Becky8

I am starting my BSN capstone course this Fall and am working on ideas for a capstone project in hospice/palliative care. I work in a hospice/palliative care inpatient unit that provides symptom management. Any ideas on what might be a good focal point? Thanks!

That is true of other va's as well. Very unfortunate because the vets are so awesome to work with.

[color=#002060]i wrote to them and they said : winter 2011 cohort dates for posting the program position: 8/2/10 with a deadline of 9/17/10. program start date is 1/31/11. hope that helps! good luck

I will be interviewing for a vascular access service in a large hospital. I am excited about the idea and have been reading about this specialty. But I have never had the opportunity to see first hand what a nurse's day looks like in this specialty. I have seen IV's placed in the clinical setting and drawn bood. Can someone please give me a feel for what it is like? Thank you

I was on the wait list for adult medical/surgical. Did anyone get in on the wait list? I got an email saying that there was nothing now but they would keep me on the wait list until the start day of July 12th. I was just wondering if anyone got in or were all the slots taken? Thanks.

The very best to you. And hang in there, we always need nurses that really care to be as good as they can be. Whatever you learn from this will help in your patient care for sure. Sincerely and with best regards!:redbeathe

I was the same way my freshman year. Did not know how to go at half speed and sleeping very little. I combined relaxation techniques, with prayer and an occassional use of xanax. I was afraid it would make me foggy but it did not. My doc prescribed 0.25mg and sometimes I cut that in half just to take the edge off. It is a benzo so something not to rely on all of the time unless your doc thinks so. For me, getting a year under my belt, really examining what was truly important (learning every little thing perfectly or a compromise that I could live with), asking for help from friends and family, seeing my doc, listening to soft music, exercise, breathing...............a little bit of everything helped me rise above the chaos in my head and get some perspective. I would speak with an instructor you trust and get some guidance. Countless students have been in your shoes. I was able to get a lot of comfort and encouragement through this thread and thoughout allnurses.com. Know you are not alone and that you can get through this. You may not think so, but it is true. Learning to help yourself is a wonderful step to learning how to take care of your patients. I also researched anxiety and physiologically, as you become more and more anxious, you become more and more unable to observe, collect and retain information. It can really make one foggy. The meds available now, can help without the fog, or becoming uninhibited. It really helped me. I don't use xanax every day, and now, I can go to clinicals without anything and be fine. I have never slept very well before a clinical though, so I try to compensate by making sure I get a good night's sleep two nights before. And if you can't sleep, just try to relax, lisiten to calming music, pray, use EFT, any tool that helps you unwind. Good luck and don't be fearful of asking for more help here or from docs, friends, classmates, instructors, anyone. Best of luck and God bless. You cann get through this!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received an email today that I am on the alternate list. They will contact the alternates by April 15th if there are any openings left. I was in the Adult Med Surge Track. Good Luck to all!

One of my classmates who went for Critical Care got her rejection email today. So there must be some decision making going on. Good luck to all!!!!!!!!!!!

Not yet. I thought they had said mid april. Good luck everyone! Let us know when you hear!

I was on the Holy Cross site and could not find anything about a residency program. Does any one know anything about it? Application dates, requirements, if they are even having one? Thanks

joyfuljoy3 registered user years exp: 0-1 join date: jan 2007 posts: 32 mar 10, 2010, 12:29 pm re: vanderbilt's nurse residency program i just had my interview. the people on the panel were very very nice. i will say, some of the questions are difficult to answer. they were for me at least. i had some trouble recalling specific examples of certain scenarios they wanted to hear about. i wonder if other people had the same problem. they ask some questions about you personally (why vanderbilt, etc.) then they ask specific clinical questions and want specific examples from your clinical experiences. hi joyfuljoy3, i was in the adult medicine track and had the same problem. i had 2-3 scenarios i had prepared for but i seem to remember they asked for 6 or 7 specific scenarios. i wonder if they changed their question format from the previous cohort. they were very polite though and very nice. time will tell on the outcome! good luck to all!

Thanks so much for all of the valuable information you gave! All I need now is the call that I got the job! Nashville sounds great. I really appreciate your time and love this website and this thread. It has all been such a great help to me over the last couple of years. The best to you and I hope I can help someone out someday like you have helped me and others! Take care.

I am wondering if there are any hospice agencies even considering new grads right now? I thought I might be able to get into an inpatient hospice but have had no luck. I have worked as a hospice lna for the past year and love it. I have lined up LTC work, but worry that it is hospital experience they will want. Anyone out there know of an inpatient hospice that would hire a new grad? We can move anywhere...thanks

Thank you so much for your good words. It is very reassuring to hear such praise for an employer which can be rare these days. I really appreciate your input and look forward to following up with this application. Thanks again and my best to you and everyone at Midland!

I was wondering if anyone can give me any information on Midland Memorial Hospital inTX. They have a residency program that I am interested in. Do you like it there, the hospital, the town, the culture........any information would be most helpful. Thanks!

How do you feel working in a hospice inpatient unit? I have dreamt of working as a hospice RN from the beginning. I graduate in May and have been working as a hospice LNA for the past year and love it. I don't feel comfortable to be a hospice nurse in the field yet, although I love home care, and wanted to start in an inpatient unit. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks so much for any input.

Hi gigi, Here is the web site with the information. The deadline is March 1. http://www.presbyterian.org/site/jobs/nursing_students_and_graduates/new_graduate_nurse_internship_program.html They have clinical reference forms to be sent in. Good luck!

I had received a phone message that they would be deciding on interviews by mid March. You could call if you want to confirm receipt. The recruiter's name was on the web site. I seem to remember there was email confirmation of receipt of the on line application too. Nothiing else though. I wish us both luck!:)

So where would you recommend to rent an apt /house to live while newly working at Vanderbilt? Thanks

How does Vanderbilt pay compare with the cost of living in the Nashville area? Is it doable? Up north you make a lot more as a new grad, but pay a lot so I wonder if you end up breaking even. Thanks for any information.

Does anyone have any information on what the interview will consist of? How to prepare mentally and emotionally? Whether I get the position or not, I would like like it to be a positive learning experience and would appreciate any words of wisdom on preparation. Thanks!

Thanks for your reply. That is exactly what I was afraid might happen. It definitely would be uncomfortable to be with so many people searching for a job. Guess I will let this opportunity go by. Thanks again and the best of luck to you!

Any suggestions as to which LTC's would be good to look into? Do you know starting pay? Thanks