rm89

We had this one dear old lady whose moods would turn on a dime. One day we had a church group who was singing and afterwards the preacher approached this lady and said, "____ I can see Jesus shining in you!" To which she promptly replied "go to hell!!!" 😄😄😆😆 we laughed so hard at the look on the dear old preachers face (waiting of course, til he was out of hearing).

I did have 2 years experience as an LPN, and so far it has helped tremendously. However, I think a lot depends on the PDN company you work for. My company loves new grads, and the usual training time is 4-8 weeks, depending on how comfortable the new grad is. For most new grads, they take the entire 8 weeks. Those of us with some previous experience usually have closer to 3-4 weeks, and feel fine with it. In fact, this company has you do nothing but observe for the first week, before you are required to do any pt care. You are welcome to start doing small things earlier if you and your preceptor feel comfortable with that, but for the first week, you are officially there for observation. I think during the interview process, when they ask you if you have any questions for them, it is a great time to ask about training/orientation, and how long that usually takes with their company, what they expect from you, etc. It is a very relevant question, and if they balk at giving you a good answer, then it's a good sign you probably don't want to work for them. Another good question is asking what the turn over rate is for RN's in their company. Anyways. Sorry you had a bad experience as a new grad. I actually had a very similar experience as a new grad LPN, but mine was in the hospital. I had to literally beg my preceptor to come show me how to do stuff, and she was very mean about it all. She would give me her entire pt load, then sit in a deserted office "charting." I only lasted there 2 weeks, as I truly felt my license was at risk. I think a lot of it is simply what hospital/company you work for.

I joined my local chapter and it does look good on resumes, etc, because they only take those with a 4.0 GPA, and you have to keep your GPA above 3.5 to stay in. It also offer scholarships, etc. I think it's a good idea.

Just wanted to give a little encouragement to all the new grad RN's out there. I graduated Dec.12, and took my NCLEX on the 29th. I found out I passed 48 hours later. I began my job search immediately thereafter. (I should note that I moved from Arkansas -which is where I went to nursing school - to Colorado as soon as I graduated. Therefore, I wanted to wait until I actually had my license before I began to apply. I also should mention that I had 2 years experience as an LPN). I looked on Hospital sites, as well as Craigslist. I found however, that craigslist had many more opportunities to apply for. I began applying to almost any job except those which I knew I did not want to work at unless I absolutely had to. I applied for a home health agency in the area that had a position open as a private duty pediatric RN. I received a call almost immediately and they set up an interview time. I have a friend who also works for this company, and I knew they were absolutely amazing!! I had the interview with them, and 24 hours later was offered the job! It has proven to be an amazing place to work for so far, with great pay and an incredible atmosphere. Not to mention that I'm working in pediatrics, and not just any pediatric patients, but those with trachs, vents, g-buttons, vesicostomies, O2 - you name it! Preemies fresh home from the hospital, etc. it is a highly specialized field, and will give me lots of good experience should I want to move on in the future. (At this point I do not). I just wanted to encourage new grads that the jobs can be found! Here are a few things I did that I think helped me. 1. The night before I went to the interview I googled "nursing interview tips" "new RN grad nursing tips" etc. You get the picture. I read as many as could. I also Googled "questions to ask at a nursing interview" and wrote some down. I went to the company website and learned as much about the company as I could. I found one thing to compliment them on that I found to be extra ordinary, and asked a few questions specifically geared towards their company. Those little extra things show that you are interested in their specific company, and have done your research. 2. During the interview I answered questions as honestly as possible, but also made sure that my answer included things like "I'm hoping to be part of this team long-term." This helps them to know that they just aren't any job that you are wanting to get into as soon as possible, and just stay long enough to get some experience and move on. I interviewed on Wednesday, and when they asked me when I could start, I said the following Monday. Didn't want to look too needy, lol. 3. I also tried to come across as confident in my abilities. I didn't overstate, and if I had never done something, I said so. However, I made sure to also state that I would be eager to learn that procedure/policy/med, and that I was confident in my ability to do so. When I left the interview they told me they loved it, and that I should be giving lessons, because I answered questions so well. (Little did they know it was thanks to approx 2 hours of Google time, and that it was my first ever job interview)! I have been told since that they wanted to offer me the job on the spot, and that the only reason they didn't was because they had to check references for their records. So yeah. Hope I didn't come across as bragging, but I did want to encourage others, and share the tips of what helped me. P. S. I also hand wrote a thank you card to each of the interviewers, and included a quote or idea that I really liked from that person personally. I thanked them for interviewing me, and mailed them the same day I interviewed. All of this to say, I got my first RN position in the pediatric field (my dream) within a month of graduation, at my first interview. I also only have my ADN, so it wasn't like it was my schooling that got me the position. It can be done. Don't give up, new grads!!!

I work as a PDN on nights - I get shift dif and holiday pay. I think it depends on the company.

