aphi~gn

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat It could just be that the places you have applied to are at their limit for new grads. It's not that they will never hire you without experience, they just don't have the experience staff to balance out their new grads. Of course this isn't the case in all hospitals. There are some that strictly will not hire new grads (from what I've heard). I think your best bet might be to find a job to help you pay your bill and keep applying. And if you hear of any openings on a floor after you apply find out who the nurse manager is on that unit and call them about the position, and make them want to hire you that way. :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatPersonally as a recent grad myself I put education high on my list because I had no work experience that related to nursing I put the name, address, phone number - centered in a heading THEN . . . Objective Education ~ Under education I also listed my internship on a neuro/med/surg floor because that was the type of unit I was applying to. GPA I didn't have my license when I started applying. . .so I left that out Career Experience Volunteer / Comm Service . . . .Then I centered at the bottom of the page "References Available" :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatHope this helps

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat Now I know you said that you didn't want to buy any more study material. . .but. . I just took the NCLEX today and what really helped me with remembering medications was a book called "Pharmacology made insanely easy" My school had the authors come and do a presentation and they gave us the book as part of that. It was sooo helpful. It gives creative mnemonics to help you remember side effects and the indications for meds, as well as labs and s/s to monitor the patient for. It's not sold in bookstores as far as I know but it is available online. The authors are Loretta Manning and Sylvia Rayfield. . .and it is published by ICAN publishing. . .If your interested! Whatever you decided to do just remember that in your heart your an RN. . .and you'll get there:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatI am also completing my internship. . and I sometimes feel uncomforable counting respers by pretending to take the pulse . . I feel awkward standing there that long not talking. . .SO. . .when I'm doing my heart and lung sound assessment. . I will put my stethescope on their chest to listen to heart sounds (tell them to breath normally) after I have listened to the heart I'll just keep my stethescpe there and count their respers. works for me!:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatWere you a new grad starting on the ICU at Banner?. . .because sometimes I think how you are treated depends on if you are a new grad or have some experience under your belt:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatWell. . . I'm a soon to be graduate nurse and have been working on my resume as well. From what I've heard from many sources. . . keep it simple. Most HR dept spend 30-60 seconds looking at your resume and if it is too long and wordy they won't bother to read it. The point of your resume is to HIGHLIGHT your accomplishments that make you stand out from other applicants. Your interview should be were you shine, and go into detail about your nursing experiences. Good Luck! :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

My question(s) is this: 1. I don't have a ton of experience with kids, or elderly. I'm a nice guy but I'm not exactly bubbly if that makes sense. Is this a skill that people commonly develop after a bit of experience? In a sense, I fear becoming a CNA just because of my lack of experience with elderly, but I'm hoping people get comfortable after a while. Did anyone out there feel this way and learn to overcome it and become comfortable with all ages? :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatI don't think you necessarily need to be a bubbly person to be a good CNA or nurse. I think as long as you are a caring person, that wants to give the best care to these people that need your help. . . you will be an amazing asset to the healthcare profession. Elderly people grow on you. . or atleast they did for me. Most are soo kind:saint:, and appreciative, and FUNNY:chuckle. . . and they love to talk and share their thougts and experiences with you. . . Kids can be a little tricky depending on the age,but just like everything in healthcare. .you will learn how to relate to and provide care for these children and their families. Hope this help. . good luck and I hope you find a place in healthcare you enjoy. . because it can be sooo rewarding:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatWhat kind of math do you need to know for this exam ?. . . if its med calc. . that is pretty easy to learn and there are tons of med calc books or info online for that matter, that will teach you how to set up med calculations easily. Let me know. . and maybe I can be of help. . . I'm not good at math either:no:, but I can logically think thru med calc:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

pshs2000 ~ :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat You too gave me GREAT advice. . .I wish I had your sense of money/budgeting. I have been freaking out. . .b/c I'm trying to figure out where I want to live/work and I'm doing this my trying to figure out salaries and looking at apartments in the area where I would have to move to. Maybe I'm just causing myself too much stress and should just focus on finding a job and then look for an apt. . . but I want to make sure that I have a nice place in a good area. AHHH. . it makes me want to pull out my hair. . . :chuckle But I won't cuz I don't want to add balding to my list of problems:chuckle I guess the search will just have to continue. . . your advice has def helped a lot. THANKS AGAIN :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

