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my floor had me take the certification. some pts on our floor are on it. that's why. i just get nervous with it because I feel stupid with it. I can read basic rhythms, but complicated ones, ugh. but its my fault for not trying to really learn it and feel confident.

I passed my telemetry certification, but I just naturally dread telemetry. I don't know why I'm so negative about it. I'm sure my negativity isn't helping me, it's hard for me to learn and really practice it and identify them because I just hate it. I know it sounds stupid. any tips? any videos or websites youve benefited from?

I was hired as a new grad at my facility and have been there 2 years. I'm editing my resume for the first time since being a grad. how much info should I list about my job? I listed the type of care and needs the patients have. do I go into patient/staff ratios too? should I still be listing the types of clinical rotations that I did in nursing school? do they really care about that now? I feel like it's a waste of space.

crushing medications for pegs/ngts and for mixing in food for patients... I'm 2 months into being a new nurse. at my facility almost every patient has a peg tube. I've been doing the "proper" way, crushing each med separately, and having mini cups and not mixing any together and flushing in between. I see nurses just crush and mix all of them. my patient load is getting higher and I really can't do it the "proper" way anymore. so before I start crushing and mixing everything together in a cup... what medications should I make sure NOT to mix with each other? or does it really matter? I've heard the pharmacy at my place should tell you about medication interactions, but I'm paranoid and don't want to rely 100% on them. thank you. :redpinkhe

I'm a new grad RN at a Long Term Acute Care Facility, we have RTs on the floor, but I would like to learn more about respiratory failure and the types of management for them: ESPECIALLY different vent modes. anyone recommend any books that explain it in simple terms, but thoroughly at the same time? thank you. :redpinkhe

I'm a month into my new job at a long term acute care facility (LTAC). I'm a new grad. I'm pretty confident about the actual nursing skills: giving meds, suctioning, flow sheets, etc etc. I felt pretty good for a month, up until the last week. I'm getting more interaction with doctors/families since I'm bumped up to 5-6 patients. so now I've noticed my "new" dread and fear: talking with doctors and patient's family. if it's my first day ever seeing the patient, I feel so dumb when a family or doctor asks about how the patient is doing. just because I'm not super familiar with the patient and what has gone on the last few days. also trying to familiarize myself with doctors is difficult. I wish they'd make up some kind of flash photo cards- have a doctors face on it and his name below it.. to help me study their names, hah. I was kind of happy because I was having a good month. and now I go back to work tomorrow and I'm like "ugh" and all nervous again.

I'm a new grad nurse at an LTAC - long term acute care facility. going into my 3rd week. most patients I've had so far is 3. nurses with experience can have up to 6 patients. I'm not hesitant about the patient care, I'm more nervous about interacting with every other thing going on involving the patient. things like: - interacting/speaking with doctors in person + via phone. especially remembering their names. (I need to work on remembering). - being able to judge doctors orders, to make sure they are correct. and being able to add any input. - being able to go through the medical record book well: mostly the physicians orders section. and being able to read and understand it fully. (also, deal with bad handwriting). - doing a new admission at any point during the day, while having your own patients to take care of at the same time. I'm a new grad, but I tend to get worrisome if I can do all of this by myself once my orientation is up. I know there are many threads of new grads saying "can I do this?" with replies of assurance. but I guess I am selfish and want my own thread, haha.

I see various kinds.. shox experience, turbo, etc. etc. which kind should I get? or any other footwear recommendations? please don't say crocs. I don't feel safe wearing something with holes in them, or shoes without a back covering. I'm dying. I've tried a pair of new balance, hurt so bad. past 3 days of 12 hr shifts, I've used my pair of sauconys that I use for exercising- I can exercise 2 hrs on the elliptical or treadmill with no problem. so I thought it'd help me during my shifts. they were better than the new balances, but still hurt. I just worked 3 days in a row, and I was dying yesterday. I also have been using some kind of gel insole. the problem area is the BOTTOM of my foot. mostly at the heel area, it doesn't hurt that much towards my toes. it hurts so much that I come home and complain nonstop. it's almost hard to fall asleep. massaging them somewhat helped relieve pain briefly. thank you. :heartbeat

thanks for the info! I guess people have different opinions. my friend that's a nurse (she's a new nurse... she was a new grad in Dec 07), says for me not to start in LTAC. and that it's just going to be monotony and I won't experience enough conditions/or gain as much experience as I would on a Med/Surg floor. my boyfriend's mom who is a nurse for 30+ years now is saying for me to wait on other positions. but I can't wait anymore! I graduated May 2007, took the summer off, took my NCLEX November 28th, and I've been applying since December! no interviews, but for short interviews at 2 open houses. I just need my foot through that door already.

it isn't definite! I hope it is. I've heard this ltac is 3-1 ratio.

I've had clinical experience in nursing school with just med/surg, ortho, etc etc. no experience in ICU or any kind intensive care settings. what are your thoughts on a new grad having their first position at a long-term acute care facility? it's the only position so far that has promise of happening. I've been waiting a long time to get hired. I've heard the nurse that may take me under her wing is great. I feel excited.

It's been 2 months of applying so far as a new grad, about 8 or 9 hospitals. I didn't want to look at south jersey, or super far north NJ, but I may have to now. I've only gone to St Peter's in New Brunswick open house, and St. Barnabas open house- those were the only 2 times I've had "interviews" so far. I don't know what to do anymore, but look at other areas of NJ. part of me just wants to go back to school for my BSN now, and try to do babysitting part-time or something. I don't know how long I can wait anymore.

I also cannot get hired. I have my RN, and I am a new grad. It's been about 7-8 weeks now, I have applied to about 7 or 8 hospitals. No official interviews yet. I know my resume and cover letter is good, because my boyfriend's mom (she is a nurse) looked at it, and helped me make a few changes. I believe she also showed it to a colleague of hers. St. Barnabas Med Center had an open house which I attended the other day, so that was my first time getting to talk to someone. But they had to make it very brief, so I only spoke to a nurse manager for maybe 5 minutes. I know it takes time, but I am antsy and don't want information to seep out of my brain, haha. I am trying to refresh my knowledge watching these nursing ATI DVDs I got in nursing school. And I am looking over popular med/surg medication cards. Hope something comes through for me, and whoever else is also searching. :bowingpur:nurse:

really? I feel like leaving it blank would be rude, I mean, it's there for a reason? also putting negotiable, don't you think it makes it look like you aren't confident? I don't know what to think of this at all, haha.