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Hey I am a planned parenthood nurse and Love it! found the job through workforce development in our state, three years ago . great working environment!

I found that It was helpful for me to research my company so when they were explaining it to me in the interview I could really understand, and be a part of the conversation. I would come in with questions you have for them and near the end of your interview ask if they would mind answering some of your questions, ie... What two qualities are most important to you for this position, How would you rate the work environment? As for dress I always dress in a professional manner, actually it is always the same black skirt suit, blouse and matching button on the lapel, no big earings, IMO. (though I love to wear em)! lol. and always follow up with a thank you card. I got this question once..... Define your definition of ethics and tell me a time in your life when you were faced with the toughest ethical decision........... Phew ! that was a toughy when you are not expecting it. I said, "you did good research developing challenging questions." and smirked and then tried my best to answer lol........NEVER got called back for that one...LOL...But I did for every other one! Good luck!!!!!!! -Jami

I cant tell you what to do, I can however tell you from experience that I enjoy nursing so much more that I did working in a Lab as an assistant. First of all as a Lab assistant in my area I could not afford to keep my home, If I had to be the breadwinner...Which is exactly what happened to me. Hubby left, NEVER thought it would happen, but it did! I could not keep my home on that salary, So thank GOD I qualified for a grant to go to nursing school and further my education!. Not only is it so empowering to know the reasons behind the procedures, but you are a valuable resource to your patients, who may not understand. You are a teacher, a friend, a support system, ..... a NURSE. Education, in my opinion is ALWAYS a good thing. But like the poster above mentioned.... You cant really do much more with your MA than work in a specific type of setting, whereas nurses are in high demand, have excellent opportunities for growth, pay is pretty good, and you are a vital part of thier care. Please do not get me wrong, and think I am downing MA's. I was a CNA for years, then a Lab Assistant for seven years and just recently, like two DAYS ago became a nurse. It seems to me the more you learn the more you realize that you don't know anything! LOL, I have much more medical knowledge now than I ever had as a CNA or MA, not to say that other MAs or CNAs do not know more than me. I am POSITIVE that there are CNAs and MAs with MORE medical knowledge than myself!. But since I am a nurse, it is within my scope to do what I was trained to do under my license. A nurse is a licenced professional! Why not go to career builders and search for jobs for a MA and LPN in your area, see what the duties are and what the payscale is. P.S. I am not a nurse for the money, however, it is a plus for a single mom. I was making about 19 thousand as a Lab Assistant. I now make 40 thousand as a new LPN right out of school. But only you know what is right for you, this was my decision. Both career choices are very admirable in my opinion. Good luck to you in what ever area of medicine you choose to go into! Best of luck! -Jami

Thank you for your kind words! Nurses make the Best people! love to all -Jami :)

I did it!!!!!!! I made it!!!!!!! WOOO HOOO Yippy Kiooooo Kiaaaaaa!!!!!!! Just looked on line, I AM a NURSE.......FINALLY!!!!!!! I still cant believe it :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :Melody: :Melody: :Melody: :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle Thank You ALL So much!!!!!!! you have been the Best support system. Through all the good and bad times, the late nights studing till 3 in the morning and up again at 4:30. The tests everyday! The tears, the stress, the joy of it all. Thank God I have made it! I am now off of all welfare, can keep my house, and support my son, who by the way was great, he did not HAVE his mom this past year and a half, she was too busy studing. So now I can save up and take him to disney in a year! thank you thank you thank you! LOVE...........Here it goes......... for the Official first time: Jami Recchia LPN

The student, who had everything! or knows someone who did! said her kids had everything under the sun from brain cancer to deafness, husband had stage four skin cancer that the doctor allowed her to "Watch". Knew every child on the news who was abused. Coached baseball for the daughter, ballet for the son, taught theology, taught sunday school, and was a surroget mom for her first pregnancy at the age of 19! GIVE ME A BREAK! Our whole class was so fed upo with the lies even the teachers would discuss her histrionic behavior lol ..PLUUUUUUSSSSEEEE

LOL great minds.......! I bet you did GREAT! I get a good feeling about you! lol ! -Jami

So Dave how did it go. I remember you saying you took yours the same day as me....in fact at the same time, though I took mine in Atlantic city NJ. LOL. So howd you do? Mine shut off at 85 but still scared!

