. I have still not heard anything. I have not seen him in his office at all this week, but we also work different shifts. Should I send another email? Voicemail? What's too much and what's not enough? I REALLY want this! I don't want to offend if he is just really busy or having a family issue right now. Not sure how to respectfully proceed. I'm probably just overanalyzing the situation Any thoughts?

Where on FB does everyone keep seeing these posts? Is it a UC Davis page? I'm so lost!

Does anyone know how many new grads they will be taking in this October group? The wait is torture but I REALLY want this one (as I'm sure all of us do, lol)!! Best of luck to us all!!!! :)

Does the nursing home have a sub-acute unit? If so, many hospitals (in Cali anyway) will *consider* that experience to get an acute care job. But personally, the psych sounds more interesting. Tough call but at least you have two prospects!! So congrats on that! :)

Wow, I just read all these posts and I am so taken back right now!! How awful this had to be for each and every one of you! I almost cried when I read the final posts. Still thinking of all my fellow new grads out there! I hope and pray things start to look up for us all before we become "old new grads". We do need to try to stay positive!

MsBungleRRT, Thanks for your words too .. they made me feel much better about not knowing this info. These are very hard concepts to understand!! Thanks to both the responses I received, I have a much clearer understanding but I'm sure more questions will follow! I'm only on lesson 3 of the 9 in the NRP. I passed the first 2. Thanks again! ~GB

umcRN, Thank you so much! Now I get it! All this equipment is new to me and it is used so fluidly throughout the NRP book. To answer your question, I signed myself up for the NRP course to make myself more competitive in the job market. I am also scheduled to take the ACLS, PALS, and ECG certification early in August. It's extremely hard being a new grad right now. Unless you know somebody, no one will hire you. I had a perfect GPA, excellent references, and have personal contacts within my local hospitals but I keep getting beat out by daughters and sons of doctors or someone who was a unit clerk on the department before. It's very discouraging. So anyway, I thought I would do all that I could to make myself look more appealing in hopes of getting hired. Thanks again!! ~GP

OK, this may seam like a silly question but I need some help!! I'm a new grad RN and taking an NRP course. I am having a hard time visualizing the difference between PPV and CPAP (its in the algorithm). I've watched the video's on the NRP DVD and even googled it. But for a new grad this is a little confusing (at least for me it is). Can anyone clarify the difference for me and possibly link me to any visuals? Again, I really feel as an RN, I should already know this! Thanks in advance!! P.S. Sorry if I posted this in the wrong section, I'm hoping that it will get moved to the correct sub-forum if needed. ~GB

Does anyone care to share any RN New Grad L&D, Postpartum, NICU interview questions they either ask when hiring or have been asked when they were interviewed? It could be on any of the 3 units I mentioned because they place new grads where they feel they fit best (if selected). I have an interview tomorrow and I REALLY want this position more than any other new grad program. Any other related suggestions or tips for this interview!!!! I've heard they will be asking scenario questions. (Hope I posted this in the correct forum) ~GB

WOW, this entire thread was extremely helpful to me as well! Thanks to the OP for posting it! ~GB

Danaroo .. I REALLY hope that's not the case for California! I work for the State and they won't let me work under the higher license until I apply and get hired on as that higher license. They can't let me work as an RN at LVN pay (I'm told). So for now I have to continue to sign "LVN" after my name at work . I think I will call the California Board of Registered Nurses on Monday and ask just to make sure! I did just get an 18 week new grad residency position in the ICU but it doesn't start for 5 more weeks and even then it's not enough hours to pay the bills.

Misscandy ... PM me and I'll answer whatever questions you want about my program.

It WILL show up! I promise! I've had friends in class have it take anywhere from 72 hours to 6 days to show up on the online lic verification system. No worries .. CONGRATS!

I think I've decided to keep my LVN until I find employment as an RN. I believe California lets us keep both. I currently have a job as an LVN so that will pay the student loans until I get a new job. So I'll pay for one renewal. It's sad for me though, I had such a rough start in life and I really worked so hard for my LVN and I have always been very proud of it. But upward and onward (is that how the saying goes? LOL)! Thanks to those who replied! GB

The trick is 100%! It's 3:00 am and my name and license number just popped up on the Board of Registered Nurses! Only figures I would find out at 3:00am, haha! Who cares .. I PASSED! For those still wondering about the Pearson Vue test, IT WORKS! That little pop up is the only thing that got me through the 3 day wait (3 days is not so bad to wait in California).

I couldn't be happier to see all of you still posting that the Pearson Vue test still works in 2012. So I am sharing my experience to keep this info current for those who test after me. I tested on May 15th at 8:00am (48 hours ago) and so far I keep getting the pop up that says "Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. Please contact your Member Board for further assistance. Another registration cannot be made at this time". I PRAY this means that I passed! The pop up is the only thing keeping me sane right now! I've wanted to be an RN since I can remember and this has been a long hard road to get here! I will post my results when I know so everyone will know that the trick still works (or doesn't work). I should know by tomorrow morning! P.S. I'm in Cali, ugh! ~GB

I recently graduated from an RN, BSN program. However, I started out as an LVN/LPN. What should I do with that license? Retire it? Retiring it costs the same to renew, I just wouldn't have to do the CE's for it. Any other ideas of what to do? Is there anyone else out there who had their LVN/LPN first and are now an RN .. if so what did you do with it? Thanks, GB

I'm pretty sure those are copyrighted videos that can't be shared. Sorry. ~GB

I take my exit HESI next month and I'm terrified! I have a high GPA and great HESI scores throughout my entire program but this exit is exam is a different creature! I have watched over half of each class fail even with really high previous test scores and high GPAs! My school requires a 900 for passing and only 2 attempts (and it's a BSN program)! I'm studying everything I can get a hold of! If anyone has anything they can help me with please email me: [email protected] Also, I am always willing to help anyone who is behind where I am by sharing my remediation or study methods. Best of luck to the OP .. I feel your pain! Please email me if I can help in any way! ~GB

Ok, I've wondered this EXACT thing before too! I recently had to write a TWO med error reports on my new unit manager and I am experiencing some retaliation as a result. I was told I could not make a copy, not even if I kept it in my locker at work. As for taking personal notes of the incident, I did do those but I could not put the patient's name d/t HIPAA. If I was called into court in a year I would NEVER remember the patient's name! So how is any of this personal documentation saved for personal record? I'm curious what everyone responds on this post! GB

Ok, I did it, here is the link. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S2HSY95 Hope that works. ~GB

Hi Everyone! I'm a BSN student in need of professional RNs or NPs to answer a short questionnaire regarding evidence-based nursing practice. This is for my Nursing Research and Utilization class. For anyone who is interested, please answer the questions below (the answers can be short): 1. What is your job description? 2. What is the setting in which you practice? 3. What are some evidence-based practices that you implement in your line of work? 4. What barriers to evidence-based practices have you come across? 5. What is your protocol regarding inability to perform evidence-based practices? 6. What are your opinions about evidence-based practice? Thank you in advance for anyone willing to take the time to fill this out! ~GB

Thanks! I find if I truly understand a concept, I can pass any test! I don't do well on the premise of "just know that it does this". Let me know what you find out too! Do you Hesi for your clinical courses by chance? If you do I have a ton of practice materials I could pass down to you for when you get to Psych! ~GB