mlok

I just graduated from school in May, passed the Nclex-RN in June and got my first job October. I have been at this facility for less than a month and recently got off orientation. I always feel a lot of anxiety when I'm working... and even when I'm home on my days off because I think about the next few days and *hope* and *pray* that the upcoming days will go smoothly. As I'm thinking about it right now, my heart is pounding.

Thanks for your response. I was at work today and I am a new grad. My pts BGL was 82. He is NPO on a constant GT at 75ml/hr and had an order for 50 units of lantus. I thought that was really excessive, especially if his current BGL was 82 I know lantus onset is about 2-4 hours and it last for 24hrs. But I was still worried. I asked other nurses and they said to give to him because was a GT tube. He was a new admit so I didn't have any previous BGL to go by. He's nonverbal and can not move so it's not like I could have asked him about his history. I called my job a couple minutes ago and told the nurse I was worried about it and asked her to check his BGL and she said it was 220. So I feel better about the situation. I gave him the lantus at about 11p and called at 2am.

If a patient's blood glucose is in the low 80s and they are NPO but have a constant GT feeding of 75ml/hr is it ok to give them lantus? I am thinking yes because their blood sugar will go up later at night/morning and the lantus is long acting. What do you think?

I started working at a SNF since last month and just recently got off orientation. My orientation was 12 days. Med pass and doing treatments are easy. I find that being the charge nurse is the most difficult for me because I recently graduated and have never had experience being in charge of anyone. Also the paperwork involved with being charge nurse is a lot for me to handle. I still don't know where a lot of things are. Fortunately, everyone I work with is very friendly and nurturing. They try to help me when they can. But everyone is very busy because there are usually only 4 nurses (5 if I'm lucky) during my shift. Med pass can be difficult but I've kind of made my own routine. I do rounds before I start, then I have a little notebook with rooms that need me to set up a new GT feeding and blood sugar checks. I do the 1600 medications and as I go through the medication book I flag the papers in the medication folder that need 2100 medications and put them back in the folder when I am through. After I have given a medication, I turn the resident's medication card over so I know I finished that one. There are days when I finish on time... and there really bad days when I stay over. The latest I have stayed was 2 hours.... that was the day I was charge nurse. Good luck :) If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Black eyed peas - I gotta feeling lol :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_2rrxONlLo

I am new grad RN starting my 2nd day of orientation at a skilled nursing facility. Yesterday, on my first day, I was given the full tour, watched some videos about abuse, resident rights, and HIPPA. Today I will be on the unit with another nurse who will be orienting me further. My orientation is 3 weeks (15 days). The DON said if I needed more time I will be given another week. Then I would be set loose on my own. This place really seems like a great facility to work in and I want to make sure I do a great job. For those of you who have worked at a Skilled Nursing Facility please give me some tips. I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance.

I agree. Go to the interview, it will be great practice. If they offer you a position, then great! Think over the pros and cons. They usually give you sometime to think about a job offer. If you decide not to take the position, no harm, no foul. At least you had an opportunity to practice your interviewing skills.

I did the CNA class and got certified but didn't work as one. I don't mind helping patients ambulate to the restroom and cleaning them up but I didn't want to do it all day so I didn't work as a CNA. Their job requires a lot of manual labor and they are very underpaid. I believe in team work so I'll do it, CNAs are busy too.

I almost passed out after giving CPR for the first time. I guess I wasn't breathing properly while I was doing compressions. My legs were locked and I was on my tippy toes because the bed was too high for me. The previous person doing the compressions was taller. I should have asked for a stepping stool. I felt fine while I was doing them until a couple seconds after I switched out. I felt so dizzy, light headed, my vision was even getting blurry, and my skin lost it's color so I had to sit down. I was trying to hide it because I was kind of embarrassed because I was a student.

Sorry I didn't see this post until now. I don't remember all of the questions she asked but here are the few I remember: Tell me about yourself. Why did you choose to become a nurse? Since I was a new grad... Which of your clinical rotations was your favorite? Some scenario questions were: A Doctor, CNA, and a patient's family want to talk to you... who would you talk to first? What would you do if a patient told you their roommate hit them? What would you do if you found your patient on the floor? You see 2 CNAs fighting in the hallway, what would you do? There are more but I can't remember... Before my interview I called one of my instructors and she quizzed me on various questions the interviewer may ask and I found that very helpful. You can also go to this website: http://www.mockquestions.com/nursingquestions.html I found it on allnurses.com. The website gives many possible interview questions. To prepare for my interviews I got a notebook and wrote down various interview questions with my answers so I would be prepared just in case a similar question came up. I also have a typed up list of questions I want ask in an interview. Also, I bring my portfolio with everything when I go to each facility to ask for job applications just in case I get an on the spot interview and I bring the portfolio to my interview too. I also have extra copies of everything just in case they want it. My portfolio consists of copies of my license, BLS and ACLS certifications, CNA certificate, EMT certificate. Letters of recommendations. Copies of my resume and references. And copies of my prepared questions I want to ask the interviewer after it is over. I also bought thank you cards to mail and send to interviewers.

