kdonna

Be glad you are DONE!!! I worked at a nursing home for exactly 4 months starting last August. It was my first nursing job and it payed equal to the hospital. 6/8 hours of second shift was medication pass. Yes, butt creams, dressing/bandage changes, and other treatments were supposed to be undertaken by me as well, as well as respiratory treatments, calls to the hard to find doctors, lab specimens, enemas, etc. So assessments had to be in the time you were passing medications and lets be realistic----they were half ass'ed if done properly at all. The well worn nursing assistants did little extra, and had such huge bad attitudes that it was scary to ask them for a thing. Jealous and petty that they didn't make much and had been stuck for decades. They gave rough and insincere care--many residents had UTI's and Loads of bruising. The nursing assistants always took their breaks, and didn't ever follow policy notifying me that they were leaving. One told me it was policy for me to put all creams on the butts, and powders for yeast in peri area. Ok, so I checked with higher ups. Yep policy. So as she performed her tasks, she did not do as I suggested and what a good CNA would do and work with the nurse to accomplish the butt cream task. I had to re-open the briefs and re-roll the patients needing the butt cream each time. Further, she told me I had a bad attitude. Meeting with the supervisor did nothing. I got wrote up for not taking timely vitals on a new admit (previously here before hospital admission), because the patient was somewhere in the building with family for 4 hours. I did look for her and even stop the first shift supervisors on their hurried exit out the door. I didn't know what she looked like. DO WHAT YOUR LITTLE VOICE INSIDE TELLS YOU TO DO. IT'S CORRECT. Something better will come!!!!!!!!!

You will start getting calls for interviews......depends on the types of jobs you've applied to. I started with manpower and was hired to work in corrections (first interview) since it was in a prison for the criminally insane, I waited to see what I would get. Then came offers to home care, then nursing homes. I took a ltc facility, thinking I could pick up skills.......... everything you read on this forum is true when it comes to ltc. (scanty orientation, thrown to the wolves, really!! cut corners on med. administration!!??! Money is good, but license is hanging in the balance if you screw up. We'll see if my situation improves......because I will quit before I get reprimanded for being to slow..... It is the system, not me and I refuse to mess up because I am too slow. No, having never worked as a nurse, and taking my time with meds. is not too slow. Don't know what they are thinking, I suppose they are not.

Advocating on the part of people who cannot advocate for themselves is compassionate and ethical care. Young and inexperienced, does that mean it bothers you that they show concern. You are correct to take yourself out because clearly, you were in it for yourself. The hours, the MONEY. LTC does need improving and with attitudes like yours no wonder it never does.

Just when I was beginning to think I had made a big mistake, I did get a full time job at a nursing home. I am working second shift, and cannot believe that I could get this lucky. I start out at 28.00 per hour, and full benefits. I can only thank God because I prayed and believe I have received an answer.

Your advice is honest, and I think it would be a better place to start for ADN nursing schools...... I have been trying so far for 2 months and have had two offers (neither of what I would have thought I would ever be doing) and so I did not take either offer. I too am second career, and I think I am sensing ageism as well. I am coming around to the expectation that recruiters want young,cheap nurses especially ones they are friends with. I am a loyal, hardworking, and relate exceptionally well to older clients. It doesn't seem to matter that I worked as a CENA in nursing school, and many that I know of that have jobs now did not. I figure I won't give up but feel as though I have been duped, and no I won't be educating myself further in the field until I gain suitable employment. Money and paying bills does matter and sometimes the trite advice about working for free and volunteering is getting hard to stomach.

PVT worked for me. May 29 2014.

Took NCLEX for the first time after graduating 16 months ago........ Family illness.......needless to say got my PASS today!! Best wishes for everyone out there fretting. Please know you can do it and it isn't any more difficult than those test you have already taken.

I just graduated!! It is not too hard especially if you take the "supplemental" courses that go along with 150,155 & 221,222. I didn't even know about them, and by the time I figured it out, I could not get into them as space was limited and reserved for those entered previously. I sat in on some classes and you get a good review of the content, and it was a review of the class as well as test reviews (honed in on what is on the test). Definitely an advantage to someone taking it and an unfair one at that as there are not enough spaces for all who want the classes. Anyway, don't get behind! And study and READ! Many students have copies of old tests, (somehow) and there seems to be a lot of this "secret" supply going around. Just do what you should do and you'll do better than most. By the way, I did not subscribe to the "secret" stash. Good Luck!

I am disappointed in nursing school. I've not only found the clinical instructor is mean (to me), but has favorites (those with more experience) and isn't afraid to let it show. If I already knew about how to be an RN I wouldn't be here. Getting a sinking feeling that I may not pass clinicals...and it would be the first fail in my life. I am not impressed with the nurses attitudes, in general, either. They don't want to take the time to teach in almost every case. Its great when you do the grunt work for them though. The system seems broken.