elmoRN

I have been an RN on an ortho unit for a year now, and I just got called for an interview on a coronary ICU. I loved cardiac as a nursing student, and I really think I will enjoy the area, but I am really nervous about the thought of the ICU. I really think I can do it, but I am afraid I don't know nearly enough! How hard is it starting out? Even though I have a years experience, it is so unrelated, so if I get this job, I feel like I will be a brand new nurse all over again. Any tips for the interview, and any tips on how to prepare for the job if I get it? I have already signed up for ACLS on my current unit, so I know that will help, and I also have my TNCC. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

i have a years rn experience, and i am wanting to apply for a new job. i have been working on my resume, but it just doesn't seem right. i was wondering if i could get some feedback on it. here it is...i left my personal info off the top, and the format is a little messed up when i pasted it. does the order of things seem ok, and should i leave some of the skills and qualifications out? thanks! objective: seeking a nursing position on a medical unit in which i can expand my skills and experience while providing quality care to patients. summary of qualifications: knowledge of medical, nursing, and clinical practices nursing experience specialized in orthopedics, post-surgical patients, and orthopedic trauma outstanding organization and time management skills interpersonal communication skills experience with computerized charting as well as paper charting knowledge of nursing standards of practice nursing skills: - full postoperative assessments of spine and joint patients - blood transfusions - phlebotomy - entering and signing off md orders - traction - pca/cadd pain management - cpm machines for postoperative range of motion - medication administration - cryocuff therapy - iv therapy - insulin, cardizem, & heparin drips/titration - leech therapy - patient lift equipment - care of patients with wound vacs/hemovacs/jp drains - dressing changes - patient/family education professional experience: x hospital, somewhere, usa staff nurse- orthopedics, january 2011-present perform the duties of charge nurse responsible for patient management from admission to discharge total patient care of 4-6 postoperative patients or up to 8 postoperative patients with the assistance of an lpn instruct patients and families regarding medications, preventive care and health management clinical experience: - 6 week, 192 hour practicum on a cardiac telemetry unit- total care of 4-5 patients under rn supervision - other clinical rotations included neuro icu, respiratory/oncology, postpartum, pediatrics, mental health, and long term care education: university , somewhere usa bachelor degree in nursing, 2006-2010 gpa- 3.758, graduated cum laude license/certifications: rn-board certified, state of indiana tncc (trauma nursing core course) certified cpr certification, updated january 2011 references: -person 1 person 2 person 3

I'm 5'4" and 110 pounds...small frame. I bought cherokee XXS petites and they fit pretty well. I can't dry them or they would be too short, but regulars are WAY too long. My biggest problem though is scrub tops. Every scrub top I have tried just hangs on me...they all seem to swallow me.

Every time I leave a room I reach my hand up to get hand sanitizer...even though there isn't usually any there...I've jammed a few fingers doing it actually. My husband is constantly creeped out because I just stare at his veins, and I palpate them constantly. I also sign my name with my first initial, Last name, RN on checks and stuff. I am always putting pens into invisible pockets because I think I am still wearing a scrub top, and I do the pat down to figure out where I have put things even though I am wearing street clothes. I knock on every door before I open it...even the closet door. I answer my phone with my hospital greeting sometimes. I tried to elevate the head of my bed when my husband was sick and couldn't breath well.

Seniority doesn't matter on my unit. Everyone is required to work every third weekend, and everyone works one major holiday and two minor. Plus everyone has to be on call for one holiday. We self schedule, and we are required to work at least one thursday and one sunday every schedule which is 4 weeks. I work nights, so our weekend is Friday and Saturday. The self scheduling works ok, but I never get exactly what I ask for. They tend to move us around a lot if there are too many new people signed up for a shift. Overall I think the schedule is pretty good. I like every third weekend bc it is more flexible than every other.

