Jen1228

I go wait listed the first time I applied to nursing school. I was called and they told me that someone had decided not to enter and there was a spot for me. Unfortunately, I had already recieved the rejection letter so I did not take A&P 2 that summer before the nursing program started in the fall. I would have gotten in if it weren't for that. I did get in the next year though and the girl that had given up her spot was in that class with me. She had found out she was pregnant and wanted to wait to start. However, in my class and the two classes after mine, no one declined so no one off the wait list was called. We had a couple of people drop out within the first 2 weeks of classes and the instructors told us it was too late to let anyone else in because of all the things that needed to be completed already for clinicals (background check, CPR, physical, etc.) I would apply to every nursing school I could, just to better your odds. Good luck and I hope this helps!

I think it might be fluid volume deficit instead of excess. Does he have any edema, crackles, JVD? Just going by the info you've provided, I agree with the Ineffective airway clearance, or you could also do impaired gas exchange. Focusing on the electrolytes, here's what my diagnosis would be: Hypertonic fluid volume deficit related to inadequate free water supplementation (since he only gets the 1000ml), high-osmolarity enteral feeding formula, and renal insufficiency as evidenced by decreased UOP and altered Na 149. I would focus more on the fact that the pH is 7.28 rather than the Na and K. Impaired Gas Exchange would be good to address the pH. Impaired gas exchange related to alveolar-capillary membrane changes (COPD and CVAs) as evidenced by pH of 7.28. If you have the ABGs that could be an "as evidenced by" too. I hope this helps. I might be way off, but it's hard to do a nursing diagnosis with little info. If you have the CBC, UA, ABGs, etc. that would definitely help. Good luck!

In Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University offers a program like this. I am not sure exactly how long it takes, but I know the info is on their website. Hope this helps!

I am also an RN that recently moved to FL from TN. Welcome! I applied at about 6 nursing homes and got call backs for interviews from 4. (Ultimately I chose to go with a hospital because I am a new grad). In TN, nearly every LTC facility had rehab, which is where the RNs mainly worked. Here, all the LTC facilities I have visited do not have a rehab unit. They put the rehab patients in with the LTC patients. Most do not really have a skilled nursing section either, which is what I was looking for. No IVs, wound vacs, etc. I don't think you will have a problem finding work in LTC, at least not in the panhandle. I only went to one nursing home that did not put RNs on a med cart due to budget issues. Another thing, all the hospitals around here have their own LTC facilities with acute care and rehab, they seem to want RNs more than LPNs. Hope this helps and good luck!

Stay on the weak side when ambulating, according to my clinical skills book from my ADN program. I was so nervous before my exam, so I know how you feel. I had 3 skills: handwashing, feeding, and vital signs. Don't forget the critical elements: wash hands, identify patient, lock bed or wheel chair, provide for privacy by pulling curtain or door shut. Hope this helps! Good luck tomorrow!

In my first and second semesters of nursing school, we had 1 patient per student in med-surg and OB. Third semester we occasionally had 2 in med surg. By fourth, we always had 2 and sometimes 3 also in med surg. We also did team leading in fourth semester. The clinical group was split into 2 groups of 3-4 students. Those students had 2-3 patients a piece, but the team leader had none. Team leaders were had to go the night before clinicals and gather all the patient info and give report to each student on their patients the morning of clinicals. They had to make sure all patients got meds, treaments, discharged, etc. Nurses on our units had patient ratios of 4-8. The main problem with multi-tasking I had in nursing school was instructor availability. There was one instructor overseeing 6-8 students. Since every medication you give had to be checked by the instructor, it could be very time consuming if there were a total of 15-20 patients. Sometimes I would wait for almost an hour and a half to pass meds. It's really difficult if the patient is requesting pain meds, so I would tell my instructor the patient was in pain or get the nurse to give it. It helped to offer pain meds before you went to get the regular scheduled meds so you could do it both at the same time. I would worry more about multi-tasking between lectures, skills lab, and clinicals combined, rather than just at clinicals. Usually, I would have a test on Monday, clinicals on Tuesday, lecture on Wednesday, and lab on Thursday. Throw in the required reading, practicing skills for checkoffs, all the paperwork for clinicals, and studying for a test. It's practically a full time job! Hope this helps and good luck!

