smaka

Hello, all! I graduated nursing school in August 2007. After graduating, I moved 3000 miles away from home and took a job in a small hospital on a post-surgical unit (it also served as the PCU, tele overflow, medical overflow). I received 6 weeks of training (which was really me just being thrown onto the unit with little guidance) and it was not a good time. I realize that this is true for most new nurses, regardless of which type of unit they work on. I have relocated back home and have been given the opportunity to work in the ER (which is why I got into nursing). I am in the process of applying for endorsement, which apparently takes 4-8 weeks. The new grad (EDNIP) program at the hospital doesn't start until July, but the nurse manager offered to let me work as a Tech in the ER until then. The training program is 16 weeks long, both didactic and on the unit with a preceptor. Most people seem to be of the opinion that one should have 1 year med/surg experience prior to entering the ER. I do have an opportunity to work on a med/surg unit and am torn. The nurse manager and I from the ER hit it off immediately, it just felt like a good fit. While I realize that year of med/surg is great for honing in on assessment, prioritization, and delegation, I feel this ER internship program is a fantastic opportunity. I also think it could be really hepful to work as a tech first (even though I am an RN), it'll give me a chance to see how everyone operates and how the unit flows. It will also give me a chance to really experience how an RN functions without the responsibility of being the RN. I feel that this would be excellent preparation prior to being in the training program. Any thoughts? Input? Thanks!

Well, nursing school seemed like the longest two years of my life, and before I knew it: poof, it was over. I excelled in school and graduated at the top of my class, I packed my bags, took the NCLEX, and moved to Oregon all in the same day. I moved to a state that isn't experiencing quite the same situation as other states (I moved from Florida where the job opportunities and nurse recruiter phone calls were endless.) However, the same opportunities did not surface in Oregon. I had to pretty much take the first job offered (after two months of endless job searching and no return calls from recruiters). I am currently working on a post-surgical unit and am not presently enjoying my life, nor my job. I work at a small hospital where the new grad training pales in comparison to that of other hospitals: six weeks of orientation and then your off on your own. I am also working 8 hour nights, 11p-7a, which is taking a huge toll on my personal life. Everyone I work with is nice enough, and if able, they are helpful at times. However, the nurse coordinator for my unit went on a hiring spree and we are currently overstaffed. At present I've been off orientation for 2 1/2 weeks and I have only worked 2 shifts on my unit. Yeah, what have I been doing for all this time? Well, mostly I've been "on-call". I have worked a total of 5 out of 10 scheduled shifts---floating to other units to "sit" or "task". I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. For example, the other night I had inherited a mess from the evening shift--I had a blood transfusion going on a patient (I've NEVER even done a transfusion, just learned about them) who never had a consent form signed. I just had to fumble my way through it and hope for the best. Sure I ask questions, and people help, but this is not what I had in mind for training. The same night, I had a patient's significant other wake up to use the bathroom, and he slipped, fell, and cracked his head open. Awesome. I also had a patient whose peg tube leaked (well, gushed really) and I had to call the doc, and then got reamed from the oncoming day nurse for various reasons. (Please keep in mind this was my 2nd night taking patients on my own, the first time was 2 1/2 weeks previously). What's worse? I'm not even being given the opportunity to work through it, so every time I get called off, the fear of going back builds. I have had more bad nights than good, and while I hear that this is normal, that I probably won't feel good about what I'm doing for the next year or so....I'm just not sure I can take much more. My confidence is sinking, I am constantly beating myself up, I seldom feel that I provide the care I should/nor do I have the time, and critical thinking? I am lucky if I even have time to read progress notes (which is almost never). I am tired of laying a wake in bed all day (while I am supposed to be sleeping) thinking about this patient, or whatever happend to so and so....and I feel sick to my stomach all the time. I have scheduled an interview for a SNF tomorrow....I am beginning to think I am just not cut out for hospital nursing. I have also applied to roughly 134 jobs in the past two months.....and so far only one call back. This is sooooo disappointing, but living an unhappy, unhealthy life is worse. Is anyone else feeling the same way?:o:o:o

thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to take the HESI to exit my nursing program. I scored a 1050 (passing is 850) and used the Saunders Q&A review book and CD as well as the RN3500 (google it online, it's totally free!) for review. We had a HESI final prior to the HESI exit, and I found the questions to be most similar to the Saunders Q&A review, as it is an Elsevier book and the HESI is an Elsevier published test. :) Good luck to you! Jess