doglvr

wow, thanks for all the responses. I do make a lot more than $24/hr, but the hospital I work at is in a rough area, so I assume that's why. I was told by someone who works in HR that not many of the hospitals gave raises this year because of the economy, and I sorta thought she was lying! I guess not.

hi everyone, I've been working as an RN on a med/surg unit for almost 2 years. Since then I have gotten two raises, but it was a hospital wide raise that occurs every year. However, along with everyone else getting a raise, the starting salary of new RNs increased as well. Which means that currently I'm only making a couple cents (about 20 cents) more an hour than a new nurse, and frankly it's frustrating! It really pisses me off because I'm forced to join committees and have been "strongly encouraged" to take on additional leadership roles (which I do) and get certified in things I really don't feel comfortable doing. I know my managers like me and I think I do a good job, I just feel like I should be making more. However on the other hand I know how horrible the economy is and I guess I should feel lucky to have a job. How do raises work at your hospital? My thing is if they're going to pay me like a new nurse then I want to be treated like a new nurse (meaning less responsibilities!) Thank you!

My preceptor saw the wound the first day I had the patient, at which time I asked my preceptor about it and she just said it was shearing. The very next day I had the same patient and I asked my preceptor to help me wash the patient up and asked the same question again and once again she said it was from shearing. I'm just worried that in a few days it's going to be a stage 4 and when they look back at all the documentation they're going to see my "shearing" and then the next day see that the wound care nurse called it at stage 4. Then I'll be the one in trouble.

Thanks for resonding! You all are the best! Without a doubt there was an open wound, which is which I thought it was a stage 2. I did document the shearing it in the skin/wound assessment and there was a picture of a body and I circled the sacral area on the picture. I guess when I think of shearing I do think of a break in skin, but not really an open wound which is what my patient had. And to be honest, it's not like this patient is going to get better any time soon as I work in the ICU and it seems like everyday when I go into work she gets worse and worse. I don't know what to do now. I just wanted to cover my butt, but I guess it's too late for that.

Speaking of documenting wounds, I have a question. I'm a new nurse and have been on orientation for a few weeks. My preceptor was helping me get my patient washed up and we both noticed what I thought was a small early stage 2 on the patient's sacral area. My preceptor however called it shearing. I questioned her twice about it, and then figured okay, well she's been a nurse for over 20 years and I've only been a nurse for a month so she obviously knows what she's talking about and called it shearing in my documentation. Now I'm starting to worry because I realized what I did was wrong. Maybe I'm freaking out, but if the patient's family takes anyone to court it will be me, because I documented and signed all the paper work, not my preceptor. God I feel so bad for the patient. And I'm so scared. How would you define "shearing"? Please help! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Just curious.. are RNs allowed to remove stitches? I had a mole removed a few weeks ago and had to get stitches and a younger girl who I assume the RN came in and removed the stitches, I didn't even see the DR. I wasn't sure of her title..Thanks!

Trust me, there's so much info the nclex can test you on it's impossible to know every single thing! Your readiness score sounds good, and as long as you did all the kaplan questions you'll be fine. I tried to study the stuff I didn't feel 100% confident with a few days before the test but didn't get one question on the nclex on any of that stuff, thank god! Something my friends and I noticed about the nclex is it really does test you on basic info, with the exception of meds. I walked out of that test after 75 questions thinking "ohmygod, either I kept getting the 'below passing' questions or those questions are much easier than kaplan." Turns out I passed and the nclex questions are easier than kaplan. GOOD LUCK!!

I really think if you do all the questions kaplan has to offer and understand all the rationales you'll do great. Your scores sound like they're in the same area as my scores and I passed with 75 questions. Try to focus more on the questions rather than the videos and the course book. I also found the questions on nclex to be a little easier than the questions from kaplan. I know everyone is different, but all of the people who I took kaplan with have passed with 75 questions. I think their pass rate is like 94%, or at least that's what I heard. Good luck!

I actually had the same exact experience as jerzygirl on Monday. I also had a PPD done too. It hurt sooo bad and currently looks like a little pimple (w/o a head) and there's a little redness (a little smaller than a pencil eraser.) I know I have to wait until tomorrow for the official results, but if it stays like that is that normal? I know it has to be greater than 10mm to be positive for TB, but in the past when I had PPD I never had any marks at all. I'm scared to death!!! Thanks!!

i must be doing something wrong because i'm not great at math.. but i'm getting like 24,627.2727ml/hour. what are you getting?

Congrats on passing! And thanks for the test breakdown. From what I've been reading on this forum, it seems like there's a lot of infection control and isolation/precaution questions. Ugh.. i'm horrible w/those percaution questions! I guess I should start looking over them considering I'm testing soon! CONGRATS again!!

CONGRATS!

On the readiness test I got a 74%. They say as long as you get above a 65% you should pass the NCLEX. I'm just so nervous because I feel like I don't know anything, but I really don't want to push this test back!

If I were you I wouldn't give up on finding a RN position in a hospital. The jobs are out there! I just graduated with my ADN last month as well. I realize what a pain is it to try to get in touch with HR! I believe the key is you just have to be friendly and persistent, but not annoy them. Also what I ended up doing was sending my resume out in the mail. I noticed I did get a few call backs after I did that. Just try to figure out the name of the nurse recruiter and at all cost avoid addressing your cover letter to "whom it may concern." I also heard from other students that they went directly to HR and filled out an application at the hospital, so you may want to try that too. It's very frustrating, you think about how hard you worked in school and just want a job and begin your nursing career. Just stick with it! Good luck!!

WOOHOO!! Congrats!!!