I got a phone call yesterday from the DON offering me the position!!! I accepted the position. All I have to do is take a drug test on Monday. She said it takes 24 hours for them to get the results, so I can come in on Wednesday to fill out all of the employment paperwork and I will get my schedule that same day!!! :w00t: :cheers: I would like to thank everyone for responding to my various posts and answering all of my questions. I am the first nurse in my family and among my friends so I don't have anyone else with experience to turn to for advice except my nursing instructors whom I still keep in touch with. So thank you all for your support and help :loveya: :bowingpur

Will someone please link me to the complete California RN Nurse Practice Act? I can not seem to find it on the BRN website. Thank you in advance.

I applied at YRMC last month and got an email stating that they had their full capacity of new grads at the moment. Do you think they just sent me that email because I didn't have an AZ license? I haven't endorsed my CA license yet.

1st born. NO alcoholic relatives what so ever.

Yeah I let all of my references know I was applying for jobs... then I called immediately after the interview was over. All of my references have been very supportive and receptive. I think it's always best to let references know ahead of time, especially instructors who have so many students or managers who you have not spoken to in years. We did mock interviews in school and they were video taped so we could see what we looked like and if we were making funny faces during the interview. It was a great teaching tool.

Oh yes. I mailed a thank you card right after the interview :)

Yeah, I am trying not to get my hopes up very high. *sigh*

I really hope so. I left feeling very confused. That was my very first interview after applying to so many facilities (I'm a new grad) so I didn't know if what she was telling me was standard. I didn't think the interview went great... but I also didn't think it went badly. I will let you know if she calls me back. After the interview, I called all of my references to let them know to expect a phone call.

Do interviewers (DONs) tell applicants about company benefits? I didn't ask her about them she just began to tell me after she asked me questions. Then she said she would contact my references and depending how long it would take to reach my references she would contact me. She also asked if she called and offered the position, would I be able to get a drug test the following day. Do you think she was interested in offering me the position?

I am also considering SNFs. I would think that hospitals would want a SNF nurse over a new grad. They have learned awesome time management and organization because they often take care of up to 20 patients.

O2BSN2B - thanks for the info. Sorry it didn't work out for you Dark40 - I think that might be the class I am looking for because ideally I would like something more than a one day seminar. But that price tag is too much for me I will definitely look into when I can afford it though. Thanks for the info. NurseCubanita - I can't seem to find information regarding an ecg seminar on their website.

Thank you for all of your help. I had a classmate who recommended the Tulsa area because that is where she grew up and her family still lives there. I haven't exactly decided if and when I will begin applying. I still need to come up with the money to endorse my license, but it looks like OK's fee is only $85 compared to other states ($200+). It is a big decision to make and I want to make sure it's the right one. My main concern is financial... I need to save up for the move and I might even have to buy a new car when I get there. How is the public transportation system in OK? Thank you again for your help. You really don't know how much I appreciate it.

Thank you for your help. I will begin applying at Texas hospitals once I get some money to pay the endorsement fee. I don't know what I will do if I even get an interview since I live in another state. I will have to come up with some more money for a plane ticket. *sigh* Again, thank you for all of your help. You really don't know how much I appreciate it. It's really tough.

Hi, I am a new grad RN from CA and having an extremely hard time finding a job. I am thinking about relocating to Texas. I have a few questions: What is the average salary for a new grad? Average cost for a one bedroom apartment per month? Can you recommend a few hospitals in a moderately/well populated city? I am afraid the transition from a large California city to a rural one will be too much for me, especially if I will not know anyone. Also, do any hospitals offer relocation assistance? Thank you in advance. I will really appreciate any help you can provide!

Hi, I am a new grad RN from CA and having an extremely hard time finding a job. I am thinking about relocating to Oklahoma. I have a few questions: What is the average salary for a new grad? Average cost for a one bedroom apartment per month? Can you recommend a few hospitals in a moderately/well populated city? I am afraid the transition from a large California city to a rural one will be too much for me, especially if I will not know anyone. Also, do any hospitals offer relocation assistance? Thank you in advance. I will really appreciate any help you can provide!