stoberto

I worked in LTC first. It really shouldn't be a big deal. If that is the only job available right now then take it and then keep applying for acute care jobs. You can also network and find people that work in hospitals through your LTC job and use that as an in to get your hospital job. I hated LTC but it was very good experience for me...trial by fire.

Many times if you can't thread your cath isn't actually in the vein yet. When your needle tip goes in you get flash, but you have to advance a little further before you can start threading. Some old school nurses where I work actually insert the entire needle if the vein is straight before they retract...it's crazy to me but they have done it for years.

Volunteer for every stick you can, hard or easy...and there are no concrete rules with IVs in my opinion...sometimes you see them and can't feel them, sometimes you feel them but can't see them, sometimes you aren't sure if you can feel OR see them, sometimes you should go in at an angle, sometimes right on top. One thing I see many people do wrong is they don't pin those suckers down well enough so they move too much...just keep at it.

I did zero practice questions outside of school and did fine. Our school required us to do ridiculously well on ATI and Kaplan to even graduate, so what was the point? I think it totally depends on the school and the person. Some people really don't need to do extra questions, some do...in general I would say many of my classmates stressed out way too much over NCLEX. If your school doesn't do much standardized testing, doesn't use NCLEX style questions throughout, or has a poor pass rate, then you probably need to practice. If your school adequately prepares you, then you will do fine.

I didn't really like nursing school...probably my favorite part was my classmates. I enjoy nursing. My favorite things are starting IV's or dealing with a pt that is going downhill. I know that sounds weird, but just doing simple nursing tasks for people that are the norm isn't too thrilling. Fixing problems for someone that is having acute issues is much more exciting.

Nursing is whatever you want it to be. For me, I do not think about or talk about work when I am not there. My wife knows I prefer not to talk about work at home. I get my charting done and my meds out in 12 hours...if I can't get to something else then that is why a new shift is coming...I rarely stay longer (like something big has to happen right at shift change). I work overtime if I want extra money, if not I just ignore the phone call or tell them I can't work. If you want to have your job consume your life you can...in my mind the great thing about nursing is that you only work 3 days a week and you really don't have to think about work when you are off. The one huge negative is working weekends and holidays. Someday I will probably switch to some type of position which calls for M-F hours for my family's sake...but those jobs usually just don't pay as well.

You can follow up your application with phone calls. The acute care job I accepted was at a hospital I had absolutely no connections to, had never stepped foot in...so it does happen, just pick a few jobs to be persistent about.

Lots of behavioral questions...tell me about a time when: you had conflict with someone on the job. you made a decision that made a neg impact. you went above and beyond. What would you do if: the nurse before you left something a mess. you had to deal with a really difficult family member. The usual like strengths, weaknesses, goals, etc. I think I learned that more than anything they just want you to talk. I tend to be very analytic so I think I err on the side of short answers that exactly answered what you exactly asked me, but really they just want you to take the question and talk about it from all different angles. I also think it helps to try and make opportunities for your personality to come through. Interestingly enough I was rejected for the first 2 jobs I interviewed for, and accepted for the last 2. Also, I came home from the last one and told my wife that it was the best interview I had because I "told some good jokes and didn't say anything I shouldn't have." That job offer was like lightning compared to the other one (the next morning early). I took the first job offer though. The interview process kind of peeved me. I don't like that peers weigh the heaviest on the decision basically on whether they think you're fun to work with or not, and there was one interview where I barely was even asked any questions. In my perfect world I would have an interview with a few supervisors and they would spend a good amount of time grilling me and doing background checks, and then pick an employee based on merit...but the process is what it is so I think you just have to see it for that and make your interview style fit.

For me it is my first paycheck...graduation didn't mean much to me without a job...my first paycheck is coming in 2 weeks and I plan to go to a very fancy restaurant with my wife.

I know several women from my class that have gotten jobs...some have to commute an hour but they have a job (and some in glamorous areas like CVICU). I haven't found sex to be a great advantage...maybe in the actual interview...but once you get the interview you're almost there in my opinion, so it's getting the interview that matters.

I am...how did you know to ask?

I am a new grad ADN and after a few months of searching I got a job on a med-surg floor at a good smaller hospital in the area I live, and the area I live is pretty notorious for being hard to find RN jobs (especially ADNs). I was very discouraged the first few months as I didn't hear boo back from anyone unless it was a "stop calling we don't have positions for you" call. The other unique thing is that I had absolutely no connections to this hospital or job. The jobs I did have connections to I eventually got interviewed for but wasn't selected. I was just persistent about following up, and being a smaller hospital I could actually talk to an HR rep by phone by calling. I just wanted to put this on here and hopefully encourage some of you. You might be where I was a month ago feeling like you might have to move somewhere crazy to find a job...just keep trying! Pick a few you can focus on and be persistent! I also learned how not to answer questions at my unsuccessful interviews, so try to learn and not be too disappointed...keep at it, you'll find your job eventually!

You definitely don't have to spend 100$, there are lots of cheaper ones...but if you are going to be career RN it's kind of nice to have 1 or 2 nice ones.

