blessed_RN

I've received quite a few emails about new grad positions in Oceanside during the past few months. Relocating to Oceanside was not feasible for me so I didn't keep the emails, and thus can't give you the name of the hospital(s). I would google the local hospitals, look on their website, and give HR a call. Good luck to you!

Can someone tell me what to expect in a panel interview for a rehab trauma department? Do you think I will be asked a lot of situational type of questions? How can I best prepare myself for a panel interview, and do I send every panel member a thank you note? What if I'm unable to get all their names, titles, departments? This is my FIRST nursing job interview. Please help me and thank you.

I was wondering if there is any difference in acuity, patient ratio, (RN) skills used, RN responsibilities between a SNF, which is adjacent to a hospital, vs a free-standing SNF, which is not affiliated with any hospital. Will the RN expectations be the same in both facilities, and location really does not have any influence on the internal structure (ie. will I also have MANY multiple patients in a free-standing SNF location compared to something closer to what my state (CA) nurse-patient ratio might be if I was in a SNF connected to the hospital?) Any insights from anyone who as worked in either type of SNF situations, or someone who interviewed for a SNF connected to a hospital would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am ACLS certified!! What an awesome feeling to know I accomplished this goal of mine. A little background, I signed up for the class three weeks ago and ordered the book the same day. Now, having gone through the class, I wish I would've given myself more time to learn/understand what was going on with the heart in all the different EKG readings PRIOR to class. There was A LOT of information given in class so I studied, studied, and studied last night. Before I put my book away, I'm going to review and make sure I have good summaries of my notes so when I re-certify in two years, prepping won't be as 'painful'. Aside from the nervousness and a bit of stress, overall, I'd have to say it was 'fun & exciting' b/c I learned soooo much.

first day was okay. i was really nervous as i was the last team leader in my practice group at the end of the day. even though i'm doing much better with the ekg strips on the cd, i'm still having some difficulties reading the ekg on the actual monitor, and hope it won't mess me up during the megacode tomorrow. does anyone have any suggestions? i'm not sure what to expect for the written portion of the test, so if anyone can give me any guidance on what to focus, i'd appreciate it too. i am a bundle of nerves and hope i will be acls certified tomorrow. i hope things will click in a little more tonight b/c even though i really want to pass, more-so, i want to prove that i am competent in my acls skills and knowledge.

Thanks everyone for your reassuring words. Yes, I am taking the class through Heartshare and will do my best to apply ALL of the suggestions mentioned above, before I go to sleep tonight. I was not able to take the EKG class offered through Heartshare b/c of insufficient funds. I learned about EKGs in early Fall 2008, graduated Dec 2008 and am currently unemployed, so it's been awhile since I've been around this stuff. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. :thankya: "I can do it, I can do it."

I am taking a two day ACLS class in the south Bay Area tomorrow. I am nervous, FEEL SOOOOO UNPREPARED, and scared of not passing. I've been reviewing the book, and re-did the pre-tests several times but, yet, I am still not comfortable with EKG interpretations, knowing the next step of the algorithms, or drugs/dosages. I am having to look up almost every answer in the book as I go through the EKG, drug and application pre-test questions. Even though I know each company runs their ACLS course differently, can someone share their experience with me? How much knowledge and skills will they expect me to have tomorrow? I am starting for feel sick to my stomach and hope I won't be so scared and not show up tomorrow. Anyone who has taken their ACLS class, PLEASE tell me what was your experience. (Note: I hope I have some nice and helpful instructors tomorrow.) Thanks.

Thanks 50caliber for your response. Any others from the Bay Area who might be interested in carpooling down to Pasadena? If so, feel free to PM me and I will give send you my email address or you can leave your email address. Thanks

rock_band_fanre: huntington hosp i talked to someone from huntington hospital today. when i asked them how this open house was going to go, he said that the first part will be group interviews and that the second part was gonna be like a job fair. he also said there were 500 applicants for 20 positions. what does '500 applicants for 20 positions' mean? they will only take the first 500 applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis? they've already received 500 resumes (prior to open house)? they will only hand out 500 standard applications which needs to be filled out and submitted with the resume? insights anyone?

Congrats to both of you for getting into the Versant Program and being hired as a new grad nurse. Both opportunities are very hard to come by and it is encouraging to know the federal system is willing to give 'newer' nurses the opportunity to train, learn and work. Perhaps this may be the very beginning of the gov lifting the hiring freeze which I understand has been in place since late summer 2008. SarahRN32485, For some reason, I couldn't find any info about the Versant Program on the VA website specifically for PA. Can you give me the direct link to the web page? Should funds allow for an August program I would hope to at least come acrose a page which may say 'we are not currently accepting applications for the Summer 2009 ... but please continue to check back.' tmartinezRN.BSN, how did you get in as a new grad nurse? Were you already employed at the VA in another position or did you 'know' someone who might have passed your resume along? My friend who is an RN at VAPAHCS says it's very hard to come in as a new grad nurse. She recently completed her bridge program from an LVN to RN. Thanks for any help you can provide!

