squee-gee

I have no regrets about leaving my comfortable job and becoming an RN -AT ALL! I would so do it all over again. All of my co-workers are incredibly kind and helpful. It is such an honor to know that you made a difference in someone's life - from teaching a new ostomy patient to changing a dressing or repositioning them to make them more comfortable, or just listening and holding their hand. I love the hours (3 - 12's) - I have so much more time with my friends and family. I love that I have so many choices if I ever tire of hospital work. I embrace the challenging physical work - it keeps me strong! I love to use my brain to problem-solve, and to practice the new clinical skills I've learned. However, I DO really look forward to my knowledge base growing to the point where I understand things automatically without having to ask questions all the time or look things up. I realize that process takes around two years, and I am happy to be patient and wait for it happen. In the meantime I will keep my eyes and ears open, ask a million questions, do lots of reading, and go to work each shift with a smile on my face:D!

Very funny story!!! I'm sitting here trying not to fall asleep after a dull night in the ED, and your story perked me right up. Thanks for that!

It's absolutely a good idea to get a job as a CNA while you're in NS! First, you are getting your foot in the door of the hospital, which may make it easier to land a job there. Unfortunately, it doesn't always turn into a position, beause most hospitals have quite a few nursing students working for them, and they can't hire them all. At least you will have your job experience to put on your resume - which would be an obvious advantage over a new grad with no experience. Second good reason to work as a CNA is the experience - clinical experience of course, but also experience just talking to and getting used to working closely with patients. When I started nursing school I had no experience in the medical field whatsoever. I got a job as a CNA and it really helped me get over feeling awkward and tounge-tied. Lastly, you can make connections while working in a hospital - become friendly with the other nurses and nurse managers, and network so when you do graduate you will have a list of people you can call on during your job search. You will also have some really great references. I realize some people already have jobs while in school - I did, too. However, I knew this was something I really needed to do, so I worked one to two 8 hour shifts per week in addition to my regular job, plus nursing school. In the summer when school was out I worked more shifts. It was really, really hard - but so worthwhile. Good Luck to you!

I came off orientation in November, and I remember that terrified feeling very well! However, as it turned out, it wasn't really all that different, because there was always someone there to advise and answer my many questions. As I went along, I tried to answer those questions myself instead of relying on my co-workers as much. If I was ever really unsure of something, I would first try to figure out the answer myself, but then clarify with my co-workers. I still ask questions when I need to - it's the best way to learn. Hopefully you will be working with staff that are sympathetic and willing to teach you - that is the real key to a successful transition. Good Luck!!

Whoa! For pete's sake, I certainly empathize with the nurses I work with as well as with my patients! 90 % of the nurses I work with are fantastic, hard working people and I feel so fortunate to be associated with them. Of course you can be unhappy and still do a good job! My only issue is with the few who are not doing a good job, complain constantly about working in a hospital setting but don't do anything about it. Who ever said anything about quitting without finding a new position first, or taking a job that pays less or doesn't offer benefits?! What's so wrong about making the suggestion that if a person is unhappy they look into some other area of nursing???

Actually, I have - I'm 51 years old and have worked many jobs, have worked with all types of people, and have been employed as a manager and as a drone. I do agree with you, though - people do complain in every field, and I do pity them. My point was that if you are a nurse, and your unhappiness with your job is affecting your patient care, then look for a position that doesn't require as much physical work, or hospital BS, or whatever it is that makes you unhappy. As I said before, there are lots of alternatives to hospital nursing.

This is a subject that really gets me worked up! :angryfire Granted, I am a newbie, and am looking at the profession with rose-colored glasses, but I have seen first-hand how a nurses attitude affects her patient care. I am getting really tired of hearing some of my co-workers ******** and moaning through report, complaining about simple requests from their patients, or labeling a pt as troublesome (I swear, the 9 out of 10 times I'm told that in report I never see it myself). If you are that burned out and tired of it, then for God's sake get out of the hospital and work somewhere else! There are many, many options for RNs out there - that's one of the reasons I went into nursing in the first place. There are high paying positions in the insurance field, pharmaceutical sales, private duty nursing. It just means shaking things up, getting off your butt and doing some legwork. As NurseCard said, sometimes you just have to find the area of nursing that you "fit' into. If you are not cut out for working on the floors, or if you are burnt out by putting up with all the associated hospital buracracy BS inherent with that, then please...find another place to work!

Stellina615 - Congrats of finishing NS! I totally can relate - I remember being so siked to read a fiction book again. Lots of good suggestions out there - one of my favs is Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum series - so funny and a great summer read. Also good - Secret Life of Bees, The Lovely Bones, The Glass Castle, and any Mitch Albom books (for a good cry!) Best of luck to you, and have a great summer!

