SYNTIA

I don't know what to think, it is really hard to read this without feeling sad, angry and agreeable at the same time. Of course nurses are not heroes. However, we are NOT just doing our job. I am a Nurse because it is my Calling (monetary rewards aside). It might not be the same for us ALL, but for many of us IT IS. For some of us there is nothing else we rather do than to assist with the healing process by educating ourselves on a daily basis in multiple clinical areas. We never stop learning and caring for our patients, assessing 15-22 pts during clinical rounds, 90% of them are clean by us during treatments, at the same time we are seeing things that we wish we could fix and practices we wish we could teach to do differently, but in the end we can only do so much. In the END, for many of US, Nursing is NOT just a job, it is a science, it is an Art and we LOVE Nursing not for what it is, but what it does for those in need of nursing care.

Hurray for you, it is a sad thing to read, but I am glad for your co-workers, God will be my "IN", either by helping see how I can get that BSN or in some other way :) Good luck and thank you, Sincerely, Syntia Alcantar RN ]

Thank you so much, for your insight :) I see the merits of your oppinion, it is a major point that I will address in the future.

Thank you kindly for your words of wisdom, I understand the need for annonymity. However, my ply is serious even if it works against me because this is a serious matter. I am a nurse, I care for my patients, I care for my community, I want to help, and I need to be an educated nurse. I need to practice acute care to be better informed, to become more experienced, and in return serve my community better. Most of all I need to know how I as nurse Syntia can acquire this knowledge, if I had decided to be annonymous. Then I am a ranting voice with no substance, just another blah in the sea of blahs, and that is exactly who I am not. Thank you so much for your time, Sincerely, Syntia Alcantar, RN

Hi, thank you for your candid response. Yes, my major difficulty is that I do not have acute care experience. I was not blessed with a hospital job as a new grad. I have student loans to pay and unable to secure proper funding to continue my education. The reason I have acquire experience in different fields, it is not because I change practices, rather I work them all at the same time. Most places I work for "prefer" part timers 32 hrs or less, no benefits, and less than the standard $25.00 an hr. I like to keep my nursing skills sharp and practice wound vac care, PICC line infussions, urostomy/colostomy care, peds vent care, physiotherapy care, phlebotomy, medication management, and all out of my inmmaculate trunk. I am paying my dues, and my goals are to help others heal, mend their wounds, help them control their pain, visit the sick and lonely seniors that live alone in their homes with no one to help them. What I want is the opportunity to learn more, gain more skills in the hospital setting to better help my community and be more educate, more skill. I want to help others, but I need to know more so that I can help better. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Syntia Alcantar, RN

Could someone please HELP ME? I am beginning to feel like an undesirable to the Acute/Hospital Care Community. I have been a registered nurse for the last three years, with a two year degree from one of the best community colleges in Phoenix, AZ, Gateway Community College. I practice Home Health Care Management and Memory Care, one year experience with pediatric home health, 2 years' experience with adult home health case manager, as well as 1 year experience with Assisted Living Memory Care and Hospice Care as a floor supervisor. I am 100% fluent bilingual (Spanish), What Am I doing wrong? I apply to the hospitals in my area religiously every month; I apply for entry level 1 year experience and bilingual preferred. However, within 1-2 days my applications on line are promptly marked NOT SELECTED I had my resume reviewed by the State Employment Agency Counselor and according to his expert opinion "there is nothing wrong with your resume" he stated. The last time I was consider for a hospital position, was in 2010 as a new grad. Is there someone here with experience and would you be willing to help me? Resume Writers? I have not come across one that specializes in Nursing. I have received calls from past employers/supervisors asking if I would be willing to work with them again for the same agency or at their new agency. My patients seem to like me. Patient's families seem grateful for the care I provide to their love ones every day. My colleagues tell me I am strict when following policies and procedures and seek my advice. If I bored you, I apologize, thank you for reading and God willing one of you may have the answer I have been looking for. Sincerely, Syntia Alcantar, RN

I believe that we can and will be able to succed in our endevours. However, it matters how much we are contributing. My gpa was 3.8 when I applied to nursing school. I graduated nursing school with a C! It did not matter that in kept scoring above 80% in every test, what mattered was that I very seldomly scored above an 84%. The grading was A=92-100% B=84-91% C=76-83% My recommendations are: 1- retake/replace your anatomy, physiology, microbiology, the last math class you took. 2- take a couple of medical terminology classes Depending in how your college structures classes, these classes should only take you this spring semester and the summer sessions. Therefore, you should be ready to apply for the Fall semester with greater confidence and better prepared. :-)

