lmrn13

For the same reason that an ED RN will document "Awake, alert and oriented x 3" when the patient can barely tell you their own name. Or document that skin is intact when they know they haven't looked thoroughly. Plus is it not possible that you could forget or fail to document something important? The type of stuff that ER nurses get away with would get me written up on my floor. I understand it's an emergent area but come on. We get stuck finishing/fixing all the things you guys don't do so please don't complain about giving me a decent report so I can take over your mess. The reason you don't want the floor nurses asking questions is because we call you out on things. I once saw an ER nurse try to send a patient to the floor with a Mag 1.3 and no orders for replacement. Keep in mind it was 3 AM. Imagine calling a dr at that time for something that can easily be ordered by an ED physician?? We on the floor have licenses just like you and forgive me if I don't want to stake mine on saving you a few minutes. I understand that this may seem like ranting but I find the original question offensive, like dealing with a floor nurses questions is below an ED nurse. We are all a team and we need a decent report to maintain patient safety and continuity of care.

Maybe Hep C??

1. South FL 2. New Grad 3. Cardiac Tele at a large metropolitan hospital 4. $24.80 base pay 5. $4 evening and $6 night differentials. No weekend differential. 6. Non-union We pay $1400 a month for a 2 bedroom 2.5 bathroom apartment in a great area, but that doesn't include any utilities. Gas here is right about $3.79 a gallon right now, and milk is +$4 a gallon.

My friend got a job at Florida Hospital in Orlando a few months after graduating from our BSN Program. She got in at the ICU but there is a 2-3 yr contract she has to finish out there. Yes I'm in the Miami area and competition is insane here. I think about how lucky I am every day because I spend 8 months looking for a job. Are you and your classmate getting your BSNs?

I remember doing a rotation in the Pedi ER during nursing school, and we were treating a frequent flyer. She was a teenage girl with cancer receiving chemo, and my preceptor told me that although she had no insurance, her parents would bring her to the ER each week for her nausea. However, they would always do this on the same day she had her next chemo appt so that she would be a direct admit from the ER and had to be treated. I could only assume that her family was struggling financially, but were willing to do whatever necessary to get her the chemo. Idk if that's something that could apply here?? Also I guess you could look up the laws in your state as far as minors being able to seek tx for STDs and pregnancy without their parents consent?? I don't really know what I would write about but I hope this helps

Congrats but I agree... never do that again. I just had a drug screen this week and the nurse told me that they can test you at any time!! At my facility if you so much as cut your finger they'll send you to employee health for a drug screen and if you're positive they do report to the BON. The nurse told me she has already seen several cases where ppl tested positive because they just took meds that were given to them by family members when they were sick and didn't know what it was. Needless to say they got in serious trouble for that cause they didn't have a script and it contained a narcotic. Not worth the risk at all.

I am a new grad as well, and have been looking for a job in South FL since last July when I passed NCLEX!! I have my BSN AND a Bachelors in Health Science and it still took me a ridiculous amount of time to find a job. I only recently got hired for a residency program that starts in a mid-March. I am not telling you this to discourage you, however you need to be aware that your job search is likely to be a marathon, not a sprint. In the meantime (and if you can afford it) I would recommend getting ACLS certified and possibly taking an EKG course. I think that really helped me in my job search.

I have spoken to several associate degree nurses who have gone waaaaay longer than 6 months. As for myself, I went almost 10. And I think I'm pretty well educated with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing). I also have additional certifications that I did on my time and $$. I was so naive thinking that nursing was a super in demand profession.... My instructors would tell me how they had jobs lined up even before graduating!!! South FL is so saturated with new grads.... But I know a lot of other places are like that too.

I'm not telling you NOT to move to South Fl... I'm just telling you to do your research and not be disillusioned so there aren't any big shocks when you get here. Visiting a place and living there are very different. And I definitely recommend starting your BSN as soon as possible when you get here.... My bf is doing his Associates in Nursing now and I tell him the exact same thing. I really worry about him finding a job after graduation... And it's a very real concern. I think the hospitals you're looking at are good.... But there are also plenty more you can look into. Jackson Memorial Hospital is very new grad friendly, and Tenet owns a lot of Hospitals here in Fl. Definitely look there. There are also Mercy and Kendall Regional in Miami but idk how new grad friendly they are.

Advocate for the patient.... Who obviously can't do it for themself!!! Those conditions sound abhorrent and you don't want that on your conscience.... Wondering if there was more you should've done. Def let the agency know but don't let them just brush it under the rug. CPS exists for this very reason.... I think they're a resource you should definitely refer to.

Ok I sent you a private message. I hope I can help you :)

I start a new grad residency in March and honestly my biggest fear is that I make a mistake or someone gets hurt. I'm sure everyone goes through these feelings but it's so intimidating!!

The thing is idk what I would've done in those situations. I mean the ED is obviously not 1-1 so you have other patients to care for. Maybe you should've gotten a tech to assist them in the bathroom? And as far as the seizure pt idk.... I mean you said the MD didn't want a sitter and you clearly can't sit with them their whole stay. As far as the proposals I think that's a good idea.... Sort of like when a nurse makes a med error how they have to teach others so that error doesn't happen again. Not that I'm saying you made a mistake, it just seems like a proactive thing to do. And ya DEFINITELY be honest and just explain to them why you made the decisions you did. Obviously you didn't want the patients to fall so you should tell them the justification for your actions. At least that's what I would do...

