SuperStarRN

As someone who worked for DaVita as a nurse for 3+ years and Charge Nurse for 1 year, I agree with parumph on 98% of what was said. If you go to DaVita as an FA who is also a nurse trust me when I say that it is not mostly an office job. As an FA who is also a nurse you will be expected to work the floor when you are short staffed and coverage can't be found while still being expected to do your job and be on those calls as well. I've worked at clinics that were well staffed and this rarely happened and I've worked at other clinics where they couldn't keep staff so this was the norm. And I personally would never suggest that anyone just become a floor nurse. The floor is brutal on nurses and I am currently trying to get off of the floor as soon as possible. Most days I want to pull my hair out because I feel like the only way I can get everything done is to clone myself. But I believe you can do anything that you make up your mind to do so go for it if that's what you want and good luck!

At the risk of sounding cliche nursing was my calling. From a small child I always said I wanted to be a pediatrician. As I got older I realized I didn't want to go to college for the length of time becoming a doctor would take (although I should mention that going from LPN-RN-BSN has taken just as long) so I decided to be a nurse which as it turns out is even better because it is the nurse who actually spends all the time with the patients and has to carry out the orders to get the desired results. It's even better than I imagined. I have a job that I love, my kids are so proud to tell people their mommy is a nurse, and the money isn't half bad either. I wouldn't be happy doing anything else.

Taking the LPN boards will not be any easier. In fact, I have talked to many RN's who were LPN's first and every one of them has said that the LPN boards are much harder than the RN boards. To be honest, after 8 years I don't feel that they should even allow you to take the boards. This concerns me greatly.

The people who I know that failed out were either not 100% committed and focused or just didn't get it. It requires a lot of sacrifice of your time with friends and family that some people were not prepared to give up. Others who dropped out usually just realized that it wasn't for them. One of my best friends failed out the 2nd semester and she swore up and down that it was because she was a single parent with no one to help her with the kids so she could study etc. etc. but boy was she in denial. She was out partying every night, having "sleepovers" the night before a test instead of studying. Being a single mother had nothing to do with it. If you really want it bad enough and work hard enough you can make this happen!

LITTMAN!!! Enough said!

gcat after only a year I have stories for days and they all sound very similar to yours. I wish you the best of luck in finding a new position.

traumaRUS I love that you brought that up. I had a patient tell me last week that he pays my salary (this was his bad attempt at making a joke). Excuse me!?!? You are on Medicaid and have not had a job in your entire life. Last time I checked the taxes that come out of my paycheck pay for your insurance so if you want to look at it that way I pay my own salary. All that "put yourself in the patient's shoes" sounds all warm and fuzzy and like the right thing to say but the fact of the matter is that patients who are noncompliant with their ESRD regimen are also noncompliant with their diabetes and HTN regimens which 9 times out of 10 is what damaged their kidneys to begin with. You ever heard the expression you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you? Patients have to care enough about their own health. And once again, I did not say that ALL patients are noncompliant I said that MANY are noncompliant. In the beginning when they get that diagnosis I can only imagine how trying that news is but when you have been diabetic your whole life and on dialysis for 5-6 years now ineffective coping should not be an excuse. We are all dealt our hands in life and we all have to make the best out of the hand that we are dealt. I do not have ESRD but I'm sure I have my own problems that are just as important to my life just like everyone here reading these posts does. I would also like to say that I do empathize with my patients. When their kidney function does not return I am sad for them, when the PD patient has problems that forces them to return to hemo I am sad for them. When a patient learns about a new modality and gets to leave hemo and go home I am happy for them. When after 7 years a patient finally gets a new kidney I dance a little jig. And when the suffering, ragged patient moves on from this life I feel great joy for them. But the fact of the matter is dialysis is not my specialty and I'm ok with that.

You'll notice that I said MANY are noncompliant. Not ALL. As far as the environment goes I put on my smile and do my job above and beyond so if there is an unpleasant environment it is not one of my making. I love the people that I work with but the patient population is too much for me. Constant nagging, whining, complaining, woe is me is enough to drive anyone to drink. Kidney disease is not the worst case scenario. The patient who was admitted to the ER with a fever on Monday and expired by Friday has it a lot worse. The diabetic man who stubbed his toe getting a drink of water in the middle of the night last week and no longer has a foot this week is a lot worse off. I'm sure you see my point.