my bad if i misunderstood sincerely, :) syntia

I read you have been a nurse a "a bazillion years" :heartbeat and maybe you are a nursing instructor as well; Regardless, my experience as a student is much more recent. I just finished nursing school and from the Maricopa Community Colleges in Phoenix too. :) My study group and I would of have love to know these two resources existed back when we began nursing school. Even if we would of needed to pool our resources to be able to afford them, we would have purchase the CD because the information contained in the books I did purchase is what we needed to be successful in learning the material that was given to us to learn. What you said about The book "Nurses Quick Check: Diseases Second Edition"; "I think that resource is a bit much, for anyone. Kind of all over the place and abstract." We as a group disagree, this book was the best resource we had to complete our care plans. for the following reasons: 1. The Diagnosis are in alphabetical order, in two pages or less 2. It gives you a quick Overview of the disease process 3. The Assessment, like physical findings and what to look for in test results 4. Treatment such what medications are normally used for the treatment of a given diagnosis 5. Nursing Considerations (which is what is going be ask of the nursing student to know in quizzes) such Expected Outcomes of treatment, nursing interventions, and what a nurse needs to monitor for, 6. Patient teaching including Discharge planning (something a nursing student would be ask to know in their care plans every single time because discharge planning begins at admission. At the end of the day I just wish this group the best in their quest may "The Lady of the Lamp" be a part of their graduating ceremony. :)

I know what I am going to say may be a bit too much, but the truths about Nursing are: 1. Nursing Process 5 steps (must know it by heart) here is a URL with a nice clear introduction to what it is and what it means http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/kbaily/Documents/N150%20Outlines/N1510%20Nursing%20Process%20Outline.pdf 2. While you are becoming familiar with the Nursing process get this book "Nurses Quick Check: Diseases Second Edition" http://www.directtextbook.com/978078...2nd-0781789400 It will help you understand the Nursing Process and what is more important it will help you with all of your Care Plans through the entire Four Blocks of Nursing School. I may even say it will become your best friend in Nursing School 3. Pathophysiology is a nice class to take to as long as you remember the Nursing Process once you are in Nursing School 4. Get a head start in understanding your Medications and Signs and Symptoms for that use this CD Memory Notebook of Nursing: CD of Memory Notebook Images, 2nd Ed. http://www.nursinged.com/books_mnncd.html I think I am doing these threat twice, but I don't know if this is the same group looking for help in what to do while waiting to be placed or not. The very best luck to you prospective nurses :)

Hello Nursing Students, I can really understand what you are going through and I have a few ideas you may like and that may help you a bunch .. :) Get this book I love it Nurses Quick Check: Diseases Second Edition http://www.directtextbook.com/9780781789400/nurses-quick-check-2nd-0781789400 as well as the CD for Memory Notebook of Nursing: CD of Memory Notebook Images, 2nd Ed. http://www.nursinged.com/books_mnncd.html the reason to get the CD and not the book, is I have the books, but they are black and white and the 3 books cost more combined than the CD itself which has all 3 books in it. You will love it. It makes understanding nursing school at little easier. Good luck ladies PS I graduated 12/2009 from GWCC and obtained my RN license on 2/2010

Hello McMaster, I was accepted into the Banner Bilingual Nursing Program on 1/2009 Traditional semesters (which I love since it gave me the opportunity to develop my excellent bedside manner). I received my Associate of Applied Science in Nursing on 12/2009. I obtained my RN Licensed on early 2/2010 (this was the earliest I could find a testing date). I was given the greatest job offer on late 2/2010 as a RN with Banner Health (It did not hurt that I was a Banner Fellow for more info here are some links that may help you: http://www.gatewaycc.edu/Programs/RegisteredNursing/ http://www.bannerhealth.com/Careers/Education+and+Students/_Nurse+Fellows.htm) I went to Community College Week and found that GateWay C.C. (the community college I graduated from) in Phoenix, AZ. was ranked 37 nation wide in successfully graduating AAS RNs ... here is the link http://www.ccweek.com/news/templates/template.aspx?articleid=1153&zoneid=5 The pay rate is the SAME for a BSN or for an AASRN when you are FIRST hired. I will continue with my BSN at ASU on the Fall of 2010 (because I will need the Spring 2010 semester to learn my practice and go to RN new graduate training) I did work while I was going to nursing school, but I did it as POOL PCA/HUC/Monitor Tech all of these positions I crossed trained since I first started working as a NA on 5/2007 for Banner Health. The POOL Department was the best option for me because I only scheduled myself to work when I knew I could work, leaving me plenty of time to study and care for my family; As well as receiving a paycheck every other week too. I have a few friends that took the 16-18 months accelerated Banner Fellows Program and they are doing well too (They have been working for about 8 months already). The Very Best of luck to you and my only words of advise are, if you find a hospital willing to recruit you and pay for your education it is the best way to reach your goals and have a somewhat of a guarantee that you will employed when you finally graduate.