Dottie, RN

At clinicals, I would only wear my plain wedding band, & leave the ring with the diamonds at home. I saw some girls wearing the whole thing, but I was always afraid of scratching the patients. Once I start working, I'll be doing the same...wear only the band.

Thank you all! This is my dream job & words can't express how excited I am to begin!

Just found out today that I'm in! Thank you, Jesus! :) I guess good things come to those who wait.

Congrats to you!! Isn't that a relief?

Thank you for the advice. I've checked online, but there is no update to my application at all. Also, I haven't received an email. Hoping to hear something this week, but also tempted to call & find out.

Hi all! I need to vent and get some opinions. I've been driving myself crazy, because I've been waiting over two weeks for an answer. I received my license in April, and went for my first interview last month for a residency program at a hospital that starts in July. I received an email from the HR recruiter last Tuesday, saying they were going to make their final selections the next day (which was this past Wednesday) and that the selection process has been difficult because each candidtate represented themselves well. (That's a good sign!) She also said all of the candidates will be contacted to inform them of their status, which tells me that even if it's a no, I'll still be contacted. Being patient is best, but I've been very anxious about this, because this is a residency program I wish so much to be in. I've applied at other hospitals in the meantime just in case, but been praying and hoping to get good news from this particular hospital, because this one is my first choice. Should I call the recruiter tomorrow if I don't hear anything by a certain time? I don't want to seem desperate, but not sure what to do, and don't want to do anything to jeopordize my chances of getting chosen. This weekend was the worst, because I kept dreaming about getting that email from the recruiter. Or should I continue to wait patiently?? -Anxiously Waiting

Hello everyone! Good luck to those of you who have interviews. I actually have an interview this week for an internship program in L&D, as I am a new grad. I'm not exactly sure what kind of questions I'm going to be asked by the directors and employees, but I would like to be prepared. From what I was told by the HR recruiter, it's going to be fast-paced and is going to take but only about 30 minutes. She advised me to tell them that I'm a new grad who just got my license, and looking forward to working in L&D, but that's about it. Also, this is my very first interview for a nursing position right out of nursing school, so I am pretty excited and nervous! L&D is what I've always wanted to go into. Any pointers? Thanks!

Congrats to you! I know that feeling when you walk out of that testing center not knowing if you passed or not, because I was in that same position three weeks ago, but was relieved to find out two days later that I passed! Congratulations to you once again...you are now an RN!! :yelclap:

Hello everyone! This thread has been very helpful, since I'm a new grad, just got my license, and now looking for a job. I've already sent several applications to Christus, Baptist, and University, and from what I understand, new RNs have to go through a residency program at Methodist, so I'm waiting until that date to apply there. Does anyone know if it's difficult to get in at Methodist? Also thought about applying to the other hospitals like the Nix, etc. I also posted my resume on Monster and Careerbuilder, and got one response from an agency, but not certain if I want to find a job through an agency. I would rather wait a few weeks to see if I hear from the hospitals first before getting help through an agency. What do ya'll know about agency nursing? What are your thoughts? This has been a little nerve-wracking because it seems like most places want nurses with experience. It's been a week since I got my license, so I'm very anxious and excited to begin my career! Thanks!!

IMO, I think care plans are helpful, but they are lengthy, and took forever for me to do them...very time consuiming. That was the only thing I didn't like about doing them, especially if we had a test that week...and this past flex, we had one due every week for each patient we took care of. At the hospital where I did my clinicals, they had care plans on the computerized charts, but they were short, and did not include rationales. But I do think they help in the long run...

Hi all! Just want to say congrats to all the students graduating, and to all the ones who finished and survived their first semester of nursing school!! I haven't been on here since January...haven't had any time since the spring semester started, and I'm glad we have a breather in between semesters. It was challenging (especially with working 32 hrs./week a family), but I survived. What I can say about this semester: I met quite a few people and it's been a enjoyable experience for the most part. The patients and most of the nurses I worked with at the nursing home and hospital were nice and willing to let me work with them. I've also seen some interesting stuff at the hospital, stuff that I've never seen before in my life and will never forget. The instructors have also been very helpful, and I can honestly say that they care about us passing! But, most important of all, I have a great husband and family who have been supportive and helpful to me through this journey. Congrats again!! Now we can relax for a little while during the summer...

It's doable, but not easy. If you're really dedicated and determined, you can do it. To be honest, if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. I'm only in my first semester, but have been working full-time during the day and attend school in the evenings M-Th. I just started flex 2 and still work full-time, but I may have to cut down a bit on my work hours if I'm still struggling. It also depends on what kind of support system you have at home. I have a husband and two children, but my husband has been helping me a lot with the kids and with making dinner, cleaning, and laundry. Good luck!

First of all, I would like to say congrats to everyone who has completed nursing school, and to those who have just started. It actually all started last week at orientation, and when I got access to our online black board which has everything on there, from syllabus, to assignments, and quizzes, etc. There was already a reading assignment over 5 chapters that we had to complete before yesterday. Yesterday was the first day of class, and it flew by. The first two hours the instructors were going over the stuff on the web that we need access to, and how to get to the different resources that we'll be using, etc. Then the last two hours we divided up in teams and played a fun game, which tested our knowledge over the chapters we read...and the team I was in was 1st place! Last night, I stayed up late reading the chapters for today's lecture. Lots of interesting info, and looking forward to today! :) Today is lecture again, and we'll also begin learning how to take blood pressure and vitals, so I need to bring my stethoscope and blood pressure cuff to class. Wednesday we'll be going to the simulation lab (clinical). I'll find out what group I'll be in before Thursday, because that's when the class will divide up and 10 students will go to the nursing home for clinicals, and 5 will be in the sim lab for a couple weeks, then we switch. This is going to be hard work, but I'm looking forward to it, and I'm going to give it 150%. My husband jokingly started calling me a nerd last night...and I'm proud of it!

I too have evening classes. Lecture/lab MT from 4-7:50, and clinicals WR from 1-6:45 for the first half of the semester, and for the second half, lecture/lab MT 4-7:50, clinicals WR 3:45-9:45. I'm also very excited! Good luck to you!

Hi! First of all, I want to say congrats to everyone who is starting nursing school this coming semester, and good luck! Also, I need to vent. Back in November I found out I was accepted into nursing school for this coming spring semester (YAY!!) Even though I was extremely excited, I withheld from telling my parents (my mother in particular), until yesterday. I realize I'm an adult and don't need anyone's approval for anything, but I just want support! I believe that we all need some kind of support from our family and friends in order for it to be easier to achieve our goals. When I told them, my father seemed to be happy, and said that's good I'm going back to school, and if I want to achieve something, I should go for it. They actually knew before that I was interested in nursing school when I was taking my pre-reqs. My mother on the other hand wasn't as enthusiastic about the news. This is how she is, that's why it took me so long to tell them. She used to be an LVN and had to quit working about 15 years ago, due to a back and knee injury she got on the job. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with her negativity towards my choice of going into nursing or not. She did ask if I was going for RN or LVN, so I told her RN. And her response was "If it was LVN, it's not worth it. They work your a** off and don't pay enough. Nursing is just not what it used to be." I felt bad she made that comment, but hopefully she won't be so negative since I'm going for RN. I just wish she would have shown some kind of happiness. It tears me up that she is so negative and unsupportive. Everyone else in my life is happy, why can't she be? I didn't say anything to her, but if it continues, I'll be tempted to ask her what the problem is. Is anyone else out there in the same boat as I am?