Sunglitz56

So I'm a new grad RN at a hospital in the Los Angeles metro area. Our facility uses the "WOW" e-carts for electronic charting. Which we have to push into the patients' rooms EVERY time we have to give a med or hang a piggyback. I am literally pushing this thing around for 12 hours a day...and they are HEAVY and cumbersome. My problem is that it's my 4th week on the floor during orientation and I've developed SEVERE shoulder pain in both my shoulders. I can barely lift my right arm with the pain shooting up my neck on the right side. What should I do about this pain? I've just been medicating myself with extra strength Tyelonol during all my shifts so I can make it though....but I can't keep doing that forever. Any advice? My body hurts soooooooooo bad at the end of my shift..there are some days I don't know if I can make it though...and I'm a fairly young, healthy woman...not overweight...it's just that these carts are so heavy to push around for 12 hours...and being on MedSurg I am in a patients room literally every 15 mins. Thanks!

I just accepted a position as a new grad RN on a med-surg/ortho floor. I thought I would be receiving 8 weeks of orientation. They asked me in the interview what I thought I would need as far as that goes and I said 6-8 weeks and I thought I was low balling it with that answer. Well today was the 2nd day of orientation and we had a lunch "meeting" with our floor directors and one of the other new grads asked how long we would have a preceptor and she said they used to do 12 weeks but that they just don't have the budget for it...she said ideally she'd like to get us on our own in 2 weeks!!! That just seems crazy to me. But, I'm an ADN nurse in the Los Angeles area, and I feel extremely lucky to have this position...so I feel I can't afford to complain. I'm hoping I can stretch it to 4 weeks at least.

I applied, but have accepted another offer...so I'm out of the running for Hemet. Good luck to you all!

I applied as well. I spoke to the person in HR in charge of the new grad program back in early July and told her that I wouldn't have my license # until mid July and she said they were accepting applications up until July 26th, however, you had to have already received one from HR. I just sent mine in today. Fingers crossed.

I'm going to be an ADN too...come May when I graduate.

I applied for Telemetry, ER and L&D. I don't care which unit I get. I just want to get into a good program. Mine says completed as well....

950 applicants and 20-30 spots....talk about tough competition!

Oh congrats MSmith and San!! I'm still waiting to hear something...my app still says manager review in progress....the anticipation is killing me!

Yeah, I'm willing to make sacrifices and move as long as it's not the middle of nowhere. haha. Connections, I actually know a lot of nurses in hospitals. Maybe I should have them try and put in a word for me somewhere...

So I know I'm not the only one who is scared to graduate this May because the prospects for ADN new grads in Southern California (LA and OC areas) is so dismal. Every new grad program I see it says BSN preferred or BSN required and with so many new grads with BSN's where does that leave us ADN's? I will be starting my BSN program in this Fall 2013, I'm just praying that I get a job before then so I don't have to take out any more student loans. ADN graduates have you found jobs? And if so where? I've started to apply EVERYWHERE!! Including Podunk USA...but its just frustrating because they make you sign 2-2.5 year contracts in these undesirable places, if I was 24 it wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm 34...advice?

Anyone know how many applicants they got? Has anyone been called for an interview yet?

Hey Charis what paperwork would we need to attach for the interview? I feel like I've already given them everything I have to give. Signed my life away practically. Haha

Charis, yeah their system is really wonky. I've had the same trouble with it.

YES! I was having the same problem! I just ended up combining a lot of my attachments via PDF merge since we are only allowed 5 attachments. This system is a bit frustrating. Not sure if the hiring managers are getting the correct items.

I noticed on the job posting page that it is 80 hours per pay period with 8 hour shifts? Anyone know anything about this? Is the 8 hours permenant can we switch to 12's after we finish our preceptorship.

I applied in the beginning of March, my application is being reviewed by the manager too! I'm in Los Angeles! So excited! Where is everyone's first choice unit? I think I want the Med-Surg/Tele floor since that's where I've been precepting.

OMG this is tooooo funny! I have actually contemplated this exact scenario! I've even looked into "remodeled" vans and whatnot. And I totally planned on showering at the gym! Hmmmm now what to do about cable 3 nights a week? Satellite dish mounted to the roof of the van? hahaha... you do what you need to do when you're a new grad in this economy.

Squishy, yeah I know it's so scary that a new grad nurse is only getting 3 days orientation and being thrown on the floor when these new grad residency programs are 18-22 weeks in length. I would kill for a spot in an RN Residency program regardless of where it is, but with only having an ADN i feel like I'm at a disadvantage, even thought I've been volunteering and I'm in the process of getting my CNA license. It's just so discouraging.

Hey Buytheshoes11, can I ask are you in Southern California? I was hoping you could PM me and tell me more about your LTC experience as a new grad. I will be graduating this May 2013 with my ADN and I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I will be working in a SNF or LTC setting. Just wanted to get some advice. Thanks.

Hey SparkleRN I know this post is old as it is now Jan 2013 but I was wondering how you managed to land that job at the plastic surgeons office? That is the field I am seeking. It is why I wanted to become a nurse in the first place. How are you still liking the job now 2.5 years later? Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Also, are you in California?

I applied. I am doing my clinical rotations for Glendale Adventist right now. One of the directors came and talked with our class 2 days ago and said they are starting to contact the applicants! Fingers crossed.

yeah I'm so excited to start in the fall. Is it just me or is the schedule all over the place? School 5 days a week until October? Yikes. Thank goodness my employer is being so flexible with me! Does anyone know where we go at Holy Cross for clinicals? I have no idea.

Wooohoo! Got my schedule and clinical site! Wow....1st semester is going to be a lot of work for sure! I'm gonna be at Holy Cross, anyone else going to be at Holy Cross? So excited.

I now have a love hate relationship with my mailbox. Still no letter...seriously how long does it take to deliver a letter from Mission Viejo to Placentia? Although it is getting forwarded from my old address, but still!!!! UGGGGHH! I'm so impatient! Congrats to everyone who got in! I'm DYING to know! Monday cannot arrive fast enough.

yeah I called too...I just couldn't wait any longer, I was racing home to check the mail...only to be disappointed day after day. I just want to know one way or another!