number41

Thank you all so much for your responses. I don't get it either. I am in grad school, I watch my children, and I hold down 2 PRN jobs. Both places have this attitude like "you don't want to work more?" if I don't do over the minimum requirement. When I was hired, I made it clear what I had going on in life and that I would do my best to help when I can. My mistake was working so much up until now, I think they think they own me. I get a long really well with everyone at both places, I always take new admissions and difficult patients and stay late to never leave anything behind. It's like I'm a PT person. I don't get the attitude from some, like I'm a PT person who is never on the schedule? It's making me want to leave one of the places but I don't want it to reflect poorly on my resume. I just really need to focus on school right now. Thanks again this made me feel much better!

Thank you for your responses! Do you feel that Per Diem's who are only to fulfill the minimum, or around the minimum, are frowned up or talked about? I was consistently doing around 2 - 3 shifts a week until grad school began so I now I pretty much do around 3 (min.) - 6 a schedule and other nurses have an attitude about it. I was curious if my interpretation of per diem is wrong or not?

Hey all, I'm just curious what the attitude is towards Per Diem nurses where you work? I know each facility has a required number of shifts per month but what is the attitude on your unit towards how often a Per Diem should be there and how flexible? Having issues with this, thank you in advance for anything you can share!

A coworker suggested leaving both and getting a home care job... he said the flexibility would be better. I'm curious, what do you expect of a Per Diem employee? What's the attitude where you work towards PRN people, how much they should be there etc.? That's the biggest issue.

Thanks Samantha! Do you think someone with only 2 years of experience will look bad for 2 jobs and leaving one in less than a year? That's my fear.. even though I am on great terms with both places.

Hi everyone, I graduated 2 years ago with my BSN and I'm currently in an APRN program. I have two PRN jobs, and I stay at home with the baby during the day (unless scheduled to work but typically I am with them). I'm averaging around 20 hours a week. This program is getting very intense and I feel like I need to rethink the strategy. Last year was a breeze, but getting into the meat of it now and something has to shift. I've only been in one position for around 8 months, the other since graduating. I don't want to quit either, but I sometimes get the feeling that I'm expected to work part time to full time even though I'm PRN and they were well aware of what I had going on when I was hired. Thoughts? Should I wait until it's been a year before leaving or leave the position I've had for 2 years? I like both places, and they like me, but clinical starts soon and I don't know how to manage all of this. Thanks in advance.

Thank you Karen!

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone with detox nursing experience would care to share their experience? I have been a detox RN for almost a year and I feel like it has made me jaded and is making me question why I even became a nurse. Some days are better than others, like any position, but rough shifts have me leaving feeling like I don't even want to do this anymore. Has anyone else had experience in this area, like this? Manipulative pt's aside... I don't have anymore in me to deal with being spoken down to, lied to and yelled at. I'm sure this happens in any unit but does detox carry a bit more of this sort of thing? - frustrated

Oh and I just found Excelsior.. any thoughts on them? thanks!

Hey all, I am an RN and I've been accepted into grad school. If I attend the program I have been accepted to I have to retake Ethics and need to take Precalculus or Trig. I have to do this during Spring semester. I've already taken two Ethics courses, but they won't accept it as it's related to Nursing . I've taken college Algebra and Stats, but they want Precalculus or Trig (can't argue with that). Being that I've paid for so many classes that haven't transferred (you all know the deal) I'd really prefer to not break the bank on this. I am not a math person. That concerns me. I found University of Phoenix and Kaplan in my search. This would be ideal because they are only 5 weeks long, give or take. Does anyone know of anything similar? Also, does anyone have a suggestion as to one school over another? Especially because math online concerns me. Thx

Not in the positions I'm looking at, none of them are a step back in terms of licensure (i.e. not a CNA or SNT position)... they require a license but they are more knowledge based than clinical (working for insurance companies, etc). no clinical at all. that's why I wasn't sure if I should do it or not... if someone codes it would be me, because I'd be working from home or in a small office lol

blackvans1234, best comment ever

Thank you guys, appreciate the insight. I have actually heard similar things (mixed things) about whether or not clinical is required to be an APRN. In my area, I have seen a lot of positions posted for an APRN or PA and new grads accepted without clinical experience. I mean, I get why you should have it obviously but this isn't my choice. All of the hospitals around me have lost millions the past 4 months. So, I bit the bullet and applied to the ones I found that were research based and not clinical. Only the ones that required an RN license, so I didn't feel like I wasn't using it at all.. haha. When will this "shortage" actually begin?

I graduated in May and passed my boards, I haven't been able to find anything. I have applied in neighboring states, in the north east. I have done everything from PRN to FT at hospitals, assisted livings, behavioral, substance abuse, you name it. Nothing. It's pretty bad here. I have a family friend who pointed me in the direction of a job working in medical records and another as a care manager. Not clinical at all, in fact I'm pretty sure the 1st doesn't require your RN license but that is helpful. Is this a huge mistake? Part of me thinks yes, the other part of me sees my bills on the counter. Just looking for some thoughts on this. By the way, I'm currently going for my MSN right now to become an APRN. Should be done in 2 or 3 depending on my status, and if I find a job. Any insight at all would be appreciated... just looking to weight my options.

Have you found anything yet? In the same boat here.

Didn't see this until now.. how'd it go!?

I have tried nursing homes too, same deal.. Hawaii doesn't sound bad Alaska..eh..If I wanted 6 months of total darkness and depression I'd go back into another RN program Where did you end up finding a job? How did you get it?

well I'm so glad I found this thread.. I'm in the same boat. passed my boards months ago and nada over here in CT. I feel like people think I'm being lazy or picky but it's been the opposite. I've applied to places an hour away from me. I've gotten my NY license too. FT, PT, PD, hospitals, assisted living, you name it.. nothing. I drove to a career fair about an hour and 45 minutes away to be told that they aren't allowing new grads. this is awful, I'm afraid of this going on for a year and then people looking at me like I'm not worth interviewing b/c so much time passed. I debated becoming an EMT just to volunteer and get some hands on experience with patients.. but that feels counter productive and pretty frustrating. I hope we all find something and soon. I can't understand needing experience to gain experience. they all started somewhere just like us..

Jen_Jen88, yeah.. I didn't sit and memorize, but I kept reading and rereading and talking it outloud to myself until I found myself in the car questioning and reciting everything from memory. I didn't like Saunders outline so I would just randomly pick a question on a page and answer it, if i got it wrong I'd go over why.

Congrats tinkerbellaa! Told yaaaa

I hear ya.. I was in the car logging in right after like a freak lol. Thanks :)

I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. I don't know if this is true but I've heard if you get the 265 or run out of time sometimes they get put on hold, or they had to review your tapes for quality control. Keep checking.. PVT worked for me both times! Good luck.. sounds like you did all the right stuff.

I failed the 1st time in 75 and passed the 2nd in 75... I just posted a topic on it: https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/why-hurst-key-850169.html#post7483168 In short, I did Kaplan and had above 70 on my qbanks. 3.5 GPA. And failed in 75. Hurst was a god send.. neatly wrapped up all of the madness we are required to read into one large understandable document, that connects every system so you truly get cause and effect. I'd do it for sure..

Yep same doc.! Good luck to you. Everyone is different but for me, no, Kaplan wasn't a huge help... maybe just the q bank questions are helpful after a content review. But the strategies alone are a gimmick. To me it's like, would you rather have a nurse who understands med-surg like the back of their hand or one who walks in the room and looks at you blue and shaking and says "Acute or Chronic?.. hmm"