cobee

I only have 4 months of experience and they hired me =)

At Coalinga? I'm in the exact same situation, same interview day. When did they call your references? Good luck to both of us :)

You could ask them directly what they prefer. Usually Ate and Kuya are used to convey respect to an older colleague and usually only if the two people are close.

Anyone currently trying to get hired at a CA state hospital or prison? I'd like to connect with anyone currently going through the process or interested. Had an interview and my references were checked, just waiting for a yes or no at Coalinga State Hospital.

It can be done. I graduated in May and I work in outpatient mental health. It took me almost four months after licensure to be hired. Out of my class of 70ish, I only know of a handful of people that are still unemployed and most of the people I have kept in touch with work in hospitals in the Sacramento and Stockton area.

It's definitely possible. I've had my first job now for a few months and it is at an outpatient psych support program. I started out as registry but they really liked me so they bought out my contract even though their job posting said they wanted someone with years of experience.I suggest you find some outpatient programs around you and volunteer, or do something related to outpatient psych treatment, such as being an unlicensed mental health worker.

I applied to an adult day care health center and the pay was $23/hr for new grads. I'm currently working registry and I get paid $25/hr split because I'm a new grad and its a psych clinic. I'm happy with it though. Think about it as a stepping stone to gather experience so you can get that $40+ per hour job!

I applied on the website too, for CDCR, and only got a 75 because I'm an ADN. I'm thinking that there are probably thousands of people who are on that eligibility list so I'm not really focusing on them. I just did an oral exam for Dept of State Hospitals and I'm ranked 2 so I guess its good. I wish there were more posts on AN about DSH or DMH though because I don't really know what to expect now.

Hi, has anyone applied to or works at a state facility? I'd like to apply, but the website is really confusing. Do I have to get eligibility somewhere through a test? Or do I just mail in the paper application to the address indicated on the vacancy? I'm interested in the RN safety positions. I know that the correctional facility positions have its own website. Thanks to anyone that can help.

I know its a little off topic, but I encourage you guys to apply at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, its a great program, not lottery, and take around 70 students each semester so your chance of getting in is high. Their admissions is based on grades for pre-reqs and TEAS score. If I remember correctly I only got 89 on the TEAS. I got into Delta after being rejected twice at SCC and ARC, and I just took my NCLEX today =) So definitely check it out!

I spent a day in the OR and a few in NICU and I loved them both. ER was interesting and definitely very hands-on but soooo busy! Ultimately I would like to work in corrections at one of the facilities close by. If the pay was better though it was always my dream to be an aesthetic nurse.

I live in Elk Grove and go to school at Delta College in Stockton. I applied there once and they admit by grades and got in immediately. I also applied to ARC and SCC twice and didn't get in. The campus is only around 50 minutes from north Elk Grove.

The uniforms are $45 for each top and I think $28 for bottoms. I got two of each. I think shipping is $17. I think that the units are $36 now starting in the fall.

You don't need to wear the uniform for the Eng 33 class or to lecture. You spend the first three weeks on campus to learn skills and you do need to wear your uniform for those "clinical on campus" days, and for the fourth week your clinical instructor will tell you where to meet up at the hospital. Have fun :)

Actually you'll be using those books the whole two years. There are only two more textbooks you'll need for Maternity (second semesrer) and Psych (third semester), but those don't cost over $100 each.

I'm looking into the online RN to BSN program at Fort Hays State and it seems like the tuition for whole program is around $5,250.

Has your school been using Dove for a while? You can ask if they have donated uniforms from former students. I bought two sets of uniforms (the jacket wasn't required), but I've worn a different brand of pants to clinical before when I couldn't find my Dove pants and nobody noticed.

I got Pell Grants while taking pre-reqs by applying through FAFSA and CA has the Board of Governor's fee waiver which takes care of tuition.

Halfway through an ADN program, but with tuition waivers I haven't spent a dime on tuition ever. Books and supplies at the beginning of the program were around $800 and included books for all 4 semesters. Extra fees like ATI fees, parking, CPR certification will be around $300 in the end. My parents have paid for everything including gas, so I will graduate with no debt. Tuition would have been around $1,200 without the waivers and the extra stuff cost $1,100, so $2,300 for my whole program (in California). I do plan on getting my BSN in the future and through online programs it shouldn't cost over 5-8k. I do agree that even if you stop at a BSN, every penny is worth it.

Used Public transportation throughout my pre-reqs because I was terrified of driving but the nursing school I was admitted into is almost an hour away so I had to rush to get a car and learn to drive. If I was admitted into a school near me and the bus system here was better, I probably would still be using the bus.

I'm glad this thread was started as well. I'm surprised at the range of responses and it really shows how different we all are in regards to learned skills after graduating from school. In my first semester, I was also surprised at the autonomy students were given after proving competence in med passes, including giving shots. During my OB rotation, my instructor made sure that everyone had a chance to do at least one IV start and inserting foleys were done in both of my first semesters. It was only during the last few weeks that we were allowed (or at least had the opportunity) to push (non-narcotic) meds. I'm very glad I got the opportunity to do these things and get the nervousness and jitters out of the way as I would not want to be a new nurse on the job being nervous about putting in a foley or having to stick someone more than once to start an IV.

By minor procedures I mean putting in foleys and startig IV's. Lol sorry.

I'm not sure about the legalities, but in my clinical groups and I'm sure many others, the instructor and nurse can't always be with everyone at once. From my experience, once my nurse or instructor feels that I am competent in giving meds through any route, they just sign off on the med with me and go help another student. I have also been in the ER and have administered meds and did minor procedures without the supervision of a nurse. Luckily I haven't caused any concern.

I think this is pretty unfair of you to say and doesn't really help the OP's situation or her understanding of her errors. Whether she qualifies for unemployment or not, applying for it does not make her lazy. Jobs are scarce, especially for someone who has less than a year of experience and was fired. It's unlikely she'll pick up a job in the next week no matter how bottom-of-the-barrel it is and she still has bills to pay. Collecting unemployment doesn't equal being lazy unless you're not actively seeking employment at all.