LoveMyDaughters

I just graduated in May and I now work on a telemetry unit. I really like it! I've been exposed to a lot of things and am gaining great experiences! I also think it helps that I have really great preceptors! Good luck in whatever you choose!

I'm a tech at Mercy right now. The hourly pay without shift differentials is around $12-14 an hour.

Thanks guys!

I'm so excited, and most importantly relieved! I work as a nurse tech on a telemetry floor. I am in school now and graduate in May. I had mentioned to my nurse manager a few times about how much I wanted to work as an RN or our unit when I graduated. She asked me to fill out an application last Monday and send it to HR. When I went into work on Friday night, she asked to speak to me. She said that they are extending an offer to me for a staff RN position for when I graduate. I got my official offer letter in the mail today! Just wanted to share my excitement and also say that there is a glimmer of hope for new grads!

I'm sorry. You are right. I was backwards!!

Level 1 is the best you can get on the ATI exams. If you go onto the ATI website and logon you can look at a results page of tests that you have taken. It will have an explanation page that will explain what the different levels mean.

My husband is active duty military and I was given immediate in-county status. I am currently in my 3rd semester in the RN program at AACC. Good luck!

I have to respectfully disagree here. Having a prescription for narcotics doesn't give someone the right to be at work under the influence just as much as it doesn't give them the right to operate heavy machinery, drive a car, etc. Are you saying that if I have a Rx for Vicodin and take it before my shift, that's okay?

I am part of the general population and have recently been a patient (as well as a nursing student), and I can ASSURE you that I care to know who is taking care of me and what their proper title is. If I am being cared for by CNA/MA or other unlicensed personnel, I do not want them to misrepresent themselves to me as a licensed professional. I was recently in the hospital for a few days for an operation. I had lots of questions regarding different medications that I was going to be taking and how to properly take care of my dressing changes, etc. I would have been a little upset if the tech that was working with me would have represented herself as my RN and began answering questions about medications that affect my heart/blood pressure. I'm not posting this to say that techs or other unlicensed people don't know about medications, I'm just saying I care who I'm getting my information from.

This is just reassuring. And by reassuring, I mean I'm gonna go drink a beer and pretend like I didn't ask...

I keep seeing/hearing that there are loads of new grads that are having a difficult time securing positions after graduation. This post is NOT meant to be mean or start an argument by the way. I just had a question. Of those of you that are not finding employment, did you do anything while you were in school to secure employment. We have been told from day one of nursing school to get a job NOW as this helps you when you graduate. I've been working for a local hospital as a student nurse extern this summer and both the HR person that I've worked with and my NM have continually said that they like to hire there techs/externs after graduation. So I guess the point of my post is what have you done to ready yourself for the workforce while you were in school? If you did find employment as an RN, what did you do to ready yourself? Again, this is NOT a jab at anyone. It's merely a question I wanted to ask, as I'm wondering if I'm just being fed a load of cr#$ from my hospital and will indeed be jobless after May.

I have not heard of any hospitals around here providing room and board for employees. Are you trying to find a position such as that of an aid or tech?

I'll be 31 when I graduate. There a lot of people my age and older in my class. In fact, we have on student who is in her 60s. I say it's never too late to go back to school! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I have a friend that I'm in RN school with right now that has a prior DUI. She did tell the program when she applied and they were made aware. She just got finished applying for her CNA license. They BON made her bring in all kinds of court documents and jump through a ton of hoops, BUT she was able to get her certification and they assured her that getting her RN license would be doable as well. My advise would be to contact your state's BON and ask them what you need to do. Good luck!

I wanted to take a little time and post a praise. I had an anterior discectomy and fusion done this past Tuesday. I had to stay overnight after the procedure. I must say that I had the best nursing staff. These people were FANTASTIC!!! Every tech and nurse that entered my room was pleasant and didn't' seem aggravated when I asked them for help. They were prompt when getting my medications and even stopped in my room to ask if I needed help with things even when I didn't ring for help. I know these are all things that we are supposed to do as nurses, but I can attest now from a patient's point of view how much these little things mean to someone who is in the hospital. So, to all the nurses and support staff that are out there doing a great job...MANY, MANY THANKS!!!

