stephdRN

Been there! 19 years old and found out I was pregnant in my first year of nursing school! Gave birth right before I stared my second year. Graduated on time in my last year with a 2 year old. I didn't have any other kids however I was a single mom. Pulled through and it was worth it! You got this!! ☺️

@Nica RN! I did find a job, I got offered the one I originally posted about despite the interview experience. It's not easy fining a job as a new grad but most hospitals offer a "new grad" program in which they will hire those without experience and train them. It's during certain times of the year, 3 nearby hospitals offered it in my area. I would apply for those position a, along with outpatient places, etc.

Well I took it today and it sucked! I'm glad I prepared for it because that helped me to suck less. I was unable to finish a couple if sessions because I just ran out of time. ? I'm just glad it's over with. They claim we don't have to take it again and that it was just a one time thing to see where we are at and where we need help in what areas.

I hope you're right! It's for med-surg telemetry. In my second interview they asked about my ability in reading telemetry strips and I told them quite frankly I needed more training in it. I have very limited experience in that area, but they seemed to be perfectly ok with that.l, stating it will be covered in orientation. This test pretty much came out of left field and I have no clue what to expect. I've read online the importance of reviewing common complications such as CHF, CVA, RF, dig tox, etc. but I feel there's more to it than that and I just want to get my bases covered.

I'm so happy to see this, and so recent! I am a new grad and just got hired into a new grad program. I was just informed that we have to take the PBDS test in TWO days! At first I wasn't very concerned but once I googled it, I started reading horror stories that basically scared me. And I feel like they gave us virtually no time to prepare! Needless to say, I am freaking out!

Interesting diagnosis, I wonder what program that was because it sounds wonderful! No criticism? No failures? Certainly not the kind of school I attended. Nothing was sugar coated nor spoon fed to us from what I remember. We received a good healthy dose of A** chewing on a weekly basis. In fact when it came down to discovering our final grades, we all stood in line and attention, single file next to the directors door. One at a time a student would enter. You wait about 5-10 minutes per person. If they come out with tears streaked down their face walking with their head down passing the rest of the awaiting students, chances are you weren't going to see that person again. And you didn't. Then it was finally your turn. How mortifying to face the rest of the class after just receiving the merciless news that you can not continue with the program (because frankly, you're just not good enough) and can not come back either. "Great job!" Or "You are awesome!" wasn't heard by anyone until maybe graduation day. Although I did hear a lot of "NOs" and "You're not even close" and even the occasional "What the heck were you even thinking?" Failure and harsh criticism could have very well been a freshman course. And something we all faced and are prepared to face the first day of our nursing career, as well as the remainder. There's no arguing that young age absolutely contributes to ineffective role performance. Or more so that it is lack of experience. Not necessarily because they wiped our butts for us during school. I don't recall that at least. Love the diagnosis though, very amusing.

Wow that took awhile

This was exactly my point of the entire thread! Not to bash the BSN nurse or the ASN/diploma. But to express my frustration in the requirement of a BSN for ENTRY level new grad TRAINING positions! Short sighted couldn't be any better in describing that. Not to mention it was put as a requirement for applying to have a BSN and I just said "I don't think so!" And applied anyway because I was confident in the education I did recieve and knew I was worth the chance, even without the BSN next to my name. And maybe HR missed it and it's a good thing because if they hadn't, I would have never been offered the time of day due to my diploma and lost the opportunity to really show them my potential. It's not doing anyone any favors by limiting the requirements for entry level positions. The ASN/diploma nurses lose out on job opportunities and the hospitals lose out on a entire selection of nurses who also have a lot to offer. No one wins. (Except for the banks and universities, still on that theory

I'm talking about entry level positions. My point is any new grad RN is capable for that and no one should be excluded due to their type of degree. I'm not degrading BSN but I am making a very important observation. A BSN can only earn you on average a 30 cent raise, some hospitals don't give you anything for going back to school. How much do they really truly value your education for 30 cents? Or for nothing? I suspect a second agenda going on here, and that's my opinion.

Well I started this thread because I wanted some feedback from others on my experience as well as share my personal opinion. I also wanted to tell everyone that I got called back from that same place to interview again and got offered a position on the spot! Very unexpected, however the second person who interviewed me adored diploma nurses and placed an expectation on me that I will be ahead of the game. Challenge accepted. I guess it just comes down to personal opinion. The truth is most diploma programs bring out good, well rounded ENTRY level nurses. And so do most ASN/BSN. Too many people are jumping on the higher education band wagon thing, and its all for the wrong reasons. The only "person" that really benefit from this higher education are the banks and universities. And that's my personal opinion. Some people just get taught to think a certain way about diploma or ASN nurses. So its up to us to step up to the plate and show them that their belief of us being "less qualified" may not actually be true and that a diploma RN or ASN RN nurse is just worthy of a chance as a BSN RN. It seems that hospital diploma programs are going extinct and it's a real shame. Theres something special about those types of programs and the experience they give is one of a kind. The "Corporate" business taking-over epidemic doesn't only exist in the retail world.

That's what I've heard also. For a new graduate it doesnt matter what kind of degree you have, its going to be real tough getting a job. No one wants us newbies! They all want you to get experience before you can get experience.

I think you nailed it on the head when you said that "Yes, things change, but not necessarily for the better" Like I said before, it seems that everyone has jumped on this "degree collecting" band wagon but don't really look into who is getting the benefits from it. You go back to school like the hospital and its admin. push you to do, add an extra $30,000 to your debt (that went in the banks pocket) and then the hospital gives you maybe a 30 cent raise if youre lucky. Some hospitals are on a wage freeze and you don't get jack for enhancing your knowledge, except for a pile of student loans. Do they really appreciate your continuing education? Or is there an ulterior motive behind this?

It's a long story as to why I moved. But when I became a single mom during my nursing education, I lost a whole support system. Most of my family lives in FL and were willing to take me and my daughter in while I got on my feet. No one was quite expecting that it would be this challenging, but they are still here and willing to help and that has been a blessing.

When I initially graduated, my fellow classmates were getting hired for many "acute" care positions. ER, ICU, NICU. Is was common to see only diploma educated nurses working in these places fresh out of school. But since moving and having this "bad luck", I've somewhat convinced myself that that is not going to happen and I should thank my lucky stars if I get anything. Not what I was first expecting.

A feel completely ok about long term care nursing. But I'm even seeing that all the local ones require experience which I just don't have yet until someone gives me the opportunity! I feel like I'm in a hole that I can't get out of with that. I've always had a strong interest in psych nursing and did well and have considered going for psychiatric NP. But I can't seem to find a position willing to take on a new grad anywhere, yet.