SpecFuz

I truly appreciate your replies. To answer the question about what phase the trials are in, some are phase 2 but I'm am not honestly acquainted with any yet. the department is in a state of flux and there is not a lot of resourceful people I can go to so unfortunately a lot of it i believe will be figuring it out on my own. Any resources or suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks so much@!

I am new as a research RN. I am very unfamiliar with all the legalities of it but had been given a heads-up from a former colleague to be very careful about documentation etc. My question is, I literally just started at a hospital and within my first week was given 11 separate clinical trials...in addition, I was added as the contact nurse for trials already closed...even though I had nothing to do with them. This is very concerning to me and I'm wondering if anyone feels it's appropriate to say something. If it isn't actually a big deal, I don't want to make it an issue but I just feel I shouldn't have my name attached to anything I wasn't involved with...especially if that means I could be help accountable! Any suggestions/advice? Thank you...

I have seen them used at the hospital I will be working out in a few weeks. If you google Safe Seal diaphragm covers you will find them. I think they are even on ebay. Spec

thanks for all the tips. I have actually tried them on in a store and figured if I know I'm a size 37, i might as well save some money and order them online. http://www.clogscentral.com has a 15% discount through end of this month! Thanks again, Spec

This is a silly question but considering I'm going to spend $100 on a pair of shoes I thought I might as well try and ask... I'm going to buy a pair of dansko's and tried on the professional's size 37. I was told in the store though that if I order them online I should look for the dansko professional Occupational style b/c it's a different material, will fit the same but are easier to clean fluids off of them. The website I'm looking to buy them out lists the dankso professional cabrios at $110 and the occupational box professionals at $99. The material looks softer on the occupational. Does anyone happen to have these or know if there is a real difference? I hate to spend this kind of money and not get what will last me the longest. Thx

I took my NCLEX last month and passed with 120 questions. I believe the overwhelming majority of people that get 75 questions do pass but wanted to just share that someone I know got 75 questions and failed. I had previously heard this was almost impossible but this happened to my friend. I think the odds are overwhemingly with a person that at 75 they pass, but it is just something I thought I should share because I had been told it was impossible. Best of Luck to Everyone!!!!!!! You can do it :)

I was wondering if anyone owns one or uses something similar (sidekick? blackberry? pocketpc? palm?) at work and finds it so helpful. I'm thinking of getting an all-in-one device for phone/messaging/email/reference and was hoping to get some feedback and hear if it is worth it and helpful on the job. Starting my 1st job as a RN soon in peds onc and hoping to have a lot of reference material on me to help! :) Thx, Spec

mccnrs2b, pm me. i'll be starting a job at sloan kettering soon! thanks, spec

I grew up in NY and lived in NYC before going to nursing school in Tennessee. I just had to add that I just graduted in December and am moving to NYC in 2 weeks. In my experience (just 1 opinion), it is the least segregated place I've seen. Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta, etc. all make me feel like there is some kind of "invisible" line segregating people. Yes, NYC is probably the most expensive place on the planet to live. It's a great place to live, but not for everybody. Working conditions in hospitals definitely vary depending on where you are in the country. In Nashville, RN's work 3x12 hr shifts per week. In NYC, it seems the standard for RN's to work 3x13 for 3 weeks and 1 week per month work 4x12. I would highly encourage anyone planning to move to NYC to visit first. Good Luck!

This list is great! Thanks for all the input. I especially like the pda advice and the indiglo watch idea. I never heard a hemostat called a kelly clamp in nursing school so thanks for the clue. Google is a close friend, btw, as is Froogle. Thanks again!

Well, I feel good because I already have a few of these like: A significant other that doesn't mind dating odd ours (I'm married) and click pens. :) I should mention, I'll be working peds it looks like (peds onc) so anything specific to that? And now, to give you all a laugh and a moan, I have to ask...what is a kelly clip???????

I'm trying to decide if there is anything I need to go out and buy before I start my first job as a RN... My list includes so far: good shoes (I will look at Dansko's) & support hose Is there anything you can't live without that you suggest for a new RN?

Sorry I didn't explain this but the salaried position is NOT for management. It's a Staff RN position on a regular floor! I'm also a new grad, so I am sure I would be working OT. However, I think at a certain point I have to stop driving myself crazy and take a leap of faith b/c I realize I'm not going to know which job is the best to take until I get some experience. :)

Thanks. I didn't even realize hospital staff RN positions pay salary sometimes rather than hourly. This is a big deal to me but unfortunately it's the job I'm leaning towards. If there is not a lot of OT, I guess it wouldn't matter but as a new grad I am betting I'll be there late quite a bit! Thx again

I graduated in December and just passed NCLEX and am trying to make a decision between 2 jobs. One difference that I was hoping to get opinions on is the salaries. Position A is paid hourly. I would think this is good in case I stay late many nights. Position B is salaried so it seems to be a yearly salary + night diff. Does anyone that is paid either way think one is much better than the other? It seems obvious to me that the hourly pay would be smarter, but I am leaning towards the job that is salaried. Apparently they both should end up paying about the same amount when all is said and done. Both are hospital positions on nights in NYC. Thanks, I appreciate any feedback.

