firefly101

So just to give an update: The private duty agency that I mentioned was really strange ... They kept saying that they wanted to hire me but it was impossible to schedule an in-person interview, and it was difficult for me to get my questions answered. Also my info in their emails were wrong (such as my availability.. my name's spelling...ect). Everything was so disorganized. Not impressed. I'm talking to another agency that specializes in pediatric home care. My training would be limited to 1 or 2 shifts, but my case would be very basic, such as a cognitively delayed child that requires medication administration. They do not allow new grads on trach/vents/complex cases. As I get more experience I can be trained on more cases so that I can cover shifts when needed. I'm excited that I will soon start working. I KNOW that the pay is going to be pretty low, but I'm not sure how low... my friends who did manage to obtain hospital positions in MN twin cities are starting around $30/hr + differentials... Anyone have an idea of what I can expect in private duty nursing in the same area?

thank you for your replies!

Thank you for posting this. It is encouraging to know there ARE places out there hiring new grad nurses!! Did you obtain your ND license my endorsement? If so, how long did it take and what was the cost? Does your hospital start new grads in the ER? (dream job :) ) I'm a new grad RN in MN. I'm stuck here for the next year but am open to relocating next year.

Hey there! I'm a new grad RN-BSN from Minnesota. Been applying to positions in my area. I have a few interviews scheduled for next week (private duty nursing & LTC). The market is kinda tough but I can't relocate until next year. I plan on taking what I can get and will be happy just to have a job. My goal is to become an ER nurse. So my question is, what can I do for the next year to help me achieve that goal? My current plan is to secure a job and volunteer (such as in the redcross disaster action team, medical reserve corps, or maybe in free clinics). I will get my PALs & ACLS. It will be a busy year but I'm excited for it. Since I am open to relocating next year, I am wondering which states are more receptive to training newer nurses in the ER, so that I can obtain those licenses by endorsement and increase my chances. I've heard TX and ND. Is that true and are there other states? I know it's possible, I've read MANY posts from new grads starting right into the ER (but they don't usually disclose their location in the post). My backup plan is to apply for tele positions, and then try again for ER the following year. I know many are opposed to nurses starting off in the ER without Med/Surg & Tele experience first, but I'm willing to work hard and want to at least try. Any advice, thoughts, or suggestions about my plan? Any other certs or ideas I should consider? Thank you :)

also interested in information about this sorta thing. i'm a new graduate nurse with a BSN from the US, and toy with the idea of moving overseas in the future (either EU or Aussie). how long does it take to acquire a work VISA? are there areas in EU that are less saturated? what language(s) would be best to learn? what nursing specialties are in higher demand (and lesser demand)? how many years of experience should one try to obtain before moving across seas? any other considerations? i realize these are very vague questions and answers may differ from person and location, but any information or experiences would be wonderful.

you think they'd throw a new grad into cases that would risk my license and the company's reputation? i'm getting so many mixed messages... i posted in the general nursing discussion about private duty nursing and ppl said to go for it as long as i get proper training... which is why i'm asking here about what "proper training" should look like. meh, so confusing... and a bit discouraging

they're in a category under the q-bank. don't remember EXACTLY where though

Got a call back from HR about a potential job in private duty nursing. Vent/Trach adults & peds. I'm a new grad with no experience in this area but they said they offer training. How much training should I expect or request as a new nurse? I'm a little nervous about it being limited after reading a few previous threads here. Thank you.

Okay thank you guys. I'm a wary person by nature so I question everything. I've been reading that some receive proper, comprehensive training, but others only get an 8 hour shift with a nurse and then they're on their own I'll definitely be inquiring about orientation.

Hey everyone, I passed the NCLEX-RN last week and just received my license number! I am really excited and have been sending out job applications like crazy. I got a call back from a private home health care company almost immediately. As a new grad I am not going to be picky about where I start out, but I'm a little nervous... This caller stated that their facility loves hiring new grads and would like to set up an in person interview right away. It sounds like he wants me to monitor patients on vents/trachs over night. I would love to learn how to take care of patients on trachs/vents, but I have ZERO experience in this area. I'd be alone, and I've read MANY posts by nursing warning other new nurses about to take similar jobs to "be careful" "protect your license" and "i would never let a new grad do that sort of work." I'm naive and inexperienced, and would like other's opinions on what I should look out for and pay attention to. They wouldn't really throw me out onto a case that would be tough for a new grad, risking my license and their reputation, would they?

You guys were right :) I passed

I PASSED

thank you kjrober! and congratulations!!!!

sorry guys I am just freaking out right now lol. but thank you for your responses.

