me_again

This is probably a long shot, but were you able to find out whether the CA BON will accept our UTA BSN courses to apply for the PH certification? I haven't been able to reach the CA BON By phone or e-mail. They are always experiencing a large volume of calls.... Thank you so much for your time.

Dear akcw1981, When I finally decided on nursing school (as a second career), I had already been in a Radiation Tech program but chose out of it after two semesters. It just didn't seem like a good fit for me. Now, after having gone to nursing school, I wish I had stayed with my initial choice. There are plenty of ways to go in imaging and/or radiation as a treatment for disease, and I just didn't see it. Now, about the job as a surgical technician. Don't only consider talking to a surg tech, but DO IT. I think you will find, and it is my observation, that it can be quite difficult (and think about where you may fall on the food chain!). If you are not committed to be a nurse, and I sense you are not, my advice would be not to do it. It's hard getting into nursing school and it's hard to get out. And, it's not the warm, fuzzy place that you might like it to be when you get to your job! If you were my daughter, I would advise you to take General Ed courses for at least a year, then revisit where your heart and head is at that time. And take a look at the Rad Tech programs.... Good luck, and find your own way!

Tenderfootjoe, First, if you are a tenderfoot, you probably aren't familiar with the ins-and-outs of posting on allnurses.com. I have been a member for several years, and only know a few things. Don't take that first response as anything except the poster is not walking in your new shoes and may not realize that the post seemed harsh. I was hired as an outpatient oncology clinic nurse as a new grad and have mainly had other opportunities as the result of networking. Establish relationships with the hiring supervisors, if only via e-mail. Talk to everyone you see wearing uniforms, in the office, the grocery store, etc. Join your local Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteer at your local hospital. If you really want out of clinic nursing, there are ways to do it. On the other hand, be careful what you wish for. Your feet may not be so tender after several years of 12-hr shifts on the hospital floor!

ivyleaf, Before you go out and buy a book, find out if your clinic has one. When I started at my clinic, mostly tele-triage, I found out they have several copies of the book that I bought for more than $50! No one seems to consult the books, as the questions are fairly standard nursing 101, and the triage staff depends on one another for answers. The most challenging part of the job will be: 1) Volume. Lots of calls from patients on all kinds of issues, many of which are administrative in nature. 2) Which MDs will likely be efficient in getting back to you with answers to questions that you will not be able to answer. Know the players. 3) Ensure your work chair is adjustable and has good back support, otherwise you will have at least one sore shoulder during your shift, and the pain will never go away unless you fix your chair! Do not worry. If they hired you, they see something in you they want. Likely kindness and willingness to learn. It will be frustrating at first, but stay in the saddle and look for every learning opportunity. (:

I always change the needle between drawing the med and injecting. I have given about 5000 injections in my career!

Thank you for your post regarding the preceptor/student issue. I am orientating at a new facility and found out that my preceptor made what I thought was an unfair assertion to my new manager. It was a terrible blow to me, because I am quite sensitive to what people say. Your post reminded me that it will pass and my focus should be on being the best nurse that I know I can be. You said it clearly and succinctly!

Iluvivt, would you do the same for me? I am not wanting to miss a thing! Thanks.

The University that I will be attending determines the grade level according to to the hours a person has accumulated. Doesn't matter if they are lower- or upper division. For example, I have 115 hours, all in the 1000-2000 level courses. (Yep, I managed to accrue three Associates degrees!) I am considered a Senior at my University. But, and this is probably the obvious, my degree plan still requires that I take many, many upper division courses. So I will be a Senior for a loooooong time!

WisRN10, if you ask these preceptors what you could do better, you will get 10 different answers based on their own personal truths, to include (with emphasis) their own agendas. Don't put yourself through it. In my opinion, you should move on and find a better place to work. Ten preceptors? I suppose they told you that it would give you many ideas on how to do something and then you could "find your own way to do it." No consistency equals no training. I'm sure you can translate it: not enough qualified preceptors to do the job, so anyone and everyone has you tag around after them. Don't let your confidence be shaken so hard that it shakes you apart. My impression is that you will be a great find for an establishment that appreciates what you have to offer.

Donovan, take the clinic job! BUT... ...don't discount the possibility that you could ask the oncology manager if he or she would orient you to floor nursing while you are working your clinic job. Maybe you could do it on weekends. Then offer to hire on as PRN.... It might take a while to feel comfortable on the floor, but guess what? You would have that experience and probably never have to worry again about finding a job if the clinic job turned out not to work--for whatever reason, or you were dying to add another dimension to your work life. As I've said before, I think you are a multi-tasker! Merry Christmas, happy holidays to you and your family, and congratulations on your job offers.

I, too, am a second-career new-grad nurse who quit during an orientation period. My circumstances were quite similar to yours. I had no fewer than 8 preceptors, and I was in a high volume, high stress area. My former working life included lots of responsibility, multi-tasking and so on and so forth. But none of that prepared me for entering nursing in the field I had fallen into. When I quit, it was well known that I gave 100% toward making it work. My managers and co-workers respected me for what I DID bring, not what I didn't. And maybe that made "it" easier for me to swallow, the "it" being failing. But the shame, which no one could have laid on me any heavier than I laid on myself, was sickening. I felt overwhelmed and inadequate. I wholly suspect I am preaching to the choir here, because I recognize myself in you. You are great at what you bring, you don't let anyone down, and are probably extremely good with patients. You are a people person.... But, here's the rub: You have always spoken (and this is a figure of speech so as not to offend anyone), the English language, not the new language of medicine and codes and abbreviations. (And that's part of the problem, not everyone is on the same page with that business of unacceptable abbreviations, are they? So it's like learning more than one new language: the one you learned in nursing school and that which the nurses have been using forever) Then, of course there are clinical skills and pumps and protocols and etc., etc., etc. Bless the preceptors, for they must train, keep you from doing harm, undo what you've done, then do it themselves! From them, did you hear, "everyone does it their own way, but this is how I do it?" Multiply that times however many preceptors you had! Those nurses think they are helpful when they say it, but it's very hard to establish a working routine when everyone does it differently.... And there are patients and their families, some of whom are starving for you to care, to sit with them and explain what's happening. But there is "time management" demanding you look the other way, and pulling on your sleeve. Now I see how much of time management is, and I dare not say "shortcuts," but knowing the important from the not-so-much. Anyway, I am employed again, and in the same field. But it's a quieter, gentler setting. I absolutely disclosed where I had been and also that I "chose out" of the previous situation. My leaving my first job was just this simple: The learning curve was above what I could do as a brand new nurse, and that's the explanation I gave. Wow, sounds like the same truth you have, right? I wouldn't want to work for anyone that didn't accept the truth. In closing, I wish you well. I hope my message helps you know you are not alone, but just a representative of our "club" of new nurses! You bring something special to nursing, Donovan. You are an excellent communicator and respectful. I'm thinking that is just the tip of who you are. You will touch lives in a yet-to-be-determined circumstance. There is another place for you, and they will be lucky to have you, I'm sure of it.