Williss2

I don't have any advice specifically, but I just wanted to lend words of encouragement in your decision. It's a possibility that the hiring manager would not take a chance out on you if he/she feels that you couldn't do it. You may have to do some self studying outside of work. I'm also wondering if you did go ahead and take the job and how has it been so far.

The first thing is to recognize a problem in order to make changes. So congrats on that and even wanting to take steps to change. There are a lot of people, not just in nursing, who display those same negative characteristics and think nothing of it. Maybe something you can try also is to be empathetic. Some of those behaviors really hurt others feelings even though that may not be the intent. When someone is hurt, they may not always let on, especially in the work setting.

Hello Allnurses family, After about 3 years of soul searching, I have finally decided to take the plunge and pursue grad school for FNP. I have tirelessly done my research. There is only 1 school in my state that has explicitly stated that they provide precepetors for clinicals. This school is about $20,000 a semester. I can't afford that. However, something told me to see what some of the adjacent schools do. I found 3 schools, all in different states that I spoke with someone who informed me that they set it up. Of course I am looking into other things in a program, but I keep hearing over and over about the preceptor issue. I got accepted into a program last year that did not and at the last minute, I felt that I was making a mistake. I bowed out and lost my $200 deposit and some other fees. Prior to rescinding my acceptance, I put feelers out there with the few resources I had without any interest. I hate asking my own family for help. Let alone a stranger. Moving involves so many moving pieces, including my husband, who supports me either way, my children, and that I have never lived anywhere else butmy home state. But I only want to do this once and right. This could be an adventure for us. But is this too much of a sacrifice when other students are able to get in and get out and are now working. I know this was long. I feel a little better just venting this. Did anyone move OOS for school? How was the experience?

I also absolutely cringe when people say that they are a nurse but they are not. I feel that this term should be reserved for the people who have worked hard in school and in their positions. I have a family member that has people thinking that she is a nurse. They asked her to tell me what kind of nurse she was. She knew that she was caught, so she just mumbled something inaudible. My other family member was dating someone who had us all fooled into thinking that she was a nurse. Fast forward 10 years, and I decided on nursing and graduated. I ended up finding out that she works in my department and she is a tech. She had us fooled for years. It is odd because in my personal experience, a lot of real nurses don't go out of their way to brag about being a nurse. When I am not working, I rarely tell people that I am a nurse. I hate it that friends and family think that I am the guru of healthcare. I am surprised that they have not discovered the reoccurring advice that I give to, "Go to your doctor". You truly don't want the attention.

I don't have much to add. But I just wanted to say that I get it. Maybe you and I both are in the minority on this topic. Looking at the figures relating salary to happiness, that amount is almost 2 times my income last year. I will be going back to school this fall. I know that I probably will not start out making any more than I am now, but I do hope that the new opportunity is easier on my body and overall quality of life.

I did hear about this and it has been weighing heavy on my heart ever since. This could have been me, or anybody. I just hate to see lives lost of people who have so much promise in their future. I send my prayers to the family, friends and classmates of each of these special individuals. I wish that I could say more or do more. I am sure that there are people in their community who will forever be touched by their lives.

Oh yes. Becoming the patient can be an eye opening experience. When I had my last son I quickly became, "that patient." I would have never thought that it would be me. There was a lot of anxiety about the unknown. When you work in L&D and no one can explain to you, or provide written material on Pitocin, then that is a problem. That is why I try to explain everything to my patients when I encounter them. I saw things that reinforced to me that I was the type of nurse that I wanted to be. I wish you the best in your recuperation.

I have a challenge with this too. Some days I go in fully loaded with a positive attitude, good rest, etc. Then the happenings in the shift just snatches my joy. Some things I try to do is to take a nice, hot shower when I get home and let every negative thing go into the drain. I say to myself, "This too shall pass". I vent to someone, mainly my husband, and then try not to bring it up again for the rest of the day. With this method, I can focus my time off on what is really important and not give any more energy to the job before I have to go back. I have not done this last one in a while, but I used to create things to look forward to and tell myself, that I am here so that I can go to Vegas, or eat a nice dinner, etc. Having something to look forward to would be a good motivator and a protection from some negativity and bad energy at work.

Congrats are in order. Life is going to continue to throw you obstacles. But it is how they are overcome is what's important. In my life, I feel that the harder the obstacle, the bigger the blessing.

Of course I don't have to spend a lot of time talking about how much I would like to get away from the bedside. I spent my days off obsessively looking at jobs, thinking of furthering my education and just overall plotting my escape. Or I am venting to my husband, who does not understand, about something that happened at work.I have turned down about 3 offers so far because of the money and flexibility. Leaving the bedside is less money and I am not in the best financial situation to take a paycut. I am also in the pool and can work any days I want. I have ultimately put the school idea on hold because I am scared of more loans. I hate my role right now but I am stressing my self out even more when I keep searching for answers but keep returning to this. So, my decision is final. I have made my bed and now I need to figure out how to lie in it more comfortably. I try to be grateful that I do have a job. But when things arise, it goes out the window Any suggestions.

