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Hello everyone. Have been a nurse for 6 years, 3 in OR. Currently working on a med surg floor because couldn't find a position in OR when I first applied. There are job openings now and I reached out to the nursing manager and he responded asking about my experience and availability, as well as where I currently work. Emailed back and stated I worked on the 2nd floor, my availability, and experience and never got a reply back since. I have heard rumors that my current nurse manager has complained to other managers in meetings that her nurses keep leaving the 2nd floor for other places in the hospital, especially OR and PACU. Is this possibly a reason why the OR manager does not seem interested after learning i am on the 2nd floor? How should I respond to this situation? I plan on leaving the 2nd floor to go back to surgical nursing soon, so the my current manager will be losing a nurse even if I don't get an internal transfer. But I am pretty loyal to this hospital system and would like to stay here. Any advice? Thank you!

Hi everyone. A little about me: I have been a nurse for around 3 years, have been an ER nurse for almost two years. I recently gave birth to a baby boy around 5 months ago and just now started working again PRN. My hubby is active duty air force. We are set to move bases within the next few months. I will be looking for new job opportunities in our new state. I want to continue being an ER nurse, but am interested in perhaps joining the Air Guard as a nurse and continue being a civilian nurse as well. I don't even know if this is possible. Does anyone have any information about this? I will talk to a recruiter soon if I continue to want to learn more about this opportunity. But thought I would ask on here first. Would I be able to do guard duties one weekend a month? Would these duties be nursing related? Because of my degree, would I have to go to any special training? Any general information would be great. I'm just trying to add a little more into my nursing career....but would still like the flexibility to raise my family and be with my son (and any future children). Thanks for any input. And sorry if I sound clueless. I know very little about the Air Guard and military.

Hello, My license will be expiring in a few months, and I believe I know the steps to renew the license. Seems easy enough. My question is this -- should I (or can I, even) renew my license to be a compact license instead of a single states license like I have currently. My state is a part of the compact states, and I am military. Some of the states my husband has listed on his dream sheet are also part of the compact. However, there are some states (mainly our home state, which is number 1 on his sheet)that are not part of the compact states. So my questions in a more structure manner are 1. Can I renew my license to be a compact state license? 2.What will happen if I have to move to a state that is not a compact state? 3. For any military nurses out there, is a compact license more practical in the long run?Or do you just get another license in whatever state you happen to move to? Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone, My husband and I don't plan on getting moved around again until 2017. However, just thought I'd go ahead and at least get general idea of what all may happen when I have to move from the state I'm at now. I currently reside in CO. Got my license to practice here (although I graduated from another state -- military reasons). We are planning on moving since his time to be stationed here is about to be up (unless he asks for an extension) in about 1.5 years. If he gets a new assignment to another state, can anyone tell me the steps to get another license in the new state? Can I still interview/apply for another job in another state even if I don't have a license for that state yet? Some of these may be dumb questions, but I'm just trying to learn and be prepared! :) Thanks in advance!!

Hi everyone! I am on my second week on the floor in the ER. Brand new in the ER and I'm loving it! We have carts for central line insertions and chest tube insertions for any emergent needs. I have never seen what any of these insertions look like or what the RN is supposed to do while the MD puts the catheter in. So any guidance on this topic? Idk what the kits look like on the inside...dunno what the procedure is (apart from all of it being aseptic, I believe)...any of it Any advice is appreciated! If you have a nice article or video link handy, I'd love that too. Thanks so much!

Awesome, and how do you guys manage on your days off? Do you switch back to a day schedule? If so, how do you handle that?

Hi everyone! I'm currently working 7a to 730p at my hospital. I just got a job at an ER at another hospital (about a 40 min commute -- but worth it!), and I will be working the 6p to 6a shift. I just wanted to know how the night RNs go about on their days off? I've read some threads and I think I will try this: Work 3 night shifts in a row, then on the 3rd shift, get home at around 7a, sleep by 8a. Nap for about 5 hours, wake up at around 2p to 3p. Then stay up till 11p or 12a, then switch to a daytime schedule on my days off. On my last day off, I'll just kind of do the opposite. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, I know this is probably going to be "hard on the body" and "horrible for the health" and "I just never get to see my family", etc. etc. Okay, I get it. I've read this a lot throughout threads. But, there are awesome RNs out there who survive night shift and still have time for their families, and are pretty darn happy where they are at. I was super unhappy at my last position (where I worked day shift and only commuted 15 minutes ---- yeah, but I was not a happy camper there), and am ecstatic about the ER. So I'm planning on making this work (even if I will be a night owl some days of the week) and being positive!! So any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

I am going to start applying soon to the hospitals around the area :) Thanks so much for the responses!! A lot of Night RN positions right now, how is it at night with the Peds unit?

Thank you @kayseadeecee! I am going to apply to Peds positions in hospitals around my area after my wedding :) Fingers crossed!! Thank you so much! If you don't mind my asking, do you work on nights on your peds units? Or days?

Hi everyone! I am considering applying to Peds Home Health, but was just wondering if home health is generally safe for nurses? I am a small gal and am pretty apprehensive and cautious about strange environments (I grew up in a really bad neighborhood and have very traumatic memories)....so going into a stranger's house makes me a little nervous. Granted taking care of the kiddos is something I'd love to do, but just wanted some input from all the home health RNs out there :) Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone!I am considering applying for Pediatric Home Health RN positions. I am really hoping to eventually get into a Peds Med-Surg floor at a hospital later on down the road. In the past I've had experience with pediatric patients as a tech at a children's rehab hospital/long term care facility. I then moved and got