AndreaM

So glad to know that I am not alone. :)

Hello all, Well, I had until Saturday...that is when my 90 day probationary period would've been up....but today, I had a meeting with my Managers and I was asked to resign or be terminated....and that I wasn't good fit. Of course, being a new grad, I was fumbling along the past few months....... I was working in rehabilitation, which is a totally different way of nursing from what I was taught in school...I chose the job because I needed to be employed. I worked very hard..I got there early to be prepared and I stayed late. At times the work load would seem to be overwhelming (no different from any other unit lol). This past weekend was extremely busy and I had an older nurse (she works only 4 days a month) snap at me and I chose to snap back... in front of a patient..not a good thing to do while still in my first 90 days and also to a nurse that has been there for 20 years. So I came into work today thinking that I was going to have a meeting about what happened.....and it turned out to be a meeting to let me go. I was not expecting it. I thought that it was to hear my side and to possibly get a warning. But since my 90 mark was less than 5 days away, it was better to let me go. The managers were even upset about . They felt as if I would be better in a differnt unit, and that maybe rehab isn't my calling. I agree. I just wish that I couldv'e made the decision myself. I am eligible for rehire within the hospital.....right now this is just starting to sink in.. I feel inadequate.... I feel for every new grad that has been put in a similiar situation. I have never been fired or "let go" or made to resign before...... .... at least i have 86 days of nursing experience.

Thanks, but VEC is tricky from the relocating standpoint: "Virginia law specifies that any individual who voluntarily leaves his/her employment to accompany or join a spouse in a new locality be disqualified for benefits. (from VEC website)" so I am hoping that my being a licensed RN will prove ineligibility for my old job...

I filed for unemployment, but does anyone know if I will get it? I worked as a student nurse/cna/nursing care partner during school and resigned upon graduation. I was also getting ready to move to NC to live with my husband. It's been almost 2 months, and still no work. I have talked to some of the nursing recruiters in the area and they said for every posistion they have open they get 50 or more applicants. Both new grads and experienced nurses are having a tough time......... RN's cannot work as care partners for legal purposes.....so does that make me eligible or ineligible? I have read VA law (which is where i went to school and worked) but it doesn't really say anything. Has anyone been in this posistion? Thanks,

Thanks! I will! Now to find a job lol. Psinglet- did you take it yet? I am excited for you! You can do it!

Quick update- I passed! I had to wait the whole 48 hours to find out, but it was worth it! good luck!

Hi- I just took my NCLEX this morning! It shut off at 75 questions and it took me a little over an hour to complete. I used Saunders book and CD. I studied consistently for 5 days before the exam (i know, i know, pretty bad). I did about 800 questions from the cd and read all of my rationales. I stayed in a hotel the night before the test so that I wouldn't have to make the hour and a half drive in the morning, but I STILL only got 3 hours of sleep because I was so wound up and my brain wouldn't shut off! SO back to the NCLEX... Once i sat down and began, I wrote everything (ABG's, Fluid and electrolyte balances ect) on my dry erase board to use for future reference. Let me just say I left there freaking out because I reviewed so much, but MY exam only tested ME (know it can be different for everyone) on it seemed like 3 topics; infection control, contraindicated meds, and priority of assessing patients. I left there feeling like I failed because alot of the questions I really had to use my nursing judgement and critical thing skills- nothing is factual based of course. When it comes down to it, the question bank is really what helped me to decipher questions and understand rationales- way more important than the book. I am almost thankful I didn't put more effort into studying, because once again, like many people say, you either know it or you don't... I will know tomorrow if I will be eating my words or not! I got the "good" pop up on pearson vue so who knows! Advice to people taking Nclex prior to April 1 is review Infection control. It seems to be a trend. The only reason I reviewed it was from the awesome advice that other people left on here. Lurk lurk lurk! Will update tomorrow on my NCLEX status! All I can tell you is to breathe. You know this stuff. Go in there with an open mind and use your nursing judgement. Good luck!

Amanda, Did you start yet? I am applying for the med-surg residency and wanted to know how you were doing. Also after the residency what unit did you go to? Did you get a choice or did they just stick you somewhere? I definatley don't want to accept and then not have a choice as to where I work. I applied for an overnight shift in the Women's Pavillion and the recruiter contacted me stating that the unit does not take new grads and that I need to apply for a residency program. If anyone else has any insight please respond! Thanks

Like I said before all ECPI's are different. The clinical experience and the number of clinical hours I obtained thru ECPI's program has set me up for success. Knowing that employers may have a negative view of programs like ECPI, my resume reflects the number of clinical hours and location of clinicals. I also have references from several of the nurses whom I did clinicals with.....

Wow I guess ECPI Rn programs are different depending on which one you attend. I started at ECPI VA Beach and besides having alot of information to learn in such a short amount of time there was so many students in each class that it was very hard to get one on one time with the instructor and the Director of the RN program was NEVER availiable. The clinicals were awesome- we went to several hospitals in the area and had alot of hands on training. The down side to VA beach campus clinicals is that there was no room for error. They did not work with anyone if an emergency came up (say, a car accident on the way to clinical)- a 0 would be given for that day and no make up would be offered. I then switched over to Newport News campus and totally different! The RN Director's door is always open; plenty of tutoring was offered from the instructors, and make up days were offered for clinicals. We also attended a wide array of hospital settings. The ECPI/MCI staff have been nothing but helpful. Both schools have a very good NCLEX pass rate. I graduate Thursday! I moved to Fayetteville with husband and will be taking my boards in NC. Oh before I forget, I worked as a Nurse care partner (Basically a CNA) after I finished my first round of clinicals. It really helped me with my skills because I didn't have a background in healthcare. At ECPI they will try to tell you to go LPN and then come back and go to school for RN if you have no healthcare experience.... please do what is best for you and know that you can do it!

I graduate Jan. 21st and will take the NCLEX first week or so in February. I have 10 years of military experience (got out in 2008), a secret clearance, and after I left the military I worked as a care partner (glorified CNA) in ICU Stepdown. This is also where I am currently doing my externship. My husband is army and I have been driving back and forth between Virginia and Fayetteville for school. What I have noticed, however, is the lack of jobs in the area for New Grads. I saw an old thread on here that said something about Womack and their hiring (or not hiring of new grads). Can anyone give me any POC's or updated on Womack? I have been on the army web site for civilian employment, but is their a local HR department? I have also checked out cape fear med ctr and have noticed not many openings. If anyone has any info please let me know- thanks!