Meese.C

I have been a nurse for 5 years and today, I held my first post conference. Post conference is an hour and I have 10 ADN students. It was a little difficult for me to fill the hour and continue to engage them. I had a few moments of awkward silence. I'm sure the ability to ask the right questions and promote critical thinking will come with time and experience. Are there any suggestions on questions I can ask my students? Or other post conference ideas? Thanks Educators!

It went well! I got the job! :) I think my personality and honest answers/opinions were a selling point. I think they really liked me. To answer my own question (in case there are others out there in the same situation), they asked me scenarios about dealing with academic integrity, problems in clinical settings with students, problem solving, conflict resolution, etc. Contrary to my belief, there was no "nursing content" so to speak. By that, I mean, questions like "tell me how you would explain the renin-angiotensin system to a student" or something like that. I cant wait to begin my journey! :)

Hey Nurses, I need some help. I have been an RN for 4 years and I have decided to begin my quest into becoming an educator. So next week, I have an interview with a local community college for an LVN instructor. Needless to say, I have no instructor experience and I would like to know what questions are typically asked during an instructor interview? Any advice will help, thanks in advance! :)

and i totally agree with you on seeing baby more often while working night shift. on day shift, baby girl was sleep when mommy left the house in the morning, and sleep when mommy got home at night! now, i get to spend time with her before and after work!

I actually am a mom of a 1 year old and i just started nights after being on days for my entire 3 year nursing career. it works for me because when i get home, baby girl goes to daycare so mommy can sleep and i pick her up when i wake up. i get home at 8am and she goes to daycare at 9am. i am able to have the house quietly to myself and i sleep for about 5-6 hours. i pick her up around 5pm so we can spend a couple hours together before i go to work the second night. your schedule seems like the kids will be away enough to offer you some good rest through the day. you can do it! :)

chamberlain.edu offers an msn/mba double major if you're down. but all nurses go through that "no bedside care phase". with only 2 years experience, there aren't many leadership positions. maybe look into home health, or commuity health nursing. if you have your bsn, you could grab a quick phn certificate (public health nurse) and that would take you away from the bedside as well. discovernursing.com has info on tons of nursing specialties. check it out.

I am beginning my MSN in May 2014 (YAY!!!!!) But I am torn between the FNP and Nurse Educator track. I want to educate, but I also don't want to be confined to education. I know I can educate at a college level, clinically, community, etc. But can FNP take me more places, or not really? Can I educate with a MSN-FNP and not the MSN Education?

im sure there is not a nurse on this discussion that has felt the same way you do. even when you become a nurse, your first year will be full of tears and stress and you'll want to quit (trust me)! but nursing is a very rewarding profession. you will find what ind of nurse best suits you and work at your own pace. we have tons of autonomy and though working to save lives is never easy, your knowledge will grow and THAT is what will make it easier. stick it out kiddo! you can do it!

good decision! I wish to become an educator soon as well! :) Small piece of positive advice though, please don't go into educating with this sour taste for nursing. Students should not have to hear the gripes of an ex-floor nurse, but the positivity and fulfilment nursing brings. You have TONS of experience to offer and Im sure any class you find yourself in front of will be greatly blessed by your knowledge!

They'll soon learn that looking out for your CNA, will keep your day running smooth. I know a CNA that's probably not as nice as you. And she would ignore the nurses that treated her badly. I've always took time to thank and help my CNA's. These poor new nurses better get it together, and soon!

of course! nursing education does not stop after you have completed your degree. there are always new medication, new interventions for diseases. so if you ever run into something you are unfamiliar with, you look it uo, study it, and make a connection to why this is ordered for your patient and you will start to build up your nursing knowledge.

So i know this may sound horrible coming from an RN but i am not into direct patient care. I am planning on going back to school for a masters in nursing leadership and management. But as of now, i have my associates and i have been working in telemetry for 2 months (im a new grad). So my question for all my other nurses out there is, are there any positions i can apply for (once i hit the 6 month mark) that arent in direct patient care that i wil qualify for i mean without a masters degree yet. I just want to start getting my feet wet in the area i want to be in. But for a new nurse, will they accept me in like case management or quality control or SOMETHING. Can a 6 month experienced nurse possibly get a position in a non pateint care area of nursing?

you're awesome ggabri... i'm graduating this june and im already stressed over the ATI exit exam and ALL the areas it covers.. our school requires at least 68% for passing... which sounds low... but everytime i take the practice ones, i average 55%-60% so i feel like i have a looonnngg way to go...

thanks everyone... i know it sounds foolish of me to be stressing over this... im only 22.. lol... but we are just ready to start a family... but after all the good points everyone brings up, i think it would be smart of me to wait until im employed and then start trying to conceive

So I have been married 3 years and i graduate from my ADN program this June... Assuming i pass the NCLEX on the first try in September and estimating the average 3 months (based on conversation with numerous other recently hired grads), My husband and i want to start our family immediately. we have been wanting to but we figured it would be smart to wait til after school is over. If i plan to get pregnant in july or august (before the nclex), i will be 5 months pregnant when hired to my first job, and then i'd have to go on maternity leave about 4 months after being hired? will that be a problem? will finding a job as a 5 month pregnant new grad be a problem? i need advise my fellow nurses...