I really like Taber's Medical Dictionary. It explains the disease process, signs and symptoms, and how a condition is usually treated. I would buy a used copy on Amazon cause they can be pricey. Good luck!

permalink i am a new rn grad, graduated in may, and have an interview on thursday at an ambulatory surgical center. i have applied for about 4 different jobs in the or or pacu but haven't gotten any call backs until now. i figured it was due to being a new grad and that these are hard areas to get into due to the low turnover rate. my resume clearly states that i just graduated, but they are still interested. i have always wanted to work in a perioperative setting, but thought i need lots of experience first. any advice from other new grads or experienced nurses working in an asc? what is your typical day like? do you work more in the or or recovery room? what is your patient ratio? did the asc train you as far as instruments go, or were you expected to know it already? i am really excited at the opportunity. i would love to hear opinions or advice.

I am a new grad RN that just moved to the FL panhandle from TN. I accepted a position working 7p-7a at a big hospital. The base pay is $17/hr for new grads but the shift differential for nights is $4.40, so I will be making $21.40/hr. That's not too much different than TN. Hope this helps!

No, I didn't get part time. They want new grads fulltime like you said. It's 12 hour shifts so only 3 days per week, but they are always scheduled 3 in a row. Some people do 7 on/7 off. It'll take some getting used to, but I think I can handle it.

Update: I went on an interview today at the med-sug/oncology floor. It went awesome! ;)My patient ratio would be 5-6 (alot better than 30 like in LTC) and my orientation would last around 6 weeks, depending on how comfortable I feel. I can have 2 different preceptors if I want, I do cause I think it will give me different points of view, how to do things. I really liked the floor so far. I go back Monday night for a peer interview to see if I will "mesh well" with my coworkers. The nurse manager said it was no big deal, very casual. If all goes well with that, I will do my paperwork with HR and get my physical. I will start classroom orientation on the 29th then start the floor the next week! I am excited. She said it was a great place to start out because they have other new grads and nurses that have been there for 20 years and like to teach. It's 7p-7a, which I didn't really want, but I know it will be alot more relaxed and easier to get used to everything. Just wanted to keep you guys informed and say thanks again for all the support! PS While I was taking a tour of the unit, one of the nurses came out of a pt room and said "There is a tornado outside!" Sure enough, there was and then I heard CODE BROWN. It dissipated quickly and didn't damage the hospital, but as I drove home, nearly every road was blocked by fallen trees or the traffic signal were out! Apparently that's where the eye of the storm was. I'm glad I was inside a huge building when it happened!

I am a new grad too and I would like the surgical floor. It seems to be a tougher area for new grads to get into so it might be a good opportunity, especially if you have any interest in working PACU or OR one day, it could help get your foot in the door. I doubt there would be much difference in a med-surg or medical floor. I guess it depends on what you are looking for really, but I agree that you will get good experience in them all. Can you tour each floor and talk to the nurses before you decide? That would let you see what you're getting into. Good luck!

A job as a certified nurses aid/assistant/technician is often recommended. It shows the nursing school that you arent afraid of hardwork and dealing with the nasty stuff. You also get a feel of what the nurses' duties are. Being a CNA definitely helped me in nursing school because I knew more of what to expect in a healthcare setting. You can usually take a class at a local nursing home or community college that lasts a few weeks. Then work at a nursing home of hospital, if you get lucky. Some of the nurses will let you help or watch wound dressing, treatments, etc. if they know you are studying to be a nurse. Hope this helped and good luck!

I moved from TN to FL about 2 months after getting my RN license. I don't recommend it, personally. Maybe if you know people or have family in the area you want to move to. I am stressed out not only because I am homesick, but also dealing with the stresses of being a new grad. It might be because I had lived in the same place my whole life. People that like to move around alot might not be as bothered. The first year in nursing is stressful enough without adding a move on top of it.

You're welcome and thanks! Good luck with the job hunt. Glad I could help.