mixtapes

Great point to bring up! I have been thinking the same question. I feel like my volunteer experience is just as lengthy as my other experience. We want to get some recognition for it, right? Any other advice from experienced nurses would be helpful.

I got a call back and interview next Thursday. I have been searching since December 2010 and had few interviews. I have applied to endless residencies all over CA. I'm not sure what stood out on my resume this time. I feel like it's pretty good, but not a lot of nursing experience since I'm a new grad and 2nd career. Sometimes, I think it's pure luck! But I hope I get lucky this time because I'm losing motivation. : ( I don't have all the certifications like the others because I can't afford them. But here's what I do have.: BSN and 2nd Bachelors in behavioral psych, actively volunteer in major hospital (level 2 trauma) and a lot of community events, worked for Sutter as a flu nurse, BLS, First Aid, IV Therapy and Blood w/d, 780 clinical hours (180 precep in pediactrics), nurse externship in urgent care, 15 years experience working with DD population. Trying to stay positive! : )

I think it's okay for you to ask advice on this forum despite the other comment. It's a place to ask questions and feel comfortable. Of course, use your best judgement. Or ask another nurse you feel comfortable with. Yes, ultimately ask your supervisor. Protect yourself and license. I am in your situation too. I was told NOT to aspirate. We are using the 25 g 3ml 1 inch syringes. As you know, fill only only to 0.5ml. I try and carry some other sizes too for larger people (1.5 inch). I should have some smaller ones too! I hit the bone last week. The patient did not even flinch. It was the weirdest feeling. Almost, like dragging your finger nails down a chalkboard. Ugh....Yes, make sure to pull back on the needle and pinch. The flu clinics are good practice. I think a new grad is perfectly suited for this position. They have to give us a chance at doing something w/o 1 year of experience!

Jeremy and others, How did your ER tech interview go? Any tips? I have an interview coming up and would like to prepare if possible. I am a nursing student with no prior medical experience. I got selected from a group of others to come back for a second interview. I was told I would be interviewed by a group panel. What should I expect?

nikkilaughs, when did you graduate? a girl in my program who graduated last fall got a job in a hiv/aids clinic in san francisco. she said she totally lucked out. so far she is very happy there. there are jobs where i am at in new mexico right now. although, i do not want to live here anymore. i have sacrificed enough of my time just to go to nursing school. i am still determined to try and get a job in san fran when i graduate.

cicatrixx15, it would be helpful is you actually gave the link to the information about alaska.

peaceofmind8, Wow, you got into the USF MSN program! I would take that offer over all of them. If that is your long term goal then go for it. Hopefully, the economy will be better by then too. I am not sure what your clinical experience would be like with CCSF but look into it. I can only imagine that USF would be amazing.

I was going to apply to the SMU ABSN program. I was not sure if I would even get accepted b/c I know the competition is fierce. I didn't have the luxury of time to be on a waiting list. I was living in San Francisco but moved to New Mexico b/c I got accepted into an accelerated nursing program. It's a fraction of the cost of SMU. I will still have a lot of debt but not as much. I'm counting down the minutes until I return to SF! I only have one more semester left of school. I really want to come back to SF but don't know if I can find a job. I'm going to try and get a job as a nurse tech in New Mexico. After graduation, move back to SF and maybe work as a tech through a staffing agency to get my foot in the door while scraping to get by and maintain my skills. I can't believe it's this tough!!!! Does anyone know if Children's Hospital in Oakland is keen on hiring new grads? Do they have an internship for new grads. I can't seem to find much on their site.

Sorry you feel like you are being tormented. I think it is extremely rude for students to text, IM, and use Facebook during lectures. I see this is in my program. I'm like, really...you need to IM her sitting two tables away and post comments on FB of you in scrubs. Maybe, you should mention something to your teacher about that. It is very distracting. It could remain confidential. I think I only like 3 people in my program now. There's a lot of backstabbing, cliques, gossip, etc. It's annoying!!!!!!!!!!! What happened to the comradery???? We will survive nursing school!!!!!!!!!

Get the Hesi Comp Review for NCLEX-RN. It comes with software that includes practice exams. Pharmacology in particular. Or ask other fellow nursing students if you can borrow their CD. I'm sure someone has it. I felt like it was pretty indicative of the actual Hesi Pharm test. It's also a good idea to miss the practice questions and go back to review the rationales. Also, you could look at your fake scores. It will give you a list of questions/subtopics you got wrong. You could use it as a study guide as well. Here's a link on Amazon for the book. http://www.amazon.com/Testing-Remediation-Comprehensive-NCLEX-RN%C3%82%C2%AE-Examination/dp/1416047751/ref=pd_sim_b_1

I was chosen as an alternate for my accelerated nursing program. I was freaked out too. Some of the people that were accepted I question how they even made it. Four people dropped out in the first month. I ended up getting accepted. I did have to sacrifice and move to a small crappy town, but hey I got in! Someone will decline. You have a strong chance.

Yes, I have wanted to go to NYC or SF. I came from SF but in school elsewhere. I know it's hard in both places! It really sucks knowing there's a chance I don't get to go back home to where I love. What a bad time to be in nursing school!!!!! I am actually trying to graduate a semester later b/c I'm afraid of not getting a job out of school. I would graduate in August but pushing it to December. I'm crossing my fingers that things might be better. I have applied to several summer externships. I am thinking it would make me more marketable then fresh out of school w/ not enough skills. If not, I plan on getting a job as a tech for the summer. Not sure what else to do. Who knew it would turn out this way!

Yes, your situation is tough. I don't look down on you for having to quit. You are doing what you have to do to survive. On a side note. Is it still really tough in the Bay Area for new grad nurses. Pretty non-existent??? I am in nursing school now w/ one more semester left. I want to move back to the Bay area (San Francisco), but very worried I will not be able to find anything. Any information? Advice????

Does anyone know if they are offering 2010 summer nursing externships at Mt. Sinai or NY_Presbyterian Hospitals? I have seen them posted on 2010 postings, but there flyers reflect 2009. Thanks!

Thanks, for your post. It brought tears to my eyes too. I am currently in nursing school. I keep going back and forth what I want to do. I guess it all depends on the economy and job availability. I have worked as a board certified behavior analyst and therapist for the past 7 years w/ children w/ autism. I really want to find a way to integrate my behavioral experience/developmental disabilities with nursing. I understand the difficulty you go through. I have worked with many parents over the years. I have worked in psych hospitals and seen patients being over medicated. I don't want to be that "nurse" to just push pills down throats. I understand that meds are part of the treatment, but I want to help support parents and work on the problem behaviors. I'm not sure my position exist, but I want to create it. Thanks, for the inspiration.