JeepDudeRN

I too am relocating to New York from Florida. I just received my New York license. You have to apply to New York, send a transcript paper to your school for them to send to NY, and you have to send a paper to the Florida BON that they have to send to NY. You also need to do a continuing education class on child abuse, which we dont have to do in Florida. It took less than 2 weeks to get my NY license. Oh, and its costs $143 that you have to send to NY, and the child abuse training has to be from an approved NY provider.

I ended up passing with 75 questions. Everything I had had, to do with assessement, priority and delegation. Who will you see first, and what will you do first, and of course who are you going to assign to do what. As far as meds go...every single one I got was advertised on televsion commercials, which I didnt prepare for. I studied my butt off on meds that everyone said I would probably get, but didnt get those! But, the good thing is, if you know how to break down the med names, you can ususally figure out what they are for, and then you will know the side effects. Same with diseases...break down the words and see what you can come up with. I did follow Suzannes plan, which was still in effect at the time, and my school also paid for Kaplan. Both are invaluable. I started studying for NCLEX about 6 months before graduation. I received my ATT on Feb 10, took the test the next day and found out I passed on Friday the 13th!! So that myth is out the window about that being a terrible day! LOL...Anyway, just be prepared for anything, and always remember the ABC's. Good luck!!

Hey there... I graduated in Jan and became licensed this past Feb. I was already working as a nurse intern at a local hospital. Im in Ocala. I was laid off. I have applied to every hospital in Marion and Citrus County and have had zero call backs. Luckily, while I was at the hospital as an intern, I was also a CNA at a local rehab. So... I went full time at the rehab (sub acute). I love it. I am getting everything I would if I were in a hospital on a med/surg floor. IV's, PICC lines, wounds, tube feedings, passing tons of meds, etc/ Not only are hospitals not hiring new grads...at least in my area, they are shipping patients out a lot faster. Alot of the time, after 3 days these patients are either discharged to sub acute or sent home. I deal with alot of ortho. So for me, right now, the experience I am gaining in invaluable. You have alot more patients when you work sub acute so your assesment skills and time management is essential, and delegation. You end up delegating numerous tasks to CNA's and LPN's (within thier scope of course) but I am still the responsible RN on my floor. So, just be prepared. Out of my graduating class, only one has secured a position in a hospital. Others are doing MD offices, home health, and rehab. By the way...I am making about $4 more per hour than the hospital was going to start me out with, had I not been laid off, which is an added bonus. Im also able to do 8 hr shifts, which I wanted in the first place, and I can do doubles whenever I need/want extra cash, as anything over 8 hrs is paid as overtime. By the way, when I say rehab Im not meaning Psych, its physical rehab. And more and more, we are getting younger and younger patients. Rehabs arent just for the elderly. I dont know if its the economy or what, but we have several younger patients now in for various reasons. Give it a try...it may surprise you.

Well I have been licensed now a little over a month... I havent been able to get a position in a hospital because locally they are not hiring new nurses right now, so I took a position in a sub acute rehab/nursing home. I get to work about 2:30p, and get report and count narcs. Then its off to do my 12 accuchecks and admin insulin before dinner, and any meds that need to be taken before dinner. During dinner I am in the dining room making sure no one chokes or has any other er's. Then comes the med pass from hell. 30 patients and one nurse...lol it takes a while. Usually I finish just in time to do the 9pm accu checks and insulin, take a quick break and start the 9pm med pass. I finish that about 10:30 and sit down to do charting which usually takes me to 11:30. During all this I answer questions from families, docs, therapy, etc Check labs, take off new orders, etc. Thank God I have some really good CNA's working with me, otherwise Id be in trouble! God forbid I have to send someone out to the hospital, then I dont get outta there until 12:30 or 1am! But, I love every minute of it, and I wouldnt trade it for anything. I may feel different in a few years, but right now, Im lovin it.

