NurseThis21

:ancong!: And on to the next one. ^_^

You will definitely feel better after a few more shifts and it's totally normal. Think about how people feel after an enormous Thanksgiving dinner, just as their stomach is crammed with food, your mind is crammed with new things and both are very, VERY tired! Congrats on your first exhaustion-filled day!!! ^_^

THOSE WHO MIND DON'T MATTER AND THOSE WHO MATTER DON'T MIND. You should bring a bell to work one day, ring it, and tell them that recess is over. ^_^

Hi there! As a forewarning, do not be offended by what I say. You want advice, I'm here to give it. In terms of your question(s), you need to take a step back and analyze what it is that you want to do, make a game plan for yourself and stick to it. To me, it seems as if you're getting stressed out before you even have the chance to be stressed out on purpose. I know that you want to be a CRNA; so do you know what the acronym stands for? Do you know what it entails? Have you researched the criteria for gaining entrance? You see where I'm going here ... the mark of a qualified and potential professional is how much initiative and dedication they have. You will need to know how to seek out information yourself as you will be doing this and a whole lot more as a CRNA. And I know that you're only 16 so don't stress yourself out, but also don't take any shortcuts. Yes, you will need all 4 years (or more) of college. You will need a degree in nursing. Each school is different in terms of their prerequisites. Seek out some starter information at your community college and see what you can take when finished with high school. Know that you will have to go through nursing school. I see that you wanted to know if the classes will be difficult. OF COURSE!!!!! Who would want a nurse taking care of them that doesn't know what's going on? And as a CRNA, you are REALLY dealing with someone's life, it's a life or death situation. Yes, it will be difficult, it's part of the job description. On a good day, it will take 4-5 years undergraduate, AT LEAST 2 years acute care experience before you can apply. Before I go any further, you need to research the necessities of college. You're still in high school, so there's much to be learned about higher education for you. Understand that nothing good is ever rushed and you need time and experience to be on your side. Get through nursing school first and understand what that encompasses before you make such specific decisions. You will find yourself in the right place at the right time. Good luck to you and your future endeavors!

Never underestimate the power of a "quirky" or different type of nursing career. Apply to places you may not have thought of before and see where that takes you. Once you have a career, it's a lot easier to get people (aka recruiters) to notice you. If you want to eventually gain hospital experience, take some time to step outside the box and venture into outpatient, community, correctional, hospice settings. It's the great compromise that most of us have dealt with in the beginning stages in our careers. And who knows, wherever you end up may become something you'll fall in love with! Just give it a chance and good luck in your job search! ^_^

Please, please, PLEASE!!! Do not wait so long to take your NCLEX. Each day that goes by is another tidbit of information that you'll likely forget about nursing fundamentals. You should take it in July instead and don't even think about applying to be a CNA. You've taken the clinicals and courses to be an RN, the company you work for will hold you to the standards of a soon-to-be RN. So go study and think about the RN job you'll have in September! Good Luck! ^_^

And this is why we need to continue to have a spectrum of personalities amongst RNs. Take this as an opportunity to learn from and appreicate others' behaviors and characteristics. Don't be intimidated; it's not like you're going home with these people! Understand that your personality is just as wonderful and unique as anyone else's and don't label or look and down on yourself; you'll have enough enemies to do that for you. And with your patients, use the "bus stop talk"; small conversations about the weather or current events. No need to feel like you're just a task monster; last I heard, none of us were robots. Once you get a feel of how easy it is to approach people, you'll be on your way! Chin up and know that you got this because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!!! ^_^

First off, Congrats on getting past HR at Northwestern! I currently work there and the interview process is just like any other. Since you are a student, they are going to focus on questions that will expose your strengths and behaviors in situations. They also want to see that you will be dedicated to the job and are willing to grow with the hospital. I didn't do the externship there but my peers who did experience it said that it was a very enlightening experience. It really focuses on teamwork, shared leadership and constant education regarding evidence based research. It also helps that you'll already have a foot in the door if you ever decide that you want to work here. Just be yourself during the interview and show them your talents. You've gotten this far so now all you need is the icing on the cake! Have fun and good luck! :-)

