PinkRose34

Awesome, thank you both for responding, I really appreciate it. I was really leaning towards the Doula program because it's closer to where I'd like to go, and I don't think the clinic will help me get there as much. I have an interview for the Doula Program in a few days, I hope I get it.

Yes I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. The clinic teaches women about the risks of abortion and have them consider alternatives such as adoption. They’re pro-life

I'm currently working on a med/surg unit and looking into L&D. I'm looking at places to volunteer at. I have 2 options, but I can only pick one because I work full time (12 hr, 0.9 FTE) and just started a family. Here are the 2 options: Option 1: Non-Profit Prenatal Clinic Commitment - 1 year Hours - 3 hours every other week (or every week) Distance from home - 10 mins tasks - pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, charting, guiding young women in times of crisis (ie those who are considering abortion). may also assist with breastfeeding classes and outreach programs. Option 2: Doula Program at a Hospital Birthing Center Commitment - 2 years Hours - 6 hours every other week Distance from home - 30 mins I will be volunteering as a Doula and assist Mom with the birth. Which option would be better for me if my end goal is to get into L&D/Postpartum one day? Would the second option negatively affect my home life at all (being that it's further and requires more of my time)? I appreciate any input you can give me, thank you.

I really wish I could apply to other NICU positions but they ALL require NICU experience - especially Kaiser. There are no transitions programs either. So I'm really in a tight spot. One of the reasons why the nurse said it's easier to go to NICU later is because whenever there's an opening within that area, they offer it to the nurses there first before offering it to the rest of the hospital

The manager does know me,we've met through Shared Governance and I've emailed her several times about my interest and when I sent in an application. I keeping in touch with one of the nurses who work on the unit. So far, it looks like the positions I'm applying for are being taken by those who work there already, and I completely understand. I guess I'll just keep trying and applying. Thank you!

Hi everyone, I have been working at my hospital for 3 years now - 2 years with med-surg/tele, 1 year with Surgical patients. This is my only acute care experience. My goal at first was to get into my hospital's NICU, but I heard from a Postpartum nurse who works there that it's better to start out working in postpartum then transition to NICU later. This is what I've done so far: obtained NRP, STABLE certifications took class on lactation and basic fetal heart monitoring joined AWHONN, NANN informed my current manager of my plans networked and very briefly worked with Postpartum manager through our hospital's Shared Governance Recently, there have been a couple openings for Postpartum, and I applied to both. After the first position filled, I emailed the manager to follow up on the opening and she said it's been filled, but she expects movement in the Spring because a Postpartum nurse will be retiring. Then the second position was posted the following week. I applied again, informed her I applied, and once more the position closed. Not even a chance at an interview. Something tells me that someone in that field (L&D, postpartum, NICU) got those positions because I know she would extend an interview at internal applicants. But what if I'm wrong? I'm racking my brain and it's stressing me out. Any suggestions on how else I can make myself a competitive applicant? I would appreciate any advice you can give me. (Moving isn't an option, and I don't think I stand a chance of applying to nearby postpartum or L&D openings externally without experience, and there are no transition programs at this time).

Thank you so much for your responses! I plan to do this later in the future, maybe in a year after I've given birth and go back to work after my maternity leave. I did join Shared Governance so that I can start networking with people in other departments, more specifically those in NICU. In fact, the manager of NICU is in one of my workgroups, so I'm hoping over time I can get acqauinted with her and ask if I could shadow a nurse there. Thanks again!

I'm currently studying for the CNL exam, and I could really use some advice. I graduated from my CNL program 4 years ago, so I'm a little rusty. I know I should have taken it sooner, however there were circumstances that happened that I needed to attend to (death in the immediate family, moving, taking care of my family). In fact, this would be my 3rd time taking it. I can't remember how I studied the first time I took it back in 2017. When I took the test in 2019, I prepped by studying the CNL Secrets yellow book, and I didn't have time to finish reading the book, and didn't do a lot of practice questions. I'm studying from Springer's CNL Certification Review book (purple). I read all the chapters, and did hundreds of their practice questions online, and scored 75% on average. But when I attempted to do AACN's assessment test, I got a low score, in the 60% range! Now I feel like I'm at a loss. The more practice questions I do (from my other CNL books), the more I come across concepts that I haven't reviewed on. I wonder if I'll ever be ready for this test. I feel like giving up because I don't feel like I'm going anywhere. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I'm just curious what everyone's opinion is on this topic. I currently work on an adult surgical unit, but my dream job is to one day work in peds or NICU. The hospital I work at doesn't have a peds unit, but it does have a NICU. I'd like to get my foot in the door by volunteering on the unit, but I'm not sure if it's considered taboo to volunteer at the same hospital I work at. (FYI, I'm also planning on making myself more competitive by joining associations r/t neonates, take classes, get PALS and NRP in the near future) Thoughts?

