dwag

i recently accepted a similar position and what i have learned thus far is flexiblity is highly valued in the OR. entering the OR with no experience has and will continue to be, my orientation is 6 months, a humbling experience. I think emphasizing how flexible you can be and how quickly you can adapt to new situations would be beneficial.

i definitely know how you feel. i have really come to a point - after having a few days off to contemplate my current situation - and i have realized that all i can do is my best and if at the end of the day i can truly say that i have done my best then i should be satisfied. last week was my first week on my own and i really thought i was going to quit. i really wanted to get out of nursing all together. but after i calmed down i realized that a.) i also signed a contract for a year and b.) this is what i have been working so hard for over the last two years and if i didn't give it a chance all my hard work during school would have been wasted. at the same time, though, it is still very hard to be positive. my husband reached a breaking point last week - basically saying i don't know what to do with you and all these emotions. that was a wake-up call for me. each day i go to work now i have three goals 1.) go to lunch on time 2.) get out on time (which really hasn't happened) 3.) to ensure patient safety and comfort throughout the shift. at this point in my career, i have to take each day as a learning experience - not only to learn about nursing but also to learn about myself, my limits, and my fears. all we can do is our best and venting here and reading words of encouragement or similar stories really helps me get through this difficult time. THANKS for your posts!!

thanks everyone for responding. every day gets a little easier but it is still so intimidating. it is comforting to know i am not alone in these concerns. unfortunately, after work one day i was really stressed and my supervisor could sense my anxiety and has since labeled me as "fragile". i suppose this is a nice way of saying emotionally unstable?? i don't know. every experience, while anxiety provoking, makes me a little more confident - but like some of the posts, i find myself bringing my work home with me. i think about it constantly. i wonder if i truly did all that i could in my 12 hours, if i made any mistakes (even though i quadruple check everything), if i left the night shift nurse with a mess to clean up. it seems that even my days off are spent contemplating the previous day at work. i am so tired of being stressed out. the thing that gets me going is that i truly enjoy my time with the patients. the other day i was running around trying to make sure i had everything ready for an admit coming from the cath lab when one of the patients i had taken care of the previous week before stopped me and asked, "where have you been? i have missed you." stuff like that makes it worth it. unfortunately, at this point the negative is out weighing the positive. but i will keep trying and put off the idea of giving up for another day. the old cliche of "that which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger" really is hitting home right now. thanks again for all the encouragement and good luck to everyone - we can do this!!

i know of a couple of schools that offer a RN-MSN program but they are pretty far from Boston - University of Kentucky and i think a school in northern arizona. i have, however, spoken to a few people that have looked into these programs and their advice was to a.) get some experience under your belt before you begin. their thoughts were that a masters degree RN with actual experience may be able to bring something extra to the table than a recent new grad that began their MSN straight out of school. they also said, if you have the time it is a great way to obtain a further degree without having to take a separate BSN program. hope this helps a little

i know of a couple of schools that offer a RN-MSN program but they are pretty far from Boston - University of Kentucky and i think a school in northern arizona. i have, however, spoken to a few people that have looked into these programs and their advice was to a.) get some experience under your belt before you begin. their thoughts were that a masters degree RN with actual experience may be able to bring something extra to the table than a recent new grad that began their MSN straight out of school. they also said, if you have the time it is a great way to obtain a further degree without having to take a separate BSN program. hope this helps a little

i have just started my new RN position and i am officially off orientation this week - and basically i feel like i am drowning. most of what i think i need to vent about has been said by many of you in multiple threads but i think i will just recap my top concerns and frustrations: 1.) my delegating skills basically suck. when i ask the techs to do stuff i am always very polite and eventually it gets done but i get so frustrated when they give me grief for asking them to do their job. unfortunately, i am the type of person that takes it personally and i feel bad for the rest of day even asking them to help a patient to the bathroom. 2.) even though there are tons of really nice nurses around, i tend to have the tendency of gravitating towards and asking questions of the one or two nurses working that either a.) know about as much as i do or b.) aren't generally very pleasant or willing to help - it just makes the transition more difficult. 3.) i moved 2000 miles away from where i went to school, and the most difficult thing is that i don't really know anyone at my new hospital. i come home and vent to my husband but i think you can't really understand what a new grad RN is going through unless you've been there. and i feel that work is all that i talk about - it seems to encompass my whole life and i really hate that. 4.) the actual work isn't that difficult but it is the possibilities that make me the most overwhelmed. the possibility that something will go wrong, that a patient will code, that a doctor will yell at me, that a patient will go AWOL (oh wait that's not a possibility it really happened on my first day off orientation). i know that you can't work yourself up over things that haven't happened yet but for some reason i can't stop. i realize this thread is basically venting but i do feel a little better just putting my feelings in writing. is anyone else feeling similarly? if not, could someone just lie to me so i don't feel like such a loser! :)

