NurseJosh

I have also just started the ecco modules. I concur. The material is too advanced to cram it all in in a few hours and pass a test with an 80% at the end. WAY too much clicking back and forth. The test questions were overly complicated and didn't seem to reflect the material I reviewed.

I am also starting in our Neuro CCU in one month and I appreciate the input above. Thank You! ?

I worked in the ER for a short time. I came out of there a strong RN with a great set of skills but yes, the problems got to me, too and I became kind of calloused and judgemental way too fast. it bothered me enough that I left the ER. I'm glad I did. I'm working in a great field now and am still one of the best on my shift at starting IV's!

I am currently applying for a staff development position and the last SDC made approx. $32/hr with 30 years experience. I currently make 29/hr in sub acute rehab as a floor nurse.

SFC Jimenez thank you for the informative posts! I am a 37 year old male with 6 years prior service 93-99. I got my ADN and am now a licensed RN. I sent an email to a recruiter yesterday about joining up in the Active Reserves but from what I have been hearing/reading it seems things have changed quite a bit. I was interested in the STRAP program and getting my BSN. Did I read you right when you said that wasn't being offered anymore? Thanks for being such a helpful resource on this site.

Hi all! I recently graduated from my RN program and will be starting in a busy level II ER in 6 days. I am very excited and also very nervous. I have wanted to be an ER nurse ever since I decided to be a nurse 5 years ago. I have spent the last week going over the threads pertaining to the ER and new grads going to the ER. I have to say-reading these threads has helped me ALOT in mentally preparing myself for this new experience. I'd just like to say "thanks" to everyone who posted and gave me so much needed advice. I'm looking forward to starting my new career!! Thanks again, NurseJosh

I miss Europe!!! I lived in germany for about 5 years and I would love to nurse abroad. I speak some german, turkish and spanish and of course, american style english. So far, I have learned that the US will take foreign nurses fairly easily compared to US nurses going abroad. Why is it so difficult for US nurses to nurse internationally? I would like to either join up with Doctors without Borders and/or move to the UK. So HOW do I do this? ~Josh

Welcome to WA! DuPont is a great yet expensive place to live that sits between tacoma and the olympia/lacey/tumwater area. Check out St Francis. I did my OB rotation there. Nice Place. Good Sam, St Peters, Capitol Medical Center, St Clare's, Check out the entire Providence Health System and Franciscan health system. They are huge here. Swedish Health is big, too. St. Joseph's is a hospital in Lakewood that you could look at, too. This is just a rough rundown of the places I know of off the top of my head. I'm not a NICU nurse.

I am a LPN but have been accepted into an RN program. I'm about 99% sure OR nursing is for me. So here's my question...WHAT??? A 29 hour shift??? Is that legal?

Thanks for the advice. You are right. I'll just go by the book and take my time. I never thought of that-it's not my fault if the pt ratio is too high for me to get meds passed on time. Oh, I would like to add that i got 2 days of training. My first day on the hardest "run" in the facility was spent chasing a nurse trying to get her stuff done on time. The second day she didn't show up so I had to do everything myself. No less than 5 times I wanted to just walk out of the door. The 3rd day she came back and I chased her around again. That was my training. Like I said, I start the RN program in September and at least now I know more about medications and time mgmt. but I also know there is NO WAY I will stay in LTC. I like the residents but the nature of LTC nursing just isn't a fit for me. Thanks again for your input.

I just passed the NCLEX-PN last October and started in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab. I have 29 patients and there is NOT enough time to do everything by the book. I take shortcuts every day and I hate that I do that. I feel like I pass meds all day and I have no time for assesments!! I hate that, too!! I really care for my patients but I feel inept because I don't have time to do "real nursing". Well...state is coming next month and I am scared sh**less because I know there is no way I am going to complete my med passes on time if I do it by the book. I am being payed well for a new grad, almost $20/hr but I really want to work Med-Surg. Why aren't any hospitals hiring LPNs anymore??? I'm set to start an RN program this Fall by the way and can't wait but would like to get my Med/Surg experience started before I start school. Anyway, I am struggling with a high pt ratio and lack of experience. Seems like I am always in trouble for not doing paperwork correctly and I even wondered the other day if nursing was right for me. I know it is and that's how I know I'm in trouble. I shouldn't be wondering that, right? I know this post is all over the place. I'm unhappy with my new nursing career and really needed to vent.