Texas1996

Ive been a nurse for 12 years and changed my specialty to PICU. It has been relatively hard but when it comes to people who are trying to bring you down and making you feel less than worthy of working at the unit. Always keep your chin up and think how many other nurses endured the same brutality and they went on. I try to be extra nice and comforting to new grads but in the end ,we all get it from every end from time to time (MD, PNP, Charge, Supervisors, Ed. Department, HR...mainly co-workers). They are just jealous because they didn't have the guts to work in the unit your starting off at. In the days all GN's had to go to med/surg. You're worthy of being there and keep telling yourself that. Grin and Bear it! Then sarcastically over dramatize what they want to hear, Passive...aggressive. Best way to handle bullies. They want a show down...don't give it to them! Love the psychology of nurse precepting. Someone should write a book on how to survive with a smile on your face from GN to tenured RN. Smile until it sticks! 1996

Passed today . Missed one question. Didn't even stay to look at what question because I was glad to get home. Hurray. Anyway, I'd over study then just briefly flip through the book. We had about 8 insructors in our class and depending on which one you get makes or breaks your test. One of the instr. kept getting me with Regular Sinus Brady, no pacer available, and minutes later your patient goes to pacing to defib VF and then VT and then sysytole (don't shock ). Just study the study guide. Also know the doses. Maybe some people thought it was simple but our class seemed very chaotic and rushed in the codes. Beeping , syringes, running back and forth and they made us work up a good tachy ourselves.. :balloons: Good Luck!

when you see flat line...don't shock like the movies do. Flat means dead...so push your meds and do "high quality CPR" until time is called. You'll have one pt die in your megacode practice/exam. Know the 4 lethal ECG. Like VF, VT, Asystole, PEA (pulseless electrical arrest). I took the course today and it is easier than I thought but it is still very stressful when you have to run code agmonst your peers. Written exam is less stressful because it's on paper. But what comes out of your mouth is very important. Make sure you have taken a recent BCLS class with the AHA. This will help tremendously. Don't expect them to stop to answer questions about med or rhythm because you need to know your algorythms. Bradycardia, PEA, VT/VF. No worries about the atrial stuff. People live lives with atrial rhythmic problems. Send those pt to consult. 30:2 breaths...6-8sec per breath when intubated, 100 deep recoiled compressions per minute. Good Luck. I'll let you know tomorrow if we passed. We are all nervous. Even the tenured nurses. There was a single guy that studied the entire book front to back and probably did role plays with his other GNs. But he was good. My brain needs a fire underneath it. Right out of school your better taking ACLS...I think because after you get alot alot of experience you'll start questioning the AHA guidlines and say stuff like "we don't do that at our hospital"

I got 2 offers today? When it rains it pours...who knows...whether there is really a shortage or HR is really behind? Anyway...I just called the Directors directly...and made progress faster.

Relocating is out. My kids are in one of the best school districts, my husband is at a career high, and l love my neighborhood. I just don't understand this shortage issue. My background is OR and my corporate level of responsibilty was national director in biologics...what can I do to make a better impression? My husband said I should go down to each hospital and bug them constantly. Is that what you guys are doing? Face to face first or online applications? Any suggestions are appreciated...I am open to working varied shifts but it has to be in ICU or CCU. CRNA school this is must. Basically the last 10 years as a RN doesn't count for much unless you've been in one of the two specialities. Thanks in advance and I am very lucky we have this website to vent and get some answers.

Well... It has been a hard road for me. I "diversified" my BSN and went corporate. Now I have kids I want to go back to bedside nursing. Called the state board and I'm current active and in good status. Traveled all over the country worked with the finest health institutions and not able to get a bedside nursing job. We have nursing schools graduating couple hundred students a year in my city so getting a job is very competitive (I guess). I think I should just shorten my resume and say I just graduated. It really makes me ticked off so I called the Dean of my school and wanted a conversation about this supposed "nursing shortage." This is either a fluke or bad luck. I'm not even interested in the money...I don't even know what a nurse makes anymore. When I graduated from undergrad I made something around 25K in Dallas. Now it's 10 years later and I would still take 25K. I want to go to grad school so I need the 1-2 year experience in ICU and need a JOB. Anyway...I do sympathize with those who are experiencing job hurdles and hope that this is not another crisis turned up by the media.