RNitis

I felt the same way (still do a lot of the time!!) But I work in Long term care with some 30+ patients. I hate feeling like I'm just throwing pills at them (like you would a cookie to your dog!) But if u don't, u never get anything done in time and get spoken to "in the dreaded office"...kinda makes you feel like your in the principals office, all over again.

Mine was not A +P, but the second class in nursing (I honestly can't remember the name as it was a long time ago!), but I failed first try- fail was a C, I got a C -) anyway, it took a few semesters of a majority of the class failing and many students complaining that they were studying like crazy to no avail for the school to realize it was the instructor, not the students...after I took time off, I took the class with the new instructor and got an A. Big surprise, right?! (The original instructor was asked to resign, which she did. And it later came out she was intentionally making the class harder than its level to "weed out" who could and could not handle the remaining nursing classes...which was obviously not in her control). Good luck with everything!!

i never really understood this. Every time someone starts a new job, comes an orientation period, where the hiring manager will usually add "we'll see how orientation goes, then go from there". But in my experience, I've done orientation, where they threw me out on the floor after only 2 days of orientation, the third day, I was on my own (I know, most nurses can do that, but I just started working as an RN at a different per diem position, so I definitely don't have my routine down pat, yet! It's only been a couple months). When I realized I was unable to be free to them the entire week for a promise of 16 hours, I decided it would be best we cut our ties before I was off orientation. (I know, earlier I said I was off orientation, but I really wasn't. What had happened was they were short staffed, so they threw me on my own). For more reasons than one, I had decided it just didn't fit in my life at the moment (with young children still in elementary school and that I would have to quit my first shift job PLUS my other per diem position to be available to them). I spoke with them about how it just isn't working out in my life with my other positions, I got "well, will you still give your 2 weeks notice?"..I stated, "I don't understand why you would work me two more weeks on my own shifts, if I'm not even off orientation, yet!", "so you'll be resigning?", I suppose so, but I thought "we would see how orientation goes, then go from there"...oh, right, that means its all about your organization, not about whether or not its a good fit in my life! How could I be so naive to think they would actually consider me a person and the fact that I have a life too, how silly of me to assume that!!

Ditto....except to the nurses who truly are lazy.....you all know the "wait til you graduate, you'll never have to wipe a butt again" and walks away from a you and an assist of 2 covered in number 2....(CNA, now RN, if wondering)....

You earned your education as a service woman for our country. How's that free?

To fedide: thanks for clarifying for me, I appreciate it!! Didn't mean to cut into the original post, but thanks for answering!

Why would you not be able to get a pardon for it. (Not sure if state related): but in CT, after 5 years of the offense and completing the requirements, like probation, u can apply for a pardon. People usually use them to erase felonies, so they are quick to allow the pardon for a misdemeanor. (Unless, of course, u have already used it..then no)

Perhaps it's bc I work in long term care (or it's bc I was a brand new nurse-RN when they hired me, so they had to train me), but I don't get a "per diem" rate as u all talk about here. I get paid starting rate for a new nurse in the state of CT. Is that normal or did I short change myself?

When I worked on an oncology hospice floor of a hospital and a patient would pass and the family would cry, all I could do was put myself in their shoes and the tears would come. I would also think of those I've lost in my life and a time when I almost passed in a situation when I was younger. It would set me in a funk for a day or so. But at the same time, it would make me appreciate who I do still have in my life and that I am still alive and full functioning. On one hand, I would almost go through a bit of survival guilt, but on the other hand I would mostly just be grateful for all I have in life. I sometimes wish the negative people in my life could experience what we healthcare workers experience at times so they could see just how wonderful life really is and appreciate every minute of it without complaining of (what I see as very petty) things on a day to day basis. But then I remember, it takes a very special person to do what we all do day after day.

"But, I decided that it was too much risk to go to school and get a degree in a field where it's difficult to find a job." Really?!?! Definitely DO NOT go into nursing. It took me TWO years, my relationship with my boyfriend taxed and over, home in foreclosure, my car on its last leg, and $70,000 in student loans for me to find a nursing job (and pays at $7.50 less an hour than starting rate for new RN's."

At least you have your mother to fall back on! I almost lost my house (My fault...bad choice in partner I bought it with, I know) because I was unable to find an RN job for 2 years after graduating. (I'm still on the edge of losing it....hoping time finally goes in my favor) I just kept applying and applying. Be persistent, something will come up! I was able to find a part time job (but with way lower pay than I should receive-better than NO job...I was over qualified for jobs I had worked before my degree and no experience for a position with my degree) and a per diem job (that isn't stable money, so not able to use it to refinance my home).

Same here, just off orientation. I at least feel like I can actually do it now! But today I really felt like I don't know what I'm doing (when in reality, we just don't have the experience, yet)..OP explained it perfectly, going from task to task. It's just going to take time.