IMO, you need to 'have sufficient knowledge of content so that you can learn how to use your content knowledge to answer what the question is REALLY ASKING.' You need to review content and questions simultaneously. When you took your test, try to evaluate if you didn't know the answer b/c you didn't know the content or b/c you didn't know what the question was asking. This will help you determine if you should focus more time on content or questions. Best of luck to you.

Good luck to everyone finishing their last semester. Hang on for just a little while longer. Just a forewarning, it will be perfectly natural if you later experience the NCLEX blues, and then the New Grad blues. I am in the latter group and know that this too shall pass; but it sure is taking a toll on my patience. You've made it this far in your goal to become a nurse and everything else seems like part of the 'initiation' process to join the elite of being an employed RN. lovesthepeople: I sent you a PM.

Thanks Newgrad82, I emailed you before you sent this reply. To all New Grads out there: all we can do is to keep looking, to make sure we take care of ourselves and surround ourselves with positive people.

I was unable to attend d/t illness but can you tell me some of the hospitals/organizations which were there and how many organizations attended? Also, do you only plan to hold it in the Spring? Glad to hear it was a success. I was a member of the nursing leadership club when I was a student and we were unable to hold a Nursing Career Fair d/t lack of employer interest. This was in Spring of 2008. If you feel comfortable to share, how did you get potential employers to attend? I'd like to be able to pass along the info to the club's current leaders. You can PM me if you'd like. Thanks.

To add to Steeler7BigBen, Kaplan does say if you are scoring 65-70%, then you are doing well and it's a good indicator that you are ready to take NCLEX. However, I think it is MORE IMPORTANT to understand the rationales for each question/answer for the right and wrong answers. My highest Q-trainer score was 61% and I passed with 75 q's. I made sure I understood ALL the rationales. Good luck.

Took the week about a week before you so I only had to wait four days in CA. I would keep busy while you wait and look for a job. Good luck.

Mitsucar: Can you please clarify if the RN Career Fair is from 11am-3pm or 2-6pm. Your original post states the earlier time and post #8 states the later time. Thanks

MARY20: I got my results on 2/24 but please REMEMBER that it was the same time frame when CA BRN website changed and said it would now take two to four wks to hear results. I think I squeaked by and may have been among the last group to have heard in such a short time frame. I will keep praying for you and let us know when you hear.

MARY20: You definitely have a chance of passing and you won't know until you get official notice. Keep youself BUSY while you wait. Even though your file is complete, do not assume anything until you get verification. This entire process of waiting is unpredictible. I took my exam on 2/21 (which may have been right around the time CA BRN website indicated the change in wait time to two to four weeks.) Many of my friends and I had 75 questions and the questions were very similar to your exam. We all had different wait times too. Good luck.

BTW, hopeful & realistic is now blessed_RN. I truly do have a lot to be thankful for ... I am just taking the steps to landing that first job. Have good health, graduated from RN school, good support system, and licensed so I can officially work as an RN .... just need to find the opportunity (I know, in time). Good luck to everyone else who is testing soon, waiting to hear, or looking for a job. We really do have it good. :wink2:

CONGRATULATIONS rex.jr_RN = Edward Cullen. I knew you would do well!!! :chuckle Now, I just need to figure out how to add RN to my user name and to find a job as well. As others have said, one BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT DONE and onto the next ... EMPLOYMENT. Life moves on ... I know we'll eventually find something ... it'll just take A LOT LONGER than if we were looking six months to a year ago. Hoping I don't go insane while I look and wait for an opportunity.

Congrats to those who have passed! For those who are still waiting for their results, keep yourselves BUSY while you wait and let us know when you hear. The best part about this community is that we're all here to SUPPORT one another.

edwardcullen - just my two cents but I always try to have some protein and/or orange juice especially before taking long(er) exams. I read this in one of my mom's womens magazine when I was in high school and from a nutritional standpoint, there seems to be some validity. Hehe, not sure how OJ will go with your energy drink but I'm sure you have your own routine down by now after having survived all those exams in nursing school. Kaplan's "Assessment vs. Implementation" strategy also helped me a lot during my prep but my test experience didn't allow me to use it as often as I thought I would. I don't know what your test will be like but I just wanted to give you a heads-up. If this strategy doesn't apply to the question, then use another strategy in your orificenal of NCLEX taking pointers. Based on an earlier post, I thought you were testing in CA. I will now think good thoughts for you at 5am PST. I look forward to hearing about you thoughts after sitting through test (and wonder if it'll be similar to mine) and of course, to hear about your good results! :typing

I think you are well prepared and I say this b/c I used many of the same sources as you did (although I wasn't able to go through all the books as thororoughly as you mentioned you did). Your scores look positive and reflect that you understand the rationales . In addition to Yeswecan and RagamuffinRN, I'd like to suggest you take the earplugs when offered, so you can sit back and close your eyes for a few minutes to refocus if you get tired during the exam. This is what I did as I also had difficulty sitting through the long Q-Trainers. Another suggestion is to take a snack with you, so if you need a physical break away from the computer you will have some nourishment. One more thing, do whatever you need to do the day before to help you RELAX. I took my test in CA and hope you will receive your results quickly. I will think good thoughts for you on Tuesday. Good luck!

I hope all those in CA waiting for their results hear VERY SOON. And be sure to let us know when you hear b/c we are here to celebrate with you and to offer support, if needed.