Rhone

Thanks (belatedly) for this post. I feel very much the same way--while I'm sure there are some people with legitimate chemical imbalances, when I read/hear about what home/famly life is like for some of the kids in my unit, I think if I were them I ...

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the new job and that you feel more appreciated at work (after, apparently, working so hard to get that respect from your coworkers). :)

I'd give the same advice that I gave in this thread regarding a psych nursing interview. Good luck!

In my facility the techs are called "mental health workers". They don't have to be CNAs, but some are, and some have undergraduate degrees. I appreciate the work they do. Despite the fact that we are able to rotate them around for actual lunch bre...

I'm not sure why there's some much money in anesthesia to begin with, but it's moot because the public option was dropped from the health care bill months ago. Those posted articles are out-dated.

The patients on suicide observation don't have to wear any visual indication at my facility. Our rounds sheet, computerized charting system, and a dry erase board in the nurses' station (not visible to the patients) all show what level of observatio...

Try LTC or Psych, as Jules says. Some of the LTC facilities that turned me down as a new grad LPN seemed like they might be interested in new grad RNs. Psych doesn't seem as bad for new grads--it was a psych facility that finally interviewed (and h...

I graduated my PN program in August last year, have had my LPN license since October, and I still haven't been able to find a job. Haven't even gotten an interview. Does anyone know any place that is hiring new grads in the Baltimore area? All the...

Ms. Ann and Military Spouse, thanks for the suggestions. Mt. Washington wasn't hiring new grads, and I recall looking at CMS, but at the time their only open position was a bit too far away--something I could have done if I wasn't also intending to ...

Well, in fairness, it takes about 4-5 years of full-time study to complete a clinical psychology PhD or PsyD program, so if On The Way intends to work at this place for all of that time, then the time isn't an issue. The problem (from the employer's ...

Nursing is stressful. Stress brings out the "meanness" in a lot of people. Also, taking the time to word things nicely and diplomatically often takes, well, time--something nurses often have in short supply. That said, I think the "nice" nurses out...

I agree with TheDude here. Most people have misperceptions about professions they aren't familiar with--nurses are no different in this regard, other than (if this board is any indication) their hypersensitivity to being misunderstood. Yes, media po...

I agree with everyone else, you don't want to talk about the personal stuff. There's a high probability that it will hurt your chances of getting the job, and it's very unlikely to help. Also, in terms of professional boundaries, you aren't really ...

Everything is on weekdays. It's not the same exact schedule every semester (and I don't know if they might try something differently than how they had it while I was there), but generally each week there's one full day of classes (like 8 or 9am 'til...

Well, thanks for the correction. In the PACU I observed, the nurses only had one patient at a time. And I wasn't trying to suggest that PACU is easy. Some people are good at focusing intensely on one thing at a time and have trouble splitting thei...

I'm an INFP, but I'm a new nurse so I can't really compare different areas of nursing based on anything other than experience from clinicals and my own hypothesizing about what I might or might not enjoy. I can say, though, that I'm very much enjoyin...

Hi Emily. I have a BA in Psych and worked in human services direct care positions for a few years before going back to school to become a nurse. I'm now an LPN and just got my first nursing job (in a Psych facility), and I plan to go on to get my R...

Familiarize yourself with whatever population you would be working with (kids, adolescents, adults? Mood disorders, thought disorders, MR/DD, substance abuse, dual diagnosis?). Be aware that being hit, bitten, scratched, and spit on are all possibl...

I attended the LPN program at CCBC Dundalk and was happy with it. I like the instructors and while the program could be very difficult at times, I felt like the instructors were fair and genuinely wanted us to do well (disclaimer: not all of my fell...

LPNs learn a pretty big percentage of what RNs learn, so it's not like you have a 2 year RN program crammed into that 9 months. 16+9 = 25 months--sounds about right for an RN. Here in Maryland, LPN-RN bridge programs essentially put you into the se...

It's probably best to check with your State's Board of Nursing (or whoever regulates CNAs if it's not the BON). In Maryland, the nursing programs generally have a "Fundamentals of Nursing" class in the first semester, which covers all the CNA stuff,...

Thanks for the clarification; I've only lived in MD about 4 years or so and hadn't seen it abbreviated like that before. In that case, I'd also recommend looking at the Virginia and Delaware board of nursing websites for the lists of schools there. ...

I'm not sure what you are referring to by "DMV". I would recommend that you do what I did: Check out the Maryland Board of Nursing website and follow the appropriate links to see the lists of approved LPN and RN programs. Look them up to see which...

The short answer: It really depends on your situation. Generally, if you can get admitted to an RN program right now and there is no barrier (e.g. financial) for you, then that's probably the best thing for you do. But certain circumstances may mak...

Lilmsnurse, I share your frustration. I've been licensed since October and couldn't even get an interview until just recently (might get the job *crosses fingers*). And I probably only got that interview because the position opened up in a unit wit...