blakese

Take clinical calc at OJC. There is a test first year and you have to score 100%. It's better if it's fresh. I had a B average in all my pre-reqs. Took nutrition online and path here where I live. ( commuted an hour for OJC) I actually didn't apply till late in July cause I was trying to get into a school closer to home. I got a call about 10 days before classes started but I know most heard within a few weeks. Take the humanities whenever you can, psych, soc, really help out. They are a great group down there. I have to head out to work, but if you have any other questions I will be happy to answer. Good luck to you! You will love and hate it. Whole different ball game. OH! Make sure you try the chicken butts at the Hogs Breath Saloon!

Don't get discouraged! When I hit the point you are at I took a break, (great advice from everyone), then, I personally just went back and went over the sections that I knew I was weak in. I was not at the top of my class but I passed both the pn and rn with minimum questions. Go with your gut. They don't pass many people through school who don't have the know-how and knowledge to pass. Deep breaths.

Just read that and need to clarify. I didn't get fired. Just looking at ads cause I was so discouraged. Coffee's article will be to blame for me clocking in again after my days off. Gotta love the lost people.

A little older and wiser and sadder this week. My behind got thrown to the wolves by the management that emphatically insisted she would have my back. Then to throw salt in the wounds my charge came over to ask me if I was okay, when I said "NO", she told me that she understood, they did the same thing to her. First I've heard of that. Warning would have been nice. Can't get any steam behind it right now though. Just so disappointed in the whole system. (and yes you all did warn me) Your story came just in time coffee. I was checking the want ads. Mean people suck.

I'm with y'all. Started pre-reqs for nursing in my 40's. Got my associates and will hopefully be starting on my bachelors next year when I clear out some of this student debt. I am at an age where I may not always know what I want, but I definitely know what I don't want! It's pretty cool most of the time. Plus like Whispera said, I am gonna get older no matter what so why not go for it? (Masters eventually)

Comfortable slacks and non revealing comfortable tops. I can't imagine being in any kind of skirt that would work. (and I am with the females) Only person in our facility that wears skirts is the chaplain and WAY upper management. Good luck to you and congratulations on the new position!

Coffee!!!!! Oh my gosh! :rotfl: That is so funny!!!!!!! If my coworker had said that I would have either choked or fallen on the floor, peeing my pants, hysterically laughing!!!! I can so hear that coming out of her mouth too. Oh dear.....(wiping tears from my eyes) That is fabulous, funny, and sad. Oh my. I wish I worked with you guys. Actually things are a bit better right at this moment. I have some strong backing around me. My lead nurse is giving very strong very visible support to me and helps immensely. I am really lucky that we have her. I found some coworkers that work other shifts on the same unit that are helping me to fill the gaps in my knowledge and that not only helps my performance, it helps my moral also. It still is no bed of roses, (anybody remember "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden? I think it was the first thing I ever read about mental illness. Fascinated me even when I was 12.) Sorry, sometime the ADD kicks in. Anyhow, no rose garden but there are a few times a shift and am just so glad I am there. I hope we all find our place where we can truly do what makes us happy and be side by side with people who feel the same way. I would sing kumbaya (sp) too but I REALLY cannot sing. I will keep you updated, please do the same. Anybody out near the storm stay safe please. I have family on the Cape so I am going to go glue myself to the weather channel. Talk to you soon.

Thanks Jennay. I do agree with caution as far as the patients go. The first patient actually got a 1:1 on the repercussions of trying to cause trouble with staff. I didn't believe it at all. (feel like a bit of an ass now) With the second patient I had to give it some thought. Then the third patient kind of capped it off. They don't hang around each other either. Barely any interaction at all. I honestly think I have backing of higher ups. I am also careful to not be alone with this coworker. If it turns out that I have management turn on me then I do not want to be there as sad as that would be. I also have tons of documentation to cma. I am sorry that this happened to you also. How do you stay motivated?

