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I just now put the pieces together from lab work, symptoms and so fourth with lupus. I have a Dr appt today :) You know I'm really glad you said we didn't learn much in Nursing school. Sometime I second guess my nursing capability because of knowledge I just don't remember learning. I mean understand we are all educators students advocated researchers and so fourth i just feel like with the issues I'm dealing with I almost had to look up most of it. Im really glad I'm not crazy in the rheumy knowledge feeling like i know nothing. School was great, but the more I'm out the more i realize they didn't really terach us much other than the basics.

i also have had multiply rx's throughout the years and never has that disqualified me. Just tell them before the test you have a rx and show them the body if requested and thats that. The only law to nurses with pain management is not coming to work impaired or "under the influence". Other than that rule, you should be fine. A

I am almost 28 years old and am working on my diagnosis as we speak. I came back ANA positive with speckled, thrombocytopenia, almost all 11 dx markers and have severe hand and joint pain. Lately the migraines have started as well. I have only been licensed since June of last year and my problems starting in april 2011. I can honestly say through all the stress of nursing school, finals, nclex prep and finally the nclex, i managed. When i first started my career I was in a SNIFpoorly managed and way under staffed. We didn't have med aides and only two nurses to share 3 halls and 60-70 patients. We had to do everything from Admissions to Med passes. IT WAS VERY VERY STRESSFUL! No matter how bad of days I had/have, the patient makes pushing through the pain and coming to work worth it. Keep in mind when most of us decide to go into nursing its because of a decision we had made because of a personal experience within the medical field. Having lived with SLE, I would think you would be more inclined to graduate school and begin the path to nursing tp help the other people who suffer with some of the symptoms you have had or all of them. I know that is one of the things that helps me be the "rockstar" as my DNS and CO-Nurses use to call me. Don't look at SLE as a death sentence but a way to help you be more educated to help your patients. Hope this helps a little, A

Hey everyone, I myself am in the process of getting diagnosed. Ive had problems with all the usual symptoms of SLE since 2011 when my stress went up d/t an ectopic. Before the ectopic I don't remember every really being sick. Since them, I don't ever remember feeling good. I have my first appt with a new doctor so I'm hoping it will go well. I was kind of wondering how work would be ivim dx'd with SLE and my rx's would make me more susceptible to infection. Since graduating I have pretty much only work in SNIF's and wellness clinics. I recently moved to arizona and will be starting with a hospice agency within the next week or two. Any advice?

Funny thing yesterday.... The HR person called and said they are eager for me to start... The position is still mine they are just waiting for the background check... Yay! A Grad 5/2013 , Licensed 7/2013 , OR "The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." Carolyn Jarvis

I think that's what I'm going to do. With their poor organizational skills and lack of professionalism with pre employment screening I am kind of turned of by the company now. Last time I check that is to be completed before orientation and immediately after job offer. Who knows though, things could have changed since then. Thanks Again! A Grad 5/2013 , Licensed 7/2013 , Charge Nurse at Skilled LTC in OR "The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." Carolyn Jarvis

i have one thing to say to you and i hope it helps.... "The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." Carolyn Jarvis ..... its okay to be scared. Thats what will keep your critical thinking and common sense from making mistakes. Just remember you got your license and passed your nclex-pn for a reason... BECAUSE YOU GOT THIS! just remember the world needs great nurses like yourself to make a difference in peoples life. Dont let your fear of striking out keep you from helping those people. If you do feel you want to brush up on text book scenarios which honetly isnt going to help you in the "real world of nursing" other than scientific data and procedure then just get an exam cram and read the basics. Most of the knowledge obtained will be from clinical experience. If you knew everything there was to know then this would be the career for you. Alot of fellow nurses i have talk to have told me "There isnt a day that goes by that i dont learn something new!". Thats what you need to remember. Hope this helps :-) A

Its been almost a month to the day that ive passed my Nclex-PN. I had my first interview friday and in the middle of my interview they offered me a job. Not to mention the pay was $3 more than i was asking so i was excited. It was for 2nd shift which was fine but idealy i wanted first shift. I was just sp happy to get a job so quick, or so i thought. Today was my orientation to the facility. I show up at 10am as requested and start in HR as expected. I went through all the paper work and then it was UA and background time. Put down all the needed info and as she submits the background check she informs me sometimes they come back instantly and sometimes it takes roughly a week. I thought this was odd because friday she said she was waiting for my info to come back before she could schedule orientation. After she submitted the background check, Ofcourse it says something to the nature to to needs further review so long story short mines is one that will be roughly a week. she then proceeds to tell me we can't continue until the background check comes back. I commented on the fact that i thought that was what they were suppose to be doing friday while i waited for there call. Which in fact wasnt the case. They were waiting for license verification. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? you can get that back in 2 seconds on the state board of nursing license verification site. So after informing me about that and having already put me on tomorrows schedule they pretty much kicked me out the door and said they would be in contact. About an hour or so later i get a phone call from th DNS who was orienting me and in our convo i asked if and when the background check comes back if i will still have the position. She never really gave me an answer so im confused of what to do now. Do i wait to hear from them or continue the job search and just take this as a lesson learned??? HELP!!! Im a worry wart. A

Yikes!!! Tomorrow is My first day on the job in a Skilled/LTC facility and lets just says IM TERRIFIED! Glad to hear im not alone. Good Luck to you! A

Thank you so much for your kind word of encouragement. As tomorrow approaches I can feel the nerves start to act up. I just need to remember we all had our first jobs and I can do this :-) thanks again! A

OMG! I feel like you are going through the same thing I did my last term of school. The only advice I have for the way she treats you is stand tall. When she tries to say mean things or boss you around be assertive and let you know these are YOUR patients and will not allow her to bully you. Second with the charting, a professor of mine gave me advice once to have your own nursing journal. Every night when you get home jot down your events of the day in detail without violating HIPPA. She did this every day for twenty years on those yellow legal pads. One day she was asked to appear in court for some situation and luckily she had her notes to reference back to and she actually ended up winning because of them. So moral of story, take notes to save your butt if need be. Hope things are better for you now :-) Grad May 2013, Licensed July 2013 , Charge Nurse at Skilled Nursing Facility in OR

Hello, I am new to the forums but felt this thread very inspiring lol. I just graduated from school in may. I decided to take a break before I sat for my nclex-pn and enjoy life again. On July 22nd I sat for my nclex and passed with flying colors. YAAAAY! Friday I got my first job as a Charge Nurse in a skilled nursing facility. Although I have worked in them for most of my clinicals in school I am still very nervous. Any advice for a first timer? Sincerly, Amber