Thanks for the replies. I believe that I answered my own question when I spoke to a recruiter. I was actually just seeking information about starting sometime next year and they talked me into doing an app over the phone. A recruiter called me the next day and asked that I start during the holidays because it will be harder to get a first time job right after the holidays due to competition. Anyway, she quoted me two jobs at 19/hr with 1800 stipend and 390 biweekly per diem or 21/hr and 1200 stipend w/ 390 biweekly per diem. After doing the math, my living arrangements and bills are too expensive right now to take anything close to this offer. I will compare with another company at another time, but traveling will probably be more beneficial to me if I had NO home bills while on the road and a better hourly wage than that. That could free up some money to save. I kinda agree w/ the above poster, you have to be crafty w/ living arrangements and stipends to see a better result.

Hello, I have some years experience under my belt and I am considering travel nursing. I am just in the research stage right now. I have been scouring the boards and I mostly see people talk about how the pay is not as much as one would think, or they use their existing savings to sight-see. I make o.k money now, so I don't think that my hourly wage will be much more, but is it realistic to say that I can save the overhead of not having to pay rent and bills. Let's say that my hourly wage is the same as where I am now, can I either use the company housing/stipend to cover the overhead and save the money that would have been for bills and rent. Has anybody been able to save while traveling? What am I missing? I don't have to worry about the weeks between jobs because I have a very flexible job where I can pick up shifts in between and also I don't think that I will take back to back assignments. Just maybe in the spring and summer. Oh, and I will be traveling with family.

I didn't actually say anything this time, but I charted it. I was tired and charting my nursing notes on the computer. At the end, I usually put somthing like, "Will continue to monitor until shift change." I guess I forgot the F and I put, "Will continue to monitor until **** change." What is so funny is how applicable both phrases are. I quickly modified that document. I can't imagine what would have happened if I didn't change it before someone saw it.

Hello, I know this is a late response to Merced from California, but the certification class I was talking about was the train the trainer class. I am already a licensed RN.

I personally prefer choosing my own scrubs. There are professional scrub sets out there that does not make you look like a clown. I have worked at places that you choose your own and mandated colors. My biggest thing with one colored scrubs is the fading. When you are washing the same things over and over, it requires you to purchase scrubs more often to avoid looking washed out. Also, when they need their pain meds or anything else, my patients have no issues knowing who their nurse is.

I also forgot to add that sometimes, depending on the layout of the room, I cut the bathroom light on and crack the door, that way I get some light, but its not directly shining on the patient.

I used to be nervous to bother patients and wake them up to. But the same patients who can get rude for being waken up can be the same ones to complain that no one has been in their room all night. Or they complain that they have not seen their nurse. I look at it as, they are there for a service. Assessment is a part of that. So, I wake them up and start assessments right away. But I also cluster assignments and let them know if later I will have to wake them up for anything else, such as a 3 or 4am med.

What!!! Its just 7:01. I have 11 more hours and 59 minutes to go!!!

I am also thinking of starting a CNA business. I take the certification class next month. Can anyone comment on the start up costs of this venture. Thanks

Hello, My friend and I started doing this as well. We got certified and later split up. I am affiliated with a training center and do courses here and there. I thought that doing this could get me out of floor nursing and there was just not enough money in it for me. You could get a full class of people and expect a certain amount of money and have half the class cancel on the day of. Also, at least here, I have to wait on my training center to prepare the cards and so people could not get their cards on the same day. There were people who called and needed their cards the same day or they could not work, or they forgot that their cards expired and I would not be able service them. I do enjoy teaching the class though. Since I have all the materials, I just do it on the side here and there.

It is less stressful on your family life when you finish school and start working. I won't say that it is less stressful for your personal journey. There will still be a huge learning curve in the transition into nursing, dealing with coworkers, politics, etc. But as stated before, if you can learn early on to leave work at work, there will be more time to be mom and wife.

I also used to feel this way. But sitting at home, staring at each other every day broke gets very old very quickly. You can't go to movies, dinner, dancing or anywhere without money. Bills piled high. Stressing. The first and only conversation you talk and argue about becomes finances. This makes you become a miserable person and spouse. It puts a lot of undue strain on a relationship. Some relationships can over come this and others can't. But either way its hard. Don't get me wrong, spouses should make the best out of what they have, but I refuse to be stagnant and stuck with the broke status all my life because I am married to a spouse without the same ambitions.

These are good posts everyone!:) I hope to keep them coming. Now I don't feel like the only one.

Before nursing school, and maybe even after getting those nice nursing checks, what were some of the dumbest purchases made. Big or small. I have heard some good financial advice on this site. But people learn from our mistakes too. Most of my dumb mistakes came from being young. As a teen my boyfriend (now husband) and I took his last paycheck from gettting fired and went to six flags. Spent the whole check, not knowing the next time we would have money. Once graduating, we ate out at least 4 times a week until someone on this site made me aware as to how much I was actually spending(Family of 4). I thought nursing school would be a bad investment when I racked up loans not knowing if I was gonna pass. But it was probably the best investment. My best friend bought a current year STANDARD suzuki forenza for over twenty grand right out of nursing school. It immediately depreciated and she ended up in an upside down situation when trying to trade it in the next year.

When I was anxious to have my baby, I read on a lot of blogs to take 4-6 oz of castor oil to induce labor. When I bought the castor oil, I realized, that they were talking about the whole bottle! I was too scared to try that much(2 tablespoons maybe). No wonder people complained of uncontrolled BMs during delivery. But I hear it works and that some midwives even recommend it. One embarassing remedy I did try. It is recommended to rub butter on your breast during puberty and you will have large breasts. My mom and her friend tried it. Both in the double D's. Myself, a nice large D cup. So this one might have prevented plastic surgeons from being so rich nowadays.