Hey guys, I graduated from the evening program last May - I'm a mentor now for a day student, so I heard the news from her. I can't believe they are suspending it and only accepting 32 applicants. That is so unfair to everyone on the waiting list. If I were you I would apply to all the programs in the area - NSCC, Middlesex, plus there are some in NH - St. Joe's and Rivier (sp?). I heard Regis College has ongoing admissions - one of my pre-req classmates ended up there after not getting into NECCO. Don't put your hopes on just one school. Yes, you may have to commute farther, but you'll get used to that eventually. As far as the TEAS goes, obviously it has become the key to getting into the program - along with a really good GPA in your pre-reqs. Don't take the TEAS lightly! Study for it as you would any high stakes test. Buy the study guide. Bone up on your math, grammer, and weird sciences (like ecology and genetics, and there were even questions about electricity for christ sake!) I had a 4.0 GPA and got a 89% on the TEAS and got put on the waiting list, but they called me the next day and offered me a slot. They also have to fill a certain number of spots with men and minorities, so you have a little better chance if you are considered one. Well, good luck, guys - I hope you get in someplace...and don't be discouraged! If you don't get in this time there is always next year, and other schools around to try.

I do know what you mean....this is one part of nursing that I dread as well. I am also a new grad, so I don't have the self assurance older nurses do when they speak to the docs on the phone. I haven't had a doc be a real jerk on the phone yet, but I'm sure I will at some point (I work the night shift as well...). The advice I've received from more experienced RN's is to preface calls with "you realize I am required to call you with this information" (if you are calling in a critical lab or if the Drs orders require a call if parameters fall below a certain number). Of course, there will always be those docs who are jerks plain and simple. I always take a consensus from the other RNs I work with if I'm unsure whether I should call or not. From what you describe, you were totally correct in calling the doc about that patient - but why would it be your fault the pt died? Your the one informing him of the pts declining health!

I agree with patwil73! The management of you hospital is clearly in need of some serious restructuring, and unless you have support behind you, I don't think one new grad's voice will make much difference. I'm amazed there haven't been serious mistakes made with those insane ratios. I admire you for wanting to change things, but I think the best thing to do would be to report them to JHACO, or contact your state nursing association or dept of health, or your local nurses union or somebody before someone in your community gets killed. Seriously - document everything that's happened so far and get help! Good Luck, and I hope you are able to open peoples eyes to the terribly unsafe staffing and management policies at your hospital.

I started as a new grad last August, went through orientation and my preceptorship, and was on my own by mid-November. Although the hospital had a policy about not floating new grads, the medsurg floor I was hired for closed in January, so I ended up in the float pool anyway. It hasn't been as bad or as scary as I thought it would. Everyone has been very supportive and the nursing supervisors are very protective of all the new grads who ended up in the pool. I was trained on a GI/GU surgical floor, but now I'm getting experience on heavy medical floors, ortho surgeries and telemetry. I even worked in the ED last night. I know they are planning to have us orient in the ICU as well. Although I wished I had more general experience as a nurse before I was thrown into the float pool, I know in the long run working as a float will broaden the scope of my practice and look good on my resume. As long as you have the support of the supervisors, and everyone knows you are a new grad, you should be fine - enjoy the diversity! Also...in this economy, I'm just happy to have a position at all!

I can't imagine why the supervisor said night shift would be harder! I was offered a night shift position after orienting on days and jumped at the chance. It is much easier to organize your thoughts, get meds out on time, do research and really understand why your patient is being treated. Don't get me wrong - I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs - as a matter of fact, the first 4-5 hours zoom by because I'm so busy (I do 12 hour shifts) - BUT, it is nowhere near as crazy as it is on days. I am still getting the experience of caring for med-surg patients, but at a much saner pace. Don't give up! You have to give yourself a chance with a more supportive facility. There are lots of other alternatives.

Dear East Coast, I'm a May grad as well, but happily I am on a floor where I get respect and the help I need. If I weren't, however, I would make a beeline outta here. I am a new grad - hence I don't know everything. I worked very hard for my RN license and I don't want anything jepordizing it. I want my nursing practice to be safe, but to do that I need the help of my peers, co workers and manager. To be "dissed" by your manager, and to receive no help from your peers at this stage in your career is just plain cruel. Please, whatever you do, don't lose confidence in your own abilities. Don't throw it all away because of your inconsiderate coworkers! You obviously are good at what you do (not too many NS get offered jobs while still in school!), so no more talk about quitting altogether, 'kay? I'd start looking for a new job asap...can you get a reference from the old NM? Good Luck!:icon_hug:

'Kay, here's the situation...I am a new grad RN, and I just finished my first full week on the floor with my preceptor. I had one patient all week who had one problem after another, poor thing. Today she developed an attack of acute gout, and was in severe pain. I phoned the MD to get orders, and read them back (4mg decadron and 50mg toradol both IV push). He has a very heavy accent and I had to ask him to repeat and spell everything and he was getting upset with me. I looked up the toradol in the IV book and noted the toradol dose was higher than normal, then showed my preceptor, who called pharmacy and they ok'd it. At first I was secretly hoping he hadn't said 15mg instead of 50. I heard 50, and I read 50 back to him. So I gave the meds, the pt tolerated them well, pain level went down. And I forgot about it. At the end of the shift I went to write my progress note and read what the MD had written about the patient's many issues including the gout, and it said 15mg toradol. I thought I was going to throw up. My preceptor had already left, I won't see her again until Wed. next week (I'll be with someone else Mon & Tues.). Pt. is probably being d/c this weekend. First of all, I feel like an idiot. I know I should have called him back, but truth be told I am terrified to talk to these MD's I can't understand over the phone. I feel sick that I gave this woman the wrong dose. I feel sick that I left today without saying anything. Secondly, what should I do about it???