Yippee!!! I'm so happy for you!! :) I felt your pain when you wrote "fired after fifty" and I also wondered if that was what we have to look forward to at the end of our careers. Very happy to hear your going home!

It depends on the facility. Last year I got a job at an LTC (horribly organized and on strike-I realized why, really quick!) where I was thrown under the bus. I felt horrible for the residents, and the workers were "for themselves." I now work at a great LTC; the residents are greatly cared for, the workers are "team players," and it's a great place to work. It's not easy work, as the OP is learning (I, too, am a fairly new nurse). My only advice is to try not to pick up bad habits. I took what I could from the different people I oriented with and found a few tricks from all of them that work for me! (It still takes me 5 hours to do my morning med pass! They say, "I was the same when I was a new nurse," and "you're doing great! You'll be fine"). Just remember, if you're doing well and you keep doing the same routine, you WILL get quicker!

We didn't have drug testing while in nursing school, but when I was an aide, someone in the hospital I worked in stated they "saw me smoking marijuana in the parking lot during my lunch". (I do remember walking out to lunch that day and I was walking behind a visitor who wreeeeeked like pot! But it didn't even cross my mind until I was home the next day.) I told the nursing supervisor I smoke cigarettes and besides, if I smoked a joint to my head, I certainly would NOT have been able to return to work after! Got the rest of the day off and the next day, paid, too! With an apology, of course because it came back negative. I was ripped ****** and looked at everyone crooked after that for I assumed someone was trying to get my fired, assuming I did drugs. Not to mention, it was wicked embarrassing when the nursing supervisor and HR lady where insisting they would get me a cab or I could call someone for a ride home because they wouldn't want me to drive impaired!! Never found out who, wasn't able to be told, either, as their policy was "if anyone is suspicious of someone at work impaired, they may anonymously report them". I got over it after awhile!

I don't know how your school is, but my school wouldn't let you take micro with A and P. That does sound like a crazy schedule, but if you're not working, it may be doable..Good luck if you do choose to go for it!

I've just started my career and I'm already noticing I NEED to eat and drink water through out the day or else I lose steam and become fog brained. It slows me down and I can't afford to be slow (I already feel wicked slow because I haven't gotten my time management down, yet!). Besides work, I'm so tired when I get home, I'm basically useless...all I want to do is sleep and my poor boyfriend misses me because I seem to only be working and sleeping (and I'm only working about 36-44 hours a week). I have no idea how some of you go all day, especially 12 hours, without eating!!

I know it's a devastating blow to the ego...trust me, I know. I was at a place and the DON told me she "just don't think your cut out for it, but remember you're still a nurse, why don't you try homecare?" RE: a LTC position in a place that just went on strike, had ALL temp people and I was only given 4 days orientation (being someones helper...not being oriented) before my epic fail ON MY OWN IN THE DEMENTIA UNIT WITH 31 patients...oh really, my first job, that's how you throw me in and expect me to make it?! She later admitted she was short nurses and that was not the right thing to do...still didn't work out. And glad it didn't, that place was an accident waiting to happen! Long story short, it took me 8 more months to find another position, but in a month I had 3 offers, I tried them all and stuck with two, one being (low and behold) another LTC, but wait...its run by (almost ) normal people, the people remember what it's like to be a new grad and are actually there to orient and teach. So, take a minute for your self pity (can't avoid it, but you can lessen the duration), then get out there and be persistent! Fill out a million applications and follow up. I've found going to the facility to complete the application (so they can put a face to the name) yields better results. Chin up! Get out there and you'll find another position!

Don't mind some of the people on here, really...this site has alot of great nurses who want to share their stories and experiences..I've also stoppped posting bc there's always that one person who has to turn the mood negative..just ignore them. Take what you can use and leave the rest!

I'm the same way. I can deal with c. diff poo, vomit, colostomy drainage.....but when it comes to peoples respiratory secretions....YUCKA!!! Don't know what it is...but yucka!!!!

Things are going really well, actually!! At the end of March, I received 3 call backs for positions in which I had applied. I did orientation at all of them. Found one to "not be a good fit", but the other two, I absolutely love!! And the best part..is the LTC I've found to take me under there wing, is absolutely awesome!! Real people, no backstabbing, appropriate orientation and a "put together place". I hear from some that its a horrible place to work, but I don't see that at all! (It may be bc that first position I got was THE WORST place to work!!) So the first job is going great, part time, flexible hours-willing to work around my schedule- and good people, also. The second job is great, understanding of being a new grad and willing to ensure I become a great asset to the team. I couldn't ask for anything else!! Shortly after starting, I received another offer, but had to turn it down. I'm very happy to say I've found my way and can finally get my life back on track after not working for TWO years. And to think, I was ready to give up on nursing altogether. Glad I didn't!!

We should've referenced those material safety data sheets FIRST!!

Hehe!! I like that! "leave trails a blind man could follow in a snowstorm". That's awesome!