linsmirn

Call every single number you have, I got my job by calling the nurse manager instead of faxing my resume. It shows you really want the job instead of just waiting around. Take it from a new grad, calling works.

I also have a classmate who failed it twice, everyone else from our May graduating class are now working RN's and I feel really bad. She was a smart student but always over think things, and "what if" everything. I know she knows the material but I know she keeps looking for a hidden word, the nclex is not trying to trick anyone. She also failed the 1st time with 75 questions. Tell your friend she needs to do more questions and read the rationales and make sure she understand the answer before she moves on. I know everyone wants to pass with 75 questions but 2 of my classmates passed with 265. Tell her if she has anxiety to take her time during the exam, take as many breaks especially when she is feeling anxious, I went to the bathroom 3 times. Also let her know if the exam pass 75 to not panic, it means shes up and down with her answers but answering a good amount correct and the system cant determine if she passed or failed yet. Thats when she needs to concentrate, take 5 mins a each question if she has too, but dont let passing 75 give her a panic attack. Wish her the best and tell her not to give up. I know a lot of good nurses who failed the first time and some who took it 3 and 4 times.

Theres a new behavioral health hospital called Park Royal in Fort Myers, FL opening Feb 2012. Check out the site for more info http://www.parkroyalhospital.com, Good Luck. I know they have called a couple of new grads in for interviews.

The question is really how long it took you after you passed the nclex and became a registered nurse. I graduated in May but didnt take my nclex till the end of July and started looking for a job in August. I got my first job which was full time mid September, left it because I didnt like the environment and recently got hired by a hospital in Oct. So it took me 1 1/2 months to find a job. I grauduated in a class of 16, small class, everyone is working and got their jobs within a 1 to 2 months of getting their license, and 90% of them are working in hospitals. The director and dean of our school is very proud of our class. Its hard but its all about landing an interview and going in there prepared. I did all my research about the position and the hospital I was being interviewed for before I went in. I also called the nurse manager and explained how bad I wanted the position. This position like most was asking for experience but I got hired, the only new nurse out of the 4 RN's that got hired , even the techs have 10+ years experience. At times it can be intimidating but Im taking it one shift at a time Whenever there is a number always call and speak to the person instead of calling, it works. Know what position you are going in for and days before pick up a book and do some reviewing. Never go into an interview not prepared and not able to answer questions. Being a new nurse the interviewer knows you have no experience but you better have textbook knowledge.

I do agree with what you are saying. Not sure what state you are in but here in FL the proportion is not small. Theres at least 6 around my way with all 22 rooms occupied and have a waiting list. Im just saying I couldn't place my parents in one. Back to FL, almost all the nursing homes down here especially south FL have bad ratings, you always hear something on the news or read it in the newspaper. But than again everything in FL needs improvement.

My family is against nursing homes, all 3 of my grandmas stay with one of my family members. But than again Im from the caribbean and thats how it is there. I dont understand or like nursing homes. I think a person should die in their home if possible or with family. My mother who is only 47 already told me and my sister dont we dare put her in a nursing home when she is older.

PRNs are great especially if its days you will still learn a lot if you want to. Not so much for nights, not as much action. If you know that per diem is what you want at the moment than go for it, you will still get experience, and theres plenty of PRN positions out there. As a new grad from May, I was told I was being offered a per diem position but at the end was given the full time wich is what I wanted. Good Luck.

You are going to be a nurse getting $32 an hour, you are lucky they even gave you this position. Stop worrying about the pay and concentrate on passing your boards. Dont bother them and ask for a dollar more, it seems ungrateful. Good Luck on the NClex

New grad, psych nurse starting in a week, super excited. Psych is also where I wanted to be, all my friends dont get it because all of them are either med-surg or tele and one ER. I majored in psychology before I became a nurse and its the area I always wanted to work in. Cant wait.

Not normal, every interview I had was nice and pleasant especially the psych position I got hired for. Sorry you went through that.

You guys work for great companies. My first job as a nurse was in dialysis, I was so happy about it but the nurse that was training me was horrible. I did not learn as a PCT first, I was told dont worry about the machines etc: it was terrible. I left after a couple weeks, landed my dream job interview the following week amd got hired. Now Im working at a hospital. I will never tell someone in this economy to not take a job, if you need the money and experience, and if you think you can do the job for awhile than go for it and continue to look for your hospital position. At least you might work for a company that actually train you unlike mine. Good luck.

My psych interview was instance, I was ask everything from if I ever been in a situation where someone was mad or screaming where I had to be the peacemaker, they want to know that you have been in confrontations before and how you responded. I was also ask to explaim the DSM-IV. I was asked what I would do in this and that situation. How Ive been with my past coworkers and the phyicians I worked with during my clinical rotations. Before I went to my interview I reviewed all the psych disorders which I was asked questions on. I answered every single answer perfectly and got my job. Im also a new grad from May with no experience. Go over your psych book, you dont know what they are going to ask you. They know you dont have experience so they want to see if you know what you are getting yourself into and if they can work with the knowledge you have.