Well, got through today. I spoke with the psychiatrist, psychologist, and my lead nurse before I spoke to my coworker. (the other one called off) I gave her the benefit of the doubt and asked what it was that I was doing that was making her so angry. I expressed my belief that all members are vital to the team. I told her that if there was something that she was having a problem with in respect to my performance she should come to me. I reiterated the fact that with all her experience that I hoped that she would be a valuable resource. I also let her know that I could not accept verbal abuse in front of the patients or elsewhere. That she had been overheard several times on the floor speaking about staff in a derogatory manner and that I didn't understand that. What I got back was....I should not question anybody, that I should do as I am told, that the patient's are not to be trusted to tell the truth, and that the only difference between RN's and other staff is that we can call doctors on the phone and get an order. Not one offer of cooperation or conciliation was accepted or acknowledged. So it's on to a mediated situation. I so wanted to be a b*tch. Fortunately for me I have a safety valve that shut my mouth off before I can say anything that would do damage. So not what I would have liked, however, I left work today without a headache so that is good. Y'all have a good night! Be safe.

Okay, that was all well and good but today I just wanted to rip somebody a new one!!!!!!!!! OMG how rude can people be? Then to top it off a PATIENT asked to speak to me and wanted to let me know that I shouldn't let those particular coworkers get to me. When I said I had no idea what that meant, the patient let me know that several of them had heard these two coworkers talking about me out on the unit and they didn't agree with their comments. I didn't discuss it with this pt but said that if they needed to talk to somebody about it I was probably not who they should go to. I don't talk about coworkers with patients but damned if I didn't want to say a LOT of things. I was so angry that by the end of the shift I could barely speak. Gonna have to find somebody to mediate and deal with this asap. I have no tolerance for this crap. I hate these type of games. I don't understand the mindset and it frustrates the heck out of me that people treat each other this way. AAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! See, now I feel better already. Seriously am going to at least, (calmly and professionally), speak my peace and then at least it is out on the table. I can't stand to waste the energy on this stuff. Sigh....can't we just work together? Heading to bed. This whole mess has just made me tired. Thanks for letting me vent yet again.:flamesonb

Thanks, I appreciate the support. I actually talked to some people, including my lead nurse and hashed some of this out. The behavior is really not targeted towards me, but towards my position and being new. There is, and has been some strife going on for quite a while and a whole lot of changes happening right now, so there is an "old guard-new guard" type situation. I thought about this the other night after I wrote that post and made some decisions. I am responsible for what I do, and at the end of the day that is what I have to look at. I am going in every day and doing my best and looking around for those staff members that are supportive and dedicated. There are actually quite a few of them. That's one of the reasons I was so attracted to this facility in the first place. I am not going to let the negative personalities take up my time and energy. I love my job and it is exactly where I want to be, so if someone doesn't like that it is their problem and I don't intend to make it mine. I figure my best defense is to learn everything that I can every day and keep helping our patients work towards there goals and stay safe. So needless to say, I feel a lot better about things. Knowing that I can vent, b*tch, and get advice and support here helps a lot! :) Sometimes just looking at what I've posted helps me to sort things out. Hope everyone has a great day

Hey everyone, I could use some advice. I graduated in may, boards early June, forensic psych position first week of July. I am VERY new. I wanted psych and love it however I need to know how to keep myself from being pushed around by other staff without being overbearing. I know that pretty much everyone there has more experience than I, however, there is a lot of passive agression and "slight" misdirection. I need to figure out how to let people know that I respect what they have to offer but at the same time I am not there to do what they want, but what I believe is best for the patients and myself, and our safety. There was a pt today that was angry and overly focused on me. I have not been there long enough to build a rapport and could not even speak to the pt without eliciting an extreme response. I was put on as primary one to one when the pt went out of control and was agressive and making suicidal gestures. I felt that it would be better for someone with a relationship with the patient to attempt to verbally de-escalate them. When I voiced this, I was at the end of quite a bit of outright hostility from some of the staff. I don't know if I was out of line and ignorant, or if I should have handled it a different way or what? I did not ask to leave, I simply was ineffective as a primary negotiator and I knew that at least. I want to be effective. I want to do what is right. I would like to be a team player as much as possible while also staying true to my gut. Very lost. How do I establish my footing? I love this job and want to stay that way. So.....please, point me in the right direction?