Hey everyone, so i know you all are probably REALLY tired of these posts and people asking "is this the good pop up???" when there are a million out there already with the same exact message... but my situation is a little odd and I'm not sure what to make of it. I took my NCLEX-RN yesterday and ran out of time at 213 questions. I tried the PVT right away when my test status read "delivery successful" and I got a pop-up stating "The candidate currently has test results that are on hold. A new registration cannot be created at this time." This is probably because I had problems with the palm scanner. As of this morning the message changed to: "​Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. Another registration cannot be made at this time." A few weird things... the "please contact your Member Board for further assistance" part of the message is missing from the usual good pop up. Also, in big red letters under where it states "delivery successful" it reads "your exam results are not available at this time" - i have never seen that message before when watching youtube videos about how to do the PVT. Plus when I tried to look up my name on the MN board of nursing, I didn't come up. Have any of these things happened to others?? Good signs? Bad signs? Too early to tell? The PVT SEEMS to work for most people, but not everyone, and with the different message I'm afraid to get too excited...

Omg i really hope so!!!!

so last night and this morning i got a pop up that stated my "results are on hold" now the message has changed to: "our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. another registration cannot be made at this time" it DOES NOT state "please contact your BON for further assistance" like everybody else's "good pop up", but is it still a good sign?

the message changed! i'm nervous that it doesn't say "please contact your BON" like everyone else's seems to, but is this otherwise a good sign? "our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. another registration cannot be made at this time"

If after 48 hours I still don't have my quick results avail, could I call my board of nursing and inquire about this? You are probably right about the palm scanner but I am very curious...

Hey everyone, so I took the NCLEX yesterday and ran out of time at about 213 questions. I did PVT after my test status read "delivery successful" and the "results are on hold" message popped up. Been trying to think of any reason why this is so... I didn't write much on my white board, I DID look at the clock pretty often because I was taking so long, got up to take breaks several times but only after raising my hand...phone was left in my car... took a walk to get a snack at one point but only after receiving permission to do so... I did have problems with the palm scanner (had to re-do it multiple times) and my computer glitched once... Has this happened to anyone else? What were the reasons that your results were on hold? How long did it take for you to receive your results? Did you pass or fail? I'm assuming this is no indication of either result... I know the "last 60 rule" .... feeling like I failed since I was so exhausted by that point

just finished the nclex. 213 questions and 6 hours later the computer shut off... ran outta time... bad sign?

Here are my Kaplans Scores!: Diagnostic 52 QT1 59 QT2 64 QT3 55 QT4 57 QT5 61 QT6 61 QT7 65 Readiness 58 Finished the sample tests, 76% of Qbank so far, gonna do a few more this afternoon to hit at least 80%. Then I'm taking the NCLEX tomorrow afternoon!!! A part of me wants to wait and finish the Qbank, but I cannot take another sleepless night! Like others have said, you'll never feel totally ready. Just gotta go for it!

Hi everyone! I just graduated from my RN-BSN program and I will be taking my boards soon. Obviously I've been thinking a lot about getting my first job. My goal is to become an ER nurse, but that takes experience. My current situation doesn't allow me to move to find a job until next year, and though some new grads in my area have found hospital jobs right away, I am expecting that my first position will be at a LTC facility or in home health. I am just fine with that, but I am trying to think of what else I could do other than work to make myself more marketable in the future for ER positions (or even other hospital positions like tele / step down jobs). Plus, I like staying busy. I was thinking about volunteering as an RN. Since I live in a large metro area (Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota) I feel like there'd be a lot I could do, but I am not sure what to consider or where to start looking. I looked a bit at the RedCross's website, and though I'm not very interested in some of the teaching opportunities they listed, I would enjoy volunteering in a disaster action team. Or maybe I could do something at clinics? Does anyone have any other ideas? (Open to options, but trying to find something related to disaster response / acute services/ fast paced).

Wow these are very interesting to read! Keep posting please :) Not quite an RN yet - I just graduated and though I am crossing my fingers for a hospital job, I am expecting to start in home health or LTC, which is just fine. From the beginning I've wanted to become an ER or ICU nurse. Now I'm also thinking I want to travel, and maybe in the future go back to school for APN in ER/ICU or go the CRNA route! It'll be fun to see where I actually wind up :)

Hi everyone. I just graduated and received my final grades. In a 4-year BSN program (2 years in pre-nursing courses, 2 years nursing) I earned a 3.6 GPA. My major core GPA in nursing classes only from the last 2 years is 3.96. But I took college courses in high school and didn't do very well, and so my cumulative GPA after considering the transfer credits is 3.499... I was told not to add my GPA onto my resume if it is below a 3.5. (I also don't qualify for some new grad programs or the next honors level unless I reach a 3.5....) What about in this case when it is so close? Add the GPA or no? And should I not even bother with some of those new grad programs if the requirements state "must have 3.5 GPA" ? Thanks.