Like I said in my first post she might let you go on the spot or let you finish your shift. They have a long list of applications like McDonalds and dont need our two week notices but its professional of us to do so. Good for you and good luck on your next position.

I also got a dialysis job 2 months after I graduated, but the training was horrible so I left and got my hospital job. But I did do a lot at the dialysis clinic, I started treatment, IV's, assessments, administer IV meds, draw labs, kept an eye on the patients and took care of them when they complained of cramping, dizziness, low BP etc: and called and received calls from physicians.I had a lot on my plate pluse I had to supervise 5 techs. I was always busy. If you do all I just mention and you leave on a good note, trust me it will benefit and help you get a hospital position.

You have another job so you probably dont even have to ever bring up the LTC. Im happy you are leaving and have something else lined up.

New grad starting a night shift Nov 14. Its now 3:10am and Im still awake. I requested night shift and so happy that I got it. I always fall asleep around 5am, have to force myself or take melatonin to sleep before 2am. Ive always stayed up late since high school and have tried to break the habit but couldnt, now Im happy I didnt because I love night shift, did it for my preceptorship and enjoyed it with no problems. So happy to hear that other nurses also enjoy working nights.

Give a notice like the previous poster said, talk to the DON, he/she might let you go on the spot or finish your shift. Whatever you do GET OUT. Thats to much for a new grad. Im also a new grad and got hired at a dialysis clinic but didnt feel comfortable or safe because of the lack of orientation and training so I left. Now Im working for a hospital on the psychiatric floor taking care up to 15 pts, but theres always another RN and a tech sometimes 2.

I wanted to be a psychiatrist but schooling was too long and decided on nursing. Got my associates in psychology so Im a lot like you. I am a new nurse with a associates degree and just got hired as a full time employee at a hospital on their psychiatric floor. Everyone else there has 10 plus years experience, Im the only one with none but my interview went great and I got hired. You dont need a masters just your associates, all areas of nursing ask for experience but you will get your break somewhere. Im starting in a week so I cant tell you how it is but its a med surg/psych floor so I will be starting IVs, wound care etc: which Im super excited about. It seems like you would be a good nurse, the decision is all yours.

Most nurses I know have changed specialties at least 3 times. You are a new grad with no job, take the psych position, you might like it. If you find out its not for you continue to apply for other positions, you have a better chance at getting that OR position with some experience than none at all. Im also a new grad and recently got hired as a psych nurse. Ive always like psych and super excited about the position, but I also plan on trying Maternity in the future, you have many opportunities as a nurse just get your foot into the door.

Hey Im also from florida and most places that are looking for experienced psych nurses want you to already have your CPI. Which is silly because once they hire you they have you take a CPI course. Where Im about to start working in Nov my employer is paying for it. But since you are a new grad like me they shouldnt expect you to already have it.

Now you know thats not true, I bet the plumbers have familys too, which brings them down way below a nurse salary.

Lol this is too funny, Im getting paid $32 because I work nights and its enough for me. If you arent happy or the money isnt what you expected than do something else. None of my friends make more than me, not even my lawyer friend because the economy is bad. Yes I work hard but I love my pay and my benefits, so no complaints here. Oh and I dont live a life I cant afford, with my pay Im able to pay my bills, have fun and save, which I wasnt able to do before.

Im a new nurse and got hired at a clinic 30mins away, and within two weeks got called for my dream position at a hospital that is 10mins away for $6 more and way more stable. I left my first job after only 2 weeks, I didnt want to stay for a month knowing I was planning on leaving eventually. So I explained my situation and thanked them for the opportunity, I didnt want to waste their time. Like everyone else said never leave without having something else lined up. Start applying now and dont feel bad if you find your ideal job and have to leave soon.

I understand what the OP is saying. If I was married and my husband lost his job, being the breadwinner wouldnt be a problem. Just like how society sees women as supposedly wanting the husband with money theres also a lot of men out there that want the same thing. It makes me laugh when Im on a date and tell the guy Im a nurse and he gets that sparkle in his eye, lol sorry Im old school and I wont be paying your bills. Ive always been picky but more so since I became a nurse, but I have that privilege Im young, no husband and no children. Back to the OP, she did say these were her girlfrends so she obviously know them on a personal basis, theres more to the story. She probably noticed their significant others not trying to better themselfs.

Its hard and I get frustrated but my school prepred me. By our 3rd semester we were taking 4 pts on our own and during our practicum I worked 13-14hr days and nights non stop 5min break and 5 pts, all this while I was a student. I was blessed with a school and professors that didnt take the easy way out and tell us everything was going to be OK. Its hard but its everything I expected.