Mezcalero

In 10/09 I was hired as a graduate nurse at a fairly large hospital. I was hired into the float pool, which made things even harder since I had to know different procedures for different units, etc. My preceptor operated on mostly negative reinforcem...

You see them everywhere, especially here--sponsoring this site. The other day I read in the paper of a university offering an open house to entice (perhaps the better word is "lure") candidates to come on down to learn about all the opportunities ava...

^ Hey babe, trust me--I am completely on your side. I was homeless, lost my family...everything. I had to fight like a mad dog to get back to where I am--a second chance at life, so to speak. Impaired nurses are close to my heart, and I hope from the...

I don't look at impaired nurses in a negative light at all. Look, we were both addicted and attained our degrees, were functional, took care of our kids, etc. I'm sorry if I offended you. Maybe what I mean by "willpower" is "desire to quit"--and as h...

Well explain 2 years clean after a 24-year addiction, with no desire to return to use. All without NA, AA, support groups, outpatient therapy, etc. Sure, the desire to stay clean has to be there, and that involves willpower. Ibogaine can make it easi...

Also, an interview with Dr. Deborah Mash: http://pdr.autono.net/mash.htm

Start here: http://www.amc.edu/research/CNN/cnnresearcher.cfm?ID=130 http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/

Thank you for the information, and the time you took to type all that out. But I should tell you that I quit cocaine on my own through 80% willpower and 20% through the use of an African psychedelic called ibogaine. Ibogaine resets the neuroreceptors...

Agreed. In this case honesty was the worst policy and in my still-exhausted state I was naive about the nature of the "interview." My union reps tell me there is no case for an "impaired nurse status" determination and they will be at my side during ...

Anyone who would say this to a new grad (or even a seasoned nurse) has a serious stick up his/her **s, I if I were you I would tell her straight-out "I will not tolerate this kind of BS in a professional environment. You were a new nurse at one time ...

I'm somewhat the anomaly, as I went to nursing school to backup a career that was still viable when I graduated: Graduated May, 2006. Passed NCLEX and was licensed September, 2008. After job searching for eight months, landed my first gig July, 2009....

Hi Y'all, First a brief autobiography: I graduated from nursing school in May 2006. For various reasons--in equal parts ties to my old career, family problems, custody battles for my nine-year-old son, etc.--I didn't take the NCLEX (and get licensed)...

^ Well I won't believe anything is for sure until I see the first paycheck, y'know? :) And I'll keep the hospital's name on the hush-hush because I think in situations like that, taking the high road keeps you from sinking to their level. PS: Thanx L...

^ Well Toronado, I still have to move 350 miles, but that's not a big deal. BTW, I love your blog, congrats on the new career and best wishes for your future. :)

^ Well thanks for the good wishes. The particular hospital I'm starting at is very cutting-edge, with electronic charting and patient-bracelet/medication barcodes for scanners--this is used to reduce medication errors to almost zero. All new grads go...

Wow, these are great replies. I'm starting my orientation in September, and I'm a scared cookie.

Dude, read the last post in my "Loser Looking For a Job" thread (just kidding ) and you will realize that if I can do it, anyone can. I was told I had a bad attitude for not wanting to involve myself in LTC, but the hell with that, I knew what I want...

I want to give everyone an update. FIRST THE BAD NEWS: I was flown down to this rather large hospital in East Texas with the expectation of interviewing with the director of the cardiology ICU. I was to meet with the nurse recruiter at 9:00, and then...

It doesn't matter how long your hair is. They will only take the first 1.5" from the root so it will only go back 90 days max. The Federal courts have been relucant about delving into a person's drug history farther back than 90 days so if you've bee...

My understanding is that the computer adapts the questioning so that by the end, the difficulty will be that you are answering 50% of the questions correctly. It then looks at the level of difficulty (and not the number you answer correctly) to deter...

^ They're not offers yet. Even if neither of the two pan out, at least I'm finding ways--other than sodium pentathol (or waving an ice axe)--of getting them to talk. :)

eldragon: if neither of these opportunities pan out, I'll start "adjusting my attitude" about that... nigeria: thanks for the kind words. That quote actually comes from the Winston Churchill School of Nursing. (j/k)

Well IMO, the degree is the same, you're paying and attending classroom/clinicals for a piece of paper: the ADN. You can learn what you need for NCLEX out of textbooks and your actual nursing skills will be acquired on your first (and subsequent) job...

And what kind of doctor would want a letter of apology from someone ensuring the welfare of his/her patient? Not saying the doctor even knows about said situation with the nurse manager, but if he/she demanded such a thing, what a ****...

I'm not sure if Texas is going to pay my way down for the visit--it doesn't matter though--I'll pay my own way if need be. To be sure, the job isn't a secure thing. However, Watertown called back and we've scheduled an in-person interview next Friday...