Dodgern

Just an update~~~~I took the exam on July 27th (my wedding anniversary )..................... PASSED IT!!!!! I was worried knowing that I was going to have to put my nursing career on hold for 45 days if I didn't pass it. Thanks for the replies and the support all.

Thanks for explaining that to her. :) I may try to help any other RNS in the future who find themselves in my situation. I would like to see a new precedent set up so they won't have to write the NCLEX in order to get a TN nursing license if they have to relocate the same way as I did. ...especially if they have similar years of working in the USA as me. I'm studying now. ... Management of Care was not covered back in late 1980s. ... smh

Yes....I talked to many humans. ... The best they could do was take the funds I paid for Licensure by Endorsement and use it to pay for the License by Examination application. I think that happened because there is nothing on the application site that says you have to have written the NCLEX in order to get a TN nursing license. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for that BUT I am still more than a little perturbed over the whole situation. The lovely Nursing reps did rush the email with my ATT approval so I am booked in for July 27th. That is my wedding anniversary date. ....that 3wks after I start my new job. That will leave me 14 days to retake it IF I fail . My 30 days of working under my NC license will be up then. Thanks for all the support. ..

Let me back up here and explain my situation. I moved to North Carolina in 1992 after accepting a job offer in Charlotte. North Carolina has reciprocity with Canada meaning that the state accepted my education- a 3 year RN Diploma program as acceptable to work as an RN in a Level 1 trauma center. I worked for Carolinas Healthcare for 24 years! I worked in several different areas including a 6 year position in the float pool. I worked every unit in the hospital except L+D , the OR, and the ER. My husband and business partner bought some businesses in Tennessee so we moved. I couldn't find a position in my specialty area- Endoscopy right away so I am working as a traveler in NC. I have found a job close to my home in TN so I applied to get my TN license by endorsement and I was informed that despite ALL my experience , I still have to take the NCLEX!! TN is in the Compact~~~NC is in the Compact!! What the heck???

Ummm....there are still Diploma nursing programs around.

How long have you been an RN? I have 28yrs under my belt. BUT I'm a lowly Diploma RN. Frankly, there should be a group of us who are "grandfathered" in because of the amount of experience we have. I have no desire to be in management so that shouldn't be a problem. I am a certified GI RN ~~~CGRN and have been so for about 8yrs. There are BSNs who are book smart but have no bedside experience Whereas, us older non-degreed RNS have years of experience at the bedside and can run situational rings around the degreed RNs. You want to be management, have at it. But allow the rest of us to continue to work as we always have.

Excuse me???

Always send a thank you for your consideration email and let them know that are rescinding their offer. ...never burn a bridge. ...

I got pulled over a few weeks ago. ....young,snot-nosed cop wouldn't reduce it. Had to go through a lawyer. ...seriously, I hope he learns before he needs us to look after him.

I think new nurses leave because they had the "Rose-colored glasses" view of nursing. No-one has ever really told them what we do.... This is NOT an insult! Nursing is a high-stress career! We literally save lives. Our assessment and care of our patients dictate their outcomes. Being responsible for human lives is HIGH STRESS!! Without our knowledge and care, the least little change would go unnoticed~~~ because of this, they die. My aunt tried nursing school "back in the day" and decided it wasn't for her. It did NOT dissuade me! I have been an RN for 27+ years! I have gone through the ranks~~new nurse to "seasoned" nurse. I have worked many areas of the hospital from NICU to all the floors to all the adult ICUs~~I worked in the float pool! I wouldn't be the RN I am now without the multitude of experience I gained! I also learned what area I enjoyed most~~~GI!!! The closest to the OR I can get without having to wear a mask for 12hrs/day!! I found out that I get clausterphobic wearing a face mask for too long! New nurses need to know that nursing is not wearing a little cap and bringing water and snacks to the patients is NOT reality. The average patient in the hospital is a level 1-2 now~~~very sick to intensive care level! Many patients are on telemetry and SPO2. Most of the floors are wired for these! The days of flowers and watching TV , these patients are few and far between! I was very fortunate to have very supportive RNs around me when I graduated~~in the 1980s!!! New nurses now a days have to try and keep up with technology, experienced RNs and savvy interns and MDs! You need to be flexible, willing, and wanting to learn because healthcare is evolving EVERY DAY!!! The other downfall making new nurses leave~~~patient satisfaction~~~ Frankly, basing my raise on whether my patient got the crackers/cookies/pillow fluff/TV fix/family member meal~~~ETC on time SUCKS!!! This has NOTHING to do with my patients getting better! I AM a patient advocate. I AM there for my patient no matter what he/she needs. I am NOT there to make sure their visitor gets a meal, shampoo, a toothbrush, a meal ticket~~~~MY PATIENTS MATTER!! The patient satisfaction should include the simple things~~~did you get your pain meds on time? Did you get your bedbath? Did you get better and go home because we took such good care of you? I KNOW that their comfort matters... I know that they need to be informed but the other things should NOT be on that questionnaire!!! Our jobs are stressful yet rewarding!! Otherwise, I would NOT still be here doing my job!!!

He's a great employee but he dogs my every step and keeps asking where the fire hydrant is!!