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Congratulations ! You obviously have the true spirit of nursing in your heart and soul. You can laugh at the absurdities of things that don't matter and you understand the things that do matter. The proof is in the recognition by your patients...........who know and appreciate a real nurse when they see one. Good for you. Keep the light shining. Florence would be proud!

Good luck Steve! Sounds like you did a good job in orientation. Just remember, even though you are technically on your own now, you are never really on your own. You have entered a wonderful profession. You are now one of us. Don't be afraid to ask for help and remember to offer to help your colleagues when you are caught up with your own work. Congratulations and best wishes for a great day.

Actually, I'm not "prettifying anything. It's very simple. I would cross the picket line with absolutely no feeling that I was undercutting what the nurses were striking for. I wouldn't look at it like that at all. I'd be crossing the line to take care of my patients and not have them get caught in the middle of something that should be accomplished by other methods. I would also cross the line in order to continue my regular paycheck that I happen to need. I can't afford to miss pay because I'm out on strike. I am not interested in undercutting myself and my family. Those nurses on the sidewalk have the right to do whatever they choose. I just don't choose to follow them onto a strike line. I'm sure the union organizers will get their regular paycheck. The nurses on the strike line will not. It just happens that I see it differently but that doesn't mean that I have no respect for others who don't share my views. We just have two different viewpoints. I don't think going on strike solves much.

I recently took the exam after missing it by 7 points the first time. The first time, I rushed through the questions. I have many years of ED experience so I thought it would be easy. The test taking was what got me. I was too quick to answer rather than reading thoroughly to see what they were getting at. Some of them are tricky. You have to think it through. The second time, I got the CEN review book. I ordered it from the ENA site. This book has a CD with two practice exams. This gives you the feel for the exam and times you. You can see how long it takes you so you learn to pace yourself right. I also practiced it by looking up all answers I wasn't sure of in my Mosby's Emergency Nursing Reference Book. I did the practice exams in the CEN Review book and this is very helpful as it gives you the answers so you are sure you have the correct info. I set aside time every day to go over the tests for at least one month before taking the exam. This way, it was all fresh and taking the test itself felt normal. I was in the right flow of it all. If you have been working in the ER, many of the questions will bring to mind patients you have seen and cared for. Take your time, think about the question and always remember your priorities. Just as in ACLS, ATCN, TNCC, BLS, the basics always apply first. Airway, breathing, circulation. Think, Think, Think. You will know immediately after you finish. The person in charge of the testing area will print out your results right there. Don't wait until the last minute. If you aren't good at test taking the constant daily review will set you in the right mode. Good luck!