I know that my instructors in nursing school discouraged going straight into an NP program without experience as a bedside nurse. Bedside nursing teaches you a lot. My instructors told me that they had seen MSNs and NPs working as bedside nurses because they had never gotten that experience. Idk how true this is or other peoples experiences, but it makes sense to me. Best of luck...

Wow that's extremely unfortunate. I'm a new grad and I haven't started working yet so I probably can't provide too much advice. I guess all you can do is tell your side of the story, be truthful and hope for the best. Definitely update after the meeting.... I'm curious how this turns out. Best of luck.... I'm crossing my fingers for you

Awesome question I'm curious to know as well. Anyone?

I mean at a recent interview I met a girl who had graduated in Dec 2012 and hadn't been able to find a job yet.... So even if you do stay there's no guarantee of finding a job regardless. It's hard for new grads to find work. This is in Miami so I can't speak for other locations but that's sort of the same situation you'll be in as far as the amount of time you'll been unemployed. As for me, I graduated last May and am only now gonna start working in mid March. I think as long as you volunteer and stay relevant that should help. Personally, during the time I was unemployed it took ACLS and PALs as well as an EKG course. I think it helped cause I just got hired on a cardiac tele floor at a great hospital through a new grad residency. Good luck with everything :)

Nursing school is a very stressful time, I think it tends to exacerbate any underlying problems you may have going on. I don't say it as a bad thing, however I knew of a girl who actually had a breakdown during nursing school and had to leave for the rest of the semester. It's good that you realize now that you need to make a change and I think you should talk to someone. You made a good first step by seeing your doctor, however the fact that he diagnosed you with depression is nothing to be ashamed of. Like someone else said, it is manageable and you can still be successful despite it. That being said, I don't think they should just give you medication and send you along. Your inner mentality is probably projecting externally, as in you come off as depressed and miserable and it probably makes you seem unapproachable. You should really try and talk to someone, I'm sure you have many great qualities but maybe your low self-esteem is getting in the way of making friends. I only graduated last May but I know nursing is about teamwork, and you need people to have your back. It's good that you have a chance to work on this now, I know I came out of my shell a lot during nursing school as well. Also, I just want to say that I'm sure right now it feels hopeless.... But it's not!! Don't think that because people have a bad first impression that you can't overcome that. You just need to address this now before it becomes more serious. Nursing school is hard enough without having all these other pressures and stress. I think a good start is to maybe write down 10 reasons why someone would be lucky to have you as a friend? I know it sounds corny but maybe it will help you focus on more positive aspects of yourself, rather that just how "quiet" and "awkward" you think you are. Also... Just talk to people!!! It doesn't have to be much.... Hey how was your weekend?? Hey can I ask you a question about my care plan?? Keep it short at first so it doesn't get to a point of awkward silence, but I think that will raise your confidence, as well as show people you can be personable. Good luck and let us know how it goes :)

You're talking only about apartment prices.... I'm talking cost of living in general. And if you wanna live Downtown or in Brickell I assure you rent can reach and even exceed those prices as well. Also an associate degree RN with no experience is gonna have an extremely difficult time finding a job in South FL and if they do it most likely will be at a nursing home making $19 an hr (because I applied for those jobs as well). Add that to the horrible traffic here and the fact that not speaking Spanish is an HUGE disadvantage and it's not all as luxurious as it sounds. I've lived in South Fl my whole life and I understand places like NYC are a lot more expensive to live but you also get paid more. The avg starting salary of a new grad BSN in South Fl is $53k and in NY it's $68k. Big difference. http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=New+York http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=New+Grad+Bsn+RN&l1=South+florida

Also, the cost of living in South Florida is not all that low. The public transportation system here is nowhere near as good as NY and most likely you will need a car, depending on where you go to school and get hired. Plus, even with two bachelors degrees (health science and nursing), BLS, ACLS, PALS and an EKG course I struggled to find a job here as a new grad. The best bet is a residency program, but I'm pretty sure the market here is saturated with new grads that already have BSNs. A lot of my friends had better luck in Broward and even better luck in north FL. Maybe look into Florida Hospital in Orlando.... Idk how they are with hiring associate degree nurses, but my friend from nursing school got a job there in the ICU through a new grad residency less than 6 months after graduation. Also, just so you know I pay 1400 for a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath near Baptist Hospital in Kendall. Good luck with everything.... you can message me with anything else you wanna know :)

Ya I saw and replied..... Thanks ? but I tried to send something else after and it said your message box was full lol

Oh awesome haha I can tell you what to ask him!! Because were both at the same place so it should be the same. I'll try and send you a private message and show you the schedule. And I got night shift.... It's what I asked for cause I'm definitely a night person lol. What about you?

And congrats to you too!! It's so exciting right?? Lol

Cool we probably will see each other lol. And he called me on Thursday to handle some hiring stuff but I missed the call I finally just went to the HR office. I was told theres over 100 residents so if you don't complete the stuff and miss your physical appt you cant start til AUGUST!!! So I know Im going to complete mine the second he sends it lol. And as far as you know there's no contract/commitment right?

Well Baptist is like a fortress to get into with no experience. They recently hired for a new grad residency but it was only open to BSNs. That's actually where I just got hired. Good luck with the move and finishing school.