cjroan

I also work in Ortho and float to Med/Surg. I just went to days. There are days that I really like my job and days that I feel like I was thrown under the bus. We also have lack of support at times. No secretary on weekends as though there won't be admissions, orders or discharges. The Medical unit is supposed to help, but they are busy and not close by. Many times the "Charge Nurse" has four patients of her own, so she can't help either. BUT, I am learning alot and the majority of patients really appreciate the help you give them. That's what makes it worth it. I also do not have a year of hospital nursing experience yet, so I am learning all the time. It's really tough when a pt. is not doing well and I don't always know what to do! I am afraid I will miss important signs that a rapid response should be called. I also had trouble with the night shift. I liked the environment, but it was bad for my life outside of work. It is the BEST environment to learn your job though. When you go to days, those Docs will keep you hopping with Discharges and new Orders. AND if you get a discharge, you can count on getting the next Admission! I appreciate one of previous posters mentioning that Ortho was one of the toughest units too work. Makes me feel better about my progress!

I worked in LTC for three months for the same reason you are doing it now. It's really hard for new grads to find employment. LTC will help you to learn to organize your time, but it is tough. I am in med/surg now, and it's tough too! I will have been employed as a Nurse for one year in July. I still get confused and I have cried too. I can't wait until I feel like a seasoned, confident nurse. But, no one ever knows it all. We are all learning all the time. At least, we should be. Talk to everyone you know! Network, Network, Network! Find out where other students you graduated with work. They may be able to put in a good word for you. Even in my previous career of Graphic Design, my best job was attained thru someone I knew. It's really hard to get a job just thru sending resume's to HR. Just be sure to not leave your job until you have a new one if you can. It's always easier to find a job when you already have one!

I graduated in February of this year. I found a job in LTC in April. It was a good learning experience in organizing my time, as in (never stop moving). In June I got an interview in a hospital in a neighboring town. It is rural, but they are growing and the hospital is very nice. Everyone has been encouraging and I start my orientation on med/surg on Monday. I have been watching these boards and I am so grateful for this opportunity. All I can say is I talked to everyone I knew and prayed alot! I am fifty years old and had no previous medical experience prior to my ADN program. I am both excited an nervous about orientation. The computer orientation made my head spin! A friend at church also works at the hospital, so be sure to talk to all your friends and acquaintances and you just never know when an opportunity will pop up. I applied online to many hospitals in my area and NEVER GOT an interview. Good luck to all of you!

I would like to see if pts are one or two assist posted on their doors. As a new employee, I'm never sure how to help patients ambulate. I always have to ask someone.

I am a new grad. Graduated in February. There is so much competition for the new grad positions at hospitals in my area. I have been hired as a charge nurse in a SNF/LTC. I've only had four days so far, but staff seems very supportive and helpful in training me. I will get a total of 10 days orientation and have 30 pts. No med tech. I am really nervous about it, but keep telling myself that if others have done it, I can do it too. I did not have previous medical experience prior to school, but did have a 20 day clinical at a SNF/LTC facility. I like where my new job is. It's close to home, clean and everyone I've worked with has a genuine concern for the patients. I just hope that I can do well for these patients!

I am a new grad. When I first started school, it was my intention to work LTC because I like the elderly and want people to be comfortable and happy as possible in that stage of their lives. I got side tracked by the excitement of ER and really thought I wanted to work at a large hospital. I've only had one interview and I was so nervous, worried about saying exactly the right things. Then I went to an interview at LTC. When I walked in, I was welcomed by Staff and Residents. I felt totally comfortable at the interview and able to just be myself. I then remembered my original goal and how much I enjoyed my LT clinicals. I really think that this will be my path. Thank you for all the positive posts. It really has influenced my decision.

Almost $36,000. It's alot, but I figured that since I would be able to work so much sooner it would be worth it. I wanted to be able to this without having to work and believe me, you wouldn't want to have a job in addition to the workload that the school puts on you. I will run out of my severance and unemployment before I'm done, so I plan to use part of my 401 that I rolled into an IRA for income until I graduate. I put all the school expense into a student loan. It's kind of scary. I'd better do good! Also, I got into the WIA program, since I was laid off. They outsourced my job to India. Anyway, the program is contributing $6,000 towards the education! It's time consuming to become part of that program, but well worth it. Check with your unemployment office.

Wow. I also got laid off from my full time newspaper job. I worked at the Kansas City Star for 24 years. I started as a paste-up artist for the news pages and as technology changed, my last job was in advertising as a graphic designer. KC Star is a McClatchy paper. I decided to use my generous (lol) buyout and unemployment as my opportunity for a new direction. I am attending an accelerated ADN program and just finishing part of the pre-reqs. It's more expensive and I think the future terms are going to be really hard, but at 49 I wanted to get this done! I was afraid to be laid off after all those years, but this is so exciting and I feel as though I've been set free!

I am 49 years old and started an accelerated ADN program in October. Taking finals next week for the 1st 5 classes, which included Micro, A & P 1, Algebra, English and Psychology. It's been a tough 10 weeks but I'm doing pretty well. I graduated high school in 1977, so I was a little nervous about this. I worked at a newspaper for 24 years as a graphic artist and my job was outsourced to India. I am grateful for the opportunity to start a new career! You can do it!

Hi, Kelly! It was nice to meet you. What a coincidence. See you at school. Cinder :wink2:

oops. see next mesage

Thank You so much for your post. It was very helpful!

Hi, I tried a post in the prestudent section, but since they aren't in school yet, I've got no responses. Concorde has a new accelerated RN program. Third class is starting and 1st class graduates Feb 09. It's very expensive, so I want to be careful. Their LPN classes do show a good pass rate on the Missouri Nursing Board. 6 10 week terms to ADN is very attractive, but I also wonder if I can absorb so much at one time. I am 49 and trying to start a new career. Thanks for your help.

I am considering the accelerated ADN classes. It is new and in it's third class. The first class graduates Feb 2009. Their LPN classes show a good pass rate on the Missouri Nursing Board. It's very expensive, so I want to be sure to know what I'm getting into! Any info from students or graduates would really help.