blackpants22

This isn't too much related but reminds me of the charge nurse who was looking for a resident's podiatry consult all afternoon until she remembered that he was a double amputee! We are rolled on the floor laughing over it (her mistake). Of course we didn't say anything to the resident but I think he would've gotten a good laugh over it too.

I live in Westchester and the market to get into a hospital is not good right now...I graduated a year ago and I only know one person in my class that got into a hospital after four months of applying. I work in LTC because I needed to get a job.Its not horrible but it seems as though it is easier to get a job in ltc and if you are desperate. I am not sure about Ulster or Orange but I think since you have your BSN you will have a better chance at a job. GL

I was pretty terrible at math and science too...I go almost a perfect score on the other two parts and did fair on math and science but stilled scored in a high percentile so no worries. Again. GL to you.

The TEAS is a standardized test...it reminded me of taking the SAT's and GRE's. there are four parts, I think English, Math, Science and Reading comprehension. If you google ATI Teas exam there is a website that recommends a book.I recommend you get it as it is a good review book and has practice questions that are similar type to the ones on the test. GL

Sooo I spoke to the woman who worked at Four Winds. She worked there as a new graduate for only 7 months on the adolescent unit. She said that the shift she worked was from about 9am-9pm. It took her a while to get used to everything bc she was new and had no experience in psych and said it took a few months to get used to everything. She often had a lot of codes and did alot of restraints (I think the adolescent wing is generally tougher). What she liked most she told me was getting report in the morning and hearing about newly admitted patients and their history, which she found fascinating. I am not sure why she quit and now we work in ltc care together. IF you want to know anything specific I can ask her let me know. Hope I am of some help to you!

I recently started working at a facility where I met a woman who worked as an RN at Four Winds. We didn't speak too much about it but I will be seeing her tomorrow and I will ask about a typical day there and how she liked it and get back to you. The only other places I've heard of are The Childrens Village in Dobbs Ferry and Green Chimneys up near the Brewster area. Have you applied to Four Winds? Where do you currently work? You can private message me if you prefer. But will get back to yo after I hear about Four Winds...laters

Can someone give me advice on how to assess a resident who falls? Obviously I know how to do a body assessment, but specifically how can one tell if there is a hip fracture? Are there certain maneuvers?

I appreciate everyone's advice and support. I am going to continue to apply and pray that I do find a "home." However, I don't know how much more I can put up with this place, so if need be I will quit and and learn to live on a tight budget for the time being. My sanity and emotional well being are more important to me. Thanks again.

I honestly think that it was a bad idea becoming an RN...or it may be my employment choices. I am on my second job in ltc since August thinking this second job would be better than my first. I have never been treated so terribly at any other job. I can take constructive criticism pretty well I think but I have two different supervisors who are so mean to me I cringe thinking about work and am getting so depressed and feeling so incompetent. Ltc was not my first choice but I couldn't find a hospital job, and I want to quit so bad but can't afford to do so without another job. Sometimes I think I am not cut out for it and would be happier being a receptionist or an office assistant which is what I have done most of my working career. The reason I wanted to be a nurse came when I was working with people with developmental disabilities, which I really enjoyed and inspired me. I have tried to find a job doing that but there is either none available or I need experience. I come home often crying to my bf how I hate being a nurse but I can't really tell if I hate nursing or I just hate my job. I don't know if I would necessarily be happier being a nurse in another setting. Any advice would be appreciated.

It really depends on how many people take the test and the other scores...I think I got a 92-93. I think there were people in the program with high 80s but I can't quite remember. There were people who got 98s and 99s! Have you taken the exam yet? I remember taking mine in April...GL

I felt a little bad about calling in but taking one look out my window and seeing one of my neighbor's car spin out of control was enough to convince me that I didn't need to be out doing the same thing. I don't have an AWD drive car as it is not a requirement for employment at my job. In addition I spoke to one of my co-workers who said that nobody in administration made it in this morning...so I gather it is okay for them to have a snow day? Plus she said most of the nurses there were planning on staying another shift anyway because the driving conditions they hear are too dangerous. And my job doesn't make arrangements to pick people up for work or give you a bed if you're stuck overnight...they may give you a blanket and a chair is what I've heard. Like a poster above said, we as a profession need to stop feeling the guilt. I don't hear any of my other friends express guilt when they can't get to their jobs.

