Di0202

Okay so I had a really rough day today. It's been almost three months since I started my new job and today I actually cried from frustration halfway through my shift. It started with taking patients from a nurse who left me with a lot of undone orders and gave me terrible reports. One of my patients was not doing well and since I have had him several days in a row it was pretty emotional. Another patient was asking for bottled water which seemed like such a ridiculous request given the status of my other patients. I had six patients--two of whom were total care and the were on so many meds I didn't think I was ever going to get them done. All of the rooms were a mess and none of them had any gloves. It was noon before I finished my assessments and gave my 9:00 meds and I still hadn't charted anything. The docs were coming in with all kinds of new orders and I really felt like quitting at that moment. At the end of the day one of the more experienced nurses took me out for a beer and a burger and we spent two hours venting. I am now filled with a new resolve--I won't be a quitter I just need to adjust my perspective and do the best that I can do. As my charge nurse told me today--Me working at what I think is a mediocre pace is better than most of the other nurses do at their best. One of my patients sent me flowers today and another gave me a big hug when I left for the day. I guess that makes it all worth it! Sorry for ranting--just needed to get it all off my chest.

I am in the same boat. I have bachelors in business and an associates in nursing at the present time. It will depend on what type of masters you are going to get. I could easily get a masters in nursing administration without a BSN. I have looked around and found a couple of programs that offer a masters in nursing to RNs with non nursing bachelor degrees. I haven't started doing anything yet because I just graduated in May and I'm not quite ready to go back to school. When I do, I am going to look into on-line courses. Good Luck!

Thanks for the encouragement! I have had a few days off to regroup and am ready to hit the floor again this week. I have come up with a few strategies to help me keep up with my paperwork. My patient care always comes first, so sometimes the paperwork falls behind. I'm nowhere near ready to give up. I truly love interacting and caring for my patients so I have to believe that eventually the organizational skills will come. Thanks again!! :)

I started on a telemetry unit a few weeks ago. It's my first job as an RN and I am really stressed. I have worked up to three patients by myself and four with help, but when orientation is over I will have to be able to handle six. I only have a couple more weeks on orientation and I am getting nervous. I go home every day remembering things I forgot to write down and I feel like I am never going to be able to handle the load. The staff is great, but they all have their own patients and I hate to be the "weak" link." I love working with the patients and their families and have had a lot of positive comments from them. It's the paperwork that is killing me!!!! I am working the day shift and have considered switching to nights. Maybe there would be less physician orders coming in and the pace wouldn't be quite so hectic??? Any works of encouragement, advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :stone

You can do the test as many times as you want. When it asks for that 10 digit number just punch in a different one every time. I did this for mine, and it worked. The test is the same every time which I didn't like, but the book had some great test taking skills which I used during my NCLEX. I would suggest the Saunders CD. It has a lot of questions and the tests are different every time. Good Luck!

I start my first nursing job tomorrow. I will be working on a telemetry floor at the hospital. I have been told that I will have 6 weeks of orientation and more if I still need it. I am soooo nervous. Working as a real RN and not just a student is going to be a quite a change. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Definitely signs of hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia, signs of dehydration, and don't forget about head lice--ugh!

I don't have an e-mail address on anything they have sent me. You might try sending a fax. The fax number for endorsement is (512) 305-6870. They might email you back if you send your address. It's worth a try. Good Luck

I couldn't agree more. I have seen a definite trend in the "blame someone/anyone else for my problem". When I was in school, students were constantly blaming instructors for their failures. It couldn't have possibly been that they weren't studying or applying themselves. I have three kids and if I teach them nothing else, I would like them to learn to take responsibility for themselves!

This was great! I am a new graduate and will start working this month. I printed a copy for my husband so he will know what to look forward too. Thanks for the laugh :rotfl:

Believe it or not, my experience with the Texas BNE was a good one. I was a new grad with a brand new Alabama license and it couldn't have gone smoother. I filled out the form for the fingerprint cards on-line and received them within a week. I took them to the local police station and had my fingerprints done. I was able to download and print all of the required forms for licensing from the computer, and when I had them all filled out I sent them in. I received my temporary license in two weeks and my permanent one a week after that. Your process may take longer because you are foreign born, but hopefully it won't take too long. They said it could take 2-4 months for the fingerprint processing to go through, but you should get your temporary while that is taking place. Good luck!!

Thanks to all for your replies. My interview is tomorrow and I can't wait. I went on an interview at another hospital today and it went well--I am hoping it goes as well tomorrow. Wish me luck! Diana

Hi! I am a new RN and have an interview with a telemetry unit on Friday. I loved the cardiac unit when I was in school, so I am very excited about this interview. My question is about the focus of the interview. Do you think they will be asking specific cardiac questions? Should I brush up on my EKG readings before I go? This is my first nursing interview and it has been years since I interviewed at all so I am pretty nervous. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

it depends on what state you are moving to. if the state has the same requirements for application than it is no problem. i moved from alabama to texas, but chose to sit in alabama and then transfer when i moved to texas. from what i had heard, texas bon was a pain and some of their requirements were different. two girls i graduated with moved to kentucky and virginia and had no problem sitting for boards there.

Thanks Michael. That was kind of the plan that I had in mind. I start my job search next week. From the looks of it, I should be able to get hired in M/S at any one of the hospitals around here. I can't wait to get started!

Thanks for the advice. I really do like critical care and am going to try to get into that area. I may work med/surg for awhile first to get proficient in my organizational and procedural skills. Michael, what kind of pay can be expected for agency nursing in San Antonio? Also, do the nurses at your agency manage to work full time hours if they want to? Thanks again, Diana

I am a new grad and am about to start my search for work in San Antonio. I am planning to work for a year or so and then try agency nursing. What area should I be concentrating on now? I was thinking about critical care if I could get hired in that area. Thanks for the help!

I used the Saunders review when I studied. I thought it and the Kaplan review were the best ones. I was passing the tests in the 70s and 80s. I got 75 questions on my NCLEX and passed. I think that reading the rationales for the answers is the way to go. You won't have any NCLEX questions that are exactly like your study questions, but you will learn alot from the rationales. The Kaplan review will teach you test taking tips which I thought were as helpful as the practice questions. GOOD LUCK!

i actually passed--call me rn!!!! it has been the longest two weeks of my life and i was actually shaking when i opened my envelope. i am so glad that it is over with--time to move on with my nursing career. thanks for all the support and well wishes!! good luck to all those waiting and taking their tests. diana :balloons:

GOOD LUCK! I admire your perserverance. Hang in there--I"ll be sending good vibes your way!

Sorry Rainbow, but I think you are way off here. This is just a fun debate on the NCLEX exam and Bender didn't really write anything offensive (IMHO) :rotfl:

I'm on your side with this one Bender. This is just a fun debate that I have enjoyed reading. I did not find your post inflammatory at all. Keep posting!!

i am in the same boat. i took mine on the 9th and also got 75 questions. we have to wait two weeks and it is killing me! the fact that you thought it was hard is a good thing. just think if the test never moves on to the hard questions, than you must be getting the easy ones wrong. that's what i'm telling myself anyway. it is pretty unusual for someone to fail at 75 questions and like you i am praying that i'm not one of them. good luck--try to relax

I took mine on the 9th and haven't heard yet. A friend of mine said it took about two weeks to get the results in the mail. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for the Laugh :rotfl: