Dezell

ya new grad too(may), i took the summer off, took my boards in august and started at western new mexico correctional facility on aug 19. i didnt care for the local hospital, nasty attitudes all around and they acted liked they owned us already, and on top of all that i would have taken a pay cut in comparison to my job i had. so corrections was a no brainer for me, granted it is nothing like the hospital, but man i have learned a ton. i work in the clinic, kinda ERish/urgent care/ chronic care. i feel my assessment skillz have greatly improved, i do blood draws all day, i deal with wound care, diabetic ulcers, heart attacks seizures, warts, mrsa, you name.. I do work with a good staff though. we have a PA who is a great resource, and its nice because they trust my judgement because im not affraid to ask questions if i dont know. i love that classic term you should work med surg 2yrs:banghead:, i can see the benefits of it but no matter where you go, you have to have good assessment skillz and now your stuff. and youll always see something new no matter where your at. be willing to learn, try not to cut corners document everything and go work in the prison, if u dont know something read up on it or ask. and if its the extra $ u want go get it. its your life you chose what is best for you!!!

so i just finished up my ADN program and pretty much decided im not going to work in the hospital until after my NCLEX, maybe not even til september. ive been lucky enough to be able to work during school so i have a decent job but im really kind of disappointed with my experience as a nurse so far. our programs ends with us working 12-12 hr shifts with a preceptor, alot of things really did come together for me and i got very high marks but im just burned. i feel like a pill pusher without time to even see how the pt is truly doing. not to mention the hospital acts like they own us because there arent to many gigs around here for health care. im also frustrated because i really thought id atleast have a clue of where i want to work. welp just seeing if anyone else is struggling with this.