I worked in a SNF/LTC for 2 years as an LPN before I got my RN. They paid shift differential for nights, and we got holiday pay. They did not have a shift dif for weekends however. Most LTC places in the area I worked in also paid shift dif for nights and holidays. Or so my friends said that worked there. Now I work as a pediatric home health private duty RN, and we get paid $5 shift dif for nights, but no weekends. We also get holiday pay, but we aren't required to work any holidays, and it depends on if the family wants you in the home on the holiday, as to whether you'll be able to work at all on a holiday, even if you want to.

I just graduated with my RN, with 2 years experience as an LPN. My 2 years experience really did stand me in good stead, but I didn't actually get a job in a hospital. I'm working private duty pediatric nursing in collaboration with a home health agency. I think it depends on where you want to work and what part of the state and country you live. In a big city, that experience may not count for as much, while in a smaller town you may get into more of a specialty area with no previous RN experience.

I would say that this instructor is very correct, and did a good job at not pinpointing anyone in particular and shaming them. In both my LPN and my ADN program, if we showed up out of dress code, they had the ability to send us home immediately, and it counted as an absence. Most of them were nicer and just warned us the first time, but second time was an immediate send home, and that included when we were in lab, and not on the floor. Your instructor did a good job all the way around of giving examples of why you should stick to dress code, and what people will say about you if you don't (and be assured, the WILL say those types of things) and the consequences for not taking her warming to heart. Take it in the good spirit she meant it, and let it go.

I currently work at a LTC facility, and have for almost 2 years. I worked the majority of that time on night shift with up to 36-38 pts at a time. You will learn who takes time, and who is fast. It will take a little bit to get a routine down, but once you do, you won't believe how much faster it goes. However, my biggest piece of advice is to make sure you are doing it right, even if it takes you longer, even if you are the only nurse doing so, even if your pts get ticked at you. The speed will come with time. You can never go back and undo a big mistake. The other suggestion I have is to save your treatments until after you are done with med pass unless you have something that is actually scheduled for 1930, etc. if you have a general time frame in which to do them, then save them for after med pass. Good luck! Hope your routine settles itself down soon. :)

Wow! Congrats! I'm sure it's hard to be put back in the place of a brand new nursing student when you've been in the field for so long, but hang in there! I myself graduate from an LPN-RN bridge program in 3 weeks. I was really nervous during check offs as well, but take some deep breaths and remember that you can do this! I do think it gets easier after the first few, especially as you get to know your instructors and are able to see what they are looking for. I'd say don't give up until there are no other options! Good luck!

So I am and LPN, graduated in Dec. 2012. I've held my current job at a LTC/SNF since I graduated. I am planning to graduate in December with my RN and move to Colorado to be near family. I'll be in the Ft. Collins/Loveland area. I'm wondering if the LPN experience will help or hinder my chances? Also, if it says "1+ years nursing experience required" in the application for an RN position, does my LPN experience count? Any tips or tricks are appreciated.

Welcome to the U.S.! I am so sorry to hear that you have had such a rough experience so far. I know it's no fun to feel like you are drowning without help. I currently work in a LTC facility, and have for the past 5 years, as an aide, then as an LPN. I am not an RN, so I'm sure there is some difference in our job roles; however, you should not have to work in the kind of conditions you are now. It looks like you've been working since May? If I were you, I would try to find another prt time job in the area maybe. Just to get your foot in the door somewhere, and get some other experience. Look for other job opportunities. It's true you haven't been in the U.S. long, but I think that the right place would look at how long you have been a nurse overall, not just how long you've been a nurse here in the states. Once you get a little experience elsewhere, try to get in full time and quit this job. If you can't though, and just have to make the best of a bad situation, maybe you should come and talk to the daytime DON. Ask if you can meet with her, schedule a time, and then just tell her how it's going. Ask her for advice on how to handle the patient load. Have her show you where they keep all the protocols for everything, and make copies for yourself so that you have them when you need them. Ask her to clarify what is not clear to you, such as when you were told something by a charge nurse, and then told the opposite the next day. If that doesn't help, then I would say just start job-hunting for another place in earnest. I promise, not every LTC facility is that bad. Mine has some issues, but nothing like that. Good luck! I hope things change soon!

When charting in a computer, and you are trying to chart a stage 2 pressure ulcer, please don't chart a "stage 11." If you're wanting to use roman numerals, try "stage II."

So far the weirdest i know personally is a girl named Precious. It's not too bad, until you realize her last name is Grubbs. So now you have "Precious Grubbs" Poor kid.

My aunt (who died when I was 6 or so) is the only other one in my family with any medical background. She worked as an RN for many years before she died of cancer. I was honored when my aunts sent me her pin at my graduation. It made me feel like I was carrying on the torch even though I didn't know her well. I only wish she would have saved her cap as well!