Quailfeathers

I just attended a seminar and one area of discussion was the notion that LTC/SNF nurses are just "nurses" without specialty which lead to defining who "we" are.....Gerontological Nurses. I LOVE that! It totally summaries what my background is coming into nursing and what I do now, by choise, not b/c it was the only job offered. A good gerontological nurse can have a positive and significant impact on someone's life, and what greater gift can we offer one another.

I am a new grad LVN working F/t and have taken an oncall job recently. The on call is a problem area in regards to the med carts. Realizing I am new to the real world of nursing, however, the med carts at the skilled facility is so disorganized to the point that as an orientating nurse on the floor it took me FOREVER to just FIND the right med, eye drops, etc. None of the room numbers "flags" can be used because they do not match what pt is in that room. The meds for pt in room 100 may be in the middle of the draw and 102 may be the 4th one in. And the meds are pulled from any where in the bubble pack, in random order, from any number of bubble packs for the same med and pt. Is it just my inexperience with med carts? My f/t job is organized and flows with the MAR and pt and room numbers are matched accurately. Ointments, powders etc are kept separately yet easily found. Spoke to the Staff Developer on the floor today and was told that they are aware of it and will be addressing it. Is this fairly typical? In the meantime, is there anything in particular I should do to assure I don't make a med error other than the 5R's. Any suggestions to make my med pass operate smoothly and without wasting so much time in the process? I am SO frustrated after this floor orientation!!

There are a number of posts you can find re Stanbridge. From my experience as a VN grad, get everything in WRITING and pay attention to anything administration wants you to sign; take it home and really READ what you are signing. As far as instructors and clnicals...I think the best instructors are gone. What is obvious is the turn around in instructors which makes stressful to focus on what you are actually trying to do. Yes, so far it's 100% NCLEX pass rate but those classes had the cream of instructors (now gone). Example: one instructor did NOT ware gloves when coming in contact with body fluids (blood) Its important to keep in mind that student nurses need to be patient advocates even while in a nursing program. So don't hesitate to speak up for your patient(s) or yourself when you see/experience something inappropriately being done. There was an obvious shift as students moved through the semesters. The focus was the new students and not always the ones who were at the end of the program. At times it was obvious the graduating classes were the ones in the postage size rooms and at times without a competent instructor. Because Stanbridge is the "new kid on the block" clinical sites are limited b/c schools like Pacific or Career College have had contracts with sites for years. Yes they have an awesome lab, I just hope it's utilized more effectively by teh students no matter what semester it is. If you choose this program, I strongly suggest that your class push for a student body counsel. Students need to have a forum with strength to be heard by administration. Best of luck no matter where you go. Keep focused on your goal, make your schooling the priority if you choose nursing as your career. Remember at the end of it all someone's mom, dad, sister, brother, child, best friend will be in YOUR care and you MUST know what you are doing.

I am a new grad LVN and I have my first job ready to go. However, when I was looking I found it difficult to get call backs and interviews set up, even with the SNFs. Thank you for this post; I have been so focused on myself and getting my foot in the door as a LVN, I neglected to see the bigger picture. The cuts taking place certainly are effecting us all more than I realized.

Thanks Jakeysmom and luvanurse. I appreciate your experience and certainly will continue to treat all nursing staff members with respect. I was talking with a gf who worked corporate for years and the company had an outside consultant come in and find out what employees wanted most from their job. #1 answer was appreciation.

I am a new grad LVN (Hurray!!!) who will be starting my first job as a LVN and team leader. A portion, as the title implies, will be to oversee the CNA on my shift. I have worked as a CHHA (home health aide - very similar to a CNA) so I understand the stresses, demands, time management issues of the scope of practice for that nursing staff member. I want to be a leader who is approachable, will listen before determining action, willing to assist if needed, and able to teach by example if necessary without micromanaging. Before entering nursing school, I worked for this employer per diem as a nursing assistant so I know some of the staff members. My question: What traits and examples of situations can you give me that you experienced from your supervisor that were positive or negative. What did you appreciate most? What made situations more difficult than they had to be?

Private schools are almost much higher. I've heard that the program cost (private college) is based on the approximate salary of a new grad pn/vn in the medical field.

I just finished nursing school and will be 55 yo this month. It was a two year p/t program. I was the oldest in the class and I believe older than most, if not all, my instructors. Attitude and a desire is all you need.

I am putting my resume together as a new grad LVN. Formatting is not the issue, however, I would like to know what is being included in an area similar to "student clinical experience" Just a list of facilities along with dates or are you putting down a list of what you did at each. It seems that most employers will ask during the interview about what was done at each, if they really want to know. I have worked in the medical field for some 10 years so I have work experience and references. Are most people noting membership to organizations and awards received? Thanks for the input!

Hi Dragonfly38, I took the NCLEX-PN and we have to wait for notification in the mail.

i took my board from anaheim 2 weeks ago today. from my experience, the people there were very kind and professional. they open the door at 730am, no earlier. make sure you have your paperwork with you; att and picture id with the same name you registered with. the process prior to testing is easy and quick. they give you an erasable board that you can write whatever you want once the test starts. prior to testing start they consider it "brain dumping". i was surprised that there are not many people who test at one time, i thought it would be this big room with 50+ people at a time; it wasn't at all. i think there was about 30 people divided into two test rooms. the test was not like i expected. i did saunders, lippincott ati and exam cram to mention a few. exam cram was more like the test than the other study resources. questions are almost "short" not like the lengthly saunders questions. i had 7-9 s.a.t.a., calculations that started with basic dose/what you have on hand and when into peds calculations. priority nursing is emphasized on the test it seems. as in which pt to see first, what lab to report immediately to dr., what intervention to do first. i have heard that from a number of nurses taking the test. my test shut down at 85 and i'm still waiting; expecting results in 5 weeks (at least that was what most students at my college said they received notification of results). i'm praying i passed b/c i didn't have that feeling walking out of there of "oh, that was easy..i passed". the day before don"t open a book and do something relaxing for yourself. eat a good breakfast, get there early so you don't feel rushed. best of luck!

I just read a post re paying the licensing fee (which I believe is 150) and then the results can be seen california bvnpt website. Does anyone know if we have to wait for results to come in the mail first and when subimt fee? And when notification does come, will that letter have the license number included as resumes/job interviews can get underway?

safarinurse I'm in Southern California and took the Board in Anaheim. What was your NCLEX like, how many questions and what were your thoughts after the test?

Sorry this "post space" was edited and removed b/c I posted twice somehow.

I posted in another area so sorry if you have read this post. I took my NCLEX-PN today in Ca, and the computer shut down at 85. I had a lot of SATA, calculations that went from easy to a bit more involved and into peds calculations. I had a little of everything; priority was every where it seemed. I didn't think it was easy, but not as hard as ATI. It was very different that Saunders. I just hope I passed!