Not sure if these places are hiring but here are a few: Cedar Manor Ossining NY Field Home Yorktown NY Somers Manor Somers NY Waterview Hills North Salem NY The Osborn Rye NY Il post more if i think of them...not sure where you live in NYC but we have people travel from the Bronx to these places

Most of the MD's at my LTC facility are great and don't give a hard to time when we call except one on-call doctor that does occasional weekend coverage. He is such a jerk I dread when I see he is on call. However, he loves one of my co-workers (who is a good friend) and is never rude to her so on the weekends, she is usually the one to call him for the whole facility! I like some of the suggestions others give though...really though, do Dr's think we are just calling them for nothing? I have some supervisors too that I try and avoid because they sound so annoyed when you call to ask for something (like something from the emergency supply). And I thought the hardest part of my job would be the residents and their families!

Both the RN and LPN program run in semesters. The LPN program consists of a fall and spring semester where you have a winter break and then you would graduate in May. The RN program is the same except it is two years long and you have winter breaks and the summer break. I took one class during the summer break, microbiology, because it was only five weeks long and I had heard the third semester was tough (which it was). I believe in the LPN program, one attends clinicals twice per week and attends classes twice per week. In the RN program, clinical is once per week, except in the final semester when it is twice per week, and usually there is one day of lecture (four hours) and one day of skills lab (four hours). Then of course one must take the other classes like nutrition and a&p if not taken before hand. I believe if one doesn't score high enough to get in to the RN program they are offered a place in the LPN program. I think you will do okay like I did where I totally messed up he science section but did well in the other sections.

I graduated from the RN program in May...I remember the science section on the TEAS being harder than the other sections but it is not my strongest subject...there are questions about geology, physics, you name it..nothing really related to nursing. Thankfully I am better at Anatomy and Physiology because those are the courses one must take with the program. I did the worst on the science and got almost perfect scores on the other three sections and still received a high grade on the exam. The ATI book is an excellent resource; I would just concentrate on studying that. The program is not accredited but the professors said only one person had a problem finding a job and it was because they wanted to join the army...it turns out you really need a bachelors degree anyway. Many people I have spoken to tell me they love to hire WCC grads because we are well trained in the clinical area and the competition to get in the program is huge, thus a "smarter" nurse. The only problem now is that many hospitals are able to be more picky and are requiring that one has a Bachelors degree. I am working in a SNF and have started to take classes at Mercy College for my BSN-MS (I have a BA in another field). The program was no picnic, but I really felt well trained when I graduated and saved a lot of money by attending WCC-did not have to take out any student loans and received two scholarships....apply for the scholarships, everyone who applies will basically get one! :) As far as the LPN program, it is two semesters long and I believe the one must attend two clinical days per week and two classroom days. I've heard from others it is good...and cheaper than going to BOCES.

I had no other option but to start in a LTC facility after graduating recently. No hospitals in my area were hiring. I fortunately work on a sub-acute rehab unit and have gained valuable experience that I wouldn't be getting if I hadn't taken this job. Was it my first choice? No. Do I like it there? Eh, not really but I am learning as much as I can (for example, if a foley needs to go in, I ask my co-workers to let me know so I can do it and feel comfortable). Also, you will get a large patient load but I still think it helps in time management which is an important skill for any new new nurse. I believe if you cannot get into a hospital but cannot wait to gain employment then it's not a bad place to start. I think a subacute rehab unit is closest to a hospital setting. I don't know if there are many LTC facilities in Manhattan but I live in Westchester and there are several. GL

One of my classmates' wife worked there as a tech. She liked it but said that many times new graduates would go there and not be prepared as it is a psych facility and things can get pretty hairy at times. But if you have psych experience I am sure you won't be caught off guard. Besides that she liked working there and thought it was a good place to work. GL to you.

I work on a busy subacute rehab unit at a longterm care facility. The census on our unit has been "low" although the acuity and amount of work hasn't changed yet administration has decided to cut back from two nurses to one nurse on my 3-11 shift, yet during the week there are three nurses on from 7-3 and on the weekend two nurses on 7-3. I really think this is unfair as it is just as busy in the evening as during the day...I pick up orders, pick up all the labs that come in, and now am doing double the work load. Plus, when we get admissions they come after three pm and now we are expected to do out admissions (sometimes 2-3 patients) and take on our patient load. We have no unit manager or real leadership on this unit so my only choice is to speak to the DON, however, my other co worker who is so nice will never complain about the workload to anyone (besides me) so I feel as though if I go and complain they will say "so and so does it and doesnt complain." I wouldnt mind this if it weren't that the other shift gets two people and they cut our shift to one nurse. How do I approach my DON without seeming like I just want to complain? It is really stressing me out that I am sick to my stomach everytime I have to go to work now and I am constantly searching for a job but having a hard time. I appreciate any advice!