Some comments on a few points that have been brought up. Regarding the post about diploma grads being gullible...........and that's why we are anti-union........ I am a diploma grad and certainly do not consider myself gullible. As a matter of fact, this may be the very reason I am not gullible enough to believe that being in a union and going on strike is in any way good for me or my patients. It is good for the union as they still continue to collect your dues. It is good for the organizers as they continue to get paid. It is not good for the nurses as they do not get paid while on strike, can not take PTO or Vacation pay while on strike and may or may not achieve anything significant from it. I am also not gullible enough to believe that during a strike the patient would have safe care while in the care of those who do not usually work in my area.These people won't know the protocols, where things are, the doctors, etc. This would inevitably slow things down and perhaps cause serious problems. Especially in areas such as ICU/CCU, PICU, NICU, Emergency Department. On the subject of "scabs" A scab is something that forms at the site of a wound to promote healing. I would not hesitate to cross the picket line for my patients, my professional viewpoint on where I need to be and my conscience. However, I respect the right of any other nurse to follow his or her own conscience. I would not look down on them or treat them in a disrespectful manner. You can be sure that the union would encourage these same nurses to disrespect me for my stand, treat me in a negative manner, yell obscenities as I walk in etc. I am not gullible enough to have that effect my decision for one minute. I know where I want to be. However, I am more than happy to stand up in a professional manner for any problems I see that need to be approached and would stand with my fellow nurses in approaching them in the right way. A lot of posts state that Unions will stand up for you and get you the pay and respect you deserve......I've got news for you. Unions don't always stand up for the nurses they represent.....at least not in public. You may have heard of the problems facing King-Harbor Medical Center in Los Angeles. For over one year or more, the LA TIMES has been full of stories about poor nursing care, nursing errors, patient deaths attributed to poor nursing care. Bad morale, poor performance, lack of competency reviews, and on and on and on. Most recently, there was a lot of press nationwide regarding this hospital and the poor nursing care. The press has had a field day with all of this. NOT ONE TIME in the past year or more has the UNION that represents these nurses at this hospital come out with any statements in support of the nurses. NOT ONE TIME have I heard anything about the union standing up to the hospital and fighting for better working conditions, better training, improved pay and staffing. This has been such a public topic, the union would have served these nurses well to do something to stand up for them. Surely, not every nurse at this hospital is a bad nurse. This is not right. So much for unions fighting for nurses and helping them in the workplace. So much for the union propaganda of having a union promotes safer patient care and better outcomes. BUT I can almost guarantee you that the union is still taking out their dues from the nurses paychecks as this hospital steadily declines and is at this moment in danger of losing their government funding and closing. The bottom line is this. I think that each hospital is unique in the specific problems they face. It is up to the nurses to join together in a professional manner to define these problems, use all avenues to seek solutions and speak up clearly and effectively to participate in solving the problems. IF they decide that they want to be represented by a union, they need to understand that the union will not be able to solve all problems. They will take their dues, negotiate a contract and in most cases, the rest is still up to the nurses themselves. Unions are not the one single answer. They are an answer that some choose to take and I understand that. Others choose not to take the union answer. They choose to speak for themselves. The bottom line is this.....WE are the answer and we all have a different viewpoint on how to get to the end result. I suggest that we decide to support each other no matter which solution we choose. To point fingers, call names, disregard other's feelings in useless, counterproductive and unprofessional. This diploma grad has been in nursing over 30 years. I am here to tell you that I strongly believe in the profession of nursing and I firmly believe in the fact that it will take ALL of us, pro-union and anti-union, coming together as ONE to solve the problems before us TOGETHER.

YOU SAID: "No union improves care in every hospital on every uniy. It is up to the nurses who are the union." And I say: It is also up to the nurses who are not in a union to participate in improving care on their individual units.......and many of us do just that every day without paying dues. So there you have it. It's up to ALL of us, working together to make a difference whether you're in a union or not. Thank you for sharing your views and for your passionate support of nurses. I can clearly see that you feel very strongly that your union is making a difference. I just hope you will keep in mind that those of us who do not want to join a union have the same passion for our profession and we have much to say also. Through this site, you and I have found a way to share our views in a calm and professional manner. We should all be able to do that, without interference from non-nurse organizers who twist and manipulate the truth, causing friction and mistrust among nurses. When unions rise above those tactics, we will all make progress. Best wishes for continued success in your profession.

Space Nurse, Like I said: I think that most nurses really try to give good care and to speak up for their patients whether they are in a union or not. ............................I think trying to draw a line and say on this side the nurses are in a union and their care is better and on the other side, the nurses who are not in a union give less care............is irresponsible and causes nothing but divisions. I think it's obvious you are happy with your union and that's good for you. I am supportive of ALL nurses whether union or non-union. I think it's important for us all to be able to talk with one another and share our viewpoint. When you say the King-Drew nurses where not in an all RN union, do you mean the SEIU is not a nurses union? I thought they worked hard for nurses too. I thought they worked just as hard to get the nurse/patient ratios passed. Aren't we all trying to do the same things? Speak up for our patients. Just wondering. The main point I was making about the union at King-Drew is this. No matter which one it was, it did not speak out publicly in support of the nurses when the stuff hit the fan.............I found that disappointing and felt sorry for the nurses that were so maligned in the paper and no one spoke out in support of them, the challenges they faced and the lack of support they received in effecting change as you alluded to. .......so much for unions.

