SammyRN2012

Hi RN's I need some advice. So I am a new RN who just graduated and passed the boards. I worked full time in nursing school and excelled academically and in the clinical setting without any issues (I have a 3.6 GPA). I will be continuing on for my RN-BSN and will be done by next year. As you all know, the job market is very tough for new RN's. I was just offered a per diem position in a rehab facility close to my home which is where I really wanted to work. After thinking long and hard, I've decided to currently keep my full time position, while taking on this new per diem position on the weekend (as needed). I don't have the luxury of leaving my full time job because I have a mortgage and bills to pay. I am also taking 2 online nursing classes this fall. The rehab facility is wonderful, and supports new RN grads with a great training program, and I will have a mentor/ preceptor throughout my first year. Training will be full time for 1 week ( I will use my vacation time at my present full time job), and then they will work with me to setup a schedule to complete the training there on. I understand that new RN's ideally should work full time the first year to get the hang of things, but I think this will work for me. I am a fast learner, and did extremely well in my clinicals. My current job is very relaxed, and non stressful so it's not an issue which is why it makes this so much more feasible. Some people think it's great I'm doing this, other people think I'm nuts. The way I see it is that people thought I was crazy doing the nursing school/working full time thing but I proved them wrong. My goal is to at least get some experience while I'm finishing my BSN. Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks!

Hi RN's I need some advice. So I am a new RN who just graduated and passed the boards. I worked full time in nursing school and excelled academically and in the clinical setting without any issues (I have a 3.6 GPA). I will be continuing on for my RN-BSN and will be done by next year. As you all know, the job market is very tough for new RN's. I was just offered a per diem position in a rehab facility close to my home which is where I really wanted to work. After thinking long and hard, I've decided to currently keep my full time position, while taking on this new per diem position on the weekend (as needed). I don't have the luxury of leaving my full time job because I have a mortgage and bills to pay. I am also taking 2 online nursing classes this fall. The rehab facility is wonderful, and supports new RN grads with a great training program, and I will have a mentor/ preceptor throughout my first year. Training will be full time for 1 week ( I will use my vacation time at my present full time job), and then they will work with me to setup a schedule to complete the training there on. I understand that new RN's ideally should work full time the first year to get the hang of things, but I think this will work for me. I am a fast learner, and did extremely well in my clinicals. My current job is very relaxed, and non stressful so it's not an issue which is why it makes this so much more feasible. Some people think it's great I'm doing this, other people think I'm nuts. The way I see it is that people thought I was crazy doing the nursing school/working full time thing but I proved them wrong. My goal is to at least get some experience while I'm finishing my BSN. Any thoughts? Advice? Thanks!:

I'm not looking down on medical assistants at all, but i dont feel it to be appropriate to solely rely on them for all my training and to be checked off on all my skills.... yes, there's alot I can learn from them but there are major differences in our scopes of practice.

2 docs & 2 NP's. Busy family medicine clinic. Medical assistants work up pts, vitals, EKG's and blood draws, order supplies.

So my first interview was ultimately a nightmare. It was for an Office RN position at a busy family practice associated with a big hospital. Met first with HR, and it went well. I then was asked to meet with the office manager as it seemed they were interested. I entered the facility and i got such a bad vibe. Met with the manager only to find out there would be only ONE RN for this busy practice. I would be expected to give vaccines, answer triage calls from front desk at any given time, see pts for teaching, assist the providers with procedures and jump to help the Medical assistants if the run behind. Mind you there are 2 medical assistants and only one RN. How the heck would I be expected to all this alone? Oh, and the best part was when i asked about the orientation she said it would be with her and the Medical assistants would check me off on my nursing skillls...what??!! Um no thank you! Being checked off by non clinical staff is not appropriate. I would also be reporting to this non clinical manager with absolutely no nursing support. She asked me if I knew anything about lab values. I was like, well of course i do, I am an RN and studied lab values over the course of nursing school. Such a stupid question. She then proceeded by saying "oh good, because I don't". Um okay... I was expecting to shadow a nurse at another outpatient site for a few weeks, as most clinics do, but that wasn't the case with this place. Is it just me, or is this clearly absurd?! I was so turned off by the end of the second interview that i just wanted to exist ASAP. She asked me when i would be able to start so I guess she was interested. I would have to be crazy to accept this position if I were to receive an offer. I know that i am a new grad and that i cannot be too picky, but i don't want to work for organization that doesn't support new grads. Sorry but i am not going to get burnt out in my first year out of school. I currently have a non clinical full time job so it's not like I'm unemployed. I'm continuing on for BSN and will be done by next year. Any thoughts about my experience? Advice? Is this common? Sorry for rambling, but i was just so upset...

