rella23

Recently, I started a new job at a pysch facility. This is very different from anything I have done before and for me is a big transition from computer charting back to paper. The facility has a week of orientation that includes a lot of HR stuff, CPR and a day of training on restraints and confrontation. There was maybe a day and a half of nursing training. I Got to shadow on the floor for four days and went to three units in this time. My first day off shadowing they had me do meds for 21 patients even though I never shadowed with a med nurse. RN don't normally do meds and I tried to watch the med nurses but had no idea I would actually be doing this. I made it through and everyone got all their meds but I don't feel like I did a very good job. I've been there a little over three weeks including orientation and have done either a different job or have been a different unit every night. I did finally get to shadow with a med nurse but that was on a forth unit. This whole time none of the supervisors have checked in with me to see how I am doing. When I took the job they made it sound like I would be primarily on one unit and I had no idea I would be expected to do this many jobs this quickly. At this point my head is spinning and I don't feel like I'm doing a very good job. All of the units have different rules most of which are not written down. Things are also in different places on each unit. Since they are still 100% paper charting this includes all the forms... To me it feels like the expectations are not reasonable but since apparently everyone who works there went through the same thing I'm wondering if it's just me? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated as I am feeling very stressed out.

Just in case anyone else is looking for this info. The Carrington program requires you to finish your LPN and work as an LPN before starting the RN bridge. So everyone has expereince when they graduate. Most people work as LPNs while in the program. You are not going to get rich as an LPN but you'll make twice minimum wage. The program is accredited, but it is still in candidate status for the NLNAC NLNAC Candidates This is the same status as the CWI program. You may not get a job at St Lukes or St Als right out of school, but there are plenty of other places you can work. Working in long-term-care, a rehab hospital, or home care for a year or two while you finish your BSN online is much better than making a third the pay and not getting any experience for the five years it would take to finish many other programs.

We are in exactly the same position. I am planning to apply to this program at UMASS http://www.umass.edu/nursing/sites/nursing/files/CNLBroucher-10.17.12.pdf My concern is if not having a BSN will hurt my career some how. It seems kind of like a waste of time and money to take 30 more under grad credits when I already have sooo many. Keep me posted on what you end up doing. :)

I am in this same boat. My original BA is in Public Policy and Geography and I am almost done with my ASN. My ideal would be to do a dual program and end up with an MSN and an MPH. I have found a few online MSN programs that will take non-nursing bachelors most notably Sacred Heart and UMASS Amherst. My concern is how this will be view by hospitals when I graduate. I'd be glad to hear what you end up doing and would like to hear about anyone else in a similar situation.

I am a peds home health nurse with one full time patient. The agency I work for does not offer direct deposit. Pay day is every other Tues and pay checks are available for pick up between 2pm-5pm. The problem is that I work every Tues 830am-6pm 30 miles from the office. Since I am alone all day with a child I obviously can not leave to get my check. This has been my schedule for a long time and the agency knows this. As a result I have asked them to mail my paycheck. About half the time my check is put in the mail Monday night and I get my check when I get home on Tues. The rest of the time they do not mail my check until Weds and I do not get it until Thurs afternoon. In many states it is the law when direct deposit is not offered that the check must be post marked the day before payday. Here in Idaho, however, there is no such law. I am an LPN and the combination of my student loan debt and my salary forces me to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Not knowing what day I will get paid has made it very hard to pay all my bills on time. In addition to the obvious logistical problems this creates, I also feel that it demonstrates that the agency does not respect me or the work that I do. I have talked to several members of the office staff regarding this issue. Most of them have treated me the same way they treatment when I have to work them on anything; like it is a nuisance even to talk to me and like it is my job to make their job easier. I'm curious what experiences other nurses have had with agencies and what other payroll policies are out there.