I am currently in a bridge program and can definitely tell you that once I am done with school I am out the door! I won't be able to run fast enough. Unfortunately, this is the only job that works well with my school schedule. I will probably stay on PRN I just can't do this everyday for the rest of my life.

I don't think I have ever been burnt out with a job so fast, nursing or otherwise, but I have had all of the dialysis nursing that I can take. The patients could all benefit from a mood stabilizer, they take no responsibility for their own medical care, many are incredibly noncompliant. I am fed up! I feel more like a full time babysitter than a nurse. I HATE IT!!!!....Ok now I feel better.

My mom is a CNA and just moved here to Atlanta about 6 months ago. I drove her around to her interviews and most jobs wanted to pay her $9/hr and she has over 10 years experience. She eventually took a postion that she was able to talk them up to $13/hr but that was with many years experience and they initially only offered her $11 to begin with which was the still the highest of any of the many other offers she received.

I went to nursing school full time, with a newborn and a one year old toddler, out of state away from every friend and family member I knew. My boyfriend worked nights so that I could go to school during the day so I had to study and take care of the little ones pretty much on my own. It was not easy in the least bit but I worked my butt off and was very determined to get it done. My kids were my motivating force for getting it done and I don't have an ounce of shame or regret about doing it that way. You don't have to stay at home with your kids 24 hours a day 7 days a week to be a good parent at any stage in their life. Only you can make the decision, but if there was any advice to be given it would simply be to make the decision that you can live with.

Everyone else has to pay to retake it. I usually don't say anything either about some of these crazy threads that I see on here, but as hard as I tried to stop my fingers from typing they just kept going. Sorry I work in dialysis and listen to adults whine all day and it just tears my nerves apart. I'm thinking about switching to peds. At least you expect children to whine.

Am I the only one reading this thread? They gave you a ticket to retest simply because you sent them a letter stating that you really "felt" that you had passed? What state do you live in so that I can move there around the time I get ready to take the NCLEX? NCLEX is a test. It is pass or fail. Your references and 4.0 GPA have no bearing on it. People need to learn the concept of OWNERSHIP. Ownership says gee I didn't pass the NCLEX again! Guess I should get back in there and study some more so that I can pass it the next time. Ownership does not write letters to the BON saying that I really "felt" that I passed so can you please let me take it again even though you don't do that for everyone else who doesn't pass because lots of people like me and I usually do well on tests?

I wish I could write a book on my experiences with the bullies that I worked with for 2 years. Some people might be amazed at the stories I would tell.

I personally say yes ma'am and yes sir to allof my co-workers. My family is from southern MS, not to mention my father and other members are prior military so it is the way I was raised. The only time I don't say yes ma'am/sir is if they ask that I not say it in which case I am happy to oblige due to not wanting to offend someone. Not too many people seem to mind though.

We are up and running on VISTA ladies!

Hey you said that you bought all the books that the bookstore had. What books did you end up buying? I went to the bookstore website to look up the books and started my ordering. Had to get prepared some way. Just curious to know what you got at the bookstore.

I agree that it is easier to find a job when you already have one. I went for an interview some time back and was told by the employer that they were only looking at people who currently had jobs. I can't remember his reasoning why but that is what he said. On the other hand, if there is one thing I have learned from working in this field it's that when you get that feeling that it is time to go you better listen! So best luck to you. You will find something else and there is no use in being miserable in the meantime.

Ooh I feel so at home here. I thought I was only one who carried an OTC pharmacy around in my work bag. Everyone makes fun of me until they have a toothache, headache, or tummy ache.

I sent you a friend request on FB also. You e-mailed me before so I just looked for you by your e-mail. Two and a half more weeks ladies!

I found another girl on here too. I PM'ed her to join our discussion. I will PM you my e-mail, phone, and FB info. That's a good idea.

When I went to register for the course I was told that we do not start until after Spring Break which is March 12th. Hopefully we do get started sooner though. I am pretty anxious myself. The way I see it the sooner we get started the closer we are to being done:D

I think the excitement has worn off and now I am just annoyed that we are a month away and still have not been given any information. I have to let my job know something ASAP and when I e-mailed them I did not get a response and that annoys me even more.

Kvoyles I will PM you my e-mail address. There is another girl here too who got into the hybrid bridge program. We have another thread going on here.