CleveRN2008

Thanks to everyone who posted a response to my original thread about the commonality of missing breaks as an RN. Quite honestly, I am disgusted at how it seems the profession of nursing is being treated out there in the real world. Almost every single person who responded to my thread expressed similar situations in finding it difficult to get breaks during 8 and 12 hour shifts. Personally speaking, I find that unacceptable. It makes sense that there would be occasional situations in which lunch was not possible due to work load or patient care situations. However, that should be the exception and certainly not the norm. I understand that we are in an economy that is experiencing a major recession and yes, I need to keep my job as well. However, I still think there is a right and wrong here and it seems obviously wrong to me that RNs should work under such conditions. I was struck by the comments made from those RNs who are unionized. It seems that this kind of treatment would be less tolerable in those type of environments. Interesting thought. Anyways, thanks to everyone who responded. I appreciate hearing the stories and knowing that it is not just where I work....it is more prevalent than that!

RNperdiem, I agree with you about unit culture. That is what it boils down to. I am happy and glad to hear that there are nursing units out there in which nurses are properly afforded breaks. My plan at this time is to work on my current unit for the one year required period of time and then bid on other RN positions throughout the hospital. However, this time, I will make sure that I understand the culture of the unit before joining it. Thank you for your response...I appreciate it!

Thanks for your thoughts, guys. Yeah, I definitely believe that this is a HUGE HUGE problem since the majority of my floor has to skip lunches due to patient volume and work load. I suppose that is why unions can positively impact nursing. If we swipe a "no lunch"... we often get a reprimanding about it. If they are so worried about us not having a lunch, who don't our charge nurses and managers come and relieve staff for lunches? Instead, they sit in their offices and do not get involved in hands on care. FRUSTRATING.

Hi everyone! This topic has been bothering me a lot lately. I would love to know your thoughts and experiences! I am a new RN working on a cardiac unit. Since I have been on this floor, I have observed and experienced first hand how many of the nurses do NOT get a break during their 8 and 12 hour shifts. If we do take a break, we have to find someone on the floor who can cover our typically 4-5 patients. Our charge nurses do NOT cover lunches and our parent shifters are not used for this, either. There have been many days when I went home after working 13 plus hours and not sitting down once or being able to use the bathroom. Is this COMMON in the nursing profession? According to wage and hour federal laws, we are entitled to a break. This frustrates me as I think we are all entitled to some time away and I do not feel it is our responsibility to find our own coverage. What are you guys finding out in the nursing community? Do you swipe a "no lunch?" Is this even SAFE? Technically, this employer is violating wage and hour laws by not freeing the nurses up for a break. Please share your thoughts and experiences with me. I think this practice is wrong and I would like to implement change...I just do not know how. Thanks for your thoughts.

Hi everyone, First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to read this posting. I came home from my second week of RN orientation and I was completely beside myself...in tears, uptight and just basically unhappy. I am a new grad RN who graduated in August from an accelerated nursing program (this in itself was a poor decision). I accepted a full-time RN position in a teaching hospital that I did my clinical rotations in. I actually did a clinical on this unit...so I thought I knew what I was signing up for! This is a cardiothoracic stepdown floor and I really enjoyed the patient population. In any event, I need your help and thoughts. Although this is only my second week, I feel like it is a mistake. I am struggling to get the material down and quite frankly, I just seem to feel "displaced" on the floor. Every day that I have been on the unit, they have put me with a DIFFERENT person. They still do not seem to know who my preceptor will be...this scares me. I am extremely organized and structured and I seem to be struggling with this style of orientation. I feel like I need to LEARN and I am afraid my learning is not going to occur on this unit based on what I am seeing. WHAT DO I DO? Since I have not really begun the main orientation...do I ask my NM about it and consider transferring to another unit? I worked way too hard in school to be placed on a floor in which I am miserable and most importantly, not fully trained. For those of you out there, what do you suggest? I really hate feeling this miserable every day, so I think something is wrong. Almost as if I am "being warned" to make the change now before I get too far along. Please help if you can. :) Thank you for listening as it seems like no one else understands this.