Space Nurse, I agree that the blame is shared by many. However, the nurses at King Drew were in a union as far as I know and NOT ONE TIME did I ever see them defended in the press by their union. So, not only did the consultants not do a very good job, the union didn't do a very good speaking up for the nurses if they had such bad management,working conditions, etc. I felt sorry for those nurses as I'm sure they weren't all wrong..........So much for being in a union. I also agree that there was obviously incompetent management and WAY TOO MUCH money was wasted on consultants. Consultants leave after getting paid. Unions take your money and sometimes, as in this case, do nothing else. Both consultants and unions have their pros and cons. However, the point I was making is that the article is wrong, wrong, wrong in stating that care is better in union hospitals. Simply not true. I work in one of the best hospitals in the country and we are not unionized. We give excellent care because of excellent nurses and a union has nothing to do with it. I think that most nurses really try to give good care and to speak up for their patients whether they are in a union or not. Good things have come to some nurses from joining unions and speaking out and a lot of good things come from nurses speaking out against giving their voice to unions. I think trying to draw a line and say on this side the nurses are in a union and their care is better and on the other side, the nurses who are not in a union give less care............is irresponsible and causes nothing but divisions. Some "studies" are so high up in the lofty tower of "NOT in touch with the real world of nursing" that their presentations are not always realistic. This one sure isn't very realistic to me for sure. I do respect your viewpoint and the time you take to share news of interest on this board. You post many articles that are informative and cover many areas. I just had to comment on this study as it struck a nerve and I think it doesn't serve a good purpose in the long run as there are many nurses all over this country who work long and hard hours doing the best they can. They all should be saluted for staying in the profession and for their willingness to share their viewpoints on this site. With respect................ :nurse:

Well, sorry but that is just totally not in the least bit believable. If that study is true, then why is King Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles closing most of the hospital, losing funding due to poor patient outcomes and being taken to task for inadequate care and poor patient outcomes. If the study was true, then the nursing staff would not have been written up negatively in the LA TIMES so frequently over the past year or more. If the above article is true, then do we blame the union for the hospital's failure? I guess we should. After all, according to the study mentioned, the hospital should be terriffic due to having a union...........and so I think maybe there is a flaw in this study! Yes indeed. Actually, I know that there must be many nurses there who are quite good and the failure of the hospital is due to many things, not just the union.......but King-Drew Medical Center has a nurses union. I rest my case. Baloney! Whoever wrote that study needs to go back to the drawing board. There are many non-union hospitals across the country that have excellent nurses and patient outcomes. The fact is, there are both union and non-union hospitals that have excellent care. This is just another example of pro-union advocates manipulating the facts to make it appear that their way is the only way. Not true............Just not true.

To Katiti, Many years ago, I went to nursing school and there were times I wanted to quit when things got tough. I was out of town, homesick and most of my friends were off at college in sororities and having what I considered to be a lot more fun. I was getting up very early, wearing a starched uniform, staffing the hospital and had lots of rules. I studied a lot and some classes were harder than others. Whenever I told my mom I was thinking of quitting, she would listen and tell me I needed to stay and that I would thank her one day. It has been over 30 years now and I am still a nurse. I have thanked her many times. I work in a very busy and stressful Emergency Department. I love my job. Sometimes I wonder on stressful days when we are short staffed but at the end of the day, I know I have done something special that many can't do and I thank God for the honor of helping others. To me, nursing is indeed an honor. People share their innermost secrets, their fears, their hopes and dreams with nurses every day. It is an amazing profession and we need more nurses so if you have the fire in you to work hard and give to others, I highly recommend it. I do lots of other things outside of the hospital and I love what nursing has brought into my life. It helped me to be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend. It taught me more about life and about myself than I can describe and it gives me tremendous satisfaction. To be a nurse is something that is difficult to describe in real terms. It is something that connects you with life in all its glory, wonder, stress and strife. It's not for everyone. It is a profession in great demand. There are many opportunities. You work long hours, holidays, weekends and different shifts, but along the way you find what works for you and you settle in. Is it hard at times? Yes Is it worth it? Definitely! Best wishes on your journey if you decide to follow this path.

Congratulations and welcome to the profession of nursing. You have many wonderful opportunities ahead. Be very proud of what you have accomplished and God bless you in your chosen field. YAY..... HOORAY. I remember that feeling when you get that envelope and shake as you open it to see the results.......Good for you!

