morglan

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. UL Hospital (Kentucky One/Catholic Health Initiatives) is always looking for PRN nurses! Good luck.

I'm looking in Louisville, KY. Maybe I will just start dropping by offices...thing is, how do you go about that? Just ask receptionist if you can speak to the doc? Or drop off something for him/her?

At this point, I'd work for any setting...my RN experience is hospital ICU for over 10 years, but I've applied to urgent care clinics, doctors' groups, home health, derm, geriatric, even correctional care...

Thanks for your responses. I live in Kentucky, so already fairly rural. Louisville is fairly saturated at the moment. Moving or relocating is a little tough as my kids are pretty involved with programs...I'd hate to move everybody up just for my initial 1 or 2 years of experience and just end up moving back since we are pretty rooted. It seems like other students I know end up working where they worked before, just as a NP...unfortunately this has not been the case for me as it seems everyone is in a hiring freeze! Do any of you think it's worth it to mail out resumes to individual doctors' groups/offices? Or would this just be disregarded? Also I've read where new grads have offered themselves as an internship/volunteer position without pay for one or two days per week -- any ideas about this? I wouldn't even know how to go about that...

I graduated in Nov 2015, took boards in April and passed first time around (thank God). Had a bit of a break in between due to a family emergency which resulted in my parents moving in with me and my family. Anyway, I'm having the worst time finding an NP position. I've worked in a major trauma teaching hospital for over six years in ICU/CCU and there are no jobs available there...the other major hospital organization requires at least one year experience as an NP or they won't even look at your resume. I've sent out tons and tons of applications, resumes, reached out to preceptors...all say the same thing, just no jobs right now. Is anyone else having this problem? I'm considering a post grad psych certification to make myself more marketable. Just out of school and I really don't want to start again, but not sure what I'll do if I can't find something soon! Student loan pymts just started up and I really thought I'd be in my first NP job by now...

Hi vkirby63! It was pretty casual for us, first day I wore a polo and khaki pants (i'm a guy) but by the middle of the first week we were wearing khaki shorts and pretty much whatever, as long as no one went overboard...that was my experience, not sure if it would change regarding dress code for the upcoming ones. But all in all, very laid back with an emphasis on working with everyone - lots of hands on and practice, practice, practice. Very good experience!

Hi and welcome. Not sure that you can choose your instructor. As far as NP 601, I'd definitely recommend it. Just stay on track with your classes now so that you can take it in the summer. You have to have Pharm done and grade posted before you can enroll. It was well worth using up two weeks of vacation to get it done in 2 weeks rather than the longer online class. Good luck!

Anyone having trouble with getting in touch with advisors, clinical coordinator, etc? I've been trying to email anyone regarding wrapping up clinical requirements to get started and all I get is an auto-reply. Anyone else having this problem currently?

Thanks for the book advice. NP 601 on campus was well worth the trip, I would highly recommend to anyone if it lines up with the scope and sequence of classes. Still getting the last few clinical requirements ironed out and haven't logged on to Typhon yet. Hoping to sign up for 612/613 August 31. :)

What textbooks are required for NP 612/613? I can't seem to find that listed anywhere. Thanks

I saw some 'kits' online, but were very $$ so I just ordered an otoscope, tuning fork and percussion hammer through Amazon and it was relatively inexpensive, and I'll just take my own stethescope. RN-In Maine do you have any tips for the class? Thx

thanks pjacob. The instructor hadn't advised me to bring those things....I emailed her and she said to bring them!

Hey playboyesquire or any others....headed to Maine in about a week for the summer NP601. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

HI Debs17, I emailed you back a few days ago, but if you didn't get it: I'm finishing up my last Unit in Pharm. I'm not sure if all instructors have the same syllabus but each unit has 3 lessons: readings, 1 timed quiz (which is pretty tough!), and a critical thinking type of essay with a patient scenario for each lesson. Some lessons have discussion boards but only about 3 so that's good. There's an annotated bibliography to do at the end along with a video assignment that's not too bad. I have actually really enjoyed this class! A lot better than my experience with patho, that's for sure. It can be done in 6-8 weeks if you really get to work. A lot of writing, as usual. Good luck.

Anyone who has taken the summer session of NP601 Assessment - what is the dress code (for a man)? Just casual or scrubs when assessing the volunteer patients? Any input or advice? Thanks

Hi Debs17, I am finishing up NP602. It is not as difficult as patho, but still a lot of busy work!

Thanks, I agree. It was pretty frustrating...but getting over it.

So, HR says they only have the night shift position available, and I had to turn it down. I hate that everyone wasted time in the process. It would have been VERY helpful if during the interview, the panel of three could have said, "oh by the way, this is for a night shift position." The job posting just said a "combination of 8 and 12 hour shifts." Other RN jobs posted specified nights, and this one didn't. Oh well, I guess I can look at it as a learning process.

Yeah, I definitely will ask HR about the form and if it was sent inadvertently to me? Anyway regarding the shifts....I would probably go ahead and take nights just to get in, but my situation may not make it possible. I'm in a MSN/FNP program as well, and I start clinicals in about six months (probably two 8-hour days a week). I think with my clinical situation I don't see how it would be possible for nights, unfortunately. I'm just going to call and hopefully plead my case for days. At this particular VA they have a couple of other positions posted for the same type of position so I think they have multiple spots open - I'm thinking they're just desperate for someone for nights. I guess we'll see what happens! Thanks for your comments.

Thanks Pixie.RN! I wore the black suit, but with a medium blue shirt and black tie, it seemed to work. I got a call back today, one day after the interview :) Thanks!

So, I had an interview for an ICU position at the VA yesterday that I'm pretty interested in! HR called me this morning, which I thought was pretty quick and I was excited. They did offer me the position, but it is nights, and I was under the impression it was days. So, I need to figure out what to do and see if there is any flexibility on that. Anyway, I received several forms to begin filling out. One is the "nursing qualification supplemental questionnaire" which is the "guidelines for appointment above entry level experienced registered nurse." I think this is part of the process to determining a salary. One section says to: "total the years of RN experience. Deduct 3 years for appointment at Grades Nurse II and Nurse III. Multiply by 1.5 for all grades, Nurse I, Nurse II and Nurse III; this results in the total number of points for RN experience." I think I'm confusing myself on this one. I have 10 years of RN experience, and I have my BSN. I have no idea if I will be a Grade Nurse I or II, so I don't know whether to deduct the 3 years for appointment at Nurse II? Any help on this one for those who have already completed this section? Also, should I try and figure out a way to get onto days, or just accept the night position and hope there will be an opening for days soon?

Thanks everyone. I will probably rock the black suit :)

Thanks jeckrn. I was leaning towards wearing a suit, but I only have a black one and I'm thinking that may be too formal.

Just got a call for an interview at the VA for an ICU position in two days. So this is kind of last minute, but hoping to get a response. I haven't been on an interview in a long time, but assuming (as a male) to just wear khakis/nice shirt? Do I need a tie?

So, for those that posted problems with the Pharma class, what specifically did the instructor not to seem to be satisfied with? The written assignments, chosen meds for scenario, ?? I've just started. How are the quizzes?