Peers who will look down on you are no friend or mentor to you. Instead, seek out those who are ready and willing to provide vital information and immediate feedback as you will most definitely gain experience this way. And don't be so hard on yourself! Since when were we supposed to know everything and even the most seasoned nurse continues to learn new things each day. When you look back on this day years from now, you will be able to pat yourself on the back for a job well done and it will then be your turn to provide guidance and support to a new and unsure nurse. You will then be a part of their foundation for success. Continue to seek out knowledge and the talent and expertise are sure to follow! Good luck to you! ^_^

It all depends on how you sell yourself during the resume-review/interview process. If you present yourself as "I only want med-surg, any other job will suck", then you won't look appealing to the recruiter. However, if you do come up lucky and get a job offer, make sure that you write your experiences off as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone to where you feel you really want to be. Never look at an opportunity as "a job-killer". That will ruin your morale before you even start working! Let the opportunity present itself and understand that everything happens for a reason. Maybe acute rehab will end up being your cup of tea! With many new nurses flocking out of med-surg at an alarming rate, I think your journey is on the right path. Good luck to you! ^_^

LOL! After a little research, I realized that I too am a Type B personlaity, like, to the fullest! I do branch away from such personality at times like being a perfectionist at some tasks and am a neat freak, but that doesn't overshadow my other, more important qualities like patience and having an ability to empathize with people. There is definitely room for you wherever you want to go. It's like us for humans to want to box ourselves into a certain category that we think is best for us, but that will ultimately be our demise if we consistently avoid the other challenges and exciting things that exist out there. The whole concept of "type" personalities is based on learned behavior. These qualities are nothing more than an extension of what we've already learned. So, even though most of your "learned" qualities exist on the type B spectrum, that doesn't mean you can't work in a critical care setting. It simply means you're an individual, which we all are! You have countless possibilities to work anywhere you want; from a free health clinic to a fortune 500 company! It's all abot where you feel most at ease. For me, with my supposed type B personality, I thought Psych would be the best bet for me. Ummm, wrong! Although I love what I do in this department, I'm itching for something new and challenging. I'm still technically a new grad especially since I'm fairly new to the technical skills and I would love to explore this venue. Stay alert and observant during your clinicals and see what it is that peaks your interest. Don't concentrate on what you think your personality-based shortcomings are. Instead, think about how your unique skills can benefit the area you want to work in. Anyone can learn the technical skills, the IVs, the calculations, the wound care, the medications, etc., but a nurse goes miles beyond that and incorporates his/her own unique talents and dedication so that success is achieved. Good Luck to you in Nursing School and hopefully the eceonomy lets up so that you can get a job and start on your Type B journey!!!! ^_^

Hello there! I'm so sorry that you are having difficulty finding a job right now! I was in the same predicament not too long ago, but I found out how to be creative in getting the jobs that I have. It definitely is all about who you know when it come to finding a job. Do you have a few colleagues who found work and can refer you to an open position? Do you know of anyone who is a nurse or who's parents or relative may be nurses? Perhaps you can land a job that way. Also, go to your doctor's office for a "physical". Chat it up with the nurse who's taking you vitals and see about any prospects on the horizon. You never know! I work with a colleague who also works in Human Resources and she said that the majority of the positions you see online get snatched up by "internal" word of mouth and the piles of e-resumes for that position are never viewed. Such a bummer and I was shocked too since there seems to be loop holes and magical side doors in Human Resources of all places! Argh! But yeah, hopefully you'll find something soon and forget about finding work as a CNA or LPN. You have credentials for an RN so you can't work under those licences unfortunately. But if you have the resources to go back to school then by all means go for it! Then you can really network, brown-nose, stalk, whatever the young people call it these days! Good Luck in your continued job search and I wish you all the best!