well I did it! it was scary as anything. with the fingerprinting, no jewelry, Id and picture, but I did it, my computer shut off at 85. all I can do now is hope and pray. I should find out by thursday. I will let you all know. It was tough. I knew about 15. I guessed the rest cause there were two answers that both SEEMED right lets hope I picked the MOST correct one. I got lots of math, Priority, and med surg. Thanks for all of your support! -Jami

Thank you so much!!!!!!! I really needed this. You guys are like a blessing for me, this whole site is a blessing for me I have been a member since before I started school and will be a member always. I have met the nicest kindest people on this site, Filled with friendship and thoughtfullness......Whoever said nurses eat thier young obviously doesnt subsribe to all nurses! thank you all. talk to you later! Love. Jami

Please help!!!!!!! I take my boards in like 12 hours and I am SCARED out of my mind, I am asking for positive people and prayers! I start my job the next day after taking boards and am so scared that I will not find good news and I will lose my dream job. I did well in school, everyone so far from my class passed in 85, but I am just like, terrified. I cant loose this job. Please send me your good carma and prayers! Thanks! Love Jami

Mike, I take mine on aug 2nd too! but I am in Jersey. What are you doing to study? I have been doing saunders cd. Good Luck!!!! hopefully well both make it! -Jami

WWWWOOOOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOO !!!!!!! CONGRATS !!!!! NURSE HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!!! hope I do as well test on tuesday!

AWWW Congrats!!!!!!! and thank you for responding, You took a big load off of my shoulders. I sit on tuesday :Oo !!!!!!!So nervous. I am glad you did so well! thanks again and good luck to you in NURSING !!!!!!! -Jami

Yeah!!!!!!! I knew you would be great! Congrats!!!!!!!

SOOO tell us!!!! You Passed didn't you!

I feel for you! It is challenging finding a job out of nursing school especially if you are a single mom and need nights off. Have you tried to go to the clinical sites where you traind and seek positions there? Seems like most of my graduating class found night jobs. Be diligent and try not to settle. Go on career builders, monster, and go through your localphone book and apply to every dr office, clinic, ltc, and hospital you find. There are many clinics in our area for substance abuse that are days. I really shopped around. Sent out about 40 resumes. Fax them. I found a couple that were mon through friday days, check into med spas for laser treatments, weight loss centers, methadone clinics. I m also a single mom. My son is my life and my world. I could have gotten a job nights for 3 dollars more than I am making now. But my son's childhood is more important to me than the money. I only need enough to get by, dont need all the bells and whistles ( my son gives me that). But this is only my opinion, you need to do what is right for you in your situation. I have a friend who found night day care in a home day care environment for 100 dollars a week. So look around ask friends and also stay at home moms who would want the extra money, and whom you trust. I was offered a job at a dr. office for 13.50. It was no weekends or holidays. Unfortunately I could not keep my home for that salary, so I keep searching. I found a great job after months of looking. days no weekend or holidays as well, but the pay is much better. It is for an EECP clinic. Our situatioons sound similiar as I too have nine years of past medical experience. Be diligent in looking that is your full time job right now. Be professional, seem interested, research the company before you interview, and write a thank you for their time. This will help them to remember you and you may stand out from the others. Drive in your neighborhood and every med center, clinic, and office you see stop at and ask to fill out an application and leave with them a copy of your resume. You WILL find it. Good luck to you. I know how hard it is, kudos for going to school full time with two little ones that is impressive in and of itself!!!!! YOu have determination, dedication, and perserverance. Do all you can make a good effort and leave the rest in GODs hand you WILL be ok. -Jami

Hi everyone, Well I take my boards in one week so I have been doing 100 saunders questions from the cd q/day. I have found that some of the answers seem to be contradictory to the rationale for example one question was about the good samaritan law and if a nurse on the scene accepts money she is not covered right! well that is what the rationale says but the answer said that this law is for laypersons and not those in the medical profession!!!I know that is incorrect so I am worried about questions that I am not 100% sure of if I am getting the right info. Did anyone else have a similar situation? Also I am a bit scared, Though I did very well in school one of the top in the class and was president, I am concerned because on average I am getting like 70% of the saunders questions right. Is this enough to pass? Our school has a reputation for being one of the toughest, and best. we have had 100%nclex pass rates for the past 5 years. I am concerned cause I graduated in june and am just taking the boards half my class took em already and passed, but the 70% saunders scores are making me doubt myself. Please tell me if any of you have had simialr situations and on average how well you did on the cd practice exam. Thank you! -Jami