To all of you that helped me out a HUGE thank you. Took NCLEX monday, shut off after 50 minutes, PASSED!!!!! (well unofficially of course). There was nowhere in the nursing community that I went to where there wasn't somebody willing to help me along the way. (and I am not that charming) I have been extremely blessed. You all are awesome.

Korky, You've pretty much quoted my instructor from last semester verbatim. (except for the food part) I actually took cinnamon rolls yesterday morning. Taking something next week also. I asked everybody my first day what the most important thing to practice was, and they all said safety. I am reminding myself constantly that things can change fast. They have a lot of safety measures in place and I follow all of them even when I am with the calmest of patients. Our guidelines as students as far as dress, behavior, and items we can have, are a lot more stringent than those at the facility. I think I would adhere to most of them even if I didn't have to. I dont see a lot of wisdom or neccessity in hoop earrings or cleavage in a locked mostly male setting.It is reasurring that most of the advice that I have gottten has been consistent. Tells me that it is all on the money. Anything else you can add would be welcome. Hope you have a great weekend! Thanks again for the advice. :)

Not to worry Domestika, I wouldn't. Just referring to the make-up of the unit. Refer to them all as "gentlemen", or by name. I really like most of them and give respect to all of them. I have never liked the "us vs them" stuff. All the same, just have varying degrees of issues.:)

:yeah:Okay, tomorrow is day 3 at State. LOVE IT. My preceptor and lead clinical are experienced, open, and enthusiastic about teaching. Everbody that I have been in contact with has been great. It is so interesting. So much to learn. I am so happy that I have gotten the chance to do this. The patients are a whole new learning curve for me and how cool is that. I hope that I still feel this way at the end of my assignment, because if so, I think I have found my niche. Hope everybody is having a great day. Thank you for the advice. I will keep you updated!

So what did you all expect and never experience or never expected and it happened?

Thanks everyone. Actually I hadn't really thought of the State as the last resort. These days it seems like there are less and less programs offered. Sometimes it almost seems primary care. Thanks Marisha for the "straight-forward" advice. I can see myself wondering what they mean by "MOVE", and getting knocked out while I am thinking. LOL!!!!!! As for the paperwork stuff it's pretty bad everywhere at this point. I can hang. I am so looking forward to this. I will keep you updated and pick your brains as I go if it is okay with y'all. Have a good one!

Hello all, I've learned a lot from this site, apreciate all who are willing to take the time. I just finished finals and am heading out to my preceptorship,(Capstone), after spring break. Going to be at the State hospital locked ward. Did clinicals with the antisocials, will be with mostly bipolar and schizophrenics this time. Any advice on interaction, learning opportunities, warnings, advice etc. I thank you in advance for any wisdom you can impart.

Make that, "absolutely"...absulutely?

I have Pharm II, Med Surg, (yet again), and Psych this semester. Where are you working at? How did you like psych? I have run into a lot of people who absulutey hated it. I am kind of looking forward to it. I did the adolescent psych tech program a few years ago and just loved it.

Thanks! I will take you up on that! I will even come pick them up if you need me to. I don't live down there, I acyually live in Pueblo. Works out real well. I tape all my lectures and listen to them on the drive to and from school. It really helps. I get reinforcement of the information on the way home and a refresher on the way back to school.How is pharm II different from pharm I? Is it more in depth or just more information?

MandyC had some good advice. And congrats on graduating! I just found out that I passed my lpn boards, (yipee!). I am looking forward to getting back to class, but dont quote me on that 3 months from now! I think the majority of schools are what you make it. I personally love OJC. Hope everybody had a great summer, get ready for the grind !

In general as far as I know there is not a wait list. I was in the office the first week of June and I know that they had some fulltime and some part time slots open. If you get your paperwork in in a timely manner you should not have a hard time at all. Talk to Becci. She is the center of all things nursing program. Good luck to you!

Thanks so much for the info! I will get it in the mail tomorrow morning. Bit nervous about the testing. Kinda like finals, what do you study when you are getting tested on all of it. Sticking to labs, major meds,common diagnosis and safety. Fingers crossed.