Gwailo

Hi Flo, We are also doing paper scheduling and we are experiencing some problems with this format. It sounds like internet based self sheduling would work well for us but Im having a hard time finding a suitable program/system for it. Can you let me know what the name of the system is that you are using so I can take a look. Thanks Jason

My ED actively recruits new grads from the local university. We have recently begun a new initiative called the "trauma day" where fourth year students are given a TNCC type presentation and then given 3 or 4 different scenarios where ED RN's play injured patients (with the back boards, collars, blood and guts!) The students seem to really like the day and many of them apply to do their pre-grad in our ED. We hire new grads on an on-going basis and they are given extensive classroom and on-the-job training with a mentor for about 3 months or so. (the mentorship is very flexible). I was hired about three years ago right from school and was offered a job while I was doing my pre-grad. If you want emerg then don't stop until you get it. It is incredibly rewarding and exciting. The learning curve is a steep one and its not for the lazy or faint of heart. Good luck, there are tons of opportunities out there right now for emerg nursing, even for new grads.

BScN (2005) Graduated at 35. I'll let you know if it was worth it in 15 years time!

I'm doin my pregrad and the other day while preparing a syringe to administer meds via tube, I was eliminating air when the plunger got stuck. All of a sudden the plunger freed itself and a large "wad" of water hit the ceiling like a bullet, bounced off of it and struck a doctor right on top of his bald head! He was very good about it and laughed.... I swear it wasn't on purpose!

I guess the question is, did you leave the patient without any care or was there someone to take over? I can't imagine that you did but hypothetically, If the patient had been assigned to you and there was no one else to take over then your standards give you no choice but to deal with the patient until someone competent is able to resume care. If you left the patient with no care what-so-ever then feel lucky that you were just suspended and not reported to your professional body. As I said this is "hypothetically" speaking and I'm sure that you didn't leave the patient without care.

I felt a little out of place especially as a 2nd year student I was all fingers and thumbs. I couldn't have expressed a whole lot of confidence at that time. I had one or two moms who requested a female RN after I asked them if they prefered one, but a good experience over all. I'm Just about to graduate in June after 4 years and I think if I did the experience again it would be very different.

Here!!

There is an international nursing shortage and Canada is no exception. although by the government's actions you wouldn't have thought so. Canada, with a small population of 30 million or so will be short about 113,000 nurses by the year 2016. This is due to a number of factors such as healthcare cutbacks that increase nurse to Pt ratios, increased attrition due to foriegn nursing recruitment, decreased enrolment and graduation and the very soon to be mass exodus of nurses leaving to retire. The government is doing all it can to perpetuate the shortage by forcing hospitals to lay-off nurses by decreasing funding. I graduate with my BscN in June and quite honestly I have no idea if I'm going to find a job. There is an obvious shortage here but no one seems to care here. I'm seriously thinking about heading south like many of my class mates who have already found employment there pending registration. At least we feel wanted in the states.