Up2nogood RN

In the LTC facilities I've worked in I have witnessed terrible care and ethics. Yes, I discreetly have reported what I've found with evidence but nothing ever changed. Just one example the other day working an agency shift....I open a chart with the pt's wife standing close to report how the vitals have been the last 5 days since admission. There was nothing charted for vitals since admission. The pt also went out for an appt with the wrong pts info packet. ***** This was not just one nurse but many nurses that just didn't seem to notice that they were not monitoring nor have the aides take routine vitals on a recent transplant pt. I would not want to work as a new grad in a LTC. No resources, crappy house Dr's, shoddy orientation, lazy co-workers. I do love the residents and that is why I still pick up shifts, to keep my favs safe.

Nursing is a busy job. That we know. I don't know why people have to be so snarky. If I ask how your day was I already know it was busy and I'm sincerely asking how your day was.

Well aren't you the clever one.

Why do people say they work on a busy med/surg unit? It seems like a no brainer that these units are busy. Do people really think there are slow med/surg units? What also drives me a little batty is when you ask a co-worker how their day/noc was and they reply *busy*. I know a silly pet peeve but just had to share my agitation and spread the wealth :)

I recently transferred to a new unit and my new nurse manager commented, "I hardly ever see you to talk, you're always in your patients rooms"..... um yeah, working. I don't mind doing the basics and always make a wholehearted attempt at keeping my patients as I would want a family member cared for.

I always swab with friction. Pop off the top, immediately open an alcohol wipe, scrub. I don't exactly know how that could contaminate vs guessing the top is still sterile.

Working for this system I know many Prov Scholars that had to wait for up to 6 months for a job opening. They could place you in any hospital/unit/shift that they saw fit. Many were started in the float pool....not a good idea for many new grads.

I am a wife/mother, daughter, sister, friend, and than I am a nurse. Nursing doesn't define me. I love what I do but at the end of the day it's just a job and all that stress gets left at the time clock. You've received excellent advice thus far. It doesn't matter what kind of super nurse you are if you wind up alone and burnt out. A relationship takes commitment and communication especially in the early years until you get to know each others preferences. My DH knows me and has learned over the past 18 years to respect my *me* time after a shift if I need it. FWIW I'm a damn good nurse too;)

This does seem to be the case now. ED and OR in my area usually only hires experienced RN's in that field. My hospital recently started back up their critical care and OR internships due to retirements and expansion. I was chosen to interview but those few that were hired were from the cardiac and resp units.....so I transferred to resp/cardio to get more experience in a diff field besides post op. Now I'm confident I could work any unit/shift in my hospital. Have you thought about your float pool to gain more of a varied experience?

You're right, 2 years is not automatically going to buy you a ticket into a coveted position. But it is important what you accomplished in that 2 years to list on your resume and set you apart from other applicants. ACLS, certifications, committees, charge nurse duties, preceptor to new employees or students? The job market is tough I agree and that's why an applicant has to prove they're willing to put in a little extra to get into a specialty.

It doesn't matter, either way the sxn will compress the bulb.

I was in the same predicament. As an LPN I worked part time in the hospital as a CNA to keep my benefits and foot in the door. I also worked another part time LPN job and graduated from Excelsior in 10 months after getting my LPN license. My advice? Suck it up and don't burn your bridges. By the time you relocate and find a new job in Florida you could be very close to being done with Excelsior (if you're motivated). You'll have a better chance getting a better paying RN job at your current hospital than starting new somewhere else.

I know where you're coming from, our heat still kicks on in Oregon here! We have had a few days of 70 degree weather. Whoop-whoop! ETA: thank you KarmaWiseRaven for thinking of our elderly.

The wife does have a right to grieve but in this case the pt had initiated a divorce and can't communicate his desire to have this woman getting physical with him. I would say sorry no can do. End of story.

No one can give you specific schools to try as you gave no specific details on how much you finished or what type of degree program you were in. Sorry you didn't pass but you will need to put in some effort to find a program that will accept you based on what you have completed.