chiclet81

I have ADHD and ASD and i had a long history of academic failure under my belt when I decided to go to college and then to pursue nursing. I had luck making things as tactile and visual as possible. I got a part time job as an open lab tutor so I got paid to hang out and study in the A&P lab, where it was often just me and the anatomical models. I'd trace with my fingers the organs and blood vessels involved with the pathological processes I was studying. I colored all over my notes... my my tip for listening in the car. Don't waste your time listening to the lecture again. Instead, type notes to add to the PowerPoint in class, then condense and organize those notes and record yourself reading your own notes because you will explain it in words that make sense to you and you'll spend more time on the tough spots and you can skip the nonsense... then condense your notes again before the exam and record another version of what you still need to work on understanding... for tests, you need to think like the nclex; it gets easier. Figure out what kind of question it is (i.e. Prioritization, application of knowledge or a skill, or analysis) and then it gets easier. Keep it up. There are so many things you can do with nursing; just get through this program.

Did you get an offer?? :)

I would talk about the grandmother with dementia and even the suicidal brother, as long as your examples show experience with psych issues and not co-dependence. I did mention family experiences in my interview, and I think it showed that I had a familiarity with how psych issues affect the whole family structure, and because it explained my interest and my belief that the right intervention and treatment can really help with some patients. Just be sure your examples show that you are educated about it, and that your experiences will make you a better psych nurse. (I knew a women in nursing school whose stories really made her seem codependent and overly enmeshed with her friends and family and seemed to indicate some personality disorder stuff of her own, and her stories would have hurt her in an interview. Use your judgement.)

I was offered a few jobs this summer before I found the right one for me, and all of them in central NH seemed to pay around $21-22/hr for a new grad, based on full-time. Dartmouth Hitchcock pays $25/hr to start, but it's further north and has a much higher cost of living if you live near there.

The OR position was the one I initially phone-interviewed about, but then they thoughyt I;d be better in psych (I have a lot of crisis counselling experience). The OR would be exciting, I think. It sounded like great pay and they have an on-call apartment for your one weekend every 6 weeks on call... It's a very good program, I hear. If you think you could enjoy that specialty, it would be a GREAT start to your career to be trained at such an amazing hospital OR! Good luck if you decide to go that way...! :)

I'm a new grad with an ADN, and I just scored a full-time psych nurse gig/residency program. For the interview, be prepared to talk about why you are interested in the specialty, as well as to describe the RN's role in psych nursing, and also be ready to explain your understanding of boundaries and the importance of them. Try to think of any examples before you go of times you've dealt with pts with mental illness or just difficult or combatative pts, and think of what strengths you will bring to the unit/facility. Think of a weakness, too. And before you go, try to be sure you left them with an idea of why YOU are the right candidate for this job (even if it's just passion for this pt population and determination to start your career off right and learn as much as you can). Good luck! Tell us how it went!

After my phone interview, I got an email to schedule an in-person interview the next week. She had mentioned they were looking to fill the last few spots, but I accepted another position at a hospital closer. Good luck to the rest of you, though! Hope you heard back!

They did finally contact me for an interview a couple weeks ago, but I decided on another position. They told me they had "most" of the slots filled at that point.

My phone interview was just last week. Nothing back yet, but it's only been a few days. I waited at least two months just to get the phone interview, too. Not a very speedy or clear hiring process, is it?

Did you ever hear more back?

Now the site says this: DHMC is no longer accepting applications for our 2012 New Grad RN Residency Program. Please check our postings late fall/winter 2012 for 2013 NRP programs. I hope that means they are actively processing the applications they have.

I have applied as well and have heard nothing. Even after sending a follow up email to confirm they have everything they need, no response at all. I did hear a rumor that another girl in my program who applied DID get a phone interview. That's all I know. I just hope to hear *something* soon, because I'm holding off on another offer while I wait a few more weeks to see if I can interview there. If anyone does learn anything more, please update this thread. Thanks!

This thread scares me. I'm a single mother of two, and I worked my butt off for a year just to get accepted into the RN program, which begins this fall. I need a job that will pay decently and allow some flexibility for parenting (I plan to long days when the kids are with their dad half-time). I have always liked the idea of nursing, and this seemed like a good idea. The science courses have gone well, so I feel like I should be able to do well in school... But the way people talk on here, I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake?! I sure hope not. I can only afford two more years- at most- of school, and then I need to be working full-time. Fingers crossed that things will work out the way they should!

I'm in school still, but between that and raising two kids as a single mom, I have a busy schedule. But once a week, I go ballroom dancing in town, and during "down time" with the kids, I practice my (newly purchased) ukulele and we sing songs while I try (in vain?) to learn to strum while simultaneously changing chords. And in winter, I knit. Wow, does all that sound hokey, or what?

I will be there for registration tomorrow!!! :) Soooo excited! Also, I started a FB group for any other NHTI Nursing students for the class of 2012. Search for it and join, please! We can use that spot to discuss class, trade tips, and get support from others in the program. Invite any others you know on FB. Thanks. :) Carolyn