Punch

Also, I did not believe a two week notice was necessary during orientation, since I was still considered an orientee with a preceptor.

[before I left the hospital, HR told me that I am rehirable. However, I do believe that perhaps that was just their way of preventing discrimination charges?

By the way, I have never been a job hopper. During my entire working career, I never worked less than 6 years at a job. Now it looks as though I am indeed a job hopper! This too, plagues me!

I worked in a LTC facility for a full year right after graduating as an RN. Then I was lucky enough to secure a job on the dayshift in MedSurg at our local hospital. I was so excited and eager to begin my new job. As any new nurse, I asked a lot of questions and paid close attention to other nurses and how they did things. I was assigned to several different nurses as preceptors during this orientation. I thought things were going well. I did not get a mid-orientation review until I only had two weeks left of my 12 week orientation. At that time, I was shocked to hear from the DON that "more than one" nurse had told her that I did not seem to have the self-confidence that I should have in the job. She also stated that one of the nurses told her I had made a med error with an injectable drug. The only such error that had been made, was one in which I caught my own mistake while still in the med room! I was shocked and disheartened. She did not tell me any names or exactly what had been said about me. I then became very self-conscious and lost all semblance of self confidence. In essence, my excitement and happiness to be working in med /surg just went down the tubes that day! I told the DON how much I wanted to be a nurse in Med/Surg. She told me that it was nothing against me, but perhaps I would be better in an office setting or in Psych. She also stated that I was a wonderful person and the patients loved me! Unfortunately, instead of fighting for my job and showing that I have what it takes, I resigned my position the next day. I spent a few days crying and feeling sorry for myself, but then went out and got another job in LTC. I work in the skilled area of the facility with responsibility for 22 patients, as compared to 4-5 in the hospital. I have since deeply regretted my decision to give up at the hospital. I am not happy at the facility at which I work and really want back into the hospital setting! I am not a young nurse - 60 years old, having graduated at age 58 with honors. I am afraid that I have burned my bridges! The DON told me she would give me a good reference. Two positions at this same hospital in Behavioral Health became available, for which I applied hoping I would get a "bite." I called my former DON to ask if she would indeed give me a good reference for one of these jobs (had to leave a message on her voicemail, and did not receive a reply back from her). I did not receive a call from HR to interview for either of these positions...I did call three times to let them know I was very interested! Sorry this is rambling, but I need to know what to do! In applying to other jobs elsewhere, I would just as soon leave the Med/Surg position off of my resume since I did not complete orientation. However, I did work at that hospital in a different capacity for four years and would hate to leave that off as well! I am just in a quandry here to the point that I am not even sure I want to continue in this line of work! I do love nursing and caring for people, but the facility at which I work is not close to home, I work 12-14 hour overnight shifts, am tired all the time, and have just lost my zest for life! My husband is very understanding, but is not able to work, so all the responsibility is on my shoulders! I find myself resenting him, too! I KNOW I am a good nurse, but how do I resolve this??? Please help!!!

I too have struggled. After graduation I worked in LTC for a year so that I could get the experience needed in order to gain a job in Med/Surg at the hospital. I was very successful as a LTC nurse and when I left, the DON there tried to talk me out of it. Anyway, I got the job of my dreams in the hospital and felt I was doing well, although the stress was killer! During my midpoint review, the DON expressed the view that perhaps I was not working in the right element for me. I was shocked and saddened since I had heard nothing negative from the preceptors I had worked with! After much soul-searching, I decided to leave the position before my orientation was completed (I still had three weeks left). It felt like being knocked to my knees and wondering....who is deciding my fate and saying things about me and my performance? I did a lot of crying and went through a period of depression. All of my self-confidence was gone. I decided to go back to LTC even though I know it is not the place I want to be. My husband told me this morning that he doesn't think I will ever be happy in nursing. I feel that I have just not yet found the right fit for me. The problem is, I have never been a job hopper - I worked for years in office management before going into this field. But now I wonder if I will be able to land another job in an area right for me. I don't want to continue trying to find the right job and possibly failing. How does one know???? And how do you do it without feeling like a total loser?!! I don't want employers to see my job history and be afraid to take a chance on me. HELP!!

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change those things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference!

Well, this "old nurse" got hired and was 58 when I WAS hired! Never never too late....have faith in yourself and your abilities, and HR will too!!

