Mia_2011

Thanks for the advice! I just wish I knew what the next step after this was because I feel like I'm being kept in limbo. He told me that it would be so that "I could see what the unit was like" but it is in fact for them to see if I "mesh" with the employees?

Hi everyone! I interviewed at a hospital much bigger than the one I currently work at. At the end of the interview the manager told me pretty much that "he had lots of applicants but thought I interviewed well and that he was going to offer me a job" Then he asked if I'd be interested in shadowing on the unit. I told him absolutely (so I'd get a feeling of what the unit would be like) they called me yesterday to set up the date, but I have yet to receive any kind of formal offer. Is this typical of bigger hospitals? Should I not get my hopes up that I will be employed?

I had a patient one day who was waiting to be cleared and scheduled to have hip replacement surgery. Daughter at bedside from shift change, making sure to ask for the patient's pain medications round the clock. I even tried telling the daughter that their loved one was fully alert and capable of reporting pain and that THE PATIENT needed to request her medications. I would ask the patient how their pain level was and they would respond "I'm fine no pain, just uncomfortable" (we had them in bucks traction), so I told patient that when they needed pain medication to call. Ended up administering pain medication 3 times during the course of shift before patient was even scheduled to go to surgery. The daughter had not left beside at ALL through the day and I walked in to her on the phone complaining to someone that I was ignoring their loved one's pain and I had not administered ANY medication at all. All be it I am walking in to administer the third dose of IV pain medication. Anyway, as I finish up administering, I wash my hands, and literally as I am walking out of the room my phone rings...The woman on the other end of the line goes "Are you so and so's nurse?" I said yes, and she immediately started cursing me out telling me that I was a horrible nurse for completely ignoring their loved ones pain and that she was going to report me for negligence". I ended up cutting the woman off mid sentence and said " I just gave your loved one pain medication, I have given them now three doses of it throughout the day, and I will not tolerate being spoken to like that" and the woman on the other end of the line goes "that's not what my sister told me. She told me you haven't given her anything!" I was so annoyed with this entire family by the end of my shift that I ended up requesting to not be assigned the next morning.

I once had a clinical instructor tell me "maybe nursing isn't meant for people like you" in front of my entire clinical group (this was after a bad clinical day). I was so upset because I have always wanted to be a nurse. I could not wait to be done with her clinical rotation, and it made me have a fear of "not being good enough" throughout the rest of my program. I ended up getting one of the spots for preceptorship in a critical care area of the hospital, and 3 months after getting my RN license I ended up getting hired at the same hospital/same unit as the clinical instructor who had once made me feel horrible about my skills as a nurse.

I started working at a LTC facility as an LPN and worked through it during my RN year of school. Understaffed, bed alarms going off 24/7, not enough supplies etc. After I got my RN license they told me they wanted me to work rehab along side another nurse to ease her patient load, I thought "okay, i'll do that", I was supposed to work Monday-friday, however I was called off each night because "census was too low" the other nurse was able to work her five days (they never called her off), They then decided to make me the night rehab nurse for the weekends but taking care of 30+ people myself, with patient's on other floors to manage as well?! I don't think so. I found a job ASAP. I love where I work now, and honestly, I don't think I would ever go back to long term care. Bless the people who love that field of nursing!

That's the way it is at my hospital. Personally, I'm not a fan. We have received patient's who were not stable for our floor and there have a few times where they brought up the wrong patient, didn't bring admission orders, etc. It's a bit of a mess. They need to be really organized or sometimes they are over the 30 minutes.

We aren't unionized. However, there are opportunities. Many of the hospitals especially in the tempe/phoenix area have openings for RNs and new grad positions if you are wanting to go that route. I would like at the AZ SBON to answer more questions. I work in a more rural hospital in the south eastern part of the state but I do enjoy nursing in the state of AZ so far :) wages are different depending on where you live due to cost of living so do your research into that as well!

Our tele unit is 4:1 I agree with the above poster, brush up on your rhythms, meds, common problems. Also brush up on the units protocols, especially drips and which one(s) cause patients to be transferred to a higher unit within your facility.

Passed!

I am a new RN as well and i recently got a position on a rehabilitation unit. I usually work nights 10p-6a, but I worked 2-10 a few days ago. Oh my, I was so overwhelmed! I felt like I was glued to my cart, and the two nurses that were working along side me were just chit chatting away and didn't look half as busy as I was. I normally have pretty decent time management skills, but after that one shift it made me feel like I still have A LOT to learn, and work on. I'm pretty sure my feelings are normal. It to me, was a different world. The nurse I usually work along side is SO HELPFUL! She is a seasoned RN who made it very clear she was there to help me along my new journey. One of the very first things she said to me our first night on the floor together was "If there is anything, and i mean anything you feel uncomfortable doing, or just want a second pair of eyes with you, let me know!" It felt like a load was taken off my shoulders. I felt somewhat isolated during the 2-10 shift I worked, both nurses looked at me like "what is she doing here" and only spoke to me when they absolutely had to. My only advice right now is to find someone you feel safe asking questions to and who is willing to help you when you are feeling unsure of yourself.

I have always had the desire to care for people and I believe my parents were my biggest role models growing up (They are both medically trained). I always wanted to do what my mom did, and still does. Now that I am graduated, I want to work on a PCU unit like she does. My parents have always shown endless amounts of compassion and I hope one day to make an impact on people's lives like they have. They worked very hard to get me surgery to correct problems associated with my cerebral palsy at a young age. I am forever grateful to them, and the nurses that took care of me before/after surgery (all of them were so nice! Definitely made an impact on an 8 year old).

It is unpaid, unfortunately.

Thank you everyone. I guess I am finding myself getting a little frustrated because I want to be at the bedside taking care of patients. I really enjoy what I do, and just recently getting my RN license I would love to gain experience working in that role but without hours I don't see how this is possible.

I have been working at my current facility as an LPN since the beginning of the year, but i recently received my RN license and was offered a position working the rehabilitation side of the facility at night. I received a call tuesday that census was low and to not come in which was not a big deal to me. I understand census changes. However, I received a call this morning to not come in tonight or tomorrow and if things change they will call me tomorrow ( I spoke with ADON today and she said that most likely wont happen). I am currently scheduled to work 4-5 days a week, and I work along side another nurse. Are they supposed to rotate who they call off? I feel as though even though I am a part/full time employee they are only using me as PRN. Am I looking at this from the wrong point of view?

I took my NCLEX-RN this morning at 8am. Needless to say I ended up with all 265 q's! My heart sank when question 75 came and went.. The longer my exam continued the more anxious I became. I came home and got the "good message" so I am definitely hoping for good results!