i have just started my new RN position and i am officially off orientation this week - and basically i feel like i am drowning. most of what i think i need to vent about has been said by many of you in multiple threads but i think i will just recap my top concerns and frustrations: 1.) my delegating skills basically suck. when i ask the techs to do stuff i am always very polite and eventually it gets done but i get so frustrated when they give me grief for asking them to do their job. unfortunately, i am the type of person that takes it personally and i feel bad for the rest of day even asking them to help a patient to the bathroom. 2.) even though there are tons of really nice nurses around, i tend to have the tendency of gravitating towards and asking questions of the one or two nurses working that either a.) know about as much as i do or b.) aren't generally very pleasant or willing to help - it just makes the transition more difficult. 3.) i moved 2000 miles away from where i went to school, and the most difficult thing is that i don't really know anyone at my new hospital. i come home and vent to my husband but i think you can't really understand what a new grad RN is going through unless you've been there. and i feel that work is all that i talk about - it seems to encompass my whole life and i really hate that. 4.) the actual work isn't that difficult but it is the possibilities that make me the most overwhelmed. the possibility that something will go wrong, that a patient will code, that a doctor will yell at me, that a patient will go AWOL (oh wait that's not a possibility it really happened on my first day off orientation). i know that you can't work yourself up over things that haven't happened yet but for some reason i can't stop. i realize this thread is basically venting but i do feel a little better just putting my feelings in writing. is anyone else feeling similarly? if not, could someone just lie to me so i don't feel like such a loser! :)

hey, just stay calm and take one question at a time. sometimes the whole situation can be a little anxiety provoking. i am sure you will do great!!

whether or not you study 3 weeks or 6 weeks depend entirely upon you. whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable with the material is how long you should take. i will say, however, being in school now - right before your test - will keep you in the mind set of answering questions and reviewing material. you probably will be able to review enough info in 3 weeks. and for some taking longer may increase their chances of forgetting the stuff they reviewed first. it sounds like you have been studying already - so tack that study time on to your three weeks and i am sure you will see you should give yourself more credit. studying for these exams is daunting but being comfortable with the material is key - study enough to make yourself feel comfortable and confident!

i definitely agree that you should go on and take the NCLEX. i waited a little over one month - and that was enough time for me to forget some strategy and content. take as much time as you need to prepare but looking back i wish i had taken it sooner.

i have recently taken the nclex and my state board, AZ, allows pearson vue to release my unofficial results via their website. however, this costs some money so what i did - and what you might be able to do - is i went to the arizona board of nursing website and requested online verification of my license. fortunately, the search found my license - confirming to me that i passed. this is a little sneaky but it is free and it will at least let you know if you passed or not. an entire month is really a long time. most results, unofficial results, are back within 48hrs. overall, check with your testing company Pearson Vue? if no success check online at your board of nursing for verification. i did receive strick instructions, however, that we should not call the board of nursing for results. good luck to you and i am sure you did great!

I just was hired in tucson and was quoted a base pay of 19/hr. With night shift it will be around 21/hr. I WISH IT WAS 35!!

My family has finally decided (after deliberating between NJ, NY and AZ) to relocate to Tucson. I am hoping to work at UMC and was wondering if anyone had suggestions of where in Tucson would be a nice area to reside. I am looking for an area that is quiet but still not too far from the hospital. Any suggestions?

I am currently a ADN student (graduating this may) in lexington, KY and am planning on relocating to ithaca, new york - my husband will be attending cornell in the fall. I have found information on Cayuga Medical Center but I was wondering if there are other places a new grad nurse should look for employment? Also, any information regarding the area would be helpful. It looks beautiful from pictures! Any info would be great.

I am a 2nd year ADN student in Kentucky and we take the HESI at the end of every nursing course. Our instructors informed us that our course outline is sent to HESI and they develop a "nclex - like" exam based on the information we have been taught. You may not be able to find out too much regarding the test because, at least at my institution, we are not allowed to discuss any part of the test or we will be prosecuted (weird i know). As far as studying, find out how your tests are developed - if from your school curriculum my best suggestion is just to review your notes and hope for the best. Sometimes looking at NCLEX books can help give a general overview. I haven't found a HESI book. Don't stress about it though. As a junior, i am sure you have already developed the critical thinking skills needed to do well!! good luck.:)

I am planning on relocating from Kentucky to Princeton, NJ and was wondering if anyone had any advice for possible job searches. Also, I will be a new grad nurse and am wondering if I should take the NCLEX in new jersey or transfer to new jersey with a KY license. any advice????