hellooonurse28

Don't be hard on yourself, I think everyone feels this way most if not all of the time. I know most shifts I leave and feel like I just barely got through my shift. I have been working for almost 2 years as a nurse, and I definitely thought I would have more opportunities to feel like a nurse. You know actually talk to my patients, support them, do more than just hook them up to IVs, throw some meds at them, assess them...you get the point. I want so much to help others, but I want to be able to actually INTERACT with them. I constantly wonder if nursing is the right career for me, and have been looking to maybe make a change if I can't find something I actually connect to. By the way, I still feel super "sucky" as you said..haha. I feel awkward and dumb sometimes, I don't know when that will go away, but I've heard it can be years...Joy!! I too have had anxiety and severe depression. I used to cry all the time, even on my days off. You shouldn't have to be miserable. You need to take care of you first of all. Re-evaluate what you want, because our so called fabulous salaries are not worth being unhappy. Use that year advantage you have to possibly put yourself where you want to be. Life is way too short not to! Hang in there!!

Hi, I am a RN with a BSN with 2 years experience in a hospital when I move (probably July, maybe August). I have been planning to move to Texas for awhile now, and am looking to live in the Grapevine area or one of the communities right around it. I was wondering if anybody had any advice of any good places to work in that area. It's overwhelming just to look at hospitals websites and have no clue as to if they are okay places to work. I really am trying to avoid med-surg. I'm really interested in public health/school nursing, but know that can be hard to get into. I also am really interested in psych (I saw some jobs at Millwood Hospital), and long term/alzheimer's setting...maybe even corrections. I am basically burnt out of med-surg and the typical hospital setting...looking for something different with more meaning to me. Anybody know of some good places to apply for these jobs? I have been doing alot of online browsing, just looking for some guidance! Also, when should I start applying for jobs if I'm moving in July? I don't want to apply too early or too late. Thanks for any help!!

Thanks for the help so far. I'm leaning towards Grapevine, but even if I do end up in the apartment in Irving they are only 20 minutes away from each other.

I am currently living in Cleveland and have been getting information from you lovely Texas nurses for the past couple of months:) Very appreciated. Anyway, I am deciding between three apartments--one in Grapevine, one in Irving, one in Fort Worth. I will be moving beginning of July, my question is when should I start applying for jobs? I don't want to apply too soon and irritate them by not being able to start for months, but don't want to wait for the last minute. Would applying 2-3 months before my move date be a good timeline? Any opinions on this would be helpful. And I am in the process right now of getting my Texas license now. By the time I move, I will have 2 years exp. as an RN (BSN) with skilled nursing and med surg work. I am trying to break out of the med-surg/typical hospital setting. My three big interests are child or adult psych (I had clinicals in an independent inpatient psych clinic and would really love a setting like that!) public health/school/community nursing, and long term care/alzheimer's setting. I have been doing some research finding these types of jobs, but any help about places you've heard that are good, bad, or other places to look for these jobs would be really helpful. For public health jobs, I've looked at different counties' board of health websites...any other ideas? Sorry for it being so long, I really appreciate your help though!!:)

Hello, I'm looking to change my career path in nursing. Right now I am working on a skilled nursing and medsurg unit. I have my BSN, and when I am going to make this change, I will have two years experience. I have always liked psych nursing, and am really considering making my move to it. In college, me did clinicals in a freestanding mental health facility and I really liked it. Alot of these jobs "prefer" that you have experience in mental health nursing. My question is, how can I make myself more likely to be hired? I was trying to get information on becoming certified as a MHN, or what other options I have to become more skilled in psych nursing...and got kind of confused. I would appreciate any help! Thanks so much!

I know pretty much everyone voiced the same opinion, but I was in the same place as you and still feel that way at times. Just remember you can't know EVERYTHING, and that mistakes do happen. Just do the best that you can, ask questions, and learn from mistakes. Nobody is perfect. There are many times where I feel like an idiot or absent minded...cut yourself some slack. I'm told it can take up to two years for a new nurse to feel completely comfortable with day to day happenings on the unit.

Hahaha BB is more than likely watching. I would recommend seeking employment outside the clev clinic. There are some very good things about CCF and its campuses (marymount, fairview, lutheran..blah blah..) but most people feel lost in a sea of red tape and whatnot. They do do amazing things, and it can be exciting to be involved in such an organization...but still. I think it is a good idea to check out all your opportunities, not just go with a big name company...I would say more but I don't want BB knocking on my door!!