I see the night shift as a fabulous incubation period for new grad RNs (I know that sounds awakward and disturbing, but work with me!). It gives us the time to process each task that we do and this is not to say that night shift is easy and requires little work; it requires just as much as day shift but the only difference is that you wont be bombarded by the other tiddlywinks that go on during the day. Once you get accustomed to the routine and what is expected of you, you can stop your incubation period, burst out onto day shift and hit the ground running towards the MDs, RTs, OTs, and any other acronym that's charging at you at 150mph! However, if you fall in love with night shift, which many people do, then you can plant your roots right where you are. No need to stress yourself out and hopefully, you'll find a way to pace yourself. Good Luck and I wish you all the best! ^_^

Hello there! The panel interview is indeed a face-to-face interview where you will probably sit across the table from a nurse manager, RN staff, maybe a unit director, and other ancillary staff that have a few minutes to spare for the interview. It will be their time ask you questions to see if you would be compatible with their team (i.e. do you have a sense of humor? What is your time management like? Are you willing to help out your staff including non-nurses? How do you work under pressure? Are you willing to commit to the position at least 1-2 years?, etc). I could obviously go on and on with the questions they will ask, but the key is to not be intimidiated by the many eyes that gaze upon you. They can smell fear and anxiety from a mile away so obviously, you won't be working too well under pressure! However, if you do feel a little nervous before the interview, which a lot of people do, just go in and pretend like you're talking to a bunch of classmates about some nursing research (corny, I know!). But it will help you calm down and in the big picture, you are discussing research. You are the subject being studied, you know enough about yourself, so show them you know your stuff and be confident in your abilities. Their questions will be "snooping-level" at best; they just want to see if "hmmmm, can we work well with this person and are they a good fit for the unit?" Go in there with flying colors (except for the colors of your dress suit!) and show them you're perfect for the job! To be honest, it's a lot less stressful than the one-to-one interviews IMO; those are just filled with interrogation, awkward glances and interesting silent moments! Makes me wonder if a cop is going to arrest me as I walk out the door... ^^^To be long-winded in my posts is an understatement for me so Good Luck to you and I wish you the best! ^_^

Awesomeness! I'm glad that you are vowing to make a change and help out those in need once you become more experienced. Not to say that every experienced nurse is mean and not helpful but it definitely leaves a lasting impression for the few that are. It takes just one nurse to mix up the status quo and bring about a change that will be positive and benficial for those that come after him/her. Stay strong and good luck!

never underestimate real self esteem i had to learn this the hard way since there's always going to to be people who want to put you down and say you can't do it. however, if you believe in yourself and stay dedicated then you can most definitely acheive anything you set your heart to. when you feel like comparing yourself to others, remember that you are not them, you have your own unique abilities and you, along with the rest of your classmates will succeed and become incredible nurses. stay focused and the path will soon follow!!!

Ditto what the previous poster said. This is only the beginning of your challenges throughout your career and your life. Don't let this test consume you because that's not what it's meant to do. It's meant to test your skills, not to cause worry and doubt to the unsuspecting nursing graduate. Seeing as how you have a little less than two weeks to study, do just that. Review only a certain amount of questions per day, say, 45-50 questions. Then STOP. No need to answer questions for 5-6 hours and afterward, you forgot what you were even looking at! Take it one day at a time and know that you too can achieve this, just like you're going to overcome the countless other obstacles that will come your way. Good Luck & Happy Studying!!! ^_^

Good Morning and Welcome To ALLNURSES!!! :grpwlcm: First of all, congratulations on finishing Nursing School and making it this far! Now, as for the test, take your results and use it to your advantage. Now you truly know how the test works and soon you will know your weak spots when they send you the packet. I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but the test is not so much about remembering every page of your nursing books. Instead, it's about utilizing the basic skills and information that you've learned throughout your classes and clinicals, remembering the importance of prioritization, and from there tricking the NCLEX before it can trick you! From this point, I'd recommend just buying a small, comprehensive book that will help you review the labs, basic techniques, signs and symptoms, and a little of pharm. A lot of people are also starting to use the Exam Cram CD that's available at any book store and this will help you again since it mimics the test almost directly. When you've mastered that then you've got a much better chance at tackling the real test. Stay focused and utilize your time wisely as you wait to test again. Don't waste it with over-analyze your mistakes, but instead review the material and remind yourself that it isn't important to know everything, just the basic concepts. Good Luck and Happy Studying! You Can Do This and everyone at ALLNURSES has got your back! Woot! :nmbrn:

Hello there! Have you tried exam cram yet? It's a small book but people mostly use the CD that comes with it. What I've come to learn is that you can review all the nursing material and memorize it until you turn blue, but it won't matter a bit unless you know how to answer NCLEX-style questions. Borrow the CD from a library or just buy it since it's cheap. I'd say give it a try and it really does mimic the actual test and how the questions are asked. Perhaps that's where you're getting stuck and you probably freeze up when you don't know how to answer a question. So, 1. Review your material one more time. 2. Practice with the Exam Cram NCLEX CD until you've mastered the test mode. 3. While testing, breathe deeply and tell yourself that you know this material and you can do it! Positive thinking and a clear mind goes a long way. And besides, mountain tops can't exist without the valleys so stay strong and know that this experience is only going to make you a better person! Good Luck to you and happy studying!

