lyttlemomma

OMG!!!! Thank you soooo much!!! So are you in the OR now??? If so, how are you liking it? My background is mostly emergency psych and not inpatient. I also have worked in jail which is all medical. Are you liking the OR?

Thank you so much!!! This helps1 I'm going to youtube some things this weekend. Thank you!!!

Hi Everyone!!! I had posted on here a while ago about transitioning to the OR but was concerned because my background is mostly in psych. Anyway, I had some really positive feedback from everyone on here and great advice. I applied for an OR transition program at my Hospital and I HAVE AN INTERVIEW!!!! Any tips or advice on what it might be like? Anything you think I should know ahead of time? Thank you so much!!! Also, can anyone tell me the difference in duties between the OR nurse and the surgical techs? Thanks!!!

Thanks sprinhchick1! Great idea!

Thats amazing and good to know! My hospital also has an OR residency program that I will be looking into. Thank you for the support!!!

HTCC thanks so much! Thank you for the encouragement!!!! I think this is a good decision and having the support of people that actually work in the OR is amazing. Thank you!

Thank you so much! Ive been getting some good feedback. My hospital also offers its RNs opportunities to transfer and cross train in other units. I'm thinking I will get back my ACLS and maybe take a refresher course for IV insertion. Thank you for the motivation!

Hi! This is how the course is described on the colleges website: Southwestern College's Peri-operative Nursing Program has been offered since August 2011 and follows the AORN's PERIOP 101 curriculum. The program has widely received acknowledgment from the community for its signature Perioperative Nurses training. It is helpful if students have clinical sponsors and applicants are strongly recommended to have current basic nursing skills in all of the following areas; starting IV's, administration of medication through IV, basic dosage calculations, taking vital signs, foley catheter placement, blood transfusions, dressing changes and interpersonal communication skills. Upon completion of certification requirements, the graduate is eligible to apply to take the AORN Periop 101 certification examination for Registered Nursing. Southwestern College : Operating Room Nursing (ORN)

Hello Everyone, I am looking to make a career change after almost 4 years in mostly psych nursing. I work in an Emergency psychiatric unit in a large city in California and not inpatient psych, so it's very fast paced and yes…. Crazy! Any who, the truth is I feel as though I am becoming a little burnt out. In Psych nursing you never really get to see patients improve, you just watch patients maintain their diagnosis and move on. On top of that it is a lot of verbal and even physical abuse from patients, which can be exhausting. I also have some med/surge ED experience and worked in a jail setting for about six months. I was wanting to apply for a class that is offered here at a local community college for prospective ORNs. Do you guys think I have a chance? I need to renew my ACLS, which I'm not worried about. I guess I'm just worried that my IV/catheter skills are not up to par and I'm worried that this will hold me back. OR nursing has always appealed to me as I love the surgery settings and I and I feel like it would be a great fit. I'm used to seeing patients at a very fast paced rate and I am also used to high stress environments. I would like to get my foot in the door and I basically meet all of the requirements that this program requires. It is one semester long and begin in the Fall of this year. I am 30 years old, I have BSN and would love to hear any comments or advice anyone could offer. Thank you!!!!

Hey Jasonrr619!! Ok, so I just found out last week that I got the RN positon!!! Whoo!!! I will be working at Las Collinas I AM SO EXCITED!!! It was such a long process I applied in Feb of this year and I start on July 12 :) When is your interviwe?

Hi Everyone!!! I was hoping some of you could possibly help me get an idea of what type of questions I may be asked during an interview I have coming up this week for a Sheriffs detentions nurse position. I am a new grad but I currently work at an Emergency Psych Unit. I am used to patients coming in extremly psychotic, overdosing on drugs and other emergent situations. I love it! I have been working there for almost a year and Its great. I am a triage RN there and I love the fast paced enviroment. Can anyone please give me an idea of what to expect during my interview? Thanks so much!!!

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions everyone!!! :)

Thanks so much guys!

