anzean_rn

Is the patient load different than what they told you it would be during your interview?

There must be practice books that Kaplan has out there with these types of problems in it. The only way you will get better is to keep studying and doing these types of questions. There is no magic solution unfortunately.

We just recently had a tech that transferred from a med-surg floor to our NICU. She said she couldn't believe how much slower it was. She went from being responsible for many of the vitals, blood sugars, and baths on the unit to having the nurses do most all of those things with the babies. Her main responsibilities are to stock the supply carts, bring around clean linen, do the set-ups for admissions and anything else we might need from her if she isn't busy. Sometimes its just holding a crying baby if we don't have time. Our best techs don't just ask "do you need anything?" but anticipate our needs and help without being asked. For example, one of the techs started mixing my baby's formula for me while I did an assessment without being asked and I really appreciated that. Good luck!

My unit finds some excuse to have a "party" at least once a week (so and so's birthday, baby shower, or let's just throw a party because it's a Tuesday, etc etc) which ALWAYS involves cake, cookies, and candy. It makes it very hard to stay away from the sugar! My coworkers are obsessed! Luckily away from work I eat a pretty healthy diet - I try and convince myself i have a good balance...

That is HUGE! You should feel very proud - congrats!

I don't know why but I'm afraid that if I click on that link my computer will get a virus...I guess that's the hypochondriac nurse in me.

I am so sorry you are going through this. Is it a myth that you can only take the NCLEX 6 times total? I thought someone told me that once...that after the 6th time you must re-do the entire nursing program (uh, no thank you!) Honestly, if this is NOT true and you can take it as many times as you like then I would keep trying if it were me. I wish I had better advice for you. Take some time off to get refreshed and get back at it. Maybe even get a personal tutor? Good luck

North Carolina. They are giving new grads jobs like CRAZY at my hospital. I got into the NICU as a new grad here, and there were new grads in my orientation that got jobs in L&D, OR, and ICU as well. Plus, it's a great state to live in! You should definitely look into it.

I was actually wondering this very thing a few weeks ago. I ordered navy colored scrub top and bottom from two different brands online and and they did turn out to be the same color. I think it's supposed to be pretty standard to keep the colors exact (or very close) because I'm sure a lot of health care professionals do exactly what we are doing!

I bond with my patients by sneaking them a little extra sweetease during a heel stick or by singing them nursery rhymes while I rock them to sleep...they LOVE me for it! :)

I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through. Night shift can be hard on anyone, but I can imagine it would be especially hard for a single mom. Keep your head up, pray, and apply apply apply!

I had another nursing student as my roommate though out the program (not during prereqs). We were in the same class and also very good friends which is why my advice will not directly apply to your situation...but I really liked having a roommate. There was always someone there to study the exact same material for the exact same test with - SO nice! Having said that, I don't know that I would go in blind. Too risky on multiple levels in my opinion.

Oh the ways alcohol can cloud our judgment...I didn't find it humorous. But I'm also dead sober.

Finished RN, BSN at age 22. I haven't regretted my decision to go into nursing for a second!

I don't have advice for you, but wanted to let you know I am in a similar situation...well, pretty much that exact situation. It is driving me crazy playing this waiting game! Good luck to you - keep us updated!