mcRN2b

Unprofessionalism sucks!!!!!

Thanks for your response.

What is the typical nurse-to-patient ration in a TCU? I have a job interview in a TCU coming soon.

Here are some points I forgot to mention to complete this post: I wanted to add that I was on my own after a week and a half of training. Toward my last days there, I ended up crying when I was sent to a unit where I had about 30 patients as I received no training to handle the patient load. My usual unit has half the no. of patients. The nurse who trained me was someone who was promoted to a position off the floors after working as a floor nurse for 3.5 yrs. I was darting everywhere for help. If he/she was supposed to be a preceptor, they sure didn't feel like one. Not to mention that when it was time for me to give report, the oncoming nurse continued training me because my day shift training was insufficient. I have watched how other new nurses were treated on the unit and it is such an unacceptable environment for a new nurse who really wants to learn and be empowered by older nurses. Other nurses on the floor encouraged me to hurry up and get out of there!!!!! P.S. I don't think there was a guarantee that I was going to get the hospital position. They were probably just calling for screening.

I spent three months working in a LTCF. I did not apply for the position. They found my resume on the web and I accepted an interview and took the job since some experience is better than none. I really wanted to work in a hospital. I figured I could stick it through for six months at least but, the training was awful, I didn't realize I was supposed to have a preceptor until I was into my third month. In a previous post, I explained that I received a hospital offer three days into my training. I do indeed regret that I turned it down. I was lazy and figured that I might like the LTCF. I ended up voluntarily resigning without notice and did an exit interview with HR to explain why I was leaving. Should I put this experience on my resume or leave it out. Please help. It is tough getting jobs as a new nurse cause everybody wants experience. Sincerely, mcRN2b

Thanks so much for your comment. It should not have taken me so long to reply to you. However, I have been working at a SNF for 1 month now. I am called an RN Supervisor but, I only supervise aides. I am basically a floor nurse. I pass meds, do wound treatments and charting. There is a lot to learn. I was contacted by a hospital for a position on a step-down unit and I turned it down because I was on my 3rd day of training and figured I could give myself 6 months to 1 year experience first. I like that I am working daylight only and 40hrs per week. I just feel like I'm not learning too much. I haven't done a head to toe assessment since I've been there. I feel like I spend more time giving 10-15 patients their medications. I am starting to regret my decision to stay where I am. What do you think?

Good day everyone! I am proud to say that I passed my NCLEX on the first attempt in September. I have been applying to hospitals and I know it takes time but, I have a future interview in a nursing home and I had an earlier interview in a LTC facility. I had very high hopes for myself when I graduated from school like my teachers did. I always wanted to start at least 2 to 3 yrs on a Med-Surg floor (as my teachers advised) but that hasn't been easy to get. Everyone loves a nurse with EXPERIENCE! I realized that any type of nursing is a learning experience that I should not frown upon. If I accept employment in a nursing home or any facility where an RN does lots of supervisory work with hardly any IV/injection med administration, is there still a chance that I could later on get employment in a hospital setting?

I was frowning on the tuition foregiveness program at first. Now I am wondering if I will be able to get entry-level experience as a nurse without it. I find that this city can be a bit discriminating at times and I would like to know if anybody has had an easy time getting employment right out of school without tuition foregiveness. Many jobs want the so-called "2 yrs. experience required".

If I could have done everything over again I would NEVER have chosen to come to Shadyside. I don't like it at all. I am not impressed with anything else but the location. They have been implementing PBL so, why should I pay so much to learn to be a nurse if I have to teach myself and have other students teaching me? I wish I accepted the acceptance letter for CCAC North campus instead or heard about Citizen's school of nursing. I think Shadyside is a joke and I don't feel that they deserve the NLN award at all. I even find it hard just to concentrate on my school work at times. I am only in my second semester. Don't listen to all the hype. Go where you want to go, see the place for yourself and take your time with your decision (if you can).

Well, my diploma school is incorporating PBL plus peer evaluations that will affect the grade! I am really wishing I went to another school.

Thanks for the pointers everyone! That makes me feel better. Three more exams to go! On to another subject. Would working at a MedExpress be a great way to start off as a nurse? Is there an average GPA that you need in order to have an easier time getting a job? And does anybody know abour Problem-based learning? My nursing school is switching teaching styles and I am not so happy about it.

Hello there, I am happy to read your message. However, I have a different issue. I got my non-nursing courses out of the way. I got into Phi Theta Kappa and had good grades. I applied to the community college I had been attending and also to a diploma school. I chose the diploma school because of the higher NCLEX pass rates. Since I have started, my GPA was lower. First semester, I had a 2.5 GPA and I was dissapointed because I didn't make very good gueses and thought too hard through the questions. Also, I did not think of checking NCLEX books so soon. They did not advise us to do so that early. Now, I am working on Fundamentals of Nursing to get my grade up in the course yet, I am doing exceptionally well in Pharmacology. I am trying to stay optimistic and believe in myself because I feel discouraged that I did not get on the honor roll. I hear voices calling me stupid and saying things like I am not so smart. Can you or anybody out there help to encourage me? I just want to be an excellent nurse. I don't want to feel like I need to compete with other people for grades. People boast and brag and it gets on my nerves. HELP!!!!!!!

Thanks for your copmments everyone, my discussion is tomorrow after my exam in Legal Aspects of Nursing-hope it goes well.

Since you are in a Magnet hospital can you tell me if there are also any cons to it? I have to give a presentation in a round table discussion on Magnet status, pros and cons, etc. in order to teach others. Could you please give me more insight? Sincerely, mcRN2b

Well, I did get accepted into Shadyside and attended the information session on Wed. this week. I am not sure if it is wise to leave blank questions if you run out of time. I guessed what I could and left only 2 questions blank when I retook the math section and passed with an 80. You might want to clarify that with the one who will sit the exams. I like the Arco book better than the Barrons. The math section in the Barrons example questions are much harder than what's on the PSB (my opinion). The Arco book breaks things down really well. Watch out for the science. I passed it with flying colors but, for someone not coming fresh from A&P1, Micro and Bio, it might be a pain. So, revise well for that. The reading comprehension in my opinion was much easier than the NET that CCAC used to use as a pre-entrance exam before they started using the PAX-RN. The questions were very straight forward. I got in the high 80s on that and it was bacause I could have read much faster (I thought I failed that part). Peterson's Arco book is the best.