Kandis

I am a new nurse graduate, and have a nurse management job. I have been working for only about six months. I absolutely love my job. I thought I was getting along fine with all my co-workers, until I got a "wake up call" today. Three department head co-workers took me in front of my boss, and practically tried their best to embarrass me and put down my work performance. I had no idea how some people felt, as I am a hard worker and only want to do my best at my first job after graduation. My boss told me not to worry about this, and said she knew exactly what they were trying to do. However, I can't help but be upset about it. Is this what most nurse managers have to go through when starting a new job? What is the best way to handle my situation? These co-workers are going about the rest of the day as if nothing happened. I want to learn from this experience, whether it is to realize I am not going to be a good nurse manager, or simply that there are always going to be co-workers who will test me to see how much I can take of them. Please give me your advise. Thank you.

I understand what you are saying. I work in LTC, which does give report to the hospital. I couldn't imagine it any other way. However, on the flip side, one complaint I have about a couple of the hopsitals around here is the resident gets sent back to the facility with skin breakdown that wasn't present when they left the LTC facility, and peri-care seems like it was never completed while at the hospital. Either the hospital is understaffed or the aides need better management. I thank the hopsital staff for saving a life, but come on, what's the deal with poor basic care? I want you to know it is not just LTC that does these kind of things. Kandis, BSN

I failed the third semester of an associate degree program two times, and they didn't let me return for a third chance. The first time I failed by 2 points. The second time I failed by 1 point. I wanted to be a nurse, and was not willing to give up. I transferred to a university, and entered the bachelor nursing program. It took me a few years to complete the program, but it was well worth it. I graduated last May, took the NCLEX and passed at 75 questions, which is the least amount of questions you could answer to pass the exam. I now have a nursing management job that I enjoy. There are many opportunities in nursing, so don't give up on becoming a nurse. If you want to be a nurse bad enough, you'll find a way to make it. Chances are, if you failed the associated program twice, they probably don't foresee you passing on the third round in their program. That doesn't necessarily mean you are a bad test taker or won't make a good nurse one day. Nursing teachers can adjust the grades on test, which can hurt some and help others. Nursing tests are very hard, and should be, but sometimes I think some nursing teachers should find them another job, because they aren't worth the paper their paychecks are written on. The best nursing teachers are the one's who seem to truely care about their student passing and that the student understand what's being taught, and not the ones who stand up and teach like they are God. If I were you, I would consider the bachelor nursing program or the LPN program. Either way, the associate program at the school you have been attending, is probably not worth worrying about anymore. Go elsewhere.