GARY.RN

I just re-read your post and you mentioned you won't know anything for two weeks. Also you should relax, it may have been a bad day for the manager and maybe she wasn't up to an interview. You also mentioned she gave you a tour...that's a real plus in your favor. Personally, I'd use the two weeks to: 1) Call the nurse manager and tell her you feel you'd be a great fit for this job. If she won't answer her phone leave her several voice mails over the two weeks. I would think a call today or soon then one more follow up call about 3 days before the end of the two weeks would be sufficient to make sure that manager does not forget who you are. Oh, also, in order to speak with the nurse manager and to get around HR is I call the hospital and ask for the floor where the manager works then when the nurses station picks up I ask for the nurse manager who interviewed me. Most times it works. I know at a number of hospitals you have a hard time getting through to Human Resources and then even if you do you don't get to speak with the nurse manager. 2) Continue to look for employment at other facilities (that way if this position doesn't come open you're already in the process of getting hired somewhere). Good luck and let me know how you did if you want either open forum or private message. Gary

If the recruiter introduced you to the manager you at least are likely in the mix of things to get hired. If the recruiter felt as though you didn't have what it takes you likely would not have been introduced to the manager. As I've said on this forum before, I always follow up an interview the next day with a "thank you" phone call or fax at which time I also make it clear to the recruiter or whoever that I feel I'd be a good fit for the position I was interviewed for. I also make sure my prospective employer does not forget who I am. Never think you are "bothering" an employer or manager, that's what they get paid for. On the down side if you encountered a recruiter or manager who didn't bother with much input during the interview process I'd have to wonder whether or not I wanted to work there much less care whether or not they wanted to hire me. Most managers during an interview will ask you questions about your abilities or work history and give you a tour of the unit. In any case good luck! Just don't let your prospective employer forget who you are. Call them every few days to inquire about a decision! And if you can only leave a voice mail leave several!

Oops, sorry your name does say you're a new RN. Skip the advice about getting your RN!! (Maybe I need to wake up some more). Gary

Seems to me you have a lot on your plate for just getting out of school! A medsurg floor with tele is a lot for a new nurse not to mention the patient types you mentioned. The type of patients you deal with at times may make all the difference in the world as to how your day goes! Maybe you should have started out in long term care first then moved into ms-tele. I certainly would not throw in the proverbial towel yet. You've just begun. There are many many avenues for nurses these days and if you're an LPN I would also suggest getting your RN as well because the flood gates open wide then in terms of employability and type of work you can do. Keep your chin up and maybe discreetly look around for employment more suited for you. Good luck! Gary

I've rarely heard of a nurse new or otherwise who goes on an interview and right away secures a day shift position. You might luck out into one once in a while but most day shift positions are generally obtained by employees who have been on nights or another shift to start out and waited until a day shift position opened up. In terms of your diabetes, that's your business foremost. I personally would not give my employer any reason why I wanted day shift other than that's the shift I prefer. Whenever you start a new position almost every eye in the facility is on you. There's a lot to do in order to "fit in" with your co-workers and others not to mention most important learning the routine of your unit. I wouldn't go into an employment situation where my manager and possibly my co-workers know from day one that I have a health condition. I also would not tell my employer especially during an interview that I have a health condition of any kind and I especially would not tell a prospective employer that I can work only a certain shift. To me this sends up an immediate red flag that you might be a big risk in terms of missing time from work or not being flexible enough to work different shifts in times of need. You may have to take whatever position is available for now until a day shift position opens up. I would think there are ways to handle your BS on night or any shift for that matter. And, if you made it clear to every employer around your geographic area that you'll only take a day shift position and that you're a diabetic you may have burned your proverbial bridges. It has nothing to do with discrimination but more so with what prospective employers may consider as risks versus benefits with potential new hires. Take some advice from an old man who's been around the block many times: 1) Never ever go on an interview and specify or limit yourself to a specific shift. List your shift preference only. 2) Never ever go on an interview and disclose at the forefront any information about yourself other than basic information to obtain employment, especially health information. Good luck in your search. Gary

You do not need a certified program to become a CNA in North Carolina. Go to www.pearsonvuew.com and you can study the book work and skills then go to a test site for the exam. Once you are done, you are licensed through the state of North Carolina as a CNA. www.prometric.com also offers free study exams you can take on the Internet to prepare for the CNA exam.

Does anyone work at Helen Ellis Hospital in Tarpon Springs, FL on the Gulf side near Clearwater Beach?? If so, can someone give me an opinion of this facility??

Thank you Woody and Walk6Miles, I see I have a difference of opinion about Florida. Where we came from (Maryland) I was paying $3.20 for a gallon of premium gas whereas here in Florida I pay $2.84 per gallon. That alone has encouraged me to stay! In Maryland I was paying very nearly $100 per week per vehicle (2) for travel to and from work, shopping, etc. Here, everything is close at hand and I doubt I'll spend 1/3 that here. Yes, I did make an exceptional salary in MD but with the savings in gas per gallon and savings in gas used per week, those two incredible cost reductions alone seem to more than make up for the difference in pay for nurses in Florida (not to mention Florida has no state tax). And, as a bonus, our cable TV, phone, and internet service is all from the same company on one bill and the total cost for these items is around $65 less per month than we paid in MD. We bought a small but very nice older mobile home in a fabulous adult retirement community here and my total output per month for lot rent is 1/5 of what we paid for housing expenses alone in MD. And apparently hurricane Charlie, George, Mable or Joan has not yet affected our little place because it's been here in the same spot for likely 20 years without as much as a dent from a storm (and hopefully that good fortune will continue to remain true!). In MD we spent 6 months out of the year freezing our you know what off dealing with snow, ice, dreary cold rain, fog, overcast skies, and fairly unpredictable (often lousy) weather. Here we see mostly sunny blue skies, gorgeous clouds, and heat/humidity that seems easily manageable even in July and August compared to some of the over 100 degree days we've seen come tearing through and lingering seemingly forever in our area in MD. And, traffic here? Ha! You haven't lived until you've gotten caught in a 3 hour stand still traffic jam on the Baltimore Beltway on a searing August day! Thanks to the both of you with the pros and cons, however, from our viewpoint the only thing we seem to worry about now is how we are going to manage in our first experience with a hurricane maybe named WelcometoFlorida. Gary

I am settling in Florida near Tarpon Springs on the Gulf side. Tarpon Springs is about 30 minutes from Clearwater and about an hour from Tampa. Any nurses from this area with any advice of where to work and where not to work? I usually work in LTC or Med Surg. Thanks if anyone has any advice! Gary