Hi All, Well, some of you may have read my post about my dad having lymphoma. I'm actually writing though to ask about your thoughts on new grads going directly into pediatric oncology. I interviewed and was offered 4 positions in different hospitals ranging from cardiac care unit to labor & delivery. Strangely, the only position that intrigued me was surprisingly peds oncology at Sloan Kettering. The new facility is beautiful and the nurse manager was great and seemed really supportive. They provide a 3 month training program with a preceptor then 1 month alone on days before switching you over to nights. My only hesitation to be honest is Fear. I know I love kids and would enjoy interacting with them, but I'm afraid that as a clueless new grad (that really isn't even certain of hanging IV's) that it would be too much to handle. What do you all think???? Thanks, Spec

Thanks for all the input. My dad is doing pretty well. He just completed his 3rd chemo session of CHOP+Rituxan. They are going to do a PET scan next week which will hopefully show that it is working. Ultimately, they are going to do an auto stem-cell transplant on him I think. I definitely plan on researching a lot about this. I passed NCLEX last week and am trying to decide about taking a job in Peds Oncology. Any thoughts? Thx, Spec

To everyone studying for NCLEX & getting ready to take it, I promised myself I'd take some time if I passed NCLEX to write out some thoughts that may hopefully help at least 1 person. Of course this is just my opinion having experienced it last Monday and finding out I passed Wednesday was one of the biggest feelings of relief I've ever experienced. 1st... You can do this. You've made it through school and know the material and have to go into the test giving yourself a little credit. (BTW, I didn't do any of the things I'm suggesting) 2nd... Take a few deep breaths before you begin the test and remember that you have A LOT of time to take the test. Don't be afraid to read the question and take a minute if you don't know how to answer it. Take 2 minutes, take 3 minutes. You have the time. Don't panic. READ the question. Remember, if the stem of the question doesn't have an assessment in it, and it's a priority question, Assess 1st! 3rd... If the computer doesn't shut off at 75 questions, try not to worry about it. (Easy for me to say now but this is what got me very worried). It shouldn't. I passed at 120 questions and know of others who passed with the full amount of 265. Don't worry about others around you and when they finish or what # you are on. Just take the questions one at a time. 4th and most important. Don't Give Up! Every question counts! Even if you feel like I did and aren't sure if you've answered the last 20 questions right, stay with it. If you get nervous, stop yourself, close your eyes, do whatever you have to to regroup and tackle the next question. Good Luck to Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Spec, R.N.

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Go in there knowing that you made it through school and you can do it. DON'T get discouraged if the test goes well beyond 75 questions. I let it upset it but you shouldn't...there are lots of us on this board that got easily over 100 questions and still passed. Work through every question and don't even think about what # it is. Don't give up! You can do it!!!!!

nynurse and cammy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy for us! agh i'm so glad the waiting is over. congratulations girls! good luck to all those waiting...you never know so don't lose hope. i was convinced there was no chance i passed but i did! all the best, spec

icannot believe it it says pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :balloons: :balloons: thank you all, everyone. i cannot believe it. this was the most torturing experience ever. nynurse and cammy???? thanks again, spec

Hey Jenn, I think I can find out results tomorrow morning and then I am going out of town for a few days in the afternoon. Depending on what happens, I may be balling the entire flight! Anyway, I'll be sure to post before I go either way. I was fine all day until tonight and now I've developed that crushing chest feeling of anxiety again. Yikes. Thx, Spec

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is wonderful. Wishing u all the best. Spec-biting her fingers off with anxiety

Hi Girls, Well, I was doing well today up until this point. I feel like my chest is going to explode (not a good feeling). I can get my results tomorrow and part of me feels like the agonoy of waiting might be better than finding out bad news. I keep going over it in my head but I just feel like by the time I got to 120 questions there was no way I was doing well b/c the questions were SO difficult. A friend of mine that took it last week got about 80+questions and said she never felt like her questions became "difficult". So what is up with that??? I have this "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling. Will keep u all posted. Good Luck NYNURSE and CAMMY429!

Hi Girls, Well, I was doing well today up until this point. I feel like my chest is going to explode (not a good feeling). I can get my results tomorrow and part of me feels like the agonoy of waiting might be better than finding out bad news. I keep going over it in my head but I just feel like by the time I got to 120 questions there was no way I was doing well b/c the questions were SO difficult. A friend of mine that took it last week got about 80+questions and said she never felt like her questions became "difficult". So what is up with that??? I have this "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling. Will keep u all posted. Good Luck NYNURSE and CAMMY429!