Just off the top of my head, I know University of Maryland, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Stevenson University in Maryland. If you google this, you'll find a lot of universities offer this option. I just know about those 3 in particular because I'm currently in an ADN program in MD and I'm from AL and may be moving back soon. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation. Good luck in your search for schools!

I'm in my 2nd semester of nursing school and we have to take the ATI competency test each semester or after each class that we take to make sure we are retaining the information.

Our clinical group brought in breakfast foods. A couple of us made bfast casseroles and then we brought in fruit trays and muffins and biscuits and then several juices. It seemed to go over well with the nurses and other staff that we worked with. We also made a poster board that said "Thanks For All Your Help" and then we all signed it.

So wanted to let you guys know what happened after I talked to the people who ran the clinic. Where I took my father is actually part of a franchise and the physician who owns all of it showed up along with their general manager. The MD was appalled. He claimed he had now idea that this was happening and said he was thankful I brought it to his attention. (Who knows if this is true or not?) He vowed to have inservice training with the other MD/PAs that work in his facilities as well as the other medical personnel that are on staff, making sure that they are all aware that it was inappropriate to mislead patients into thinking that they are licensed personnel. Who knows if he'll actually follow through, but at least they took the time to listen to me.

Just wanted to let you all know that I called the clinic that this incidence happened at. I spoke with someone who identified themselves as the "manager" and told him what happened and that I was deeply concerned about their facility misleading patients into believing that they were receiving care from a NURSE. I have a meeting with their operational manager and one of the owners ( a physician). I was actually surprised when they asked me to come in and talk with them. I don't want to start a giant issue. I just don't feel comfortable with what happened. I meet with them tomorrow. Will let you know what they say.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to check with our state BON on this. The fact that the urgent care center itself allows their employs to misrepresent themselves is a giant red flag to me. What and who else are they misrepresenting? Are their physicians really MDs, or did someone just stick a professional title on that name tag as well?

Hey guys! Last week I had to take my father to an urgent care clinic while he was visiting me from out of state. We were both in the exam room when a woman walks in and introduces herself. "Hi, I'm Jane (not her real name) and I'm the nurse". Even her name tag said "Nurse" under it. After she got done taking my dad's VS, I asked her where she went to nursing school since I am currently in nursing school at a college close by. She started stumbling over her words and eventually told me that she had not gone to school at all and wasn't a nurse. She's not even a certified nursing assistant. She simply had received on-the-job training to be doing what she was doing. As a nursing student who is working extremely hard to earn the title of "Nurse" I was furious! And if she's wearing a name tag that was issued from her from her place of employment, they should be ashamed for misrepresenting this woman as a nurse to their patients. Isn't this illegal, or at least unethical? Am I just over reacting here?

When my brother was about 3, he was playing in the bathtub with one of those little pipes that you pour bubbles in and then blow them back out (the ones that look like smoking pipes...). Well, being the curious little boy that he is, he decided to stick the thing on the end of his member. Well...things got a little "stiff" and the pipe got stuck. We all heard crazy screams coming from the bathroom (and yes...I know he was alone, but the bad parenting lecture can be saved for later...that's a whole other bag of issues!) and me and my Dad went running in to see him flailing about with the pipe stuck to himself. I still crack up every time I think about it. Luckily with a little cold water it came right off!

I think working as a tech while in school is a great idea! All of our professors have highly recommended that we get jobs as techs while in school, even if it's only a few hours a week. The experience that you get will help you a lot with being comfortable with patients. Another great perk is that you will already be employed somewhere when you graduate (if you remain there!) hopefully making it easier to secure a position as a nurse when you graduate. Good luck!

I think if I hear one more person that I'm in a clinical group with complain about having to clean poop, give a bed bath or any other "lousy" task that we are told to do, I'm gonna lose it! I constantly hear some of them saying...I'm going to be an RN, not a CNA....why do I have to do this stuff??? I know I'm not an RN yet, but I've worked as a CNA for a few years and I have seen my fair share of RNs willing to get in and get there hands dirty. I know our main job isn't necessarily assisting with AM care, but it definitely shouldn't be looked at as a task that is beneath any of us. Don't get me wrong, it's not like cleaning poop or giving a bed bath is on my top ten list of favorite things to do, but good grief...it's just poop! DEAL WITH IT!!!!!! Sorry for the vent...just had to get it out!!! (I feel better now...)