What I had the most trouble with, was EKG's. Buy yourself a book and learn this! Also, you can never have enough NClex books! You can learn a lot from them....one i recommend, is Saunders Comprehensive Review. It has lots of written information along with many many NClex questions. This will also come in handy once you enter nursing school, because you will be able to draw from it for quizzes, exams, etc. Check it out! :)

I graduated in May 2010 at the age of 58! I graduated with honors and am now working as an RN! You don't have to "convince" the community college of your ability to become a nurse....you have to convince YOURSELF! Go for it!

I once expressed this overwhelming fact to my nursing dean: how in the world do I get all of the reading done?!! She told me to read the first and last paragraph of every chapter - these are the bones of the chapter and will give you a lot of information. Secondly, read and study all of the charts and inserts in each chapter - there will be so much valuable information to be gained here. She was right and it took a lot of pressure of me trying to stay awake while reading pages and pages and pages and......Good luck, you will do fine! I also agree to always do NCLEX questions with each chapter. These tips saved me and I graduated with honors! If you try to read EVERYTHING, you will gain nothing because you will just be reading to read it and nothing will stick! I :redbeathe:redbeathe being a !

Don't worry....nursing school is intense and you will bond with a lot of people! It's a case of everyone being there for a common goal and helping each other make it! Just remember, they are as nervous as you are about getting through it and working together is a real fact! :redbeathe

In my school, we have competency exams at the end of each semester. We have two tries: the first try we can pass with three or less errors. If we don't pass the first time, we have a second chance but two or less errors are allowed only. If we don't pass the second time, we are dropped from the program. One may apply to reenter the program, but can only get in if there is an open slot. I hated those competency exams, and they were the source of much stress, but now after graduating, I feel they are essential. If one is unable to perform the skills in a mock situation, how can one perform them on real people in a real situation? Also in our program we have a math test at the end of the first year and one the second year. Again, if not able to pass, one is dropped from the program. Once again, if you can't figure out a drug dosage, what does that mean in terms of patient safety? Our nursing program is tough, but I feel proud to be a graduate from this school!

Pearsonvue trick worked for me! As of yesterday, I am officially an RN!!!!!

Just took my NCLEX today! The computer shut off at 75 questions which was a great feeling! But now I am suffering all these doubts, etc. etc. The questions required a lot of "nursing judgment" and I wasn't at all sure of myself at the end! But I did try the Pearsonvue Trick tonite, and it WOULDN'T let me reregister, so I am hoping that is a GOOD INDICATOR that I passed! Fingers crossed!

my suggestion to you is to go to ATItesting.com and ask them what to study! ATI is awesome program and you will benefit greatly from it.

Yes school is very demanding and you will learn what you need to know for the NCLEX. However, I purchased several NCLEX books and used them to help study for exams as well. I think that is a good road to follow. Then when you are done and getting ready to prepare for the NCLEX you can continue to use the books you have purchased. Saunders Comprehensive Review NCLEX-RN Examination book is excellent!

Try ATI. They promise a 98% passing guarantee. If you do not pass, they will stick with you until you do! Check it out at ATITesting.com. Good luck!

STUDY STUDY STUDY! And when you are done with that, STUDY some more! It really is the key to digesting so much material and it will all be worth it.

Ahem! I am 57 years old (soon to be 58) and I am getting ready to graduate in May as an RN. From time to time I feel a bit "out of place" with the younger students, but overall I believe I have been accepted into the fold. This is something I have always wanted to do, and am thrilled that I have made it through with an honor roll GPA. If you have the motivation and desire, it doesn't matter how "old" you are! What matters is, do you have the desire to excel and become a nurse? Kudos to all of you "older" nursing students. Hang in there!

This one is so true!

I am a nursing student who is 57 years old! This coming May 2010 I will graduate as an RN! I am excited! I feel you are never too old to go back to school and achieve your dreams! The younger students have accepted me and I am learning this profession right along with the rest of them! Sometimes I feel that it takes me longer to grasp a concept or a method of doing a procedure. But I am learning and feel great about this accomplishment! I plan to join my fellow classmates at graduation, gray hair and all!!

I too am having that problem of trying to distinguish between the two. I was looking online for an answer and came across this site. The only difference I can distinguish is one is measured against liters, and the other against kilograms. So Perhaps osmolarity is regarded for its volume, and osmolality is for its weight? Hmmm....same thing? I feel really dumb!!:banghead: