kukula

It is a pain. I started working in a LTC facility last week. And they have recently upgraded to using computers not just for their MAR but for everything. I dont claim that I know a lot. But I also recently worked in a hospital where we did things the traditional way. Comparing it to the computerized LTC facility, all I can say is that it makes things so much harder time consuming. All the nurses in the LTC are also complaining about it. So I am sure its not just me. Just imagine having like 30 patients. And you need to click click click every single medicine. After clicking the meds, you will come up with a drop down window for more options like route, etc etc. When u click it comes more options like comment blah blah. And OMG its even worse if the resident refuses the meds. You need to click 23570234570234 times for EACH medication. Sigh

As a guy, I dont really have much choice when it comes to scrubs. So all my scrubs are solid whites. I currently work full time in a hospital and will be doing per diem in a LTC facility soon. I figured all white is a "safe" color, allowing me to use it in the long term. I dont really want to invest a lot on scrubs. Btw I use Dickies. I recently bought 2 sets of Aviators and I think they are awesome. Havent used them yet though since havent had the time to laundry them

This, my friend, is the worse post I have seen. TS used her Nursing judgement in that specific situation. And IMHO she did the right thing as the situation dictated. She tried to offer patient a bed pan and patient still insisted on going to BR. I am quite positive that the moment TS turned her back, patient would have tried to get up and injured himself worse. About the only way to stop such patients would have been restraints, which in this situation is uncalled for. TS did the right thing by assisting patient to the BR. After the incident, CT scan was performed and came back negative. This is an objective data that absolves TS. And if you know Thrombocytopenia, you should know that one of its biggest side effect is brain hemorrhage, which is exactly what happened to patient. I am sure that incident has nothing to do with the patients death. The fact that the facility hasnt called TS attention is a testament to this. If there is something I can suggest, maybe TS should haf asked someone to assist her in helping patient to BR. It appears the patient is too big/heavy for her. Anyway to TS, hang in there. I am sorry this has to happen to you. But I assure you it can happen to any one of us. What is more important is that u learn something out of this. I can understand how u are feeling atm. I would haf felt the same way if I was in your shoes. And as someone said earlier, just keep quiet about the entire thing. Stop acting "guilty" in any way. You did what the situation called for. Your heart is in the right place.

Wow and I am presently shopping for an online RN-BSN school and Chamberlain is definitely on top of my list. I hope someone from Chamberlain or who have any experience with this chimes in. Thanks for the heads up

Thank you for doing the right thing! Just today I was giving meds to my patients. It has been my habit to have some small talk with my patients. I ask them about how thier day was, how thier lunch is etc. I ask them if they are comfy, are they in pain, etc. I usually do this for like ten minutes, then give them thier meds, stay a little bit more before moving to my next patients. Well today, while talking to my patient, my perceptor called out to me from outside the room. I rushed out and saw her waiting for me. And she was like "Dont talk to the patients. You are wasting time. No wonder it takes u so long to give medications. Just go in, do what u have to do, then come out. I was surprised on how she acted. I tried to reason out by saying I need to check on the patients and i need to develop trust and a relationship. And she was "Theres no time for that. You have ten patients. If u wanna do that then good luck. Be prepared to stay around while everyones left for home". Sigh. Its really sad how nursing is today.

I think IPAMS is trustworthy. I know the owner, *************** That was waaaaaayyyyy back 20 years or so ago when I was still based in Manila. I wasnt a RN then. I wonder though if he still owns the company. Anyway yea I am sure they are trustworthy if it still is run by the same owner.

I would say that you should get out of that relationship NOW. Never allow anyone to treat u that way. Ever. And that is coming from a male RN. It will only become a vicious cycle. He will beat u up, then come back and say sorry. Over and over again. But as the days go on, he will only become more vicious, especially since he will feel that he can do anything to u since u take him back each time. You just haf to stand your ground and say enough is enough. No one deserves to be treated like the way he is treating you. And you should be scared. Very scared. Things like these will only get WORSE as time goes on. And yes call the cops. Document everything. You will need protection asap. Chris

Dont give up. What I did to prepare for my NCLEX was going to the local library and do the computer NCLEX questions. I did it over and over again. Somehow these practice questions allow to set your mind on the right tract on HOW to answer the questions. Dont look in to the questions too much. One thing I noticed with NCLEX questions is its not too deep into technicals like anatomy or physiology. Always remeber ADPIE. Many questions go back to the nursing process over and over again. Also Maslows hierarchy of needs. Remember ABC. I hope you pass the NCLEX soon. Good luck

