DABDA

I live in the DMV area and a friend that just got hired as a new grad at the hospital I work is from Cambridge. She said it is nearly impossible to get a job in Massachusetts. She graduated from a good school at the top of her class with honors. She was picked for international internships - the whole nine - still six months of searching yielded little more than a meager paying HH position. She is registered in 20 different states and applied for a few hundred jobs before we were sitting in orientation together. The nursing gap is about closed and from the sound of it, cemented in the Boston area. The DMV area has lots to offer in so far as quality of life. John-Hopkins is nothing to scoff at either. They pay better than our hospital. Just remember, people across the US are competing for that nursing position.

I can dish it out and take it better than most. My preceptors were often taken aback because I sought out constructive criticism. As a new nurse, I stand my ground when seasoned doctors forget from time to time that they are dealing with a new grad or to give mutual respect where it's due. I won't stand for anyone who claims to be a professional, talking down to me. No one should have to suffer through that vainglorious chest pounding. The night shift was to be expected as a new grad, as was the short/unhelpful staff. I have to admit, I was surprised by constant malfunctioning equipment, lack of supplies, and the very low pay in a city where the cost of living is so high - a total side-swipe. While none of these things compounded added to my desire to come into work everyday, I suffer through the glamour of my first year at this struggling hospital. I figure I will earn my stripes and get the hell out. However, the epiphanies are just around the corner. I think the saltiest realizations during this first six months : a) Paper work appears more important than the patient. b) My agenda of helping patients is not the the ultimate goal of the business I'm working for. c) Healthcare is a business. d)Healthcare is a revolving door business and at the end of the day, I'm just treating symptoms til they are back in my bed again. and yes e) On a more personal note, my hospital doesn't give a **** about me and ******* it I really have to be my own advocate and do my own research, buy retroviral meds out of my own pocket for HIV exposure, and start myself on them before the Intensivist pulls his head out his ass a week later a realizes I was right for doing so. I'm thinking about zoology.

Alright guys. I walked out of the test feeling like absolute shite. I was about 90% sure I failed. I studied my ass off, but the questions were seemed foreign to me. I never felt more sure than an idea of the answer for many of the questions. I got a crapload of select all that apply and meds. A nightmare as those weren't my strong areas. I was terrified as I reached the 75th question. I hit the "next" button. "Please, one more. Please one more." No such luck. I was officially done. When I walked in people were already seated and testing. I was the first one to leave. No exaggerations, the testing people looked at me sympathetically. Maybe only because they could see the disappointment in my face - though I knew they didn't know whether I passed or failed - I ran out of there. I immediately called friends to inform them that I failed. Friends who had taken their boards argued that I had no idea what I was talking about, but there was no convincing me. I never passed a test before that I felt that I had done terribly on. I think that is the great divide between the boards and probably ever other test one will take before the boards. Anyway, I was told about "the trick" and tried it repeatedly with the same surprising results. It seemed to imply I had miraculously passed. No way. I felt good about it, til I came across a few threads here that stated people were getting false negatives and positives. I immediately started developing ulcers again. Today a few hours after the time I had taken the test on the first....it finally said my results were "available". Oh Crud. I was thinking of you guys when I decided to do the trick one last time before finally getting my results. I tried once again to register for the R.N. exam and the "Good pop up" appeared. Ok....this seems good. I checked my results. I passed. Maybe there is some truth to this whole thing afterall. Keep your chin up and don't let yourself get to bent out of shape over it. The trick just might be true. Best of luck. - DABDA R.N.

So apparently I have to wait one more day to find out. I took my boards on the first. Some of my friends were able to count the day they took them as one of the two business days. I guess I'm not so lucky. Well positive pop-up is all I'm running on right now...which isn't much according to some.

Well, I took my boards Sept 01, 2010. Let's see if I passed.... I had 75 questions. I did not feel confident leaving. Tons of meds and select all that apply. Two areas that aren't my strongest. I left feeling so defeated. I was convinced I failed. I called my two close friends and relayed the bad news immediately. From there I went to work and picked up 28 straight days. Lol, I guess that's how I deal. Yesterday did go a lot easier as I was at work and not home developing ulcers. My friend told me about this trick and I tried it a million times yesterday and it made me feel a lot better....until I happened upon some people saying in another thread that people seem to be getting randon false positives and negatives. I took the boards at 10:15 on the first. I guess I have to wait til after the same time today to access my quick results? I'll let you guys know.

I live in Buffalo and am dying to move. My sights are set on the DMV area. However, I am a graduate nurse and won't be able to take my boards til around august sometime. I've been online applying for jobs and am discouraged as they all require one year experience. Nursing school clinical doesn't count as experience, does it? Should I apply for jobs that require one year experience anyway to get my name out there? I'm going to visit next week and am trying to get my applications in before putting a face to the resume. Is that expected for grad nurses, or will that just **** the recruiters off? Any insight?