proudRN

My first job offer is with Encompass Health which is a post acute rehabilitation hospital with the hours of 7a-7p. The nurse to patient ration is 1:7 and I would be passing meds, insulin, assessments, treatments, etc. The length of stay for patients are around 10-14 days. I would be dealing with pretty much everything from stroke to joint replacements. When I shadowed there it reminded me almost exactly working on a Med Surg unit. This job is 10 minutes from my house. The second job is with a 144 bed long term and sub-acute care facility that is the best, most cleanest place I have ever seen in my life. I have the choice of either working 3-11 or 7-3. The nurse to patient ratio is 1:12 but you do not pass meds, they have a GNA that does that. The RN does head to toe assessments, insulin and narcotics and any kind of skilled treatment that is needed. Dressing changes, straight caths, etc.... This job is 35 minutes away. I am leaning towards the second job because the post acute job reminds me of med surg, and I could not get out of there fast enough! I did 1 year of med surg and it was the most stressful thing I have ever done. I also LOVE the elderly so I would feel right at home with the second job. ( I think I am answering my own question here, haha!) My biggest hangup with the 2nd job is the 35 minute commute. Any input? Am I right, Is post acute rehab pretty much just like Med Surg??

Haha true!

Hi everyone! This is my first semester back for BSN classes and I'm struggling with writing papers. We have a 5 page APA research paper due on week 4 and this week we have to pick the topic. Which topic would you suggest for a mediocre paper writer? Here is the list we can choose from: Caring Holistic nursing practice The “art” of nursing Quality Improvement Health Literacy Health Care Disparities The health of the community Contributions of various levels of education Professionalism The culture of nursing Corporate (organizational) culture Historical perspectives Mentoring other nurses Political involvement Patient advocacy Research Nursing Informatics Culturally sensitive care Professional image of nurses Effective leadership

I worked in a Medsurg environment for a year doing three 12's a week, Mandatory every other weekend and holidays. It was the most stressful job of my life but the people were awesome to work with and it was nice having off 4 days a week. I couldn't wait to get out of there and find a less stressful job. I now work at a large Dermatology/Plastic Surgery office (for a little over a month) Monday-Friday 8-4:30, no weekends, no holidays and 4 weeks of vacation. Oh and I am making the same amount I was at the hospital which I negotiated the hell out of. Anyway, I should be SO happy because this is what I wanted.... A Monday through Friday office Nurse job. BUT..... I am not happy and I find the job really boring. I wouldn't call the job easy by any stretch because there are a ton of things you need to know in dermatology but its definitely not challenging. I work directly for the Doctor(s), and we pretty much do full body skin cancer checks and biopsy's all day long. I deal with rashes, acne, psoriasis and many other things as well but there is so much down time there unlike the hospital that it drives me crazy. I haven't had to buy lunch since I'v been there because the drug reps bring in free lunch every single day. Im also having a hard time fitting in because it is an ALL girl environment and they have all been working there together for a long time so there are all very close and chatty. I fell extremely left out. I feel so guilty not liking this job because this is everything I thought I wanted. What should I do?

I just finished my 8 week orientation working with a preceptor and have been on my own for 2 weeks now. I feel like I am under a constant state of stress at work and I am having such a hard time multitasking. When so many things are being thrown at me at once I feel like my mind totally shuts down and goes blank. I literally cannot formulate an intelligent thought when I get like this. I work the 7 am to 7pm shift. When I oriented on night shift I felt that things were so much calmer then they are on dayshift. On dayshift I get about 20 phone calls a day from doctors and X-ray, CT, lab, etc.... etc.... I am an introvert by nature and having to talk literally all day long kills me. When I go home after a 12 hour shift I feel like a wrung out wash cloth. I know I am probably going to get flamed for this but I have been taking a low dose anti-anxiety pill (prescribed) in order to survive my shifts. It keeps me from spiraling out of control. I have come to the conclusion that this type of nursing is not for me!!!! I was just offered an ADON position at an assisted living facility making $5 more an hour. I have 2 years experience as an LPN in an assisted living facility and LOVE working with the elderly so I feel like I want to quit med/surg and take this position. I am torn because I feel so bad leaving a company after only 2 and a half months. My med/surge fellowship starts in August so If I quit now then they would not have invested too much money in me. I would give a 2-3 week notice. The assisted living community is a huge corporation, Brookdale senior living. I did some research on the company and it does seem very disorganized but I feel like I would be happier and it would be more up my alley. I either want to take the assisted living job or tell my current med/surg supervisor that I want to go to nightshift. UGGGG I am so torn!!!!! Please help.