I think I remember reading (on monster.com or somewhere like it) that this tactic is perfectly acceptable - it would be so helpful for you to know so you can ace it next time. Good Luck - and look forward!

Hi liz_beth_v, I just went through all that as a new grad - I don't know how it will go for you, but I had three seperate interviews - one with the HR recruiter, one with the nurse manager and one with the nurse educator for the hospital. The first two were fine - I got questions like why did you go into nursing, what do you enjoy most about nursing, what are your weaknesses/ strengths etc - pretty easy and straightforward. THEN I got to the nurse educator, and she went down this seemingly endless list of "what would you do if" scenerios and questions about situations I encountered in clinicals such as: "Tell me about a situation in which you resolved a patient's problem". :eek:I wasn't as prepared for these type of questions as I should have been, so these were more difficult. I still got the job, but it opened my eyes so next time I will be more prepared. I would make sure you have your basic responses down - the kind of questions asked at any type of job interview (monster.com has lots of good tips), but also think back to your clinicals and try to remember when you solved a problem, most difficult patient and how you dealt with it, mistake you made and how you fixed it - they want to test your critical thinking skills. I'm sure there were other types of questions, but I can't think of them right now. So relax, take a deep breath, and ace it! Good Luck:D

"Any opinons on if it is a good idea or not to get a job at a hospital (and which one) as a CNA before graduating to help me get my foot in the door." I think this is no longer a suggestion - it has really turned into something you have to do in order to have a chance at a job after you graduate. I don't know anything about Boston hospitals - I steered clear! - but even with the community hospitals in the 'burbs it is not a given that you will automatically have a job waiting for you if you worked there. (All community hospitals hire ADN's as far as I know, and almost all of them have structured new grad RN programs - which is what you want - as opposed to you applying after graduation for a RN position on their website w/o nursing experience.) This is what you should do - get a CNA job soon (although if you wait until you have done two semesters, you don't have to take the licensing exam - you just need proof that you have done x number of clinical hours..) - be a real go-getter, shmooz with the manager/charge nurse etc., and make sure everyone knows you are a nursing student and want to work there eventually. Do well in nursing school!! Have as an impressive GPA as possible. Be sure to get a written recommendation from every clinical instructor as you go. Around January of the year you are graduating, start asking HR what their timetable is - see if you can find the nursing recruiter and introduce yourself etc. etc... It's all about marketing yourself. This is the strategy I took and it paid off. Out of 15 nursing students at the hospital they hired only 7 for their new grad internship program, and I'm one of them (yay!).

ahaa!! is that the secret? well then, i'll have to wear only prints from now on!

What are lace up crocs??

Another newbie RN here! I just started the new grad RN program at the hospital where I worked as a CNA for a year. Singinharmony, you are lucky to have choices! For me, it was the only option. Hospitals in this area ONLY hire new grads who have worked for them in some capacity - and even then you weren't always guaranteed a position. We had 15 nursing student employees apply for 7 new grad positions. It's okay, though...I like this hospital, even though it's not as nice as some others I did clinical in. The only con I can think of is that it will feel weird delegating tasks to my ex co-workers. But, as long as we remember where we came from and treat the CNA's the way we used to like to be treated, I think it will work out alright. It certainly wouldn't hurt to look around at other facilities in your area. Even though you sound as though you like where you work, you must have some doubts, or you wouldn't be posting. If they offer you a job, ask for a few days to think it over and see what else is out there. I wouldn't turn them down, however, unless you had an offer elsewhere.

Hi Everyone! I am a new grad RN and will be starting orientation on August 4. A few weeks of classroom and then I will start with a preceptor until November on a Med-Surg floor. This is the route I envisioned for myself, and it will (I believe) give me the best background in general nursing and assessment experience possible (I eventually would like to be a home health nurse). It may not be the most glamorous way to go, but...I am excited to begin. I'm sure I will be haunting this forum for advice and support.

I'm glad someone else is obsessing about scrubs! I start a new grad program on August 4 and I've been spending WAY too much time and energy (and $$$) on-line shopping for scrubs that are "just right". I've been buying mostly solids with a few "tasteful" prints thrown in for fun. I've bought a lot of Koi and Urbane solid tops - prints are more of a challenge. As a CNA, I was frequently complimented on my printed scrubs by patients - it seemed to brighten their day a teeny bit...