mystykstar

I waited tables the WHOLE time I was in nursing school, they were really flexible, had too change up my schedule every 5 weeks during my last year of school. I was also able to pay all my bills, with my waitress income-wasnt easy sometimes, but I made it work. maybe you can still do a patient tech position just casual while your inn school just to get your foot in the door to a hospital while your in school and also to get some healthcare experience.

Oh and I had 195 questions-who gets 195 questions? I thought I failed! Congrtas to all!

I swear this HAS to be true! I went on to do the trick yesterday about 5 or 6 hrs after I took my boards, and I got the "contact the board" pop-up, tried it again at around 10:30pm got the pop-up again, yes I was obsessed, this morning at 9am found out I passes from BON website with my RN license number! So...I'm going to vouch for it and say yes its true!

What floor?-Medical a.k.a. Med/Surg without the Surg. Start Monday. Wher from?- Pittsburgh How did I get that job?- Its a health system in Pgh that is HUGE, one of the only ones in this area that was hiring, as there are still alot of hiring freezes going on around here. I never worked there before, or had connections with HR. I actually talked with someone at my schools job fair and filled out some information about myself and was contacted by them. As far as the interview, I tryed to not get hung up on questions and answered them as honestly as possible. The unit director for the floor I am wroking on asked me what I saw myself doing in 5 years-I was like uhhh working as a nurse! I actually thought I blew it. Although I was fairly annoying about following up with all of it, I called about 3 times before they called and offered me the job-it took them about a month.

Do you have any scrub stores that you can go to? It might be easier for you to get the size and style you want if you try them on instead of ordering them. Go on the Life Uniforms website and there may be a store near your area.

Got hired at a big hospital so their med/surg is separate. I am working on the medical floor, which I wanted for the experience, but would eventually like to go into Peds.

This is something I feel very strongly about! You gave her great advice to stick it out and show them and herself that she CAN do it no matter what any of the instructors say! I was pregnant and was told by 4 instructors including the dean of nursing to drop out because it would be too much work to be in ICU with a new baby, there would be no way I could do it, and to go and drop the rest of my classes, and I could "prove them wrong" if I wanted too, but I would be setting myself up for failure. Needless to say it was a great feeling to be pinned right along with all of my other classmates, and to show off my baby at the same time! Just my experience with negative feedback, it can be done!

Thank-you for all the replies! I didnt mean that the hospitals schedules are set in stone, I meant that most daycare centers arent as flexible and want your childs schedule to be the same each week, and with a nursing schedule that may not be possible-not sure if I made that part clear! I would prefer to work nights and weekends, but the facility I am at works 3-12 hour shifts, and the next week, 3 12's and an 8, and during my interview with the director, I got the impression that I would be working daylights only until I get more comfortable to work nights.

I just graduated in May and am starting my new job in July. I have 2 children and my DH and I are figuring out childcare.I prefer to have a somewhat set schedule, so we can find a daycare more easily, most want something set in stone! I need to ask my unit director exactly how the scheduling is, but I dont want to seem like I am making special requests for scheduling before I even start. How should I go about this and not sounding like a complainer!!

No one condemed you for not having children, from my understanding of your post you were the one who called women with children silly and irresponsible and for what reason, I'm not sure. You can have ANY career and have children, women do it everyday and will continue to do it whether it gets "on your nerves" or not. You really should stop and think before you post something you have absolutly no idea about and that is what it is like to have a child and work and give them the best opportunity to succeed in life-is that not what humanity is about?

When did you guys graduate? I finished up may 1st and still have no information about the temp practice permit, just got the application for the exam back from my school and sent it in, now waiting for confirmation to take the test which will prob. take forever, I'm guessin it depends on your school? This is getting frustrating!

I would choose taking your pre-reques first and working at the same time, have you ever thought about waitressing, I did it the whole time while I was in nursing school, made money and was able to support me and my son on my own. It took me 3 1/2 years but I finally finished an ADN program at a CC, and had a baby during my last semester of school-I guess that would make me "silly and irresponsible"-what ashame people have to think like that, anyway, if your determined to do something you can and you will. Also, you should check into CCIS-child care information services, thats what I used when I was in school it helped so much, you have to work 10 hours a week if your in school, but it goes by your income and you only have to pay a co-pay to the daycare every week, I dont know what I would've done without it. being a CNA would definitly give you great experience if you would want to go down that road too, I wish I would've done it before school, but waiting tables was what I knew and could work less hours and make the same amount of money, and still have time to study!

I just graduated last Friday, and got a job as a GN on a medical floor at a big hosp in the city. The more I think about going, the more scared, nervous, anxious, etc... I am. I just feel like I am not going to know ANYTHING and screw up and hate it! I am really hoping this is all a normal part of the process and if anyone else felt the same way when you first started your new career and if it all seems to work out or fall into place? Thank-you

Look online at some of the big hospitals in your area and look for patient care technician jobs(they may be called something different in your area) and apply online, say in your online app. that you are in school, currently taking pre-reques for the nursing program at your school, that will stand out and give them a reason to look into application a little more-imo!

Look at getting a nursing care plan book, you can find out what nursing interventions are needed for patient problems, it would definitly give you a heads up when you are caring for patients.

I applied at the VA here in PA, was told there is a hiring freeze, not sure if its the same for your area or not, but just a little fyi, it's not just you!

Finally got a job today~Finally! Strange how it works, got a job offer same day I scheduled an interview for somewhere else.

I live in PA, most of my classmates have a job, I have yet to fine one and am also not having much luck, I only started applying last month, I wish I would have started in december like everyone else but I wasnt sure if I was going to be able to finsh as I had a baby 8 weeks ago, but I am going to be done in 2 weeks and am dreading having to go back to waiting tables!! I am keeping my hopes up to find something and hope for you too!! Good Luck! :-)

I have noticed when searching for a job is that the problem isnt with nursing jobs being available, the problem is with graduate nursing jobs arent available, most RN postings want atleast 6 months to a year experience. As of now I am still jobless, but I plan on taking the Nclex and getting my RN then looking for something if nothing comes up in the meantime. Whether you get your BSN, or ADN you will be an RN either way (not that one is better than the other!!). The economy has to turn around eventually and perhaps by the time you are finished you wont have to worry much about finding a job.

I live in pgh too I also applied to the same hospital, no calls yet but they are pretty much the only hosp in the area hiring GNs so dont get discouraged, I'm still hopeful that something will come around.

I am also suprised to hear the starting rate for GNs isnt as high as I thought. Compared to nurses who graduated last year the pay went down 3-4$ an hour, and no one offers sign on bonuses this year. I'm in Western Pa and interviewed today for a position that starts out at 20.50, only 1.00 shift differential for evenings, nothing for weekends, 12 hour shifts, you get a 5 % pay raise after 6 months, but you have to pass your boards and have a good review to get it. If they offer it to me I might have to take it cause no one else seems to be hiring GNs they all want atleast a year experience, but how are you supposed to get that year in if no one will hire you??

I had a baby Feb 13th and went back to ICU clinical 5 days later and successfully completed that and am into my management class and graduating in 5 weeks! Like everyone else said, it can be done and theres nothing like having kids! Thats my opinion anyway lol :-)

I am hoping to be graduating from an ADN program in May-finally! Does anyone know when the state boards are being held in PA? I'm in Pittsburgh, not sure if that makes a difference. Thank-you.:wink2:

Thank-you for all your replys it helps to hear other peoples stories!

I am supposed to be graduating in May and am having a baby in February! I went for one interview over the break, but am going to leave my options open for now, just incase I can't finish in May I dont want to get too ahead of myself! I just wanted to say good luck with everything!