I have four tats just got my latest on friday, I used to have my eyebrow peirced. I want to re peirce it so badly but I am afraid that the people on my new job would not approve (! this is me I am a hard working, motivated indivdual. I think it is such a shame that society wont accept me for me. How horrible to be turned down for a job or not respected by patients because of the stigmas THEY have. I also want to peirce my tounge. I hope as I grow older in nursing people will be more accepting and not so prejudice and judgemental. Get to know me. I am one of the kindest people you will ever meet and get nothing but compliments. I just wish I was able to freely express myself!!!!!! -Jami

LOL LMAO LOL Did I say four months...I meant fourteen lol sorry! See I am still frazzled from school! lol -Jami

Hi, Hi, I just graduated, my school was a little over 5000 for four months and was all inclusive, books and everything else.(except for uniforms) lol. I was able to get a grant through the states unemployment/work force department office based on my financial situation, THANK GOD! about 1/3 of my class was going on a grant as well. Our school also has an outstanding reputation for being though and they WERE but we are one of the best in our state with a 100% pass rate in the last five years.! Anyone thinking of LPN school in south jersey should call the Camden county technical school! Good luck! -Jami

Thank you! THis is an EECP Treatment center. it Stands for Enhanced External Counter pulsation ( I had no clue what this was when I first saw the job listing) so I researched it before I applied. It is bloodpressure cuffs applied to the lower half of ones body and they rapidly inflate upon the persons diastole and rapidly deflates just before systole thus pushing more blood towards the myocardium to help facilitate collateral arteries to the heart for those with heart disease. It is non invasive and may be the best first option for those with angina, fatigue etc. r/t heart disease. It is a supervisory position, but they were looking for new grads. Once I am trained I will (HOPEFULLY) be overseeing the treatments at their new clinic. Lots of assesments, exams before and after treatments and patient education. I will be working for one of the top docs in the nation for these treatments. The only down side I can think of is that I will loose clinical skills as these are all ambulatory patients so I will no have trachs, vents, IVs, med admin, catheters etc. But as with any job you outweigh the pros and cons, and for me this is perfect! I am so excited to start..... and scared out of my mind LOL. I wish you luck as well!!!!!!! -Jami

Dear TypicalFish, Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! you are such a sweetheart! This was so nice to read before I went to sleep. Thank you for taking the time out for encouraging someone else. I can see what a wonderful nurse you must be!Thank you so much and I wish you luck and happiness in you career! You were so lucky to test so quickly after you graduated! You words have really meant a lot to me. Thank you! - Jami

Hi meanbird, How are you doing? Well I emailed about 40 resumes on career builder and monster. Mostly on carreer builder. they have like 3 pages of employmnet opps for lpn q24 hours!for Jersey! I would e mail them my cover letter personalized for that facility, or contact person along with my resume. worked well I gat call backs though from nearly all that I faxed to. I have intervied with like 5 potential employers, two I got the job but it just wasnt right for me either money wise or hours or distance. One never even called back and one was a dream job! I accepted and had to turn down my interview for the next day. Good luck I have been looking since I was still in school. Graduated on june 16th. I didnt even test yet for boards. And it is ok to hold out for something that is perfect for you. If you are patient and persistant you will find it. Do not forget names of those you spoke to on the phone cause these people could be great contacts for you in the future. And dont be afraid to email or call back just to make sure they got your info and to let them know you interst and passion!GOOD LUCK YOu will find something just perfect for you!!!!!!! XO -Jami

WHO HOOOO!!!!!!! YOu GO Girl!!!!!!! Hats off to you and congrats!!!!!!!!!! I am glad you said saunders worked for you did you get the red book? that is what I have and I test on aug 2! I hope to be able to post wonderful news of PASSING as well!!!!! You worked hard and DESERVE it !!!!!!! I am happy for you best of luck as you venture on in life as a NURSE!!!!!!!- -Jami