This is a very touchy subject, and sometimes I wonder if we are safe at all. When I was working as a tech in a nursing home, I was accused by a patient of having sex with her. I was in nursing school and saw my entire future go away before my eyes. I was horrified. I had to go before Adult Services and Family Services. Luckily my employer was behind me 100%. The patient was interviewd several times, and it came out that she was jealous of care I was giving to another patient, so she made up this story to get my attention. I was proven innocent (obviously, or I wouldnt be writing this) but the scars remain, and I am now leary of all female patients. Now, I ALWAYS make sure a female co worker is with me when I do care for a female patient. Now that I am an RN, for the most part, I do not provide the personal care that a tech or CNA would but situations do come up where I have to, and they always will. You just have to always look out for yourself. Not all patients are like this, and its nearly impossible to not feel emotion with some of them. Just protect yourself. Unless you are actually put into this situation it is very difficult to understand what someone goes through. I literally thought my entire future was ruined, and no one would believe me. I had to tell the Dean of Nursing at my school because I was called by Family Services while I was doing clinical and had to leave...talk about embarassing! But in the end it all worked out. Like I said, just be careful but dont let your fear prevent you from giving great patient care. Its a fine line we have to walk sometimes...but it's still worth it.

Same story in Ocala. I graduated in January, and passed NCLEX in Feb. I started applying to hospitals before graduation and am still continuing to do so. No one wants to hire new grads/inexperienced RN's. I took a job in sub acute/LTC. Im happy with it so far. The pay is better, and on the sub acute, I am learning new skills. I still get to do IV's, PICC lines, dressing changes, and of course pass alot of meds. My former classmates are experiencing the same thing.

Congrats to you!!

Defintely concentrate on Saunders. Do as many questions as you can, every day. Try to put a little more emphasis on priority, delegation, and infection control. You will see alot of this on the nclex. Good Luck.

Congrats New Nurse!!

Hey! I live and work in Ocala. I just graduated from nursing school, and passed NCLEX this month. I was working at West Marion/Ocala Regional as a nurse intern. I was laid off. After I got licensed, I called and was told there were no new grad postions. I have 'heard' there is an unofficial hiring freeze going on at the local hospitals. I went ahead and put in my application, and so did some of my former classmates. We have yet to be called. So...I went to work in LTC/Sub Acute. The pay is excellent. Im making more than I would in the hospital, and its 8hr shifts. I guess due to the economy, there are a lot of nurses that are having to look elsewhere (other than the hospitals) for employment, at least in this area. People have told me not to work in LTC because you wont learn new skills, or you will loose the one's you have. I have found this to be very untrue. Im doing PICC lines, IV's, sterile dressing changes, etc. Everything I would do in the hospital, if I were working Med-Surg, but seems a lot less stressful. I also have seen ads for nurses for Kindred Hospital, which is a long term acute care hospital inside of Munroe. If you are going to work in Ocala, just be prepared to look outside the hospitals unless you have a lot of experience. good luck!

Hi Donster, Thanks for the reply. I have been to Lourdes and its looks like a very nice hospital. I have heard they have a great graduate nurse program. I was hoping to start out there. I just passed the NCLEX last week, and Im licensed in Florida. Im in the process of applying for licensure in New York, but I have heard it can take quite awhile. Right now I am working in LTC because I am moving soon, and the hospitals in my local area are not hiring because of the economy. I love LTC, but I really want to learn in a hospital. Well anyway, thanks for the info. Do you know what fairly new grads are making in that part of NY? Thanks again!

Hi, I am moving to Binghamton from Florida and was curious as to what the job outlook is like for RN's in Binghamton. Are there very many openings, or is the economy crunch hitting there to? If anyone in Binghamton or the surrounding area could provide me with any info I would be very grateful! Can you also tell me what the average pay is in Binghamton for a new RN? Thanks in advance!

Thanks waitingforthedream and winsome08!! I still cant believe Im an RN...lol

LOL...I passed with 75...thank God. That was the hardest 48 hrs I've ever had. I found out I passed on Friday and started working on Monday and I am loving it! Thanks for asking!

Hey Everyone, I first posted this in the grad nurse forum, but I thought I would try my fellow Florida nurses. I graduated last month, and passed NCLEX this week. I was recently laid off from the hospital,(as an intern) and the hospitals in my area want experience, and have no new grad postions. I am also in LTC, and it looks like I may have to stay there for a little while. My question is, when you get into LTC, is it hard to get into a hospital later? Not that being in LTC is bad, but being a new grad I really wanted the hospital experience. Is it hard to get into the hospital afterwards? Everyone says there is a nursing shortage, but alot of new grads I know are having a heck of a time getting into the hospitals. Any ideas? Thanks!