I find family members to be the most difficult part of my job and the thing that gets to me the most. Most of my patients are great and hardly give me a problem but the family members drive me nuts. I find it helpful to ***** to other coworkers because they understand and have had difficult family members as well. I just can't understand the disrespect...you would never see me be rude to a family member but it seems as though they can treat nurses terrible....they are all smiley and happy when the md comes in but treat the nurse, who is doing the actual caring for the patient, not very nicely. However when I get family members who are great, I am reminded that there are just those difficult people out there who will never be satisfied. I am slowly trying to let go of my irritation for the difficult ones....but I totally understand where you are coming from.

Wow, Im in the same boat as the OP. Only I have only graduated in May and am going to start a BSN-MS program in January and continue to work part time. I have not been happy with floor nursing but I blame it on the fact I work in ltc on an acute rehab unit which is so disorganized it's crazy. No unit manager and no permanent desk nurse. Plus Im unfortunately letting complaintive (sp?) residents and their families get to me. Everyone is supportive at my job about returning to school despite my real lack of time in the field but some say I need to get in a hospital (I wish I could). So I would say go for your masters while working especially since you are single with no kids....I am as well and I feel like as soon as I start the family thing the chances may not be there (not always the case but I can see it happening to me because I support my boyfriend who has a spinal cord injury). I know so many lpn's at my facility who practice like RNs and are so full of experience and knowledge youd think they had a master degree...and say that once they had a family it was too much to go back to school...so I say do it while you can...I can completely understand where you are coming from though...I could have posted the same discussion! Goodluck and go for it!

I kinda know how you feel...I have only been at my first nursing job for three months (in rehab in ltc) and I am feeling so down about everything, like most things you mentioned. Its gotten to the point where I think I have picked the wrong career! Everyone keeps telling me its the place and unit I work and to go to the hospital (like I could really find a job there right now anyways). But I feel so depressed, frustrated, anxious when I get home from work, and really sick of dealing with not so much the patients, but the families. I have to try so hard to bite my tongue when it comes to the rudeness. Plus trying to do an admission or two, a med pass, treatments, and picking up orders...I can understand why they have a hard time keepin a nurse on this unit long. I feel lucky to have found a job but so unhappy there. I look everyday for a new job and have thought about starting a BSN-MS program in January and switching to part time. I say you should switch it up and see if another part of nursing interests you...I think I am gonna do something, even if its for my sanity and even if it means having a part time salary. Goodluck to you.

I recommend taking as many prereq's as you can...I took both a&p's, nutrition and micro while taking the nursing classes and it makes it harder because you really need to focus on the nursing classes. goodluck getting in the class :)

Clinicals for the first three semesters are one day per week from 7am to about 2pm. The final semester you will need to attend 2 days a week. The clinicals are at many hospitals throughout Westchester, I don't think anyone was sent to the Bronx the farthest was in Yonkers. The second year I spent all my clinicals at WMC. I also did clinicals at Hudson Valley Hospital, Northern Westchester Hosp and White Plains Hosp. The hospital we attended would not change weekly: at most you would do half the semester at one hospital and the other half at another hospital. We did have people who lives in Rockland and Putnam and would complain about the drive to certain hospitals which I would inderstand...don't expect the Professors to be sympathetic or place you in a hospital that is closer to you because they will not. Best of luck to you if you attend, I just graduated from there. Let me know if you have any more questions because I remember having a ton when I first applied and got accepted.

I was sickened when one of my friends and classmates admitted to me he had stolen an nclex review book from Barnes and Nobles....I lost total respect for him, especially because he thought it was funny. I had a hard time talking to him after that. I had never heard of a classmate stealing before or stupid enough to admit it. I could never steal and would be very embarrassed to admit it if I did. He ended up barely passing school and has failed the Nclex twice.....sometimes I really do believe in karma...

I appreciate all the advice from everyone. I am so glad to finally be off this weekend. I don't think her being an RN has much to do with it I think I just needed to vent. My coworkers and I have just had the hardest time pleasing her because she wants to control all the times she gets her meds (while we really only have med passes 4 times a day, sometimes more if necessary) and she is on 7 different pain medications (which I dont doubt she is in pain but we all think she is a script chaser because she never looks/acts like she is in horrible pain...and I have had patients who are in horrible pain who refuse pain meds, and I know pain is subjective). This lady just acts like she is a princess and everyone, all the nurses, social worker, supervisors, MDs, DON and you can tell even her husband cannot stand her. She also was using an outside MD and she switched to our facility MD and you could tell her private MD had some relief in his voice to get rid of her. Now our MD is suffering. Its really unbelievable, Ive had difficult patients, patients I had to carry around with me on med passes to keep them safe and practically babysit them the whole shift, patients yelling and cursing at me, and nobody has made me so annoyed and frustrated as this lady. I really try to empathize with her and her situation, I've always been empathetic with all my patients, but she is just rude, arrogant, cocky and wants to be treated like a princess.