Thank you all so much for your kind a reassuring words! I feel more ensured knowing I'm not the only one who went through this stage. At the old unit I worked at, I was night shift, and was so comfortable and familiar with everything. Now not only am I on a new unit, I'm on day shift! I still have days where I feel down, but I'm hoping with time, I'll gain more wisdom and experience. ?

I've been a nurse for 3 years now, 2 years in an acute care setting. I recently started working on another unit at the same hospital (newly opened surgical unit too). My fellow co-workers are so amazing, reliable and smart that I feel so inadequate next to them. I don't feel like I'm good enough to be a part of their team. In the past 2 days I've done some hiccups that were plain common sense such as: - not connecting the PCA tubing correctly - asking the doctors to put parameters on blood pressure meds (d/t the fact my pt's HR was in the 50s), only to have my lead tell me I could just look it up the medication to see if it's ok to give. - patient had dialysis for the second time EVER today (first time was yesterday), and was quite lethargic after. Vitals were stable, she did open her eyes when we tried to wake her up, and blood sugar was normal. However she didn't eat anything all day until dinner time. The next nurse asked if this was her baseline LOC and I FELT SO STUPID I COULDN'T GIVE HER A CLEAR ANSWER. I know she was also lethargic from the first dialysis, but I didn't ask the last nurse if that was her baseline. - patient admitted with abcess, forgot to look up the patient's WBC level (wasn't critical to begin with, and she was getting 3 antibiotics). There have been several instances during report where I don't know the answer to their question. How can I be a better nurse? I feel so incompetent, and I don't want to be that nurse that gives terrible reports. I try so hard to make sure I don't miss anything, and make sure the patient's needs are met, and I keep an eye for critical changes, yet I still miss something. Some days I feel like giving up because I feel I'll never be as good as my fellow nurses. What do I do?

Hi fellow nurses! After working at an adult sub-acute/rehab center for 10 months and working at a day care for medically fragile kids for 5 months, I finally got my dream job at a peds hospital! I'd really love to make a lasting impression on the manager and my soon-to-be-co-workers; I want to reassure them they made the right choice in choosing me as part of their team. I have a couple weeks to refresh my knowledge. This is what I have planned to review so far: - fluids and electrolytes - growth and development - General peds review (from my Hurst NCLEX notes) - medical calculations for peds Is there anything else I should prepare for? What advice can you give to someone who's starting out on the peds unit for the first time? Thanks in advance! :)

Hi there! So I did an entry-MSN program and most of my classmates and myself were able to get RN jobs, both acute and non-acute not too long after the program ended. It is true though that some hospitals or new grad programs require or prefer a BSN I think because BSN students have more clinical experience than entry-MSNs. So you'll be ok either direction you choose, but you're right - you might have more opportunity open if you have a BSN. If you do go the BSN route never fear, you can always do MSN later. Hope this helps!

Thank you guys for your fast response and advise! I truly appreciate it! I actually have my MSN in nursing. I did a MSN-Entry program for non-nurses. My volunteer role at the hospital is being a bedside companion to patients who need it, so I'm not always on the same unit of the hospital. But you do bring up a great point, thank you. I'll make the most of it, ask questions, and show them that I would be a great nurse to work with someday.

Hi Everyone, I was hoping someone could give me advice on how I can get my foot in the hospital door. So here's my story. I got my RN license last April 2016. I got a job in a Sub-Acute and Rehab facility a few months later (June). I wanted to start gaining my peds experience, so last November I got a part time job at a day care for medically fragile children. I would love to work at a hospital, but I live in an area where it's extremely competitive and all open nursing position require at least a year of acute care experience. Moving is out of the question for me because of my family. I was thinking of applying for a job at my dream hospital as a secretary or CNA to get my foot in the door and start networking. I already volunteer at this hospital, but d/t juggling 2 jobs I can only go there for the required 2 hours a week. Is this a good idea? Has anyone done this in the past and was able to land a nursing position at the hospital? If it's a bad idea, do you have any other suggestions? Thank you in advance for you help! :)