mrs.rn2be

Hey everyone! I've posted on here a few times. My last post was about my previous position working in LTC and how my schedule wasn't great and how I lacked trust in some of my preceptors. Since giving my notice and being unemployed since January, I was starting to lose hope. I had been applying for a hospital position since I passed NCLEX last July ( 2015), each time being rejected. I started to really resent becoming an nurse because it felt like I would never truly get the experience I wanted. Looking back on my time in LTC, I really think it helped form my opinion of the kind of nurse I really want to be. My goal(s) are to one day be a Certified Nurse Midwife or Pediatric NP. I haven't decided yet. Anyway, I wanted to come here to let everyone know that I was offered a position with a great health system last night working on a Med/Surg floor! I was very surprised and beyond happy:cool:! I feel like this is a great environment for me to learn and grow as a new nurse. If anyone has any input on howto be successful and to prepare please leave a comment! It will be most appreciated! If your in this situation where you cannot seem to find a position within a hospital, don't give up! Your time will come! Another thing I would like to add... I know there is a lot of stigma attached to being a LTC nurse. Mostly a negative stigma, however my hat is off to every LTC nurse out there:yes:. It's a hard job and really for those who have the passion for it.

Hey everyone! Just wondering how long (miles/time) the drive into work is. I live in PA and I am considering a commute no longer than 1hour and 15 mins each way. Thanks for your input!!!

Thank you for your response. I will tell you there is some other details I didn't include to spare the readers a novel. I am so heartbroken that I needed to resign. I loved working, but hated the circumstances. Sometimes I felt good that I was completing everything on time and sometimes I felt clueless. I don't like not being able to trust a preceptor/supervisor. Especially at the stage I'm at now, needing support. Also, the scheduled 3-11 shifts were much harder for me/my family which is another HUGE reason I decided to look for another position. I would be lying if I told you I wasn't nervous for my future in nursing. Before this job I was confident, and excited to learn. I hope that comes back to me.

libby1987 thank you so much for your kind words :-) they mean a lot to me.

Hi everyone, Just looking for some insight/ venting a little. I am a new grad nurse. Graduated in May, Licensed in July and first position accepted in October at a LTC facility for 3-11pm shift. I will tell you first, LTC was the absolute last thing I wanted to do. Not because I don't feel like it's not what a "nurse" does, just because I have always been more interested in women's health/L&D/ peds... you get the picture Anyway, at the time the position was offered my husband was the only one working and we were struggling BAD! I took the position and cried tears of joy, knowing our family (we have 2 kids 9 and 6) wasn't going to struggle anymore! Well during orientation (7-3pm shift) something felt different to me. This was unlike anything I ever saw during hospital rotations. I had a different preceptor every day and depending on who I was with, I could predict how the day would go. I started to get anxious as I would anticipate preceptors. I decided I wanted to push on a really make it work. When my ADON came to me asking me how I felt, I told her I still have a lot to learn but things are going well. I asked her if there were any open positions on 7-3pm and she said not at this time. She was thrilled to hear that I was looking for a 7-3 and told me I would be next on her list to offer that position to. During this visit, she also told me that I would be switching from 7-3 orientation to the shift I would be working 3-11 December 7th. I was bummed as I really liked 7-3. When the day came for switch from 7-3 to 3-11 I was physically sick to my stomach that day. I thought that maybe I had picked up something and brushed it off. I spent 2 weeks orienting during 3-11 when it was sprung on me that my orientation would be "cut short because they really needed me on the floor." The ADON said the best way to tell you're ready is to just get out there. The following week I was on my own 3-11. I have to say, I feel I organized myself and managed my time well. I was praised by the other nurses who said they thought it was great that I was getting done on time. However, inside I felt terrible. I sometimes would get terrible anxiety when I got home thinking if I might have forgotten to do something. I would be up all night tossing and turning. I hoped this feeling would go away as time went on, but it only got worse. One night I had to ask one of the nurses there who is sometimes the Supervisor at the desk for help. I needed to flush a Foley and had never done that before. I told him/her I didn't know where the flushes were kept and she/he happily showed me. To cut out all of the details, this nurse wound up flushing the Foley with tap water from the residents sink. Something didn't feel right to me but at the time I couldn't put my finger on it. I thanked the nurse for the help and continued the rest of my shift. When I got home that night, I was looking up the procedure and the right way to flush a Foley. Well, I will say it was NOTHING that he showed me. I was so upset I cried the whole next day, thinking of all of the things that might happen to that resident. I went in again and immediately told the supervisor for the night what had happened. After this, I started to dread going to work. I would have diarrhea 3-4x's in a day before my shift. I've lost a total of 10 pounds in a month since switching to evening shift. I started crying before my shift etc. I kept saying to my husband, how can I feel safe in practice if I can't trust one of the supervisors I need to frequently work with (there are other things with this person, not just this one incident) To really cut the rest short, I went from a full-time to PRN status. After this weekend and really thinking things through I decided to give my 2 weeks' notice. I turned it in yesterday. I don't want to go back to that place ever again. My confidence in myself has been squashed and there are days I don't really think nursing is for me. There are days I really feel like I am meant to be a nurse and then thinking of this experience throws me down again. I am trying to pick myself up and brush it off but there are so many emotions running through my head. Thank you for reading this terrifyingly LONG post and allowing me to vent!

