amber_energy_RN

NP is a short-term solution...When compared to non-stop whining/complaining about the way the system works...unless you are heavily involved in politics or you have a seat on the Board of Directors at your hospital/facility. Trust me...I believe nursing pay should be completely revamped (and I have several proposals that I have written about in my classes). But for the time-being, I am going to get my NP because #1. I love knowledge, #2. It will help me deliver the care I want to deliver and #3. That near 6 - figure salary will keep my family safe and comfortable.

If you're going to take the leap to RN, might as well go all the way to NP...those girls (and guys) DO make money...into the 6 figures (and I know this for a fact...)

Forest Park grad, 2013 1. Forest Park and Meramec are the best. Some friends went to Flo Valley and they all failed. Flo Valley does not care for you. Their mission is to weed out everyone they can. 2. As a result, the Flo Valley wait list was 1 year (because of their horrible reputation) and 1.5 years for Forest Park and Meramec. 3. I worked full - time 1st and 2nd semester. But I was a supervisor and created my own schedule of odd hours (like 3pm- 9pm on a Sunday). 3rd semester, I went part - time (and almost got a C). 4th semester, I did not work. 4. A typical week is 40+ hours of study/lecture/lab/clinical/simulation. Quit your job. Or be prepared to repeat a semester/fail.

Yay! Immediately after posting this, I started getting calls and going on interviews! I start my new job in a couple weeks!

I graduated in December, passed boards in January, and got hired last week (in St. Louis, MO - which is a HORRIBLE state for nurses....The hospitals have just gone through hiring freezes, layoffs, and most won't even consider you unless you are a BSN WITH TECH EXPERIENCE.) With that being said, I was not a tech and I graduated with an associates. How did I do this? Here are the steps that worked for me: 1. Blitz the scene. Some people will argue, "No - don't do that. You will seem desperate for a job and managers are looking for people that are passionate for their specific specialty." Well I am PASSIONATE ABOUT NURSING, PERIOD. And if you call me in for an interview, give me about 3 days to research your hospital and your floor and I will be able to tell you why I am passionate about med-surge nursing (or cardiac, or oncology, or LTC, or whatever position it is that you're interviewing me for.) 2. Don't get discouraged. You will have to kiss a lot of frogs to marry your prince. Remember - you will hear A LOT of "No's", but it only takes one "Yes" to make your dreams come true. 3. Network. Knowing people in the right places may not get you the job...but it MAY get your application in the right hands...as opposed to the trash can....Some positions can get up to 200+ applicants, so you need all the help you can get... 4. Volunteer. If you don't know anyone, this can be your bridge to meeting the right people... 5. Pray. And be a good person. There are a lot of people on this forum that are genuinely ugly people (inside and out.) Ignore them. They have been beaten up by the world and are inclined to bring you down (instead of lifting you up.)

AMEN SISTER.

I am in the same spot as you guys. Sent out 40 applications since January. The laws of probability initially made me think, "OK, if I apply to X - number of jobs, and go on X - number of interviews, I should get a bite in X - number of months." But after 6+ months, you guys are saying that there is still nothing? I think I am just going to switch careers now. I don't have time for this. I will be homeless soon.

This is the most depressing thread I have read. It's amazing how many nurses complain about the ever - increasing workload and demands placed on them, but no one wants to hire newbies because we are to stupid to train (or take too long and cost too much). Let's just burn out the really good experienced ones instead. Awesome.

And you don't get to use your own TI-anything on NCLEX...

Use the calculators provided and follow the rules. If you press lightly on the keys and think the numbers aren't registering, then do it manually. Dosage calculation problems are the least of students' worries...FYI, they aren't even considered to be at the passing level on NCLEX (I.e. they are below basic).

Unless they are still processing your background check and references.

From what I have heard and seen, waiting (sometimes for weeks at a time) is the norm. But that's really weird that they gave you the benefits package before official notice. I have NEVER heard of that happening before...that would make anyone think they got the job for sure. I would assume you got the job...otherwise, that would be a really unprofessional thing to do to someone.

Exactly! Nursing school is amazingly challenging as it is (especially if you add kids to the mix). Several of the individuals that DID work as Techs ended up failing and being held back a semester or two. Kudos to anyone that worked as a tech and made it through nursing school without failing a single semester. You definitely deserve your RN job. I think there were probably 3 in my class.

And yes - I am already well aware that first priority goes to the Techs that just graduated. Since they already have experience and know people on the inside, that makes sense. But I want to know from people who came in from the outside - how did you do it?