Kristen, First of all, I commend you on your honesty and for reaching out. You are doing all the right things and it sounds like you have recognized and accepted the fact that you have a problem with alcohol and have taken corrective "steps" in that area. It took the BON 10 months to reply? That's unfortunate. You have had to worry about this for awhile. But, the important thing is that you are facing it and you did what you needed to do. I would just go into that meeting with them and show them that you are a professional person who is willing to honestly face this problem. Make it known that you are willing to do whatever it takes to preserve your professional career that you worked and studied so hard to attain. Tell them that you have learned a very important lesson that in fact will probably make you a better nurse and ask for their understanding and direction in taking positive steps forward. Just keep in mind that they are doing their job, even if it is slowly, to protect patients from potential problems. Your focus should be to appear before them in a professional and sincere manner and let them see who you really are. All they know now is what has been reported and they are duty bound to respond and to meet with you. I wish you well as you go through the process and remember that we are members of a helping profession. I'm sure that the Board will take all facts along with your personal story into consideration. Hold your head up high and know that you are most probably not the first and won't be the last nurse who goes through this. Just learn from it and move on with confidence in your ability to make positive changes in your life. It's up to you. Take charge of your future and good luck to you. :kiss

Open Shop...............Open Mind...............No one taking your money to tell you what to say or do. No one giving part of your dues money to support candidates or causes you don't support. No one telling you that you can't work if there is a strike........ Open Shop..............Open Mind. Your own mind. Your own voice. Simple. How simple. How American. Using your own voice to make your own choice.......Now that's America!!!! :yelclap: :yelclap: Good for the nurses at Encinitas who would not back down.

AMEN...........AMEN.......AMEN!!! R-E-S-P-E-C-T ..........Find out what it means to me. It means being union free! and speaking for myself!

This is a very important point that you have made regarding being in a union. You state that they didn't help you with this problem. This is something I have said time and again to those wanting a union where I work because they don't like their managers. Guess what???? The union won't come in and get rid of people you don't like or can't get along with. The union just takes your dues, puts your hospital on their list and moves on. Unions can only do so much. If you have someone bullying you at work, document it professionally, state in your documentation that this person is creating a "hostile work environment", give your manager a copy, a copy to his or her manager and a copy to human resources. State in the letter that you will take it higher if the situation is not corrected. There are laws against workplace harrassment. Those who are harassing you will get a good lesson in the law and if you do it in a calm and professional manner, you will set the example for others who are being treated badly. They will learn to speak up professionally also. I see that you stated you left that hospital because they did nothing about it. That's too bad. Best wishes to you in your new hospital. You did the best thing for you and moved on. Sounds like they weren't worth sticking around for anyway. We have a major nursing shortage and hospitals still don't get it that they have to help stem the tide by treating nurses in a better manner. It's up to EVERYONE and unions are not going to make nurses treat each other better. Sometimes the union organizers are the ones who create the worst treatment of others by encouraging this type of behavior against those who are not union friendly. Here's my take on unions. I'm disappointed in hearing that they did not come to your aid on this. If they had, I would be a little more amenable to listening to their reasons for joining. But if you have gone through this and can't even get their backing, why are they there? I thought they were the ones who were going to swoop in and solve all of nursing's problems. I rest my case. Some unions are good I hear so this is not an assault on unions in general. I have seen many posts on this board from nurses who strongly believe in unions and they state good reasons for doing so in their particular situations. I just think many nurses misunderstand exactly what a union can and will do for them. Unions can't solve every problem and sometimes they create more problems. It is up to us as professionals to stand up to bully behavior ourselves. No one else is going to do it for us on a daily basis in our individual work places. Speak for yourself and do it in a professional manner.

Tim Porter O'Grady has written and spoken a lot about Shared governance and has free downloadable information here http://www.tpogassociates.com/SharedGovernance.htm Look on the left hand side and you will see two small booklets......You can click on them and find a great amount of useful information. Shared Governance is the way to go to give staff nurses a true voice. Best wishes for success. :nurse:

You passed the exam. You're a nurse! Good for you! Don't give up now. You already finished the hard part. Nursing is a wonderful profession with many opportunities. I think you just need to find the right fit. You should look for a hospital that provides a lengthy new grad program and give yourself a good year to feel comfortable. Don't let other people tell you who you are. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH and just take one step at a time. Don't wast your time with people who spend more time tearing you down than building you up. You need a good Preceptor and lots of confidence in yourself. That will come gradually as you grow in experience. Much luck in finding the right spot for you. You'll get there. Don't give up. :yelclap:

