trinitygrad07

Was just wondering what the "average" is for how far out everyone signs a contract? This is my first time and i am completing all the paperwork with intellistaff. It is taking FOREVER for the Illinois background check!!!! I would like to leave last week july/beg. of august. I am getting nervous and wondering if i should already have a contract by now to leave at this start date?? Is it normal to sign with only a couple weeks notice? thanks nervous in illinois......:loveya:

Hi everyone! I have been searching around for a good agency/recruiter and have ran into a couple of duds so far (too pushy, too unprofessional, not listening, ect). I finally found a recruiter I feel has the qualities I am looking for, but the deal seems kind of "fishy". Has anyone ever taken a "tax free" "per diem food" check per week and taken a cut in the base pay? I'll just tell you all what he said: Downtown Chicago and Living Free Private Downtown 16.99 base pay (sounds horrible, i know but read on....) 500$ per week "tax free" check to use on "food". I asked how this could be legal and if you would have to show receipts. He said they get so much they can use as "tax free" and it is completely legal. Is this true and is this a good deal???

:redbeatheI am going to be taking my first travel assignment this July! I have been reading your suggestions for a year, reading several books, and researching different travel agencies. I hope to get my first assignment in Chicago. I lived there for several years and would love to go back for a visit. Does anyone know of any agencies that would be good to go with for this particular city? Thanks for all of your continued input!:redbeathe:redbeathe:mad:

I read all of these posts and it is really a wonderful story. I was once a new grad who wanted to go right into ED nursing. I have now been on a medical/tele floor for 7 months. I am so glad I did not try to do that to myself; and I almost did! I took the advice of one of my teachers who was an ed nurse, herself. I now have incredible experience with, prioritization, cardiac nursing, experience with everychronic illness, and acute situationsn daily. In fact, in the last several codes I was tired of doing cpr or the airway, and the code nurses let me push all of the acls medications ( all of the rn's on my floor are acls certified). I love it when they let us run our own code; otherwise what is the point of being acls???? I look up to all of the ed and icu nurses; i feel these nurses are the so called "cream of the crop". They seem to be very intelligent and I feel, the confidence I see in them comes with endless learning. This type of learning comes with experience for many. I wish I was the type of person who could learn from strictly reading, but I need to experience it too. I'm not sure when i will be ready to become an ed nurse, but when i do; i will be confident and ready!!! Every night I come home from second shift and read about something i learned that day. I hope all of the nights I stay up until 4am will one day pay off!!

Hi Guys. I was wondering how many milligrams of lidocaine are usually in the prefilled crash cart syringes? I still work on med/surg and just was helping in a code tonight. I finished acls several months ago and was trying hard to follow along/participate tonight! For an unstable tachycardia with a pulse; is the dose usually 1 or 2mg/kg for lidocaine and how much are in the prefilled syringes??? Thanks Beth

ha ha...that last one was really funny. "we are still waiting on your test results". Tonight during our code (i work on med/surg, remember??), i jumped in and the code team rn's let me push all the meds! I am grateful for all of your help and encouragment as well as all of the "seasoned" rn's at my hospital who let me practice my acls skills on the floor! Remember to teach all of your new grads who have a passion for ed nursing! We really appreciate it and need good teachers. Cheers!:cheers:

Well I am SOL on the "bladder that can stretch" , but everything else seems to fit me perfectly. The confidence aspect is not there either, for I have only been out of school 8 months. I can't wait for the day that I have the courage and knowledge to finally move to the ED. Thanks for all of the responses; you give me hope!!!

Thanks for all of the replies; you guys are hilarious!! I have always been told i have ADD and am def very assertive! A couple more years of experience and I will be seeing you all soon!! Thanks! BTW....I have been learning alot on my med/surg unit, but my heart belongs in the ED; i know it! Everyone on my floor is ACLS certified, but I am always there first helping to run the codes to gain as much experience as possible! I'm like a leech.....:redpinkhe

Hi Guys! Would love to hear what everyone thinks are some common/important personality traits/strengths needed to be a top notch ED nurse. Want to see if i have what it takes.......honest answers; i can take it!! Thanks:up:

I swear allnurses helped me to pass boards, so I thought you could help with this as well! How do you think a 26 year old, with one year on a med/tele floor would do traveling???? Honest answers only please!!! I just feel this is the time for me to travel; i'm not married, no children, and would love to do some traveling asap!! Thanks!:loveya:

1. How many questions did you take on NCLEX? 77-my new lucky number!!! 2. What study materials did you use? Did you take a test review course?Kaplan strategy book, Saunders (two of them), Lippincott, NCSBN website (didn't like this one), and used the cd's with all of them. 3. Did your SON offer any testing (ERI, ATI, HESI)? HESI 4. How long did you wait for results of the test, or are you still waiting? 48 hours 5. What were your thoughts coming out of the test (total disbelief, certainty you had failed, confident you had passed)? ambivalent-in a total state of shock-like "what the hell was that??" 6. Was this your first attempt at NCLEX? yes- I passed!!!

My friend just passed last week using only the Saunders Blue book. She said just doing question after question really helped and not trying to review alot of content. I take NCLEX in 5 days and have been quite nervous myself. Alot of passing the exam I think, has alot to do with a positive attitude. I know it is easier said than done, but we have to think that we are going to pass or we probably won't. Good luck!

HI everyone! This site is just so helpful, so I thought I would inquire some more!! Can you use scratch paper during the NCLEX and if so, how much? Is there a limit? I love jotting stuff down. Thanks!!!

Help! I'm reaching that panic level anxiety again; NOT COOL!! Need some advice from seasoned NCLEX test takers!! I feel I have been studying alot, but am not sure it is the right "way", if there is such a thing. I have purchased two Saunders, one Lippincott, The Kaplan strategy book, and the NCSBN web questions. I seem to be going back and forth between all of these items. Is it better to stick with one book/author? I am taking the NCLEX on 7-21 and would love some ideas on how to maximize my last week of studying and get a little bit more organized! Thanks to anyone who answers this post and thanks for all of the previous posts that have helped me during this process of studying! :idea: