SkeesB

What tips would you give to a new RN? What are some things (tips/advice) that you wish you were given when you first started?

I recently graduated in December and I have had a couple of interviews recently. I was curious if any seasoned RNs out there would have any hints and/or advice for me regarding starting my career as a new RN. Thanks in advance!

What are your thoughts... New grad and no experience. A lot of job postings are looking for experience, if I were able to get into a LTC facility, would that be the type of experience the hospitals are looking for?

1. What is your age? 30 2. How long have you been a nurse? Just graduated in December, looking for a job 3. Did you work as a CNA before becoming a nurse? No 4. If yes to #3, how long did you work as a CNA before becoming a nurse? 5. If no to #3, do you wish that you had? I had two children under the age of 4, so I decided to concentrate on school and family. Now with job hunting and no health care experience, I realize it would be beneficial...but my kids are only little for so long. So my answer is no 6. Regardless of whether you worked as a CNA prior to becoming a nurse, do you believe working as a CNA prior to nursing better prepares you to be a nurse? Feel free to elaborate on your response. I believe that it has benefits, but is not completely necessary. I would have to say that you would have more of an insight on the way things work within the organization and maybe you would pick up more quickly. Although you may learn some things that are not good. I really do not know how to answer this because I don't have experience with any of this. I hope that I was a little helpful for your survey. Have a great day.

I recently graduated in December and passed my NCLEX the end of February:yeah:. I decided that I was going to concentrate on studying for boards before I would search for a job. Now I have been searching for a job (Central Wisconsin) for two months. I am trying to get into a hospital because I would love to be in Cardiac in a couple of years. A lot of the jobs are asking for experience. I do not have any!!! I was a stay at home mom for the last 6 years and just concentrated on school and my children the last two. Here is my question...I know of a lot of long term care facilities that are eager and desperate for nurses, but I am afraid that if I get into a long term care facility that know hospital would ever give me a chance in the long run. I would love to work with the elderly and I am a very compassionate person, but my true desire is cardiac. Would long term care be considered experience, the experience the hospital wants? Please post back, I am curious. I am so eager to begin my career as a nurse! Thank you ahead of time for reading and hopefully answering my question. I will quit babbling now.

So does anyone have the Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment Book by LaCharity? I really think that this book will be beneficial. There are a lot of priority, delegating and assignment questions on the NCLEX. This book is a great resource when studying for the NCLEX. It breaks it down my systems of the bod. All questions in the book with great rationales. There are also many SATA questions in there, it will help you get used to them. Any questions, just post back.

Good luck to all the March NCLEX takers! I was wondering, do any of you have the Prioritization and Delegation book by LaCharity? That is an amazing book. It is all prioritizing and delegating questions with great rationales. I was anal and did over 5000+ questions and did the whole LaCharity book. I think that it really helped me succeed on my test last week, passed! Get the book and you will not be disappointed.

I agree with another person whom posted. Is there another school close to you with the option of ADN. I went to a school where you could opt out of the ADN program after a year and then take your LPN. Whatever school you are attending is crazy. You obviously have the compassion and if they base one bad test and send someone to the front of the line they are looking to get money and not helping people accomplish their dream. Whichever you choose, good luck to you. Believe in yourself. Now, with the anxiety. I finished my last semester of the RN program this December. I was always a pretty cool and calm person. The last semester had me frazzled to the point I could not concentrate. Think of it if dreams were easy to achieve we would have nothing to hope and strive for. We would all be "Britney Spears," okay that is a very bad example. Anyhoo...I went to my doc and she got me some Xanax (PRN). I would only take it when I needed it. Sometimes I would go days without and other I would take two a day. Sometimes I think there should be something prescribed for the instructor, so they could be less intimidating. Good luck on your adventure, I know you can do it. Just think when you are all finished that you can sit back with the greatest of pride of achieving something so great, no matter what obstacles that you have had to overcome.

MONSKIE Take a deep breath. I believe in the pop up. I just did it last week, about 30 times. You should be proud of yourself for retaking the exam, it shows that you are really striving toward your dream. Taking the NCLEX does not determine if you are going to be a good nurse or a bad nurse; maybe you just struggle taking tests. But from what you are saying with the pop up...it's good. Take a deep breath. I would say sleep well, but we all know that we do not until we see the results.

First off, no respect JohnnyDoGood, but you are doing no good. Anyway... You have to believe in yourself. If this is a dream...then do not let anything get in your way. I am thirty years old and have two children. I just recieved my results and am now officially an RN. It was a struggle, but well worth it in the end. Nothing is supposed to be easy...when things are tough and rocky you just have something more to be proud of in the end. I don't even know you, but I can see that you are compassionate and know what you want...don't stop until you get there. And do not let anyone discourage you...

TO THE TWO LADIES WITH THE HUSBANDS' NAMES KEVIN!! CONGRATS! WE ARE NOW RNs!

I just took my NCLEX on Friday, with an "unofficial pass" on Sunday. I had a total of 75 q's and I swear that I had about 25-30 SATA's. Some of them were pretty easy, others were a little mind boggling. I chose the ones that I knew were correct. Then I would weed out the ones with the "opposite effect" or idea. You need to remember that you are not going to know every question. I actually read that some people felt like they didn't even know half of the questions (I felt that way too!). If you are getting a lot of SATAs remember that a lot of them are likely to be the 15 that don't even count. Believe in yourself. You can do this. You already have gone through Nursing School and that is the greatest accomplishment of all! Good luck to you!

I am not sure that I have ever met anyone that feels 100% ready. Although I am sure that there is. I took my NCLEX last week Friday. Up until then I can honestly say that I did about 5000+ questions. I consistently ranged in the high sixties, very low seventies on all of the practice exams. I decided that I was not going to pick up any material the day before the test. I left it at home. When I got to the exam center there were a couple of people that were scurring through their Kaplan Books (bad idea, they actually got scolded a little for bringing them into the test center). When you go into the exam remember that you got through Nursing School, that is a huge accomplishment on it's own. I think that is what you should me most proud of. I was incredibly anxious the week before the exam. Relaxation techniques did not work, running, cleaning...nothing seemed to calm my nerves. If you are truly feeling out of your control with your anxiety see your doc and get something to help you relax. I was prescribed Allopurinol. I took just a couple. The day of the exam I felt calm, without taking anything. Stay positive, remember you have already accomplished something to be proud of. Take a deep breath and believe in yourself!!!

Pearson Vue trick worked for me. I got my "unofficial" results this morning with a pass. I will post again. Right now I am going to take my kids sledding, hand out with the hubby, play barbie dolls and video games. I just want to hang with the fam.

Taking PPs off line, getting special attention from instructors...only hurts the person in the end. Like everyone said above, I would look the other way for now and keep doing what your doing, being honest, following rubrics, and learning the right way. Things are not fair, unfortunatly...but in the end karma comes out. Hang in there. Congrats on your last semester, it will go by so fast.