I know this one doesn't get alot of publicity in the Littmann series, but I love it. I feel like it is more streamline than other Littmanns and I feel like I can hear a little better. It's also very convenient to only have to apply more pressure to change between hi/low pitch (bell or diaphragm. Also...why be embarrassed about using a cheapo? I know people that went through nursing school using a disposable...not the best for learning, but they are RN's just the same. oops...here's the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F4SP1W

I usually tried to let the nurse managers know that I applied through email. That has worked pretty well. Sometimes I called them, but I always applied first so that I could say I was just letting them know that I applied

Just wanted to add, if you like your co-workers and management you should definitely stick it out...it will take a while but eventually you'll be an expert working on a floor with people you like, and you'll be happy you did.

I worked night shifts during school full-time. Sure you fall asleep in class all the time and it's pure misery...but it can be done.

My dad and sister are both doctors...they are very supportive.

I am a 3rd shift nurse in LTC and I have issues every now and then with Lantus being given w/o a snack or blood sugar checks that get changed to 1x/wk because they have been stable for a while...then I get stuck with the person being lethargic or worse unconscious on me because of being hypoglycemic. If it is reported to me that the person didn't have a snack or they do have BS check and I see it was fairly low, I always give a snack to stop it from happening, but if there's no BS check and I'm not told, there's nothing I can really do...it is very very frustrating. So I guess what I'm saying is, I would prefer that everyone have a BS check and nurses were better about following up on bedtime snacks. I understand why you still give Lantus, but please please tell me or give them something to eat.

There are jobs in SC too, and we have alot of nursing schools...my friend had a job with the heart surgery team at a hospital before he graduated last week, and I feel pretty good about my chances in 5 weeks...network network network...

I am a new nurse working in LTC full time 3rd shift (4 nights/week). I finish my ADN in June, when I will take my NCLEX-RN, but I took my PN when I could so I could get some experience before finishing my degree. I have been working for about 2 months now. It is really stressful. I knew that LTC would be a challenging environment, but it is hard to handle. Work consumes my mind when I am not there, and I feel tired and stressed most of the time. It's not so much the nursing tasks that stress me out. I get my meds out without errors, I complete all my charting, send meds back, do chart checks, stock new meds, get charting ready for the next 2 shifts, file charting, etc, and still get out on time usually. The only task that did overwhelm me was change over. I got it done, but had to come in early 2 nights and another nurse put in extra hours to help me. There were alot of discrepancies between MARs...some ended up being med errors (things that should have been on the MAR, meds that should have been DC'd, or meds that got put on the MAR but nurses forgot to write orders for). Anyways, most of my stress comes from everything else. I try to keep my head down and work but I can't help but notice sometimes when treatments aren't getting done, or there are med errors from previous shifts (like I know how many scheduled controlled substances should be used on some residents, so how can I not notice if there are too many left when I come back into work). I had a situation where no one had taught me the correct process for pulling from the controlled substance stat box, and then my ADON told me she took care of it but I found out over a month later she never did anything about it. Sometimes residents get admitted a little before I get there and I am left without things they need (like a walker - which resulted in a fall, or briefs, or a urinal, or 3 nights I've had no thermometer probes). I have no way of getting these things in the middle of the night. I got a note from my DON saying most of the incidents are on my shift and I need to make sure my CNA's are rounding (I do my best to oversee them, and I feel like it's a little out of my control if a resident tries to get out of bed and falls). This week the other night nurse called out for her 3 nights because of being sick and they wanted me to cover some shifts. I told them I couldn't because I just do not think I can handle more than 4 nights a week. My question is, are these things normal for nursing? I am feeling really discouraged about everything. I have been applying for hospital jobs because I want out as soon as possible, but I can't quit because I have to have income. I also worry that floor nursing isn't going to be any better. So if there is any advice anyone can give me, I would really appreciate it. Right now I feel like I am just going to try to keep my mouth shut and get my work done until I find another job, but sometimes I wonder if it is worth it...

I am a long time lurker and new poster... I am finishing my RN (associate's) in a month and a half, and have been working in LTC as an LPN for a month. I knew what I was getting into w/ LTC, but I just wanted to gain experience for a few months while I finished my degree. I actually love my residents, but have found the the workload in LTC is extreme and that some of the other nurses are pretty sketch. I work Thur-Sun full time 3rd shift right now. The issue is that the first week of work I had a stat order for a controlled substance (ativan) that I gave before sending a resident out via EMS. It was only after the next shift came on 2 hours later that I learned I needed a hard script and authorization from pharm to pull this med from the stat box (no one taught me this during my 5-6 shifts training). So anyways, I worked out as much as I could, then left paperwork with my ADON. I tried to follow up, never heard anything. I though it was OK, but a week later I found the paperwork still empty. I talked to my ADON again, then followed up with her on the phone that day and she stated everything was taken care of (she rounded with an MD that day) and that they would have the stat box refilled. Fast forward A MONTH AND A HALF. Another nurse and I pull meds from the stat box (with authorization numbers this time) and I pass it along to my ADON the next morning (by the way my facility has been in transition as far as DON during this time), and she follows by pulling out my empty paperwork from her box and stating that will still need to take care of that (***, you told me it was taken care of over a month ago). She tells me to leave the paperwork for my DON who is at a conference because "she is just so confused." So what I end up doing is calling my executive director of the facility and explaining the situation. I have caught several med errors during change over a few days earlier, so he is OK with me right now. My ADON calls later and I can tell she's ******. Did I do the wrong thing? I know that I can't throw people under the bus, but I feel like this person is screwing with my license by telling me things are taken care of when nothing has been done. Maybe I should have just waited until I was done with my RN and could get a job at the hospital...no wonder hospitals get bad vibes about past LTC nurses.