wcu_nurse

I just got a job at Duke. Which hospital will you be working at? How about go Devils!!! ~Kimmie

I would recommend chapel hill or raleigh. ~Kim

how do you think you could have prevented this from happening? i'm going to be starting at duke in the end of june and i will be on the pediatric medical stepdown unit with hem/onc pts. i'm really looking forward to it and am getting tired of people asking me how i could take such a depressing job out of college. i'm going into it for the smiles and the difference i'm going to make. it's where my heart is. let me know what you would have done differently k? meanwhile, keep your head up, today was harder than tomorrow will be. you make a difference. it's not about you or your co-workers, it's about the kids. they need you. kimmie

There is a Britthaven Nursing home in Franklin and an Angel Medical Center. Franklin is relatively small. We had clinical rotations at both facilities. HOpe this helps!! Kimmie

Don't be scared about living in Durham. Honestly, most of the crimes are drug related so if you aren't involved in that ,you really have little to worry about. However, I wouldn't sleep with my windows unlocked or anything. It takes adjustment, that's for sure. There are some parts of Durham that are better than others. It's hard to be specific because there are literally pockets of bad sections. You can tell these areas pretty quickly though by observing the area for a while. Northern Durham out towards Guess road is more "country"like if you will and the farther out on guess road, the better. Another way to judge is the cost of living, if an apartment is REALLY cheap, there's a reason why. Good apartments are expensive. Chapel hill is about 10 minutes away and not a bad commute. I will be living in Raleigh and commuting ...about 20-30 minutes. It won't be that bad. I'm excited. I'll be working on the pediatric medical stepdown unit. 5100. Lets keep in touch. I'll be graduating in May and taking boards at the beginning of June. My start date is June 27th so I don't think we'll have the same orientation but I'm sure we'll see each other and it'll be nice to talk to someone about working and stuff. my email address is and I check it daily. I don't check this site daily. Let me know if you have ?s about specific areas of Durham or Raleigh and I'll do my best to ask my family about the area for ya. Take it easy !! :) And.....don't stress about it. You'll find a safe place to live that's affordable, I'm sure of it. Things always work out. You know that. ~Kimmie

What part of Duke will you be working at? I'll be working on 5100 PEDS. I'm SO excited!!! Chapel Hill is close to Duke and affordable. Honestly, the best thing to do is drive down and look around. Let me know how it goes. I'll be starting in july too. My start date for orientation is June 27th. Keep in touch.!!! Kim

Hi Patrick! Just wanted to let you know that the IVs went great. I've also done some SQ injections and seen some surgeries in the OR. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply....i'm sure you remember how nursing school is. ...looks like we're gonna be stuck in winter forever....pray for sunshine! I was wondering how things are going with you because it looks like you haven't posted in a while! Take care! ~kim

I'm so excited that y'all took this thread and ran with it~ I didn't realize there were so many that I had never heard before about the sex of an unborn child. If you come up with anymore, just let me know! Thanks again !! God Bless! Kim

HI! Hope y'all are doing well! I have a paper to write about folktales and superstitions that women and men have heard about the sex of an unborn child. For instance, if you can balance a pencil on your belly horizontally doesn't that mean it's a girl? Help me out with some of the things that y'all have heard. Have you heard of anything that people do when they want a girl or a boy? I'd appreciate any superstitions that y'all have heard and think this would be a kind of fun thread to start. Oh, this is totally unrelated but I've got a new fave quote... " I'm not offended by those dumb blonde jokes. I know I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde." - Dolly Parton!!! Isn't that hilarious! I also know those boobs aren't real! Do y'all think they're real?? That's another good conversation starter! Can't wait to hear from y'all!

Patrick, that's just hilarious!!! We didn't get to do all that!! We had silicone arms and iv cath start kits to play with in lab and that's it. Isn't that crazy? ! Sounds like nursing school was a blast for you too. Good ole NS!

I've heard that Rex Hospital in Raleigh is a great hospital to work at. I've heard that they pay great and that the employees stay for a long time. It's not as large as duke, but duke doesn't pay well. Best of luck to you! Don't worry, it'll all work out! KIM [email protected]

thanks Patrick! You're right, at least that's the same thing I've heard. And, they tell us not to base our feelings on success only on how we do with ivs and injections. If we did, we'd all remember some "BAD" nurses. I think it's attitude that matters the most and compassion. I'll let you guys know how it goes. But don't worry if it takes me a while to post because usually the only free time I have is on weekends. I think I'm very blessed to have found this forum. Y'all are great supporters! It's down right Cold here too!!! I'll send some warm air your way if I can find any, k? KIM

Glad to hear so many of you are from the western part of the state. It's so nice here! Western is a great school, it's small but there are some great professors here, especially in the nursing program. It's amazing to look over the last semester and see how much I've learned! And it's quite overwhelming to look forward and see how much left I've got to learn. But,l love it! I'm pretty worried because Thursday and Friday we have clinicals all day (every week) and we're going to be doing our first iv starts and injections. Any advice you guys? I think after my first one, I'll be fine. Just a little anxious!! Take it easy and BRRRRR stay warm! Kim [email protected]

I'd love to hear about the information you find out from the forum. I'm from Raleigh and my husband and his family is from the Bethesda area in Durham. I'm going to Western Carolina University and have 3 semesters left before graduating. We are definitely planning on going home when I graduate and even though I've always wanted to work at Duke, I feel like I may have better benefits and pay working at a smaller hospital or perhaps a UNC hospital. Not sure if you know this or not but Duke has bought a lot of hospitals within the past few years... Durham Regional and Wake Med ( i think, but not positive about this one) But, best of luck to you. Who, knows, we may be working together one day. Take care and God bless!! _Kim_

This is really neat to be in the NC forum. I am in nursing school at WCU and just got a job at haywood regional medical center. (30 minutes west of asheville for all you who love asheville!! ) I have 3 semesters left until i graduate with my BSN. I'm really glad that I've chosen nursing.... I look forward to talking to y'all... i think this has the potential of being a great support group. _kim_ [email protected]