I am torn. Hospital step down progressive care or dialysis?? I just graduated and passed by boards, although I have been working as an LPN for 2 years at an assisted living facility. I was recently offered a job at a dialysis clinic but I am hesitant to accept it. I feel like a brand new RN should get the first 2 years experience at a hospital. The hours are decent at dialysis, some shifts will start at 4:00 am but thats fine. In the hospital there is nothing but overnight shift which I will do for a bit but its not my favorite choice, especially because I am no spring chicken in my 20's, I am 44. Thoughts? Opinions?

Thank you. I ended up calling earlier today. She said the letters were mailed the beginning of this week.

What!? How did you hear about that? I just checked my dtcc email and I just have the original email stating that I ranked into the program. Where is the orientation?

Waiting for this letter is absolutely KILLING me! Do you know what the total cost for the LPN program is?

Thank you! Wow, 65? Good for her for following her dreams. Do you find yourself obsessively checking the mail waiting for the information package?

Congratulations! I got in as well but I am a bit nervous because I am older. Midlife career change!

I worked as a CNA in home health for 2 years and I loved it! I started out in LTC and only lasted a month, it was just too depressing for me. I also worked as a CNA in med-surg at a local hospital and hated that as well. WAY too stressful and terrifying. So my point here is I really want to go to nursing school but I am not interested in bed-side hospital setting nursing. I have a passion for the elderly and want to focus on home health independent living. Will going to school for my ADN be a waste of my time since I am not interested in the hospital? Should I go with a 1 year LVN/LPN program for now?

I have been grappling with this question from day one. Can I really be a nurse? I am 35 years old and I am finished all my nursing prerequisites. I have applied to the RN program 3 times and have gotten declined 3 times. My school works on the "priority point" system and since I earned B's in A&P I and II and have a GPA of 3.2, I am not getting in. I am 1 priority point shy (after they raised the points this semester because of the number of applicants.) Why don't I apply to another school you ask? I cannot apply to another school because my A&P's are 10 plus years old and this is the ONLY school in the area that will accept them without having to take them over. I am thinking of doing the LVN program in January but I have mixed feelings about it. We plan on moving back to the northeast in 2 years so I was thinking of re-taking A&P this semester that starting the LVN program in January. This way, when we move I can do the bridge program and my A&P's will be up to date. Can you see how it is a mess? Another thing that makes me think maybe I should give up on nursing is my personality. I am a very empathetic person(which made me want to do nursing in the first place), however, I am an introvert with a touch of social anxiety and being around people too long sucks the life out of me. I socialize and have friends but I am a real shy and reserved person and not too talkative. I am really struggling this because I have been pursuing this on and off for years now but for some reason I am thinking I should pick a career where I can be tucked away in an office. So confused. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I am taking the Hesi entrance test in June in get into the RN program. The problem is that it has been over 6 years since I have taken both A&P's and I have since gotten rid of my book. Any suggestions on the best book to buy to brush up and review before the test? Thanks.

I received my NET test results and the mail today and I did horribly! I got a 68% in math and a 39% in reading comprehension. I have not been in school for 15 years so I am blaming it on that. ( I have to blame something, I just cannot assume that I am dumb!) What can I do to brush up on my math and reading comp? Any suggestions? Thanks!