hello everyone. i was wondering if i could get some help with my resume. i have no idea what i'm doing, and i have no clue if what i have is any good. i only have 8 months experience as a nurse, so i feel like i'm trying to just add fluff to make my resume look good. i don't know if i have too many examples of skills. any tips? oh and sorry the formatting didn't copy over like i actually have it, so it may not look quite right. susie smith, rn, bsn address phone * email objective: seeking a nursing position in which i can expand my skills and experience while providing quality care to patients. summary of qualifications: knowledge of medical, nursing, and clinical practices nursing experience specialized in orthopedics, post-surgical patients, and orthopedic trauma outstanding organization and time management skills interpersonal communication skills experience with computerized charting as well as paper charting knowledge of nursing standards of practice use of evidence based practice to provide quality care nursing skills: - full postoperative assessments of spine and joint patients - blood transfusions - phlebotomy - entering and signing off md orders - traction - pca/cadd pain management - cpm machines for postoperative range of motion - medication administration - cryocuff therapy - iv therapy - insulin and heparin drips/titration - leech therapy - patient lift equipment - care of patients with wound vacs/hemovacs/jp drains - dressing changes - patient/family education professional experience: hospital abc, somewhere, usa staff nurse- orthopedics, january 2011-present responsible for patient management from admission to discharge total patient care of 4-6 postoperative patients or up to 8 postoperative patients with the assistance of an lpn instruct patients and families regarding medications, preventive care and health management clinical experience: - 6 week, 192 hour practicum on a cardiac telemetry unit- total care of 4-5 patients under rn supervision - other clinical rotations included neuro icu, respiratory/oncology, postpartum, pediatrics, mental health, and long term care education: university abc, anywhere, usa bachelor degree in nursing, 2006-2010 gpa- 3.758, graduated cum laude license/certification: rn-board certified, state of indiana cpr certification, updated january 2011 references: available upon request

I have only been working as a nurse for about 8 months. I work on an orthopedic inpatient unit. We have mostly post-op patients but also a lot of ortho trauma. I work nights. I feel like this job is ruining my life. I absolutely hate it. I have no life, I feel like I am slipping into depression because I never see anyone. I barely see my husband because we have opposite schedules. My family lives in a different state so I never see them. I can never switch back to a day schedule, so even when I'm off I just sleep all day and stay up all night bored bc the rest of the world is sleeping. Plus, I hate my job itself. The management is horrible, the unit is way understaffed. I dread each night of work...sometimes driving to work in tears. Even on my nights off I just sit and think about how little time I have before I have to go back to that awful place. I feel like I'm doing a good job, and everyone says I'm doing great for a new nurse and that I handle the tough assignments well, but I am just so unhappy. Anyways, I know I should be thankful that I even have a job, but I really feel like its ruining my life...and my husband agrees. It took me 8 months to find this job, and like I said, I only have 8 months experience. I really want to find another job, but I can't find anything. Plus, I'm afraid that I will dislike another job just as much. I really feel like I need to get out of hospital/staff nursing in general, but I don't know what else is out there...especially for someone with little experience. Are there non-hospital jobs out there for someone in my situation?

I am working in Indianapolis. I started at $21 an hour on nights with a BSN on an ortho inpatient unit. It pretty much sucks. Crappy job, crappy pay. It's all I could get though. There are no jobs here

Our charge nurse has a full patient load about 90% of the time, so there is no help from her usually. And we don't have a unit secretary at all so the nurses have to do all of the admission work and orders and stuff. It's just a lot to do. Plus, we started getting ortho trauma on our unit about the time I started my job, so we get an average of 6 admissions every night. Last night was my third night out of orientation, and I had to take 3 admissions...two came at the same time. I was so stressed...

Thanks for all of the encouragement guys. It's so hard to see the bright side of things sometimes, so just hearing all of your advice really helps. I know I shouldn't take my job for granted, and I know I can really learn a lot from this experience on ortho. This job will not be the rest of my life...this is just a stepping stone. Thanks for helping me realize that!

I just graduated from nursing school in May of 2010. It took me 8 months to finally get a job...I took the first job I was offered because I was desperate. I am working night shift on an ortho unit, and I absolutely hate it. I had a 6 week orientation, and I have only had one week on my own so far. I know I haven't been there long and I should give it more time, but I cannot think of one positive thing to say about it. I HATE it. I can't stand ortho patients...I feel like all I do is get people up to the bedside commode and hand out pain pills all night long. Plus, I feel like my unit is completely unorganized...the schedule doesn't even come out until a few days before it starts. The nurses are required to take way too many patients, and on nights there is no support staff...no techs or anything. I can't manage to take care of 5 patients that all have to pee at the same time and all need pain meds as soon as they can have them. I have no help because all the other nurses are just as busy. The unit is short staffed...usually down 2 nurses every night. Plus, the night shift is killing me...I think it is making me depressed. I never see my husband anymore, I can't sleep...I sit in bed and sob sometimes because I'm so tired but can't sleep. I feel so out of touch with my friends and family. I feel like all of my time off is just spent sitting in my living room alone at night until 6 in the morning...I can't even enjoy being off work. I am so miserable. I don't want to work in orthopedics anymore, but I know I won't be able to find another job because I have no experience. But I am afraid that if I stay here for even a year, I am going to end up hating nursing as a whole. I don't want that to happen. I don't know what to do...I'm physically and emotionally drained, and it's only been 2 months...