StarShine975

Wearing one day is not so bad when you look at my facility. I work LTC. I just heard today they are making us wear masks all shift but your get one mask for 48hours (Unless solid but who gets to decide?! Me or them?!!) Yes 48 hours. I am so pissed; that is so disgusting. I am trying to find the safety of this practice but there's nothing because it is unsanitary. Period. I am stuck, my family needs me to work so I guess bow down to the unsanitary conditions....

I couldn't even barely get through reading the objective statement, I can't imagine a recruiter who looks at resumes all day would. Love this feedback!

I am the same way. I never wanted to be anything other than a nurse this is my being I want nothing else. My current job working day shift sucks the life out of me. There are too many people in the building, admins give me tons of extra paperwork to "follow up on" (because they know I'm good and I will get it done), too many families ect.... Since I live in the middle of nowhere, practically, and the other facility I could work at is not a good place to work, I made a compromise with my self. I work three 12s Friday, Saturday, Sunday. If I pick up extra shifts I only pick up 2nd shift during the week. It has been a game changer for me. Have you considered night shift? I have been thinking about it but my husband probably won't agree with that schedule and that change is truly a family decision.

Always always always look at the index with the person, and actual number with the outgoing nurse, also we (In my facility at least) are supposed to go in order of index too. So what if you have to keep flipping pages when it's a habit it goes quick. Something could always be "missed" because they know you're not paying 100% attention. Also I would NEVER let anyone in MY cart without counting narcs first and If I was coming back (Like when I had an emergency at home I was gone for an hour) I counted in and counted back even though the person (Supervisor) said oh you'll be right back... I am that "annoying" person that does count 100% right every single time at this point people in my facility know how to do it, they get lazy and I don't even say anything I just stand there till they do it right, and I do not care, this count is my license. We worked to hard to be where we are for someone else to mess it up.

How does your skilled/LTC facility handle ratios? The facility I work right now has one skilled hall that can fit I think 22 people. I think the whole facility can fit about 90 people it's mostly LTC. The nurse to patient ratio for the skilled hall is totally dependent on the census of the WHOLE building, acuity is not taken in to account at all. So, when we have 85 residents the skilled hall can have 2 nurses when the census dips they take away the second nurse on that hall. My last facility I worked the skilled hall was dependent on acuity. We would tops have 10 patients but usually it was more like 8. We moved out of state or I would still be there..... Picture this: Saturday/Sunday we had 2 nurses on skilled. Monday rolls around we had a few in the building D/Ced but the SAME numbers of patients on skilled and now we had 1 nurse (me) to manage it all. I had 10 skilled and 8 others.(18 its all together) 2 blood draws, did PT/INRs but the machine sucks and it takes more Than one try usually, VS, managed a lady with PNA, another with c-spine precautions, 2 hips, 2 people with scheduled NEBs, changed Fent patches, did wound care, entered orders, passed meds to every one (of coorifice), one lady kept getting naked and standing in her room, wanderers from other halls coming over standing from their wheel chairs who are frequent fallers, feed a gt pt twice, did wound care but of coorifice couldn't find the supplies right away because no one stocks, ordered drugs. Had a problem with a lady's injection that ended up never being ordered, gave a handful of PRNs, talked to the NP numerous times, talked to family members, took phones calls for report, did blood sugars breakfast lunch and dinner on and on and on. There has to be more Idk I just know by the end of my day I felt horrible. I was not my best and I felt put in the position to not do my best work because of all I had to manage. I am not the only one who complains, its awful. There are nurses who flat out refuse to work that hall. My primary LTC group I have 22 people and my day is a breeze compared to this. Over all its a good facility, the resident/patients are taken care of I've work in some pretty bad place so I know I'm lucky Im not going anywhere but Im about ready to try to just refuse this hall like other do I can not do again.

Work Work Work!!! Save money like crazy If you can manage it. Its probably best not to work during the program but if you end up having to work make sure you have a job that offers PTO and bank all of your hours so you can use them while you're in school and not working as much. I got in to nursing school much faster than I thought. It was awesome BUT I didn't have money saved, I was the one who brought the money home in the family (husband can't work from an injury) I didn't have much PTO saved it wasn't really a good situation at all. But we made it through at my expense I went to school 5 days/week and worked two 12 hour shifts on the weekends and 6-12 hours during the week on a busy CVICU, I would take PTO when I had enough in my "bank" it was absolutely miserable. I did well in school, and my job but I suffered mentally and physically from all the stress. When I bridge to RN it will be different I am not going to let that happen again. Personally I wouldn't study or anything like that before school starts. I found that my personal experience working in the medical field (Med/surg & CVICU as CNA) helped me more than any book could. Beside working I would focus on your life. Focus on your mental health, physical health do anything you can that will make you go in to nursing school with a clear head. Good luck!

I work min 24 hours/week (2 12 hour shifts-weekends) its doable because I'm determined as can be and need money. I don't have help from anyone financially and have 3 kids to keep a roof over their heads. You have to stay focused on school. Work ahead if your teachers give you a syllabus with what is due that will help you a lot. Remember though your time that you would have to spend with friends/family/free time will be at work so you need to be prepared for that. It's hard and I do NOT recommend doing it but you have to do whatever you can to get through the program. It will be worth it in the end.

Why dont you sign up for CNA classes now? The program really isn't that long I took mine at West LA college in Culver City and it was only about 3 months or so. It's not a terribly hard class or anything the worst part is remembering everything you need to do for the skills portion of the state test.

Is the RN program a good one or would you be going in to the same situation? If your not happy I would definitely look in to other options.

I think your best bet would be to call the state you are moving to and ask what the best thing would do. If I were you, I would get a job ASAP. Some places will even hire you before you have your certificate and let you work on the floor. Before I got my CNA the second time (I let it expire) I got hired on a Thursday took my test on Saturday and started that Monday with the paper that said I passed. Good luck hope you get it all figured out.

Yes, dress like you would any interview. I've been asked things like why should we pick you, what are your future plans, tell us a little something about your self, what is your worst quality ect. Good luck with your interview. :)