I know this thread is old but can you tell me what bethleham pa is starting new grad RN's? I live about 30 mins from Philly and am having the hardest time finding a job. Thanks!

Congrats!! I just want to say, this post helped me tremendously. Out of all of the posts out there, I identified with this one the most before I tested. During and after the test, I thought to myself, OMG, please don't shut off at 75, I didn't even get a chance to prove myself! Well, 75 came, I clicked next and I got the blue screen. I begged for more questions! I couldn't believe I failed NCLEX in 75! I went home, cried and sat around nauseous the rest of the morning. I finished 75 questions in an hour and 10 minutes. This morning, I was getting ready to do the PVT, after several tries to refresh my BON website, and boom, there was my name and license number! I was so happy finding out I passed I was crying hysterically! My kids thought I was nuts, but we all had a good laugh about it! Such a wonderful feeling to know you passed! Thank you for your post and again congrats

Today I am going to look over some lab values, look over a little bit of pharm and maybe do 1 or 2 tests. I promised myself after 12pm today I wouldn't do anything 😂.. Even when I was in nursing school I would study right up to the minute before the test. I am feeling so exhausted from it all too. This week I really haven't studied to much, just did 100-140 questions and did the rationales 😁

hey.. ill be taking mine the same day and time as you. As of right now I have 80% of the Q bank done with an average of 57% my lowest score was a 40 last week while i was distracted and my hightest so far was yesterday at 73%. I have only done 3 sample tests out of the 4. Sample 1 :60% sample 2: 50% Sample 3: 73% This post was what I was looking for but to afraid to post. I'm having terrible test anxiety right now, trying to calm myself! Best of luck to us!

This status explains my life perfectly! Although I will be graduating this coming spring 2015, i am beyond excited to have a least a month of no school.... Congrats!!!

Hey everyone! My name is Amanda and I too will be starting this fall! I'm so excited! Has anyone decided which shoes they will be wearing for clinicals?

I recently just transferred out of Montco after realizing the time it would take me to complete all pre-reqs (would take me the same amount of time I could have a BSN.) Don't get my wrong, I do love Montco, however I have heard even though you have all points required, they demand a very high GPA. I've heard they really are looking for people with a 3.5 GPA and higher ( this is just what I've heard). Just like another person posted a lot of people get waitlisted. Good Luck!

Took the words right out of my mouth!

Thank you all so much for all of your suggestions/help!!!!!

Thank you for the suggestion marycarney! Yes, it is straight forward however I'm confused about what a high vamp shoe is? I should have given more detail as to which part I was confused, I was in a rush. I'm looking for shoes which meet the requirements as I have had my eyes set on a pair of dansko's, which I assume can be classified as clogs!