Hello Everyone! I am a very new RN! I just got my lisence in May of this year and was able to get a job right away in an Emergency Psych Unit. I love love love this job! I am however intrested in Emergency room nursing as well & would like to apply to some upcoming ER new grad positions. Can anyone give me some ideas on what certifications the ER likes for us to have? I already have BLS & ACLS & I will be getting my PALS at the end of this month. Thank you everyone! Tips and suggestions are highly appreciated )!!!

Congrats Maganda!!! I knew you could do it!!!!

smn2009 Thank you so so much for taking the time to reply to me! I am so greatful and love and appreciate your advice, I like that your responses are long and detailed thank you! I think your right about sending in my resume and application to the heads of the facilities that I want to apply for, this shows that I have initiative and that I am very interested. I am going to do my best and give it my all! Thank you for the advice about not letting other nurses bring me down. I kind of experienced that kind of attitude with some nurses when I was in my clinical rotations as a student and it was hard. I will kill everyone with kindness I suppose :)

smn2009 you rock thank you! I am so motivated now! Well, even more than I already am, belive it or not! :) Do you think any hospitals take new grads per diem? I mean since I need practice with my skills and what not? Do you think nursing homes would be sufficient for me to learn my med surge type skills?

Hi Pedal :) This county job I recieved had a pretty in depth health screening process. The only thing I had to submit was a TB skin test twice. I thought that was weird but oh well.

Oh well I didnt think of that! Thank you veyr much meriwhen! I am going to start applying today. Do you think part time in a nursing home or hospice would be ok too?

Multicollinearity Thank you! Thats awesome advice! I agree with you on the fact that I may have trouble transitioning into correctional nursing coming from a psych position. My plan is to work for about three months or so in psych, just for the experience, and than begin applying for state prision jobs. We have a good amount of prisons here in California and I plan to go anywhere. One of my instrucors told me that the more rual prisons (like in cow town lol) takes new grads. Do you think this would be a good idea? I have a bsn, a bs in chemistry and a masters in public health (applying for PHN certification as we speak). I am 26 years old and I begin my MSN in the fall. Do I stand a chance? thnak you! I appreciate your advice! I need guidence.... bad :)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I'm so happy that you all responded!!! I am taking notes as we speak! I agree that mabey I would be more marketable as a med surge nurse, but honestly... I took what was offerd to me first as the job market for new grads can be slim to nothing. This job is a certified temp job, so mabey three or so months in I will try and apply to the California prison system. My first day is next week, I ma so excited!!! Thanks everyone so so much )

Hi Everyone! I just recieved my RN in May! I feel so lucky to have already had an interviwe and been asked to work at a county Psych hospital here in San Diego California. New graduate nurses here sometimes have a very difficult time finding jobs because San Diego is very impacted, so I feel very lucky ) I am very anxious to start and I REALLY love Mental Health nursing! I did really well on my Mental health clinicals in nursing school and I truely enjoyed this specific rotation. I was wondering if anyone could give this newbie some tips or advice. This is my frist job as a nurse and I would love to do my best and give it my all. Here are some questions I have: 1). What should I expect? 2). Anything that you like for new RNs to be doing? 3). Any advice on what NOT to do? 4). I eventually would like to transition into correctional nursing. Do you think Psych nursing will put me at a disadvantage? I appreciate any input, advice or suggestions! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. Have a great day!

Hi, I took my Nclex in early May and passed! I like yourself was terrified of SATA. To practice I used Saunders 5th edition. I did at least 25 SATA a day and it really helped when it came time for NCLEX-RN. I like most people also got about 40 SATA. They are simple so don't be too discouraged. For example, you may get a question that is asking what are the signs and symptoms of elder abuse. I did have an actual question that asked that. Not too hard. Good luck!

It does. Got my RN in may and I tried the trick, I am here in San Diego Cali. Congrats!!!

I agree with Que! I used Saunders, Kaplan, Hurst and ATI and I passed my NCLEX-RN the first time 140 questions. Don;t give up. Have a strong study plan and stick to it! Good luck!