EclecticGal

Just the other day I was in a patient room doing an assessment and guess what, I forgot my stethoscope. Do you know what happened? I ran out to the desk and got it and finished up with my assessment. It may feel really embarrassing now but really it is O.K. I totally understand how nerve wracking it can feel when your nursing skills are being critiqued and graded and a mistake is made. Just realize that you are there to learn and you will make mistakes. We all do. The important thing to do is to learn from them. Practice your skills outside of clinical. Ask questions if you are unsure of anything. Stay focused on patient safety. It will be O.K. Good luck to you.

Just because someone comes to a fast conclusion does not mean that is always the correct one. Critical thinking may take some time. Everyone comes to the table with their own strengths and also issues that will challenge them during nursing school. Your struggles will be different from others but know that everyone will have them. Worrying that you will not be the best nurse possible will do nothing to help you achieve your goal. Self doubt is a killer. Just work hard and learn from your mistakes. You can do this. I was one of the oldest students in my cohort and was just fine. At work I find that my age has some benefits. Life experience can be invaluable when working with patients and the only way to gain a lot of that is to have lived a bit. Good Luck

I love working for Swedish and my unit. I really have no information about the NICU.

During my residency I was given a schedule of my classes and simulations that was different from week to week. There was also a weekly list of computer modules that you are assigned to do and designated hours that were assigned to prepare for simulations. After that the manager of the department would assign hours on the unit with the days that are left over. The days you work may depend on when your preceptor is working too. During the residency you should not expect to just be working three 12 hour days everything varies. After you are through with the classroom portion and the simulations and just working on the unit you should at that point to work 3 12's if that is the norm for your unit.

I can't say for the whole group but for the ones in my smaller group there was. They are training you for a job that they need filled.

The second interview is a panel interview so there will be a few people in the room. The only advice I can give would be to think of different situations you encountered in clinical where you learned something new, dealt with conflict, made a mistake etc. Have examples of times you had a positive impact on your patient and talk about it. Think about why you want to be a nurse and why you want to work on the specific unit. Be yourself.

You can ask, I don't know if I can answer all your questions, but I will try.

I completed the residency program with Swedish and am working on the floor where I was trained. Most nurses work 3 12 hour shifts a week, nights after the residency is complete. I am not sure if everyone does. You are paid for all the time you spend in class, working on education and on the floor. Benefits are the same for residents as any new hire employee. Good Luck. Swedish is a great place to start your nursing career.

I was always so worried that I would oversleep I found myself waking up all night long before a clinical. I loved the quarter we had an afternoon/evening time slot.

I am a new grad that was lucky enough to get hired in L&D so it is not impossible. If it is your goal than you should really try to position yourself in such a way that you have an edge over other applicants. I think trying to become a CNA is a great idea if they are utilized in that department. You may also want to investigate the prospects of becoming a unit secretary or volunteer. When you have your L&D clinical in school make sure to try to develop connections and talk to the unit manager if possible. Let them know about your interest in their department and facility. Stand out by being prepared, willing to learn and lending a hand whenever possible. Show a genuine appreciation for any help your preceptor gives you. You should also prepare yourself for the fact that L&D may not be where you start your nursing career and that is O.K. too. Use any job you get to really develop your nursing skills, so you will become a more attractive applicant in the future for a L&D job. Like you, when I started my path towards becoming a nurse L&D was my goal. I found during my clinical rotations that what was really special for me was the connections I was able to develop with my patients. It mattered less what unit I was working on. You may realize that another patient population or specialty is really interesting to you also. Just keep an open mind.

Have you contacted people in person or just applied via the internet? I know that I was able to get one interview by e-mailing the Nurse Manager of the department I had submitted an application to. Some of my peers went to facilities, resumes in hand to say hello and ask about opportunities. It was uncomfortable but helpful in some cases. Job fairs can also be a good place to talk with HR reps. If you have any connections use them. Ask employed peers from nursing school. It took me 5 months to land a job and it was very frustrating at times. Good Luck

So just take a moment and breathe and say to yourself it will be O.K.. I am a recent grad, 44 years old, 4 kids and married for 17 years too. I have had all the same worries that you have had except for the what if I am to old. I am not sure why I never worried about that. Take the program one day at a time. You will have days where you are on top of the world and doing great and then days where you fumble. Remember that you will most likely learn more from your mistakes that when you get everything right. Nursing school is a roller coaster and the learning curve is steep. You will never know if you are going to be a good nurse until you get in there and just do it. To be honest now that I have started my first job I still wonder if I will ever be as good as my co-workers. It is my goal to just learn a little more everyday. Good Luck

I am a new grad too and recently started my first job. Where I work there is a 6 month probationary period for all new grads. It makes me nervous too, in fact I haven't quit my other job yet because of that. I would say to you that focus on being safe, ask questions and if you are having problems ask for help as soon as possible. All the nurses I work with tell me they are more afraid of the new nurse who knows everything rather than the one who asks questions. Good Luck.