I feel your pain. I am exactly in a similar situation like you. I graduated Dec 2011 cum laude. Did self study and review and took my NCLEX last April and thankfully passed it. I have been looking for a job since February. Nothing. I have sent out and dropped off so many resumes and never got any reply. At first I i didnt stress myself about it. But after I passed my NCLEX I started to worry. By June, I finally asked my wife to help me. Shes been an RN for quite some time now. She asked her friends and colleagues and finally I got a call from a LTC facility. Tried working there for a few days but didnt like the work ethic and the people so I quitted. Then I got another call. This time from a hospital. I was so happy. Started working there early this month. I love it there. The people are awesome, very friendly and helpful and I am learning a lot. Sadly, last Friday, we received word that the facility is closing. No one knows exactly when. But they all say very very soon. It seems that the facility has been having financial trouble for a while. I am totally devastated. And upset. I know I will be out a job soon. Now I dont know where to find another job since my wife cant think of any of her other friends in any other facility. And the sad thing about todays labor market is that people only seem to get a job if they know somebody in the inside. Sigh

Like what others have mentioned, it doesnt matter wether you have an AS or a BSN. Times like these, its people u know that matters. I was exactly in your shoes a few months ago. I almost lost heart until I finally asked my wife to help me out (shes been a RN for 6 years now). Just a few calls and within a week I have 3 offers. Took the hospital job since I never liked working in a LTC facility as my first job. Dont lose hope. As someone else suggested try to ask for your professers or clinical instructors for help. Or maybe ask around for friends who might know nurses who u can get in touch with. Good luck in your search and dont give up.

I will have to totally agree with the two posters above me. I live in NY and graduated last December. Took my NCLEX last April and recently got a med surg job. I also know of at least 4 of my classmates who got jobs in big name hospitals here. So although most of these hospitals advertise that they only need BSN, they will take u in if u know someone. And yea from what I have heard, people have been saying that "BSN" requirement since the 70s. Now dont get me wrong, I totally agree that as nurses, we need to advance our education. Which is why I am planning to take my BSN soon. The big issue with me though is the $. Truth be told, the pay for RN isnt that great. Sure we start off above average, but then it doesnt really get any better in the long term. Which is why I dont wanna spend $$$$ to be a RN. I dont want to be saddled with huge student loans someday. Money that I can use to buy a home, or get a car. So i took the AS route. Didnt cost a lot since I took it from a community college. And now that I am working, I will be able to earn $. And since I work in a Union hospital, after one year they willl be covering the cost of my BSN. So yea I believe this is the smart route. But in the end it is all up to you. I just figured that since u can get your AS in 3 years, u should be able to make some $ sooner than taking the BSN route. Hope this helps.

Chukster made a very good point. Everything depends on where u live and what the trend is in your area. I will also second his opinion to take your AAS, then the NCLEX and try to get a job. You can then take the RN-BSN route this way while making $ AND getting experience at the same time. This is the route I took and I am happy with how things turned out. In the end, what matters the most to nurse recruiters nowadays is experience. And most importantly, networking. Hope this helps

Congratulations! Wishing you both the best!

I feel for you. I graduated last December. After graduation I decided to take a lil breather while all my classmates prepared for their NCLEX. By February, almost everyone had passed the NCLEX exam. It was only then when I decided to start studying. In the mean time, I started hearing horror stores from my classmates. They told me how hard it is to find a job. All the hospitals they went and applied for were asking for experience. I was like, how the heck can they expect us to have experience when they arent giving us any job? Anyway, by April, I took my NCLEX and passed it. I then strated looking for a job. And then I realized how true it is. Two months after and countless resumes handed out, still no job. Finally, I swallowed my pride and asked my wife for help. Shes an RN for years now and have established a netowork. Two weeks after she handed out my resumes to her friends, I got a call from a Nursing Home. I worked for a few days but decided that I prefer a hospital job. Two weeks after I quitted that job, i got a call from a hospital. I started this week in a med surg floor. I tried calling up my classmates. Apparently, out of 35 of us in class, only 3 of us were lucky enough to haf landed a job. Its really really sad. One of my classmate phrased it correctly. She said "Its no longer what your degree is or your experience is. It appears that today, its who you know that will land u a job". Its reallly really sad. I really hope that things get better soon.

Good luck to you for landing that job. I know exactly what you are going though since today was my first day on the job too =)