Hi all! Do any of you have any suggestions on which shoes are BEST for nurses? There are so many choices and price ranges out there. I am looking for the BEST shoe in terms of long term comfort. I am willing to pay good money for them because life is horrible when your feet hurt in the middle of your shift. :) Please, please send me your thoughts if you have any suggestions. Sadly enough, they have to be all white shoes, so I am somewhat limited. I heard that KLOGS are great? Thanks in advance for any help. :):nuke:

Hi there! I just graduated in August from an accelerated BSN program. Quite honestly, I would no worry too much about the math. The math that is required is something that you CAN learn. I am not the best in math either, but with extra practice and effort, you can do the math without a problem. I am assuming that you already have a bachelor's degree in something else. If so, then I would assume you will not need a special math class for your BSN. The math that nursing school requires is dosage calculations. You will be fine with those if you practice. :) Anyways, good luck to you! The accelerated programs are a TON of work and the pace is quite fast. Be prepared for a fast ride and just keep a positive attitude. Take care!

Hey, I would just study the classifications and know the side effects for each big class. If you start getting crazy over memorizing all meds, you will lose your mind and never remember them anyways. Try and buy the KAPLAN drug cards and stick with them...or just the drugs listed in the Saunders book. Best wishes to you!

Hi Serena, I read your message and wanted you to know that I hear you and am sending positive thoughts your way! I can understand why you are nervous, but try and think positive. I think it is VERY POSSIBLE that you PASSED. :) I felt the same way when I took mine last month as it shut off at 75 and I hated the majority of my questions. I cried the entire drive home! So...good can and does happen. Trust in yourself girlfriend! Heck...you made it through nursing school which is grueling...so you obviously are smart and courageous! Hang in there and stay positive. Let me know how it goes for you. Will keep you in prayers and thoughts!

Hey there! I just took the NCLEX in September and passed with 75 questions. I took the Kaplan review course (yes, it is expensive but WORTH it) and the NCSBN on line study tool as well. It was not cheap to do both, but I felt it was the reason I passed. To be honest with you, I would strongly encourage KAPLAN review class (don't just buy the book....pay for the review class and attend them). Kaplan helped me a TON and I would recommend it to anyone. It is much CHEAPER to pay the Kaplan rate and pass the NCLEX first time. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I recommend the full Kaplan course. I have not heard of many people who were disappointed. Good luck to you and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

hi everyone! :loveya: if anyone out there works at metrohealth medical center in cleveland, ohio, can you please share your thoughts on working there as a new graduate rn? i absolutely love the people i met during the interview process, but they do not offer the same tuition assistance that other area hospitals do. total bummer. however, from those of you who work there...what do you honestly think about it? any floors in particular that one should avoid or perhaps aim to work on? would love your input! :) thanks so much! clevern2008

Since it shut off at 75, I bet you passed this time. Seems to be what I hear most often is that people pass at 75....not always....but most commonly. In any event, good luck and I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you! :)

Hi, I just passed the NCLEX last week with 75 questions. I used the Kaplan complete review for the majority of my studying. I also did all of the questions in the SAUNDERS Comprehensive Review...very, very helpful. I suggest doing at least 150 questions a day and just going over each and every rationale. That will help you the MOST. Also, buy pharmacology NCLEX review study cards as pharm is highly tested on NCLEX. Hope this helps and best wishes to you! You will do GREAT!

Hi there! I actually took the KAPLAN complete course and spent four days in classroom review and had access to their question banks. I thought it was WORTHWHILE COMPLETELY. I also signed up for the NCSBN question bank, but did not use it very much. Based on my experience, I would pick KAPLAN review (pick the complete one though). IF you do not pass, they refund your money. I passed in 75 questions and believe it was directly related to my Kaplan prep. Just do it...you will not regret it! Good luck in whatever you decide. :)

Hi there! Yep, I agree with you...I had a bunch of SATA questions. The reality is that I thought FOR SURE that I failed because I stink at those questions. Thankfully, I passed! So...do not lose heart....you did great I bet! Not sure why we got so many SATA questions... yucky! Good luck to you!