TRCCnurse2be

I graduated December 2011 and got my RN license in January......2 interviews at the hospital and no job.....no experience= FRUSTRATION. I even did my clinical rotation at the hospital that claimed they were trying to recruit new grads and they only hired 3 out a class of 27. I ended up going to the nursing home, as did many of my former classmates. It is really not so bad, I actually do quite a bit of the same work as I did at the hospital on the Med Surg floor because most of those patients were elderly. I actually like it, I work weekend option while I attend the RN-BSN bridge program full time.

I am not sure how an LPN can have authority over a RN. I live in Missouri and the State Board of Nursing clearly states that an LPN works under the direct supervision of a RN. I have no trouble asking an LPN for advice, and I value the judgment and expertise of the LPNs I work for, but would have a problem with them being my supervisor. I agree with you that teamwork is crucial. It takes all the nurses working together to take care of the resident's needs , regardless of our title.

I am an RN working in a LTC facility for now.....until I finish my BSN in June and then I plan to work as nurse in Oncology. I work with some awesome LPNs and have learned a lot from them. However, a few seem to think because they have years of experience and I do not, that they know more than I do. That is not necessarily true. I have more education than they do, and I have worked extremely hard for my degree. I respect the LPNs I work with, and they should respect me as well. LPNs can always bridge over to RN school. Otherwise, they really shouldn't be so judgmental of a RN and what we have to go through to earn that title.

Platypus....I could have written your message lol.....I too was having trouble finding a job as a new grad and Golden Living gave me a job as an RN supervisor. Like you, I was terrified because I just graduated and was green as could be in nursing. A couple of the other nurses were great, others I think took pleasure in watching me suffer trying to learn on my own. I can't say that I LOVE my job there, but my DNS works with me on my schedule since I am currently pursing my BSN and only have a little more than a year to be finished. I think you make the job bad or good depending on your attitude and willingness to learn on your own. I will stay with Golden Living Ctr because I think with my BSN, I can climb the ladder in the company quicker than as a staff nurse at the hospital.

This is probably too late of an answer, but I found all white Nike Shocks at Hibbet's sporting goods.

Congratulations!!! I have 3 more semesters. Hope they go by quickly!

Thanks! I just worry because I "hear" that the Med/Sur instructor is much tougher than the other instructors, which I find hard to believe. All of my instructors have been fair but tough. I wouldn't want it any other way though, I don't want to slide by, it is really important to me that I know this stuff well. I worked really hard in Fundamentals and kept my grades up but it was not easy. I am also an older student, 40 years old, with a husband and kids. I don't know if my age is an advantage or disadvantage, all I know is I think it was easier to learn 20 years ago lol :chuckle I am reviewing what we covered last semester right now so that it will be fresh in mind. I am looking forward to this semester, but I admit to being nervous as well. Thanks for the tip on the NCLEX review book, a friend of mine who is an RN also suggested buying that book, so I will look for it. Do you think Barnes and Noble carries it? Thanks again!

I use the DA method for almost all of my med math problems. It is the best thing I could have learned in pharm. Thanks for posting this!

I also used this book and it helped, however it was very similiar to the book we used in class. I think having been blessed with my awesome instructor is what helped me the most. That woman really went above and beyond to help us. I will always be grateful for my instructors. Also the math sticky thread on this site is WONDERFUL!!! Helped me bunches!

For me it is the time I have to sacrifice with my family. I don't think the course itself is too awful, and our textbooks are pretty easy to understand. I think I am pretty good in science and decent in math and I will be the first to admit that nursing classes are tougher....at least they are for me. It is hard to understand what a nursing student goes through unless you are a student yourself. I sure hope this sacrifice pays off in the end because I will never be able to get that time with my family back.

Hi all! I will start my 2nd year of nursing school soon. So far, the first year has been challenging but manageable. We covered Fundamentals and then Ob/Peds. Some students think this is equivelent to LPN school, and it may very well be, I have not been to LPN school so I really don't know. Anyway, I am wondering what I can expect the 2nd year, which is Med/Surg and Mental Health. I have heard horror stories from nursing students ahead of me that swear Med/ Surg will be the hardest course I will ever have, others say it is not so bad. For those of you who have completed a 2 year ADN program, what advice can you offer on how to survive Med/Surg? I ended up with a decent grade last semester and I thought Fundamantals was pretty cool. I liked the nursing home. OB is also really neat and Peds, well we do more observation than anything but still very fun working with the kids. I have a very supportive husband and kids, I make time for my homework and have stopped working outside the home while I am in school. I am just curious is Med/Surg is really as bad as other students make it sound. Nursing school is a challenge for me but I love it. I do think it takes a lot of scarifice. I have to give up time with my family and friends but like I said, they are supportive and that means the world to me. Thanks for any advice....I have really gotten a lot of help from this site!

thanks for your reply and advice! I am actually doing much better than I anticipated. I graduated from high shool in 1988 so I was pretty scared to go back to school. I am making A' and B's but I know it is because I have great instructors that facilitate my learning........and I have many friends in class that also help me. I know I have a long way to go and it will just get tougher but I am determined to stay after it because I really want to be a great nurse. I know my instructors have to teach " by the book" and figure things will be very different once I actually go into practice.Nursing school kics my rear but I love it, and can't imagine making a better career choice. I think TRCC has a great nursing program and I am very proud to say i am a student there. Thanks again!

I am in the nursing program and I will also be in that class. I have heard he is a good instructor, most people seem to like him well enough. I loved my other instructor, but with my nursing classes I can't take her class this semester for A&P II Maybe we will be in the same class.

thanks so much for the encouragement! I got my books so I am going to start going over them. Fortunately, my husband is a math whiz so if I get stuck he will help me out. Thanks again!

Thanks! Well, if the nursing math is similiar to the chemistry math I should do fine. I ended up with a 98% in Chemistry and found it odd that I did better than many people who took College Algebra did. I have not taken college algebra yet, just the class before it. It is not required for the ADN degree at my school, but I do plan to take the class ( college algebra) because I plan to go on for my BSN. I have heard many nursing students say math is not their strongest subject but still did well with it in nursing class. I am just intimidated by it I guess, particulary random math questions that I am timed on. I did well enough in math to get into the program so hopefully my math skills are strong enough to get through the drug calculations :)