ChinUp

So, yesterday I found out that I will be doing night shift once my orientation ends! Here's my long story: I interviewed for my job in the first week of June. A week later I got a call from my supervisor offering a job on DAYS. I can confirm this because I let everyone in my family to listen to my voicemail because I was so excited since this is my first real job. When I went in for my New Hire appointment and signed papers, HR gave me a paper to sign outligning my salary and it showed the daytime rate. So I never questioned whether I'm days or nights. Orientation week comes and I meet the other three new grads that are also going to be in my unit. To my surprise, they are all signed up for nights. Their new hire papers also show the night differential. After three weeks of hospital orientation I had my unit orientation yesterday and the nurse educator for my floor informs me that to her knowledge we are ALL scheduled for nights. Then one of my new coworkers exclaims: "HA, and you thought you were exempt" By this time I felt very embarassed, because I've been telling everyone that I'm days, even the nurses at my floor. So I approach my supervisor and she confirms that she did schedule me for nights because thats where she has a shortage. I tell her that if I'm not mistaken, I was offered a day job and even HR had the same information! She said that HR made a mistake!! I couldnt make her listen to the voicemail that she left me because its already been deleted (my voicemail only keeps messages for a certain time). I didnt want to argue with my boss that she's mistaken because I dont want to come off as being difficult. She then asks if I've been making plans for a day job, and of course I said YES, then she gives me that look. It was like a squirm that showed "hey that sucks then" I mean i'm pretty sure she said days, my family also confirms that they heard her say days. And what are the chances that even HR can have their information wrong, but get their info right for the three other new grads!! I feel really really embarassed. When the nurse educator introduced us to the clinical nurse specialist she mentioned that we are all nights and one of my coworkers said "thats awsome." I've also told all my classmates that are also working in the same hospital that I'm working days. I feel like a liar and an impostor. Anyways, I am NOT a night person. I've never done a night shift. Our orientation is 6 months long and we are being trained on days for the first 90 days and then we get switched to nights. Last night, I've convinced my self that it will be allright and I can do this. BUT what bothers me the most is that I hate not being able to prove that I was right and they are the ones that made the mistake. I know I should have made a better argument but I didnt stand up for myself. I just accepted it and didnt fight for it. But at the same time I didnt want to cause trouble since I'm new. But to my supervisors credit, she did say that after my 6month orientation period I can file for a transfer once I'm deemed ready for days. I dont know, maybe I'm just blowing this out of proportion. I feel really bummed right now. What do you guys think I should have done?? I need ADVICE and a few kind words.

I'm contemplating on purchasing dansko professionals. i tried them on at the store and they felt comfortable. My only concern is the height and the width of the base. I have terrible weak ankles and i am very prone to rolling it. What are your guys experiences with rolling your ankles with danskos?? I was also eyeing the crocs specialists, but crocs tend to make my feet look like boats!! I wear a size 9 womens. Thanks in advance for the input.

Make your presence known!!! Once I made up my mind, I showed up at my hospital's open house, took a tour, met the asst nurse manager, decided to take my last clinicals at the same hospital and spent them at ICU, introduced myself to the nurse manager and told her of my intent in working at her unit, be very nice and congenial to your possible future coworkers, and I did my preceptorship there also. So i guess you can say that by interview day (about three weeks before graduation) I was comfortable at the unit and a lot of people knew me there already. I also had a great interview experience.

I took my test July 18 Found out online that i was issued a license on July 29, but found out on July 30 (since they post early in the morning for the day before) Received the card on August 2. So I guess 4 days!! When I showed my dad that I got my card, he mistook it for a "credit card" and asked me, "whats the credit limit on that" ????:chuckle

Yup, thats days too. Theres a big night differential and specialty differentials too.

I'm starting in whittier, california and we start at $31.26hr

I'm also starting as a new grad ICU, but we have 1 week of hospital orientation and 6 weeks of medsurg!! They said that it helps new students with their time management. Over all our ICU orientation is 6 months!!

WOW!! I'm so excited for you. I'm soo excited to start and be a sponge but also very scared. Good luck!!

I got a job at a hospital with NO sign on bonuses. BUT, its a GREAT hospital with a less than 2% turnover rate. I asked the nurse recruiter once, why they don't offer sign on bonuses. Her answer: We would rather invest on our nurse's education and foster great nurses for the future (they give out tons of scholarships and tuition reimbursement for nurses continuing their education) rather than solve our nursing shortage by risking hiring nurses that are just in it for the $ Granted, I would have been soo stoked for having a sign on bonus, but their policy of giving scholarships for continuing education actually makes me want to continue mine.

Thanks for the advise! I'm actually booked to go to Cabo San Lucas the week before I start work. Its just that I've been studying for the NCLEX since I graduated and now that I passed, it feels weird doing nothing. But you're right. I should cherish this time because once work starts, I'll for sure be doing a LOT of studying.

Good job!!!! Yeay!! Congratulations, colleague. I guess I'll be seeing you at work. Since you're gonna be in tower 1, that means that you have to take ACLS right?? So I'll see you then too. Aren't you excited?? I'm excited and scared. But we have 3 solid weeks of vacation left until work. So we have time to relax and party. And I have a feeling that all of Mt. SAC students got their files completed on the 29th, because on the same day I got issued my license I know of 4 other classmates that received theirs the same date (even though we all took it at different times). So lucky you for not waiting too long!! Congratulations!

Hi everyone. First of all i just want to say the I love this website. I just found out today that I passed my NCLEX. I start as a new grad at the ICU on Aug. 25th. So I have a good 3.5weeks before I start orientation. What do you guys suggest that I do to prepare my self. Suggested reading, what books to buy, websites, etc. Thanks in advance.

I went for an interview with the Nurse recruiter for my future job, and she asked the basic questions: -strength/weakneses -how I handled a difficult situation with a doctor or patient - why I chose nursing, etc. Then I guess it went well that right after our interview she sent me to the Nurse Manager of the ICU. I was caught off guard because it was so unexpected. Everyone that I've talked to had their interviewed for the Hospital said that their second interview was scheduled for another day. The nurse mgr was great though, she saw that I was a little nervous at first so she started with the generic questions: -why nursing, why did i choose the ICU, etc. Then she went into the hard stuff (which i wasnt expecting or was not prepared for at all) -pt. has CHF, what medication are you expecting to be prescribed and what are you suppose to look out for - talked about dig and lasix (lab values, sign and symptoms, what to report to doctor) -received a pt post op from knee surgery and presents with decreased BP, increased HR, whats wrong with him and why - 2 days later same knee surgery patient complains of chest pain upon inspiration, whats wrong and why - doctor gives you difficult time, what do you do. - where do i see myself in 5 years Her last one was funny: You're preparing a turkey dinner for 20 people. Your oven breaks, what do you do. :offtopic: It was a funny way to end the interview. Anyways, that interview was the most nerve-wracking 1 hour of my life. I felt like a deer cought in the head lights. But . . I guess I did well enough that I got the job offer 5 days later.

I graduated June 14 and luckily enough I got a job offer that starts August 25. So I made sure I took my NCLEX as early as possible. I took it July 18 and found out today that I passed!!! Anyways I have about a month of vacation until work. And I'm planning to cherish every second of it. Actually we just book a 5 day vacation to Cabo San Lucas the week before work starts. he he I agree with RNsRWE that its a good idea to relax and have a vacation before orientation because it will never be a guarantee that you'll be able to take time off.

I gave my self 4 weeks, but the first two I wasnt that serious about studying. I would just study for about 2 or 3 hours a day. But then the last two weeks is when I put more effort and did a LOT of questions.