liltiger427

I've been working NICU for about 9 months on a weekend day schedule. So I work Sat & Sun 7a-7p, with one day on call during the week. Last weekend, I was sick and called in and didn't work. I have had scheduled vacation for next weekend (June 23 & 24) since I started there. My sister is getting married that weekend. My manager informed me the other day that since I called in last weekend, I needed to find coverage for my already scheduled vacation for next weekend. We get one weekend off per 3 months, and I was told that sick days count toward that. The thing is, I was only told this AFTER I called in. They say it's in my agreement. I don't see it, and I didn't see it when I signed it. Is this standard for weekend jobs? I'm considering applying for a different NICU because of this. I love this job, but I feel like I got screwed. LUCKILY I was able to find someone to cover, but if I hadn't, what then? I miss my sister's wedding that I, my fiancee, and our kids are in that I've spent hundreds of dollars on? I'm very angry about this. We earn vacation and sick pay separately. I feel like this isn't even legal. Anyone else have this policy?

We always have respiratory therapy with us, and if it's anything less than 35 weeks, doc or NP is there also. If we know baby has issues and it's over 35 weeks, a provider will be there. But RT and RN always.

I have been off orientation for almost a month and I feel like I had a very successful orientation. I was even recognized by my manager for catching when my baby went into SVT on my shift. I feel like I'm really catching on to the routine of the NICU well and I absolutely love this job. However, deliveries make me nervous. I'm worried I will forget what to do if something goes wrong. I am NRP certified and have went to alot of deliveries. Is this nervousness normal? Am I ever going to get to a point where I'm not nervous? Is it good to be nervous? So many questions. I know I have a passion for this area but this is one thing that makes my heart race.

I graduated with my ASN in May. I went on countless interviews, job shadows, peer interviews, and finally got my first job offer for a Med/Surg floor at the 2nd biggest hospital in town in June. I passed NCLEX the next day and am now a RN. I did my drug screen, physical, everything seemed to be well on its way.. Then I get a call 9 days after my offer, from the HR rep, asking me about a misdemeanor I had on my record from 6 years ago. I had been told it would drop off my record after 3 years. Come to find out, I had been given inaccurate information. Since I did not disclose this misdemeanor on my record, the offer was taken back and I no longer had the job. My misdemeanor was for not checking ID for an undercover cop buying alcohol (literally, I was set up). Not to discount it. I should have checked everyone's ID. However, everyone makes mistakes. I have contacted an attorney about getting this off my record, because I do not want to deal with it again. I have been applying to the other hospital in town (the big one), and putting this misdemeanor on there, so I know I will be covered if I get another offer. But the problem is, I have not gotten any offers and only had 2 interviews at this other hospital. I did not get either of those jobs. I wondered if anyone knew if I basically screwed myself out of ever applying to the other hospital where I got my original offer at, or if I could reapply if I disclose this misdemeanor? I did not think to ask when I was told I didn't get the original job, because I was in tears when she told me on the phone. I don't know who I can ask. I'm kind of stuck. I spent 3.5 years and worked really hard, and I feel like I've wasted it, not to mention I'm not doing what I love. I'm stuck working retail right now, and I hate it everyday, knowing that I am a Registered Nurse and am qualified to do so much more.

Got my first RN interview. Graduate in 3 weeks. This job I interviewed for is in the NICU, which is my dream! She said she's very interested and the pay is super! But it's 7p-7a every Fri and Sat night. Anyone ever done this? I am not crazy about working every weekend for the next year or so, but I really would love this job!!

I usually try to keep some sort of protein with me at school. Nuts, trail mix, jerky or something like that. Your energy is precious, so keep it up if you can. And good luck! It's a wild ride, but it has been fun. I graduate in May, and it's almost unreal.

My post last week reflected my frustration and exhaustion. Today, I am feeling better. I've been interested in OB and NICU since before I started the program, and I got to see a birth for the first time and it was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced and I cried. When I told my instructor this, she gave me a big hug and told me she thinks I will be great in this field. She has a TON of OB experience and it is literally the only thing she teaches. She has done this class for a long time. I told her at the beginning of the semester I was very excited for this class, and she said she can definitely tell. Hearing all of this from her seems to make all of the sacrifice and hard work worth it!

I literally feel burnt out. I've been getting only one day off per week, if I'm lucky. I am in the hardest semester of my program, I work part time and I have a 3 year old. We're about halfway thru the semester and this is where it starts to get intense. The rest of Oct will be absolutely filled with things to do. Nov will ease up a bit, but I can't see the end in sight right now. Help!

I know many students who drive a lot for school, and we have bad winters. It's doable!

Ours has always been 80%, but we are a private Catholic university. Our math is 90%. I was told it is because we are accredited by another institution that is optional. Our graduating class this semester has 9 students, out of probably 50 that started the ADN program in fall 2012. =/

What is preceptorship? Does everyone complete this in their last semester, even ASN? Just wondering. Thanks!