Hello all! It's been so long since I've made any contribution to ALLNURSES and I feel horrible for it! However, I'll get rid of that feeling quickly by asking the following few questions. I currently work at a community hospital in Chicago and feel that I need to go back to a much larger hospital and gain even more experience. I'm currently a Psych RN, but recently, I've wanted to branch out and enhance (or, at this point, relearn) all of the nursing skills. Having said that, I've finally gotten somewhere in Rush Medical Center's hiring process as my resume has been forwarded to the specific department. My question is this; how long does it take for an email or phone call to come through for a possible interview? Of course, this is for anyone who works or has at least interviewed there or at any other major hospital. I'm sure that they probably have similar hiring processes. I made a nice little follow-up call earlier yesterday and they told me to just "keep being proactive". Hmmmm, makes your mind rattle, huh? If anyone has any words of wisdom or some Ativan to help me calm down from over-analyzing everything it would be greatly appreciated! P.S. Please don't send me Ativan from your PYXIS or OMNI systems. I want you to keep your license just as much as I want to keep mine! Thanks so much for any feedback as it is greatly appreciated!

Hi there! It's okay if you aren't able to get an internship or other experience over the summer. Most people can't afford that due to family, location, etc. It's appealing to recruiters, but definitely not required. Also, don't waste your time trying to look for positions online that say NEW GRAD RN Residency. That's not going to happen because most hospitals have lost revenue over the past two years and haven't had the opportunity to implement cohesive residency programs. Instead, look for positions that say "Experience Preferred" or "New Grads Welcome To Apply". That way, the recruiter will know that you will need extra guidance and they will find suitable preceptors for you. I'm hoping that the economy will ease over the next year or so, but keep the above mentioned in mind just in case if it doesn't. Right now, the hospitals that I can think of that are new grad-friendly are Children's, Advocate Healthcare systems, Resurrection Healthcare systems, Stroger, Rush Medical Center, UIC Medical Center, and Loyola University Medical Center. Try to focus on those if you're looking for a place that has a great preceptor program. Also, start applying for jobs next January. That way, you'll have a few months before you graduate to get a feel of what hospitals are offering and if there is a new grad program, you want to make sure you apply in time. Hospitals usually hire at the beginning of each month so you have 12 good chances at getting a job each year! Not that your luck would be that amazing, but know that hospitals hire year=round no matter if you are a new grad or not. Use the summer months after you graduate to focus on your NCLEX. Hopefully, you'll have a job or are very close to getting a job if you started applying in January and therefore, you'll have more time to dedicate to the test of all tests! If you feel you really want to do more to stand out among other applicants, volunteer where you can. It doesn't have to be in a hospital per se, nor does it have to deal with nursing, but it will let the recruiter know that you weren't wasting you time and you like to help out wherever you can. It helps with the "well-rounded" applicant look. Good luck with everything and I hope you have a better time with landing a job next year!

Hi there! As to your question, I honestly don't think you should waste your time hospital-hopping and dropping off resumes. This may work in smaller areas, but for Chicago hospitals, if they ask you to apply online, you better apply online! I've seen several people automatically turned down for a position just because they were trying to be a little proactive in getting out their resumes. Don't worry about the format being a little skewed, the most that they're looking for is if you have a license, CPR, a degree, and any experience to the position being offered. All the rest is just fluff to them. I'm sorry if I busted your "proactive" bubble, but that's how it is in the big city! Don't worry, if you are really interested in the job, apply as many times as you can and if you have time, take a visit to the unit and see if you can shadow someone for a day. That's always possible and you'll more than likely bypass HR which nowadays is the graveyard for applicants! Good luck and I hope you find your dream job!