So my first interview was ultimately a nightmare. It was for an Office RN position at a busy family practice associated with a big hospital. Met first with HR, and it went well. I then was asked to meet with the office manager as it seemed they were interested. I entered the facility and i got such a bad vibe. Met with the manager only to find out there would be only ONE RN for this busy practice. I would be expected to give vaccines, answer triage calls from front desk at any given time, see pts for teaching, assist the providers with procedures and jump to help the Medical assistants if the run behind. Mind you there are 2 medical assistants and only one RN. How the heck would I be expected to all this alone? Oh, and the best part was when i asked about the orientation she said it would be with her and the Medical assistants would check me off on my nursing skillls...what??!! Um no thank you! I would be also be reporting to this non clinical manager with absolutely no nursing support. SHe asked me if I knew anything about lab values. I was like, well of course i do, I am an RN and studied lab values over the course of nursing school. Such a stupid question. She then proceeded by saying "oh good, because I don't". Um okay... I was expecting to shadow a nurse at another outpatient site for a few weeks, as most clinics do, but that wasn't the case with this place. Is it just me, or is this clearly absurd?! I was so turned off by the end of the second interview that i just wanted to exist ASAP. She asked me when i would be able to start so I guess she was interested. I would have to be crazy to accept this position if I were to receive an offer. I know that i am a new grad and that i cannot be too picky, but i don't want to work for organization that doesn't support new grads. Sorry but i am not going to get burnt out in my first year. I currently have a non clinical full time job so it's not like I'm unemployed. Im continuing on for BSN and will be done by next year. Any thoughts about my experience? Advice? Is this common? Sorry for rambling, but i was just so upset.

Wow, either your Einstein or your school has some poor performance and low NCLEX pass rate! I've never heard nursing school is easy.....

So I just received my grade for my first nursing exam....85, which was the mean for the class. I'm a little dissapointed as I got A's in all of my pre-reqs prior to taking nursing 101. Hopefully, as I get used to the format of the testing, my scores will get better, but it's still dissapointing. As I think back to the test questions, I know what I answered wrong and I get so upset at myself......

Will try that guys! thanks!

For my nursing 101 class, we are required to do the 2 step method for measuring bp. I had the most difficult time finding a brachial pulse and a even a radial pulse on my lab partner (who is obese). Even my instructor had a difficult time! I work in healthcare, but direct patient care is all new to me (I have never measured bp or pulses). As time went on, I became even more nervous the longer it took me to find her pulse (my instuctor sitting there observing me didn't help much either!). By the time I finally found her brachial pulse (which was weak, and I was afraid to lose it again), I was incredibly nervous, fumbling, and lost most of my confidence. When I measured her BP, I was right on (thankfully!). Any tips on finding pulses on obese patients and building up confidence? I definitely lost some and I was dreaming about bp's and pulses all night.

I have clinicals on Sat starting this fall for Nursing 101; so does this mean I need to go to my clinical site every week the Friday before? I am doing the evening program.

Congrats on your upcoming graduation! How was the program in general; professors, classes, clinicals, etc? I'm starting Nursing 101 this fall and wanted to get a head start on material and was wondering what I should focus on? I've heard about the dreaded math test that is given; is it as difficult as everyone says it is? What can I do to prepare?

I'll be doing the evening ADN program as well! I'll be doing clinical on Sat, and theory/lab Mon and Wed.

I'm not sure where you got your stats from, but Rivier certainly doesn't have the lowest passing rate. They actually are doing great. Check out the link below: http://www.nh.gov/nursing/education/documents/January2010RollingQuarterRNPassRates.pdf

Hi, I too was accepted into the Associate evening program and will be starting clinicals this fall! Have you already registered for class yet? I decided to do my clinical on Saturday. :)