stella2blue

Trust your intuition, sometimes we find ourselves wandering down a narrow, dangerous path....Keep your head up and dont ever give up! Maybe this is'nt the right place for you, keep looking and be positive!

Never give up! Apply in person, get the HR managers name and number and follow up weekly. Consider a professional resume service....Volunteer, network...join the medical reserve corps. Good luck!

Relax, remember its just a conversation. It may help to write down some responces to common type questions: how do you handle conflict with a coworker, why are you interested in this area of nursing...ect Its always good to make a statement, and provide an example to back it up. For example, I am very interested in this position because I had positive experience during my OB/LD clinical rotation, and use an example from your experience... Try to use previous work or clinical experience for your all your responces. Be prepared, confident and relaxed. Sell yourself, tell them why you are the right candidate for the position, make a list before hand so you are prepared. Exp: I am eager to join the team here, I am a real people person, I work well with others, I am compassionate about providing excellent pt care, I would appreciate this opportunity to utiilze my skills. I will make a positive contribution to the team... And ask questions about the position: are there opportunites for advancement, describe a typical work day, how receptive are the other nurses to new grads, is this a positive learning environment, will I be assigned the same preceptor for orientation, ect.... Before you go in, look at yourself in the mirror and confirm to yourself that this is the job you've always wanted, you are the right person for this position, believe in yourself and you will do great! ps: dont forget to get the names and titles of each person you interviewed with and follow up with a thank you note! now go get that job!

thanks merlyn, i will look into clinics in my area. I have been applying to private hospitals since I graduated in 2010 with no luck. I was planning on sticking it out at the state psych hospital for the experience, but decided it was not a good environment.

Any suggestions on mental health opportunities besides state psychiatric hospitals? I am interested in mental health. Most recently I resigned from a state hostial for safety/staffing issues. Thanks!

any suggestions for psych jobs other than state hospitals?

I also went through orientation at a State Psych Hospital, along the way, I weighed out the pros and cons. I finally decided that it was in my best interest to leave. Safety is number one priority. Good luck to you making your decision.

Thanks for sharing your insight, I agree the patients are very dangerous and safety is an issue because staffing is horrible. I've been in orientation at state psych hospital for 5 weeks now. I am apprehensive and have been contemplating the pros and cons daily. I appreciate your thoughts. I am trying to make a decision, any thoughts/advice is greatly appreciated!

Wondering if any RN"S are currently employed at ancora....what shifts do you work? Do they offer per diem? Are they still on a hiring freeze?

is it all about the pay? i work at a state institution working with developmentally disabled pts, i have been in volatile situations, i have been hit, spit on, kicked, punched.....i float - often i must cover various assigments and work with unfamiliar patients while working with uap's who i am responsible for under my license..... tomorrow i have a job interview at a drs office - even though the pay may be lower, my safety, sanity and license will be the determining factors.... any advise?

Any advise for an RN currently employed at a state institution working with DD/Psych pts looking to get out of the institution - what options are there? I noticed a few of you work in Group Homes - how do you go about finding that type of employment? Thanks!

When you mentioned the Direct Care Staff work under your license - if something happens to an individual, for example they develop pressure ulcers because they are not turned/they have unreported skin abrasions and an infection develops - who is liable? Is the RN liable for UAP's? I work at an institution and am currently looking for other employment because I am not confident in the care the patients receive by UAP's - I worry about my license, my safety - no one else is watching my back. .. Any advise?

Hello? any advice? Im currently enrolled in a BSN program and hope to work toward becoming a Psych Nurse Practitioner in NJ. Thanks!

As a new nurse I was horrified at what I encountered after a few weeks on orientating to a LTC 'skilled' nursing unit. I quit because I could not provide the quality of care I feel obligated to provide (3-11 shift with 30 pts with meds, tx, wound care, notes, labs, unprofessional/unsupportive CNA staff, ect, ect the list goes on and on!). I feared loosing my license the most so I trusted my intuition and quit.

In response to the post about second generation meds causing weight gain and DM, thats really interesting. I am studying antipsychotic agents and my focus has been on s/e relating to EPS. Im very interested in the mental health field. From what I understand you need a bsn to work in the field (even as a tech)..

I can totally relate, Im in my last year of nursing school and just started a job as an aide at a hospital in the pool. So, its hard to make connections with other nurses and aides since I'll always be floating from floor to floor....feeling unfamiliar and uncertain. Im not shy. I feel confident, but Im having a hard time with the unfamiliar and unexpected part of the job.

why go to a 2 year program to get your associates? just

I am in my last year of nursing school and have worked really hard toward becoming an RN. I began this adventure 7 years ago taking part time pre reqs and raising a family. I have 3 boys and a great supportive husband. Nursing school is hard work, time consuming and very stressful and especially difficult with a family. I just got my CNA certificate and first job at a LTC in NJ with a starting rate of 11.25 (gasp!) per hour. I will be working every weekend 7-3 (ugh!), but I have to admit that Im really looking forward to gaining experience and know how. I really believe that this experience will help me become a great nurse. I wanted to thank everyone who posted here for their comments which were pretty encouraging.... I was thinking about after completeing 8 shifts of 'orientation' ....asking to go 'per diem' so that I can focus on nursing school and be able to spend some quality time with my family while hopefully continue to work at the facility. Im just not sure how to go about it. Im assuming the per diem hourly rate is higher. I just hope the environment is supportive and flexible, I guess Im about to find out! Any advise would be appreciated!

I am really sorry to hear, after all your hard work and dedication, that you are unable to find a job. Have you tried LTC or Bayada?

about $25K

thanks for the info. could you recommend a good lpn program? i am currently enrolled in an rn program and not doing that great in my second year with just 2 more semesters to go...im thinking it might be a good option to transfer over to an lpn program..... i was thinking about camden county tech institute...any thoughts?

I was just curious, what is a typical starting rate for new lpn grads? Thanks! and good luck!

im trying to be positive and hope for the best. i feel devastated. i hope i can do it.

what if you've studied as hard as you can, hours and hours missing your kids, relying on your husband to do everything....and you fail, 3 exams in a row... now i need at least two 80's on the next two exams when i've struggled just to get by with low low 70's.... im devastated. and about to give up. i dont think i can do it.

i thought lourdes had a paid tuition program as long as you sign a 2 year contract. i would go there. a friend of mine went to bcc and 50% of the class failed the third semester recently. now she is on a waiting list to get back into the nursing program. it doesnt sound like a friendly place from what i've heard....