birdcage

remove the unnecessary stresses from school so the student can focus on pt care and theory. if i could have chosen the structure for school here is what i would have done: 2 days of classroom, 2 days of clinical, 1 short day for tests clinical days would be 2 consecutive 10 hr days (30 min lunch and 1 hr post-conference) with a written report due the following week for each pt that includes a textbook definition of diagnosis and procedures and a layman's explanation for the pt and family; everything possible about routine and po meds that the pt is taking; longhand charting; self assessment of student nurse's struggles and/or triumphs during the shift. and most importantly, all nursing programs need to have a "shut up and listen" clause that prohibits the obnoxious know-it-all students from disrupting other students (and nurses). three strikes and you are out! maybe the "shut up and listen" thing is too harsh...

no laws that I know of, just recommendations

For that price, yes, just go buy it. I wanted to buy one, along with about $1000 worth of other neonatal books, but I just couldn't afford anything. The floor I work on has a few years worth of Neofax and some reference books so I will be reading those. But if I had a 40% off coupon like you do, I would use it for a reference book instead. So I can learn more about different conditions and how to assess, what to watch for, what I don't need to be concerned with, and that sort of thing. So where did you get the coupon anyway? :)

I have to admit that fairy dust would be quite useful. Thanks for the story. Short and sweet and made my day.

Congrats, bobbkat!

It looks like a fairly long resume. Is it more than 1 page? I would try to fit it all on one page. Maybe condense your clinical experience but don't eliminate it. And I would also highlight the fact that you are bilingual. It's hidden in the middle of all your info. There is a book from McGraw-Hill that is specifically for RN resumes and cover letters. My school library was able to get it for me. You might want to ask your library or career center if they can get it or another book just for nurses. It helped me a lot when I was writing my resume.

I was a casual status LPN in LTC facility during my RN program and was thankful to get to keep my job as an RN. Graduated in May '09 and passed boards in August '09. I applied for a minimum of 150 RN positions in 7 different states. This summer I focused my search on just the area I wanted to work. Now, I finally have a job in NICU! So, yes, I have the job I want but I worked long and hard to get this job. And I gained great experience in the LTC facility where I worked for 2 years. I pray that everyone still looking for a job is able to stay positive. It is rough getting rejection after rejection. But eventually you will get that phone call saying "You're hired!"

I had orientation this week and start up on the floor on Tuesday. I can't wait. I wish I knew something that I could study or at least be familiar with. If I had the money, I would have gotten a few of the recommended books for NICU but right now I have to reread textbooks and find stuff on the internet. How is everyone else doing on the floor?

A good nurse who has nothing but good intentions, as I assume the OP to be, can make mistakes. Is it my job to identify and point out others' mistakes? No, it isn't, and I know that. But if I was being hurtful and didn't know it then I would want someone to tell me.

Make sure you ask questions. It really is important. Here are a few that I used: Tell me about the orientation process. Will I have more than one preceptor? What is a typical week like on this unit? How often are people sent home early or called for extra shifts? I prefer to work weekends (or whatever you prefer). Will it be difficult for me to get that kind of schedule? Will I be expected to float to other areas? If so, am I allowed to decline if I don't feel I am competent to work that unit? What other staff members work on the unit? Does this hospital use LPNs and CNAs in L&D? How well does everyone work together? As far as case scenarios, be familiar with common problems in L&D and what to assess for. If you aren't sure about how to answer the question, explain how you would assess the pt to find out what is going on. They know that you just graduated. You aren't expected to be an expert. I had several questions about what I would do if I was overwhelmed and had more than one crisis to handle at once. The right answer was to ask for help. And if you pray, then take a few minutes to pray before you go into the building. Good luck in your interview. Let us know how it goes.

This is what I do, too. I had one girl call in saying that she had a sore throat and stuffy nose but it definitely wasn't allergies because she had never had allergies before. I laughed. Just couldn't help it. She came in the next day and I told her next time she calls in just say "I won't be in for my shift today." The way our system works, it doesn't matter if you are in ICU with H1N1 or want to mow your grass cause it's not raining today. It's not that I'm insensitive but if you aren't going to be here I have to stop what I am doing to find someone to work for you.

Half Price Books is my favorite. Old books have some special magic to them. I love Border's, too.

Ok, here I am. I was one of those medicaid parents. I was trying to be a good mom and take care of my baby and myself. I had a job (low pay and 35 hrs with no benefits) so didn't qualify for any assistance other than WIC and medicaid. Child support was $50 less than my car payment. My mind was so overloaded with worry about how to survive the day that replacing a thermometer when the batteries went out didn't have a chance of becoming an important issue. And thank God for my wonderful doctor. She asked me at every appt if I needed Tylenol or Advil and gave me a free bottle if I did. And, yes, I got the almost inaudible but definitely noticeable sigh from the nurse when she asked what my daughter's temp was and I told her that the thermometer wasn't working. It reminded me how much better she was than me and how terrible of a mother I was. It was a gesture that embarrassed me deeply and made me second guess every answer I gave her from that point on. I knew I should have a working thermometer. I know that you are just venting and everyone needs to vent. But just remember that not everyone has a mother to call for advice. Some of us were raised without a mother at all.

First of all, congratulations on the new baby. It's a good idea to talk to your manager to let her know your concerns. What is it exactly that makes you not want to work on your unit? You must be overwhelmed right now.

Here is my 2 cents: Call the nurse recruiter for every hospital you would like to work. Tell them you will graduate in October and what type of nursing you are most interested in. Let the recruiter know that you really want to work at that hospital. Then ask what steps you should take to apply and how competitive the new grad positions are. Find out if you need to pass boards by a certain date and ask any other questions you may have. If it is extremely competitive, you might ask which certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, etc.) will be beneficial for you to have for the area you want to work. If you are looking at hospitals outside your area, make sure the recruiter knows that you are looking to relocate.