I actually had the worst headache of my life when I finished my NCLEX back in July. I'd never felt that low in my entire life and honestly, the NCLEX is a surefire way to develop depression! Anywho, once I got home, I did the trick and felt reassured finally. Less than 10 hours later, I got the good news! So yay for you for finding the trick and I think you can sit back, relax, and wait for your name to pop up on your BON site! Some test takers think the questions were hard, some think they were easy or varied. Only the computer knows how to test someone and know how they're doing, so it's best to not overanalyze how you thought the questions were. Congrats in advance and welcome to the wonderful world of nursing!!!

Hello There! First thing's first: You should not call yourself slow and stupid. You're going to have enough people doing that for you even though it's not true. If you need to take some time out to figure out what it is that you need to make you feel more comfortable on the unit then do so. Do you need a pocket drug book? How about a brain sheet to prioritize your duties? Do you need to come in a little early to calm down and focus on what it is that you need to accomplish? Whatever it may be, I'd suggest you find out because if you don't know what it is that can help you, then no one else can. Second: Never be afraid to ask your supervisor for an extension. You are NEW to nursing and therefore need as much guidance as possible. You can bash as many nursing books across your forehead, but if you don't put it into practice then it's just words. Who cares if so and so graduated at the top of her class with honors and whatever else. If you don't know how to use your hands and mind and put it all together then just forget about it. Let your supervisor know and you will see that it's towards your benefit. Sure, they may get cranky, but hey, that's one less potentially error-prone nurse they have to worry about! Third: Do not compare yourself to others. It only makes you feel worse and last time I checked, you're not in that other nurse's body, so why care about what they're doing? It's very easy for the new grad to lose focus and freak out about all the extra stuff around them; however, we end up losing sight of what's right in front of us ... THE PATIENT! Focus on them instead and do the best you can to make them feel better. Let the other nurses do what they need to do and observe. Take note if you see a good technique or practice and learn from them instead of secretly envying them. It's to your advantage and it'll help out in the end! Fourth: BREATHE! It's basically not fair for the patient to have a nurse who's twitching in the corner from stress! Put yourself together before you start your day and give credit to yourself for making it this far as a nurse! Yes, it's challenging; no one said it would be a cakewalk, but you really don't have to make a mountain out of this little nursing molehill. It's going to get better and hey! It's already great! Stay focused and enjoy this new experience! Not many people have the chance to do so! Good luck!!!

Hi there! It seems as if you've been introduced to the wonderful world of nursing. NOT!!!! That is definitely not how you're supposed to be oriented to a new position. It looks like your supervisor just wanted to up the employee census so that they wouldn't have dangerously low staffing. What I've heard from friends as well as my own experience, no matter where you work as a nurse, if you're just starting out, they should have someone work with you from day one and help you remember the basics, get acquainted with the intermediate, and excel with the advanced. It takes at least 1-2 years before you're comfortable as a nurse, so your orientation should reflect at least some preparation. And if you don't feel comfortable at the end of the orientation, then it's their responsibility to make sure that you continue to get the proper teaching. No one should be left with a wet match in a dark cave! As for myself, I've been given a 2 1/2 month orientation (I work as a Psych RN) and in between those few months are sporadic days where I can review with my preceptor and clarify anything that is still confusing. The preceptor should be there to help you become quicker, more intuitive, and more confident. I know that most facilities are suffering financially and can only give a certain amount of orientation time, but if they don't have the resources or personnel to help you out, then there's no need for them to even entice new grads with the job opening. If I were you, I'd take this as a sign to start searching for something better. Thank goodness you haven't encountered any major errors while at work and your license is still safe. Use the intuition you already have inside and if you don't feel comfortable with where you are, then you shouldn't be there. Use your time wisely at a facility that will spend time with you, follow you through your progress, and ensure that you feel comfortable where you are. I know that it's rather difficult to get a job right now, but just keep your fingers crossed and look forward to a much more rewarding, and most importantly, SAFER career! I wish you all the luck and hopefully, in a few years, you can look back on this experience and laugh! Don't let a few crummy people get you down. If anything, get stronger from this and realize that you are much better off at a new place! Goof Luck!