clhRN2b2010 & Thornbird :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat Thank you so much for you posts. . .they helped a lot. . . I definitly am going to get a budgeting book. . . because right now I don't even know where to begin starting a budget. I've been soooo stressed out about findng a good job, in a good neighboorhood, that pays well enough so that I can pay my bills, live in a nice apt and not be completly broke in the end:no:. . . I'm thinking this search could take awhile. . but your advice has def helped. . .THANKS AGAIN:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatWasn't sure where to post this. . .but I am having a heck of a time trying to decide where to live. It seems like anywhere I look a nice apt that I would want to live in cost between 1000 and 2000/month. I'm hoping to get some input on who much I should look to earn to be able to afford these places. I have a lot of student loans. . I don't know what my payments will be but I'm guessing around 500 payment/month. Really, I don't have any other bills . Maybe what I'm looking for is a percentage of my salary that would be acceptable to spend on housing considering my student loan payments, utilities, gas, and groceries. I'm hoping to get some advice. . as I don't have any experience really living on my own. . .except in college. . .but that doesn't really count:chuckle Any help will be very much appreciated:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatCalla2114 ~ Where did you find a job at?. . . I'm looking into ICU. . and am having a hard time deciding where to apply and where I want to move to. I have so much due in student loans that I need to find a job that pays well, is a good hospital to work at, and is somewhere where cost of living isn't thru the roof. Any advice would be helpful.:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatPS: my parents told me that the houston area isn't the best..and suggested Austin . .but I don't think they make that much more then what I would be making in Iowa.. I think they pay around 21/hr.. . is the same true for Houston?

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatGlad I was able to help. . . I'm sure you'll find a place where you just feel comfortable. . .shop around. . .there are so many opportunities out their for nurses anymore. . . I'm sure you'll find the perfect job to fit your personality and style of nursing. . .GOOD LUCK:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatI personally feel like as nurses we should never stop questioning and I feel like to an extent there should always be that uneasy feeling that will keep us on our toes and constantly thinking. .because when things get too routine or when you don't stop to question what is being done or use rationale for what your doing a mistake could be made. On the flip side too much uneasiness and questioning of yourself could be a mistake. Being a nurse you walk fine lines everyday. We would all LOVE to say we don't make mistakes. . but everybody makes mistakes (ours are just magnified because our actions have an impact on anothers life) A good nurse will catch her mistake. . .own up to it. . .correct it. . and learn from it. You will be a great nurse. . .just give yourself time. I think people expect that they should be prepared once they graduate and pass the boards. . .and that just is not possible. . .no book can truly prepare you for the real deal, you just need to learn through experience. . .and continue to learn throughout your entire career. GOOD LUCK. . .HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatWhen you show up for clinical its better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. . .bring a med book, a lab book and medical/nursing dictionary, black pen, wear a watch, and bring scissors (I always forget those:banghead: usually only on the days when I need them:chuckle). Read up to make sure you are familiar with the type of assessments you will most likely be doing on the floor . . .ie: skin, braden scale, and head to toe . . .obviously there are certain clinicals that will require more specific assessments ie: ob, peds, CC. . . but your just starting so we won't go into those. Be cautious especially when starting to give meds (five rights and I double and sometimes triple checks meds to make sure I have the right doses) but don't let caution keep you from getting in the room and talking advantage of the learning situation you are being given. If you are caught up on patient cares. . go see if any of your fellow students need help, or talk to your instructor or nurse and see if there are any learning experience you could get in on. I've watched wound care nurses, ET nurses, I've watched nurses put in tubes, start IVs . . . whatever I could get in on. . I WANTED to be there, even if I couldn't do anything just for the exposure. . as should you. . because thats how you learn. Sorry this is so long. . .but I hope it helps. . . Good luck . . . just think . . .in no time this will be like second nature to you :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeatPS: They won't give you a patient they know you can't handle. . just relax. . .and you'll do great :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat