jcat01

I am originally from Carlsbad, and I lived for a short time in Cruces. I can tell you that Carlsbad is NOT the best place to live. It use to be an awesome little town, but it is run over with drug problems along with other issues (such as a recent spike in violent crime). I would not recommend working for their hospital as they have a pretty low standard. People have came and went trying to turn it around, but it never does. There are two nursing homes there: Landsun and Lakeview. I did clinicals at both, and I prefer Landsun, but there is nothing wrong with Lakeview. Las Cruces has two hospitals: Memorial and Mountain View. I don't have much information on them other than Mountain View is owned by the same corporation as Carlsbad's hospital. I am currently looking to move back to NM (born and raised!), but I'm heading towards Albuquerque. Good luck on your move!!!!

Look into your state BON and see if mandatory overtime is addressed. If it isn't allowed-then no, they cannot make you come in....and like everyone else, I'd be asking why and for me personnally I wouldn't want to work for an ICU that does that.

I finally got my NCLEX RN scheduled for 7-21!! I am already an LPN, and kinda flew through that NCLEX with little prep...however.....I'm really really nervous and anxious about the RN one.... Anyhow-I was wondering if anyone had any good advice on studying pharm...I've tried for the past two years to cram all those drugs into my head-and it seems that I just can't remember!!! I have Saunders (got it with my book bundle in school-3rd edition, always hated that book-never did me any good) and the NSNA approved NCLEX review. I'm doing all right in most catagories, but I'm just freaked out. I just started my job for a SICU that does hearts/neuro/trauma (in hospital orientation right now, I'll start on the unit next week!!) Sorry for rambling! I do that when I'm stressed:eek: Any advice would be appreciated-and good luck to everyone!! Jess

I don't believe how a person looks or what their vices are effects their competency. We as humans all have issues, many of which include doing things we know we "shouldn't" (like smoking, hitting the beer a little much during the Sunday/Monday football games, chowing down on that chocolate bar etc.) but we do anyway. That's life...it happens, and we are all guilty of it at one point or another in our lives. I just started the nursing program, I'm overweight and I'm on/off with the smoking. I had quit, but due to the EXTREME stress pool I just jumped into I've gone back to it-but I am limiting myself. I'm trying to exercise a few times a week as well, because I want to be a good example for my future patients/friends/family...plus working as a CNA I have found that my excess "fluff" (as my physical assessment prof calls it!!) or more like my "out of shapeness" hinders me in my job (I tire easily, out of breath, that kinda thing). So, I've made a personal decision to do something about it...plus I have hypertension...at my age (23), that's scary. Does that mean that ALL overweight people have this problem? Nope...it's just something with me. That's the thing, we are all individuals and what matters is how we feel about ourselves and whether or not we can deliver the care we need to be giving. Oh, and I haven't caught flak about it-considering many of the nurses/aides are on the heavy side. However, we all work as a team at night and do an awesome job....I believe that is what matters the most-not whether or not any single one of us can go out and win a marathon or a beauty pagent.

I'm working at my facility as an aide right now, but I also just started the nursing program earlier this week (wish me luck!!). Our facility does not have a regulated nurse/patient ratio-although it seems better than some of the previous posts (7-9 patients is better than 13)-acuity not taken into consideration. As an aide-depending on the census I can have anywhere from 5 to 11....usually with just one nurse, but sometimes I have 2 or three nurses that I am an aide for. Fortuantley for my nurses I bust my butt to make sure that patients are taken care of -baths, snacks, glucoses taken on time, they are always aware of abnormal vital signs, rooms are cleaned etc etc...I figure the more I get in there and do now, the more I will appreciate aides when I am a nurse...and the more I can learn from my nurses that I can use when I do practice. Ok-off topic now, but I have decided that once I become a nurse I would like to practice where a low ratio has been implemented. Patient saftey/satisfaction are my main concerns-and in my opinion they cannot be well addressed with a high ratio.....