I started applying for jobs in March/April I think. It wasn't that long ago but I have a hard time remembering! Just put on your resume your school name, and the anticipation date of graduation and the type of degree. I got hired before I graduated, in fact most of my friends did. Hope this helps!

I graduated from MUO (now univ of toledo health science campus) and we had to pass the HESI with an 850 or 875 or something. You had two tries, then had to retake a class 6 mos later and had one more opportunity if you failed. Luckily, I passed the first time. It made the NCLEX look like a cake walk! We were frustrated at the time, because our school did the same kind of thing yours is. All I can tell you is study a TON, and if you pass the HESI you WILL pass the NCLEX. The NCLEX is really not that bad at all. GOOD LUCK, I know what you are going through!

I know this question is kind of along the same lines of others, but I am a RN (BSN) with about a year and a half experience as charge. I had a clinical rotation of community health in college, and I LOVED it. We worked with the homeless in shelters, did school nursing, education,seminars, flu shot clinics..many other opportunities that I grew to love. I am SOOO burned out by my current job and know I need a change...and to get out of the hospital. I feel like public health nursing would allow me to combine nursing with my love of feeling like I'm helping others. My question is, where do you look for these kind of jobs? Is it just through health departments? What kind of places hire PHN's? I know I'm not certified, is that something I should do? Is there enough job demand to make it worthwhile? I feel lost in my career and unhappy and really would appreciate any help. Thanks so much!

I think everybody has felt the same way you have at some point at their nursing career. I am on 19 months of experience. I have been charge nurse FOREVER on a medsurg floor, feeling like I'm drowning most nights. I've had a couple deaths, a couple of codes, and almost codes. I have 10 patients each shift and cover LPN patients. I love some of my coworkers, but it is poorly managed and I always feel leaving like I did a half assed job. I LOVE my patients for the most part and i LOVE helping people. I am sick of being ******* at and made to cut corners to save time and money. I am very close to going down to PRN or part time status somewhere else and work part time at a job I would like (i'm thinking daycare work, flight attending, bartending,even aveda school...random ideas i know!) I'm sick of dreading work and being upset and emotional because of it all the time. It's a shame there isn't more support for us nurses, it seems like so many of us are hanging right on the edge of losing our minds:bugeyes:

Thanks for all the input from everybody! After doing some more apartment searching and thinking about what we want, we decided we'd rather be in the suburbs. I am not quite the partier anymore, but would like to be relatively close to an area with museums, nightlife, restaurants, comedy clubs, sporting events, etc. After looking at apartments, we really liked some in Grapevine, Euless, and Grand Prairie. Are these communities safe? Any thoughts? I'm planning to go view some apartments soon, but would love to have opinions from people who actually live and know the area. How are those areas for jobs? I am thinking I am interested in public health so I know I'd have to seek out boards of health in the area. I'd really like to do work out in the community. Are there many jobs in public health? I'm also interested in psych nursing and working with alzheimer's patients at a GOOD LTC facility. Any suggestions as to good places for psych or LTC. I really appreciate everyones help!!!

oops sorry i forgot to read the pcna part! yeah, i've heard they start around 10.

I'm not sure how much experience you have, but new nurses tend to start at $23-24 an hour with shift diff for weekenders and night shift. Yes, 3 12 hour shifts count as full time and you receive full time benefits. Benefits are really good, especially if you stick with cleveland clinic doctors and take the employee health plan.

Hello! I have been to Texas to visit many times and decided to finally move there with a friend. I need help with not only opinions of certain cities, and also some direction as to job searching. I wouldn't be moving until June or July. I am looking to stay close to DFW...my friend and I have found apartments we like in Grand Prairie, Euless, Grapevine, and North Richland Hills. We did see a couple in Fort Worth as well. Any particular feelings about these cities? We are both in our 20's and would like a city that is nice, but also has alot going on. As for nursing jobs, by the time I move, I will have 2 years charge experience. I am really wanting to get into either public health nursing, school nursing, mental health nursing...or anything just out of the typical hospital med-surg setting passing pills and doing charting on 10 patients until I want to scream. I'm looking for something with more meaning, maybe where I can educate more, public health jobs are hard to come by here and that is what I am really interested in. I know this question is kind of generalized until I decide where to live, but I appreciate any direction somebody can give me! I am from a smaller city and not used to so many options. Thanks so much for any help!