ncnrse2b

Many nursing homes will hire new grads. It may not be the highest rated, the shift you want, or even too far a drive, but it will be a first job. Call ahead ask if they are accepting apps. Ask what shifts or PRN if they have available. PRN will get you in the door and tranined. Also check around at the big hospital groups, one near where I am (in NC) hires new grads to do PRN on call for their outpatient clinics. It gets you in the door.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll stay on in LTC PRN to keep my feet in it. But I think this will be worth the experience. I was honest about my skills and experience so I'm hoping its a good fit. Plus it will be great when looking at bridge programs.

When I graduated I went to the DHHS website for NC and printed out the listing of all the long term care facilities for the counties I wanted to work in. Started on the phone and see who was taking applications. The ones that were I went to and did an application in person. That really is how I got my first job. I don't think you can work below your license and be a CNA in NC if you are already a nurse. Plus no one will consider it as experience for nursing. The hospitals usually won't take on a new grad unless its for a float position in their clinics.

Its a support position. The 5 RN's each have 2 patients at the most. It would be a job supporting them and their 10 patients. Not that they have 10 patients each. Even me with my no acute care experience would not work in that atmosphere. As an LPN in the unit I would not have my own patients to care for, but to float and take direction from the 5 RN's in the unit.

Have you tried applying in person for jobs? Especially at LTC, it seems like anything online never gets there. You can call ahead and ask if they are accepting applications or have any shifts open. More than a few times Ive gotten an interview on the spot, and sometimes even a job offer. Even places I have applied before and never heard from, I would put an in person application, asked about the online ones, the answer was "oh we never see those, they seem to get lost at corporate".

I'm an LPN with 2 years exp working LTC. My LTC job is pretty decent, 28 residents max, 1st shift, always same unit. The usual mix of dementia, demanding, and med seeking residents. Its not horrible, the AM med pass takes 2 hours at quickest, 3 at the worst. I put an app in at a local hospital that posted for LPN for ICU. Its a nursing support job in an ICU unit. 5 RN's, 10 patients. Delegated duties from the RN's. No CNA's in the unit. I got an offer, the pay is well below what I make in LTC. Im afraid of being treated like a CNA and only given the most basic patient care to do, or whatever the RN's don't want to do. I have no hospital experience, not even in school clinicals. Is it worth it for the experience?

It works! I had the license number before the quick results were ready. The PVT does work.

Hi. I had no previous experience in CNA tasks. so for me the skills part was well not very helpful. You get a demonstration, any questions answered, and some practice time. In a regular CNA class you will do skills over and over according to the state manual and then again in clinicals. The CNA skills exam is hard. Its very specific how things have to be done. I think it takes practice, but thats just me.

So much I could say here. But Ill keep it brief. 1. Its not my problem you didnt learn anything in A&P and now everytime we start a new portion of Med Surg you need basic anatomy explained to you. 2. Its not my problem you have spent most of the class time giggling, gossiping, or looking at yourself in the mirror and cant understand why you cant pass a hesi. 3. I am sick of hearing that you "know all this" and dont have to do NCLEX questions because they dont help you anyway. 4. Is it really necessary to talk and text through an entire lecture and then need everything explained to you again? Ok, thats enough, I feel better already.

Hi, I dont know where you located, but this is a link for all the approved training programs in NC. http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/hcpr/pdf/trainingprograms.pdf I went to Caduceus Nightingale in Forsyth.

Hi, I took the class. Its great if you are experienced in working in LTC with out a certification. It will show you the "state" way of doing stuff. But if you have no experience in transferring, bathing, feeding, changing bedding, etc. it will be of no use to you. Basically you spend an afternoon being shown skills.(the AM is spent on written exam review) I knew I wasnt prepared for the exam and signed up for a 6 week CNA class after it.

Hi, I took the "other" one day CNA class that travels around NC. That class gave you a textbook to use at home before your class for the written part of the CNA exam and then reviewed the materials in the first part of the class. The second half was a skills review. Each skill was demonstrated with critical points and you could practice each for I think 2 hours after. If you arent familiar with the skills its really hard to become proficient in them in the class. Thats the advantage of the longer classes that go for weeks. You practice over and over. I wasnt prepared for the CNA exam after this class, I enrolled in a 6 week class really to learn the skills. If your a working nurse assistant or an NA from another state, this is a great refresher for the exam. If your new to skills, its not enough in my opinion.

Hi, when you look at the skills review book there is a critical step highlighted for each skill. This is the part that you can not get wrong. If you do, its a fail. Thats what I would focus on. Also, I dont know if you took a review class, but practicing over and over really helps. I think there are some videos on Youtube for skills as well. Good luck with your test.

Think very very carefully before entering ANY ECPI. The education is great, the teachers caring and involved. However, as a current student I can tell you my LPN class is at each other's throats all the time. The instructors can not keep order in a classroom; constant chatting, combative students, over all lack of respect shown. Its a private school and nothing is done to discipline a classroom. Now these are adults we are talking about, married with children. Even the school's simple rules of being on time and attendance requirements are not followed. I have personally witnessed cheating on exams by other students, who were confronted with no reprimands. Its really a shame since the faculty trully cares about us and wants us to suceed. Its become a depressing and negative environment to be in everyday. The faculty is aware of these issues, and although we try and not complain constantly, it becomes harder and harder to remain focused on the goal. While this may only be a unique experience at only one ECPI, Greensboro, I would try and observe a class before signing up. Good luck!