ZZTop, I'm very sorry to hear you have had such a negative experience. I know it took a lot to get your confidence back after being out for awhile. Many things have changed but unfortunately, some remain the same. Nurses still spend way too much time destroying each other rather than helping. We need nurses so much and we all need to support and help each other be the best we can be. I hope there is a way for you to move on and be the nurse you want to be. These people should be ashamed of themselves for such behavior. As much as we need nurses, this kind of treatment is uncalled for. We should all remember that it takes all of us working together to build a strong team. What good does it do to tear people down? Why not stand up to those who are destructive and start supporting each other? When this hospital accepted you into their refresher program, they made an unspoken pact with you. You agreed to attend the classes and they agreed to help you get back in to nursing..........Sounds like they did a pretty miserable job on their end. It is totally unrealistic for them to think you should be up to speed immediately. That is what you are in the course for and THEY are supposed to help you. It takes TIME to get back in the groove, just like it takes TIME for a new grad. I sometimes think we are our own worst enemy. We need to take much better care of each other. I hope you continue toward your goal and don't let this experience cause you to lose confidence in your ability. Don't let others tell you who you are. Keep trying and moving forward. Ask for guidance on the things you need to work on and tell them you are willing to do what it takes to improve in any areas needing work. Very best wishes for your success in the future.

As an RN for many years, I have observed that nurses, in general, have a tendency to "follow the leader" and the "leaders" aren't always setting the right example. We take better care of our patients than each other. Make a committment to yourself and your team to be a "positive leader." We are all potential leaders and we can do that in many ways that will build a more positive environment and team. First of all, don't lower yourself to the level of others who are being rude, inappropriate and unprofessional. Rise above it and quietly say "it's not OK to talk to me like that. I'm a professional nurse and I expect to be treated as one." .......or if someone is complaining or talking negatively about a co-worker, rather than join in this behavior say "What can we do to help them become better at this?" I have used both of these options on different occassions and those who were treating me and others negatively were so shocked by my approach, they had no comeback. Those who observed my approach became empowered to do the same. It is a slow and steady process.........and it works. I believe in myself and the power of my own voice and you will too when you see how well this works. I use it wisely and at the proper times and others have learned from my example. All I did was choose to be professional........It covers a wide variety of circumstances. When you act in a professional manner and approach situations in this manner, you can't go wrong. If you have a very negative situation, document it professionally and acurately and send a copy to your manager. Documenting negative behavior in the right way can have very positive outcomes. First of all, if your manager sees it in writing and it is documented very factually, he/she has an obligation to address it. I will give you an example: Years ago, we had a nurse in our department who took great delight in cutting down new nurses, giving them negative feedback in front of others and various other things. I was the object of this behavior for some time until I finally decided to do something as described above. I first tried telling this person it was not OK to do this anymore and that if it continued, I was going to write it up. It continued and I documented it and stated that if this behavior was not stopped, I would take it higher as it was abusive and bordered on harassment. GUESS what happened............Yes. This nurse was told in very clear terms that the behavior had to stop and why.........The behavior stopped immediately..........Others noticed and I became a role model and mentor for others............Just by standing up for myself. Professionally. For the right reasons. Not by putting the other person down in public. Just by using my own voice. The key is to turn negative peer pressure into positive peer pressure. Raise the bar and let it be known that you don't condone negative behavior. As others see your positive attitude, more will gain confidence in standing up to bullies and they soon will be outnumbered. I hope this is helpful. We all need to step up to the plate and reclaim our profession. Be proud of who you are. Don't accept negative behavior. And please don't join in the negative behavior of others who are not supportive of new nurses. We need them and the only way they are going to stay is if they feel welcome.

I have been a nurse for MANY years. My first year out of school, I worked in the OR. I did this for about a year and a half. It was a great learning experience. It taught me even more than I already knew about anatomy and physiology. I was fascinated and it made me want to learn more. From the OR, I went to Coronary Care and then several other areas. I never regretted starting out in OR.................The most important thing is to love what you do and have a thirst for continued learning. Best wishes on your journey.