I am currently entering my 2nd semester of my ASN program. I have always worked retail and have no healthcare experience yet. I have my very first interview next week for a PCT position on the Inpatient Oncology floor at our biggest hospital in town. I've applied for numerous positions in almost every floor in every hospital in town. I'm pretty nervous, but excited. I need to get my foot in the door, even if it's on a unit that I know nothing about. I know many nurses and PCTs and none of them work Oncology, so I can't ask any of them for advice. So...my question is...what should I do to prepare for the interview? Should I ask questions? Who here works Oncology? Any advice at all? Ahh! Lol

I'm in Pharm right now and our instructor actually writes everything on the board and we copy it down (not always word for word, it just depends on how much you want to write). I also record lectures, and then I go home and transfer everything to note cards. So, I am hearing it usually more than once and writing it twice. My lowest score so far has been an 84. I was really intimidated by Pharm and thought it would be SO difficult. It is difficult, but I swear writing it down helps. Even if your instructor just does PowerPoints, WRITE IT OUT. I wouldn't say I spend a HUGE amount of time on the class. Maybe 5-10 hours per exam, and that's with making flash cards. My biggest problem with the low exam score is I got confused on the different classes of cardiac drugs. Antidysrhythmics greatly confused me. Our instructor tells a story with most of the huge drugs though. Maybe try to make things personal...think of someone you know that has that disease. There are lots of ways to make it more doable.

I'm wondering about Patho. I got a C in Anatomy 1 and in Anatomy 2, but I was working full time while taking those and I have a 2 year old. I've dropped my hours and my fiancee does most of the care taking of my son. He will be 3 a few weeks after the next semester starts. My choices are to take Patho with MedSurg 1 and Mental Health, or to take it by itself in the summer. However, the summer is only 6 weeks and it's all online. I have the option to take it face to face in the spring. Has anyone had experience taking it online? How did you do? It's also offered online in the traditional 16 week format. Thanks in advance!

No one is trying to "condemn" you for feeling the way you do...but your post title says, "Do I have any options?" meaning...you were asking a question. Then you come up with a reason why each of those options will not work. There is NO room for negativity. If you want it bad enough, you'll make it happen. I don't believe crappy things can just happen to you and you have no control. Believe me...I've been down that road. It leads to pain, agony, anger, and misery. Not where you want to go.

I know crappy things can happen to you. Believe me...I grew up with a serious drug addict in the house...my dad. My brothers and sister did not go to college, our family has been poor for as long as I can remember, all the odds were stacked against me. I have a 2 year old son and a fiancee that makes barely over minimum wage. I severely fractured my leg in my 2nd semester of the ASN program (6 months ago) and then contracted a staph infection which almost resulted in amputation. I have since picked myself back up and taught myself to walk again...but not without paying a high price for it. It is physically painful for me to go to school and work everyday, but I do it because I know I have to. I am working literally JUST to pay the bills right now, as there is no way I can resume my full time hours because of school and the fact that my leg just can't withstand it quite yet. My medical bills are outrageous, and I fear I may have to file bankruptcy. When I was laid up in the hospital for 4 (count them...1, 2, 3, 4) weeks...I had a lot of time to be mad, to be sad, to be inspired...and everything in between. I came out of this fight with more desire to be a nurse than ever before. I never want to see someone else go through what I did, at least not without a support person. I want to be that person who goes the extra mile because they appreciated it when someone did it for them. I am telling you...where there is a will, there is a way. It sounds cliche, but it's true. If you want this bad enough, you can do it. Do NOT give in. POSITIVE thoughts go a long way. If you think you can't do something, then you're probably right. Please explore more options. You can't control what a man does, your family does, your kids do...but you can control what YOU do. You owe it to yourself and your babies to make this happen. Do or do not, there is no try!!!!!

I started when I was 26, will finish about a week after I turn 29. It's a 2 year program, but I had to take a semester off because I broke my leg.

Was supposed to finish my ASN in Dec of '14 but I broke my leg in Feb and it put me back a semester, so I will hopefully be graduating in May of '15. Can't wait! I've already been thru my first semester, so... buckle down ladies and gents, you're in for a crazy, fun ride!!

Hey all! I'm new to this site...this is actually the first topic I have posted here. :) This is my story...it may be kind of hard to follow so hopefully I don't confuse ya too much. I went to a small community college when I first graduated from high school (8 years ago) and received a Technical Certificate in Medical Transcription. I started back at my community college last January to pursue an Associate's in Nursing to be an RN. I finished up my Prereqs (English and Math, since I had taken A&P and Psych for my Transcription degree) and was going to apply to the ASN program at my community college to start next month. However, the program there is 15 credit hours per semester and I work full time and have a 2 year old, there's no way I can take that many credit hours per semester. So..I looked for other options. I found a better (and more expensive) program at a private Catholic university. I applied to the ASN program there and was accepted. I started this past semester. Since my A&P credits were more than 5 years old, they did not transfer...but my math, english, and psych did. So I'm having to retake A&P, which I don't mind, but as you know there is a lot of info involved. Even tho I have taken it before, I didn't automatically remember everything, so I still have studied ALOT. I just finished A&P 1, along with my first nursing class and clinical, which is Fundamentals. I'm considering taking a semester off from nursing courses, which I am allowed to do, but I'm just not sure if I WANT to do that. I do have an option of taking Pharm with A&P 2 next semester. Does anyone have any opinions on that? Exactly how hard is Pharm?