KimRN03

I am a recent graduate and my lower legs have been killing me when I get home. All I want to do is lie on my couch with my feet up when I get home from work. Anyone have any advice?

I also agree with the other post. Our Endoscopy center used to call each and every patient a couple weeks prior to the appt. Unfortunately, this took a lot of time from Nursing staff, not to mention money. So, we started sending out a questionnaire ...

Marlene~Unfortunately, the ED in my hospital will not do a consult in GI for anything but emergencies (Foriegn Body or GI Bleed). I would maybe give your doc a call and tell him the med is not working, order an H Pylori test and can he refer for an E...

Stephani~First of all, congrats on finishing school! When I graduated from Nursing school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew more specialties that I didn't like that I was interested in. My first job was on an Orthopedic floor, simply because...

I took NCLEX this morning and I am already going crazy! That was the hardest test I have EVER taken! Any thoughts on whether 75 ? is good or bad? I have 3 friends who took it recently that had 75-77 ? and they all passed. What has been your exper...

I worked on an Ortho floor for 14 months as a RN before I transferred to the OR. One of my fellow nurses had transferred down there and she loved it, so I decided I would try it. I have been down there for 1 month and really have not been in many roo...

I am also feeling the same way you guys are! I am off orientation in two days and feel physically ill! I don't know if I can do this! My preceptor and NM both constantly compliment me, but I feel I don't know anything. I HATE calling docs and tak...

I LOVE my Tungsten E!! I got it as a graduation gift from my husband. I so wish I would have had it during clinicals, it sure would have beat lugging half a dozen books to clinicals! As a new grad, I use Davis and Taber's ALL the time! I got my t...

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will try a different pair of shoes and some support hose!

Sounds like you have done what you can to prepare! I took Kaplan and they said as long as you were scoring above 65% on their questions, you will be in pretty good shape. How many questions have you done? Kaplan also says you should do 3,000 quest...

I was a Nurse Intern on my Ortho floor last summer. I stayed on that floor last fall as a CNA and was hired my that NM without ever having to apply anywhere else. Now, that's my kinda job searching. My advice...make some contacts or consider worki...

Congratulations! Changing careers can be very stressfull, but extremely rewarding. I would give them as much time as possible if you can. Who needs to burn their bridges, ya know?

OB & Peds are so much fun! It is such a different atmosphere. I was more relaxed in my OB & Peds rotation. I felt it was more of a learning experience/observation experience. I didn't feel like the pressure was on me to perform new skills ...

P RN, yes, I just sent in my registration and $85 to NAON, I am excited to hear more from them. Do you have any insight on getting an ONC? Just curious....why would you have to give it up. I am so excited to go back to work, I have been off for 6 ...

Does your school have any nursing tutors you can see. Once you understand how to set up the calculation, you will be fine. Good luck!

There is a reality shock when you finish school, but it is nice to finally be in charge of what you are doing. I really didn't feel like a nurse until I was completely responsible for my own patients. There is nobody standing over you to make you n...

What are you going to school for? Nursing? If you are, school and working that much as an aide may be difficult. I was an aide on an Ortho floor and now am an RN there and my first year of nursing school I could only work 24 hours per week, my fin...

My first hospital experience was on an Ortho unit and I loved it! Now I am a RN on an Ortho floor and still love it! The most important thing is to know how to transfer a patient. What did they have done and what are the restrictions? If you can ...

I agree with ManEnough....most patients love to have students because they get more attention then they normally would from us regular nurses. You guys usually have more time to talk with them and do the "little things" that patients appreciate. Ta...

Most hospitals will let you change into a pair of their scrubs if you end up getting something on you. Just remember if you think you can get something on you, wear a gown over your clothes. Isn't nursing wonderful!?

I started working as a graduate nurse on an orthopedic floor day/eve rotation, heavy on the evenings. I worked on this floor as a CNA on the night shift and loved that shift. I expressed early on to my NM that I would like to continue to work night...

I was an intern last summer. It is so worth it to apply and take part in the program if you can. I got to work with my preceptor, we usually had 4-5 patients and also handled admits and discharges. I could do everything BUT handle meds. Sometimes...

Congratulations! I was a nurse intern last summer and it was the best experience for me. I was paired with a wonderful preceptor who is now precepting me as a new grad. Not only will you get to practice the skills you have learned, you will meet m...

Make SURE you put your clinical experiences on your resume. After all, you did take care of those patients so you do have some experience. Highlight some of the more complicated clients that you have taken care of. Be confident that you do have sk...

I always doubted myself. I think that may be a good thing while you are learning. It's the people who think they know it all are the ones that get into trouble. Being cautious is good!