TexasRN75

Are you doing clinicals in a nursing home setting? Do you think maybe that's what you don't like about it? Just because you don't like that doesn't mean that you won't be a good nurse. I agree with the previous poster. Look at what aspects of your clinicals that you don't like. I had a nursing instructor that told us, "I don't like working with old people. It's not my thing." She worked in nursery. She was able to find her niche. If you truly want to be a nurse, then you will find your niche too. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. :)

Honestly, this is why I left the hospital. I couldn't wrap my head around caring for more than 5 pts with complex issues adequately. I was beginning to think I was the only one who felt that way.

This is a great article. I just received my license in Nov 2013. I worked as a floor nurse for approx 6 months. My main concern has always been nurse-patient ratios. You always hear people say, "stick with it." But I just couldn't. I cried every day before I went to work. I was miserable almost every day. The idea of caring for more than 5 patients on a telemetry unit was too much to bear. It's ridiculous! Admins want patient satisfaction, but there is only so much that one person can do. And let's face it, some people think nurses are servants. I would love to explain to my patients what is going on with them and their care plan, but I can only give them a rushed version because I just got two admissions back-to-back. I was also not happy in telemetry. I received a lot of grief about leaving six months after being on the floor, but I truly believe that you know when something just isn't for you. I also believe that it's ok to do what will make you happy. Only you know what is best for you.

If you know that L&D is where you want to work, then do it. I just became an RN. I passed up my chance to precept in OB during my last semester of nursing school because I thought I should get some more "general" nursing experience. I did the same thing with getting my first job. I took a job on a telemetry floor because, again, I thought I should get some more experience. I just started working there and I'm not happy. I know that I want to work in L&D. I went to nursing school to become a L&D nurse. So, my point is do what you WANT to do, not what you THINK you should do. Good luck!!

I made the mistake of buying my med surg book on my Kindle. When it came time to make a reference about the patho on my care plans, it was very difficult. I ended up using someone else's book to complete my annotation. That was the last time that I bought an e-book.

Hi! I graduated in May, and my application is in review. I went into review in April. I am still waiting for my ATT. My 6-month mark will be in October. I finally got to talk to my investigator at the end of last month. The process for my case is as follows: 1. My case was reviewed. 2. After the investigator was done with her part, she forwarded my file to the director. This can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to get back. My case actually took 2 weeks. The director decides if you can test and what stipulations there are, if any. 3. After the director finishes his/her part, the file goes to legal. Sit back at this point, because this too can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks. 4. After legal, my file was sent back to my investigator. She will then mail me my letter stating the terms of licensure. I will have to sign it and get it notarized and send it back. When the BON receives my signed Agreed Order, they will present it during the next committee or quarterly meeting. The board meets once a month. If you don't get this letter back before they meet, you will have to wait until the next meeting which could potentially cause you to lose a month. This is where I am right now...waiting for my letter from legal. God willing, my file will go before the board during their quarterly meeting in October. After the board approves it during their meeting, the file will go back to legal to review and THEN I'll receive my ATT. I've heard that the file's 2nd trip to legal doesn't take very long. But we'll see. My case has been a very long, frustrating process, but I'm finally seeing a very small light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there!

Thank you for posting this. Our stories are very similar, and I've been wondering what's going to happen with my case. I had all of the checks that went to the JP's office in the early 90's. The only difference between my case and yours is that I never got arrested. I have almost 20 that I had to take care of, but I did take care of the checks and paid restitution for all of them at the JP's office. I, too, disclosed it to the BON because I was told to disclose EVERYTHING. Needless to say, the misdemeanors never showed up on my background check, but now I'm waiting on pins and needles to find out what the BON has decided to do with me. They are saying that I won't find out anything until November. Meanwhile, my friends that I graduated with are taking their boards and getting their licenses. The fact that you were brave enough to post this is awesome. I have been wondering about what was going to happen with my case, and I thought about posting it to this site, but I didn't know what to say. I hate that you're going through this, but I am so glad that you posted this. This is information that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. So, good luck to you with the board, and THANK YOU! Keep your chin up. I totally believe that it will all work its way out.