mlclove

I myself am an LPN. In my area no oncology specific hospital would look at me let alone hire me. It's RN's only. Go for your RN especially if that is the field you want, good luck, either way it is your choice. Think about what you want, no matter your choice you can end up where you want, it may just take a couple extra steps. Good luck!

I hear you on the hubby front, good luck being sent your way :)

Wow, those systems sound awesome, esp churchsgirl. All we use is the intercom system through our phones in the building. If you're in a pt's room you can't hear it. Which is quite a pain when there is a dr on the phone who will hang up and not answer your call when you call back.

You can also borrow NCLEX books to study from at the library. That way you can save money!

I am an LPN and I tried to get a job anywhere after months of looking for a job. Every time I tried for a "lower" position I was told I had too much experience which was absurd because I had no healthcare experience. Good Luck to you though!

I plan to go on for my RN, but I also have lofty goals that have nothing to do with money. I like the education and there will be more jobs available. You are correct though everyone is having a hard time finding a job. I currently just got my first job as a LPN and hopefully I can do my schooling through them and get my experience and we'll see where I head from there. But the main reason isn't money. Good Luck to everyone!

Well I just got my first job. I was so excited. They told me during the interview they had weekends available. Part-time, which was fine until full-time came available somewhere. They called today to welcome me to their company and let me know they only have prn. This really stinks. I can't afford to work prn. I need a full-time job but I guess I should be grateful but all I am is disappointed. Sorry just really needed to get that off of my chest. ugh here is to hoping something comes along asap!!!

I just had my first interview last week and had my second yesterday, needless to say it was the scariest thing. I went over common nursing questions that I found through this site. On my first interview I was asked questions like; Why did you choose this facility? Why did you choose to become a nurse? Not too hard. On my second interview with the nurse manager it was different. What do you think of CNA's? Different what if's, what would I do etc. My friend even got asked about a med. Just try to stay relaxed and remember to smile, everyone likes a friendly face. Breathe, you can do it!

I graduated almost the last day in January got my ATT about the second week of February, online by the way. The only day in february to take the test was the next day so I scheduled it for the second of March. All online, printed out the info I needed to take with me. The next day at about 9 am I went to the PA state board of nursing and there was my name with my license number. Wasn't too bad at all. It's the finding a job that's killing me. :) By the way this was all through Pearson Vue as well. Good luck and just remember to study.

I just graduated from an LPN program in January and I've been looking for a job since then. Most places in Philly want at least a year or more of experience so if you could volunteer or try to work in the field in some capacity. It will help you greatly and good luck!

In Philadelphia, we can D/C IV's as well.

We have an IV course which teaches us everything you need to know about starting, maintaining IVs etc. But no phlebotomy, although our teacher is going to try to include some info for us because we asked her to. That being said, in my state in our scope of practice we're not even allowed to start IVs. We can maintain them and push certain meds but technically not allowed unless our work place covers us. But we are allowed to draw blood. Interesting, isn't it?

I've had this happen to me quite often at clinicals. Just keep doing your best, it's really nice when you change these nurse's opinion of students. That said, it's not always going to happen. We had just gotten a new site for our school and this place was not happy we were under their feet. Then we had a patient go crazy and my nurse I was assigned to was so frazzled. I helped her as much as I was able. By the end of that day, those nurses were very happy we were there to help things get calmed down and do any extra thing that needed to be done. So just keep being yourself and doing your best. The only thing that gets through is a job well done. Good luck!

Well it depends, are the ones for theory comfortable enough to be on your feet all day long? If so then use the same ones if not buy a new pair, ones that will keep your feet happy.

We have been all over the place or our clinicals. The first couple of weeks we went back and forth with two nursing homes, a hospital, and an acute care facility. Now we have maternity which is only two days at a maternity ward at one of the hospitals. We're also doing three days of pedes at what we think is a day care, and we're doing mental health at the alzeimer/dementia unit of a nursing home and hospital. But for each o these rotations its only two or three days and that's it. I wish it were more but you have to work with what you have. In between we are still alternating between the nursing home, the acute care facility and we have aquired a couple new hospitals. Usually on the med-surg floor which is great experience and one day the med-surg floors census was low so we went to the telemetry unit which was really cool. Right now with it being summer, we're lucking out and getting some nice sites since most rn schools are on vacation but it is tough competition. All of our sites are all over the city and some are even outside of it, but in the end it should be good experience. Good luck to you.