ExpatHopeful LPN, LVN

i would really appreciate any advice or input people could give me on my situation. i've been working on a med-surg floor for 9 months now in my first rn position. i work nights and love my job, my co-workers, and the shift. i'm also 4 months pregnan...

It depends on the rules of that country I'm sure - what country? In general I would say no, unless it's a pretty weird country. Every country has different rules about what training and licences a professional needs. For example, just because I'm an ...

They're such different environments, it really depends on what your personality is and what your long-term career goals are. I've worked as a CNA in two outpatient clinics and in a hospital and enjoyed them all in different ways. Here is sort of how ...

Thanks! It's good to hear that going float has been a good experience for you. This is the option that I'm most leaning towards, it's just that I love my floor so much and am intimidated about being a float. But it's good to think of it as a chance t...

Hey ashley, I don't know if you were offered the position or not, but I work on a colo-rectal floor that also takes elective bariatric patients. About 1/4 of our patients are post-op gastric bypass/gastric band/ or occasionally post-bypass fistulas. ...

What's worked for me is: regular largish dinner before I go to work around 6pm, around 1am have a greek yogurt and some fruit (either a banana or something else) and a cup of coffee, then at home at 9am I basically have a second dinner and sleep all ...

The best books to turn to are the ones from nursing school, so I hope you kept your med-surg text book and your health assessment textbook. They'll be helpful if you want to read up on various diseases/tests at home after the fact or in preparation f...

congratulations on the new job! if they didn't think you were smart enough they wouldn't have hired you. as a nurse 9 months into my first job, here's my advice about making the most of your orientation (i copied it from another thread i responded to...

Like with any new job, come prepared and on time, take notes, dress professionally, be friendly, ask your new co-workers about themselves and about the job, be upbeat and know what's expected of you when. Jobs and orientations vary, so don't assume t...

Things I bought myself: Good shoes (love Birkenstock Londons) Support socks Stethoscope (the one I used in nursing school) Black pens (buy by the box and leave in my locker) Red pens (I use them to circle meds that are due next on my med sheets) Whit...

I would really appreciate any advice or input people could give me on my situation. I've been working on a med-surg floor for 9 months now in my first RN position. I work nights and love my job, my co-workers, and the shift. I'm also 4 months pregnan...

Hi everyone! I'm 31 and have been working at my first RN job for 3 months. DH and I are ready to start trying for a baby and I think the timing is right since I'll get in that crucial first year of med-surg experience. My question is about the the F...

Thanks for the thoughtful reply Alsgal. I do know on a logical level that I should wait another month or two to give myself that extra 'just in case' buffer. And that is pretty much the same advice that my mother gave me. It's just hard to rein in ou...

Well, I'm confused. And the more I look at the HR pages of other employers the more it looks as if the opposite is true. That as long as you've been employed for 12 months by the date your FMLA leave begins you qualify, regardless of when you submitt...

I eat a substantial dinner at 5:30pm before my shift, at 2:00am I take my break and have a greek yogurt, a coffee, and a small snack (slice of breakfast bread, fruit, some trail mix, etc), then I eat my second solid meal when I get home before I slee...

One of my co-workers interviewed for the job while pregnant, told the manager about it, and the manager arranged for her to start after she delivered, months later. Pretty awesome I thought. Apparently not all managers are averse to hiring pregnant w...

Hey Jano - I just PMed you, but basically job is fantastic so far and I feel so lucky to have gotten this job as a new grad. Health insurance, vacation, and education benefits kick in after two full calendar months of employment.

So here is a question for you UK nurses.... I worked as an HCA for several years in England on a med-surg ward and cannot recall EVER seeing restraints placed on a patient. Certainly, I never applied them. While we did not have alcohol/drug detox pa...

Go to the interview - you may not even like it or they may not like you. At worst, it will a chance to do a practice interview and develop your interview skills. If they offer you the job but you have reservations, be honest and tell them you would l...

what sort of questions have you been asked? I was only asked general questions asking me to a recall a time when I had interacted with a patient whose condition changed/was from a different culture/was angry about their care etc. To prepare for these...

Yiggs - I assume from your mention of JACHO that you are practicing in the US. In my current US job we also have these strict guidelines and long order and assessment forms, but despite this restraints are still applied. I'm glad that from your pers...

It was pretty brief. 'Why do you want to work at NYP?' was the big question. There might have been one or two other general questions I don't remember like 'What do you have to offer NYP?' or something like that. Then, just details - when did you gr...

"I have to say in the UK when I left 6 years ago we still wore black lace up shoes, I had never worn sneakers to work until I came to the US. I still prefer the shoes LOL All hair if it touched your collar had to be tied up-no exceptions. It still ...

NY does not have mandated staffing ratios. Check the NY State Nurses Association page for info on the subject. They have tried to put forward legislature in the past: http://www.nysna.org/practice/staffing/intro.htm If this an issue you care about, j...

It depends on your area - maybe you should target this question to one of the state forums. In NYC where I am hospitals are essentially not hiring new grads unless they have their BSN, but maybe in your area they are. It does seem a little early to ...