Hi ............ Thanks for being so honest and sharing feelings that I bet many have in their first year. First of all..........give yourself a big pat on the back for completing school, passing your boards and actually having the privilege of putting RN after your name. If you never work again as a nurse, you have accomplished much already. It is a tough road just getting to where you are now. Secondly, you have received a lot of good feedback already. See how supportive and understanding your fellow nurses are. As for the group you are working with now, don't let a few negative people pull you down. You have joined a profession that is in high demand, has great personal rewards and you will always have a job when you want it. Third.............Listen to the feedback on finding out who you are and what makes you happy. There are so many areas to work in. You will find the right spot for you if you open your heart and honestly think about what really makes you happy and what inspires and motivates you. Just look at this position you are in now as a stepping stone to who you were really meant to be and the special talents that you and you alone have to offer. Being young and single, you could travel, work in different places and find the spot just right for you. Even if you leave nursing, you have skills that you probably don't even realize you have gained through this experience. Believe in yourself and realize the many possibilities out there waiting.............The sky's the limit. It's up to you. Don't listen to negative people. Find a place that makes you happy and helps you grow. Don't give up yet. We need you!

Nancynurse, We started using computer charting years ago and I felt the same as you when we first started. It was frustrating for all of us and so many new things to learn. Now, we all love it and have added many things to assist us in our charting over the years through group input. My typing is really fast now. I actually have more time for my patients and I've gotten good at putting in info as I go from patient to patient. It will get better. We have gotten so used to it now when we have down time for one reason or another, we all go crazy because we have to use PAPER again.........so you see, it's all in getting used to it. We have given a lot of input into what we need and we now have a lot of drop down items that we can click on to save typing time......for example under symptoms there are many listings. We just click on the right one. Under breath sounds there are several things to pick from such as clear, clear Rt., Clear Left, wheezes, rales, absent, etc, There are drop down lists for many subjects................This saves time and then you type a brief narrative to go with it..............Over time, we have added many pre-written drop downs to choose from rather than having to type them out each time. .....Maybe you already have that. Just examples of what works for us...........Of course, you always need to type out the narrative that clearly describes each individual patient but the many drop down lists that we have now helps to decrease time charting and gives prompts that help many new nurses to cover all the bases. Hope this helps. Change is always difficult at first but I think this one is good. It gives you a very readable picture of what goes on with your patient. It is the wave of the future so make the best of it and be patient with yourself at first. It took me awhile but I picked up my speed as I did it more. Before long you will find that you really like it and your time is better spent. We all love it now. Everyone contributes to it and it is all legible............! Hang in there. It really will get better.

Lindarn, With all due respect, you obviously have had some bad experiences in the past with management that leaves you absolutely convinced that unions are the only way.....................I would just ask you to think about a few of the things you just wrote........ First of all......yes, we are insourcing Foreign nurses and actually, I'd be interested to know the statistics on how many of those nurses are wanting the union and courted by the unions. I think the numbers would be very high. Secondly, I spent a large part of my nursing career in management and I can assure you that I NEVER thought of or worked with the hospital association, insurance agencies or anyone else to "piss off as many nurses as I could so they would quit." Now that I have been a staff nurse for a number of years, I strongly feel that the staff nurse is THE answer to all of our problems and if hospitals would LISTEN to staff nurses, they would get the answers they need to move forward. Your anger and frustration is understandable and heard. I agree that management frequently has let us down by not listening or taking us seriously. They spend WAY too much money on consultants, union busters and surveys when all they really need to do is LISTEN to staff and then ACT on suggestions, complaints, etc. I just don't think the union is going to come along and answer all of those problems for you. They will just take your money, bring you out on strike when they don't get what they want and use your money to grow across the country, leaving you to fend for yourself. The biggest problem I see with the unions and many of my colleagues agree with me, is the fact that they use divisive tactics, non-nurse organizers, their Executive Director is not a nurse and they use unprofessional means to try to show hospitals in a bad light to the very public that uses them...........Then they want nurses who work at the hospitals they have maligned, to join their darn union...................Go figure that one out. I think what we all need to do is LISTEN to each other as I have listened to you. I appreciate the points you have made but choose not to agree with them all. I do, however, support your right to have them and to have the freedom to express them.

I agree.

Well said caroladybelle. I can see where you may think I am a "single issue" poster. I heard you and will take that into consideration. I am very passionate about many nursing and healthcare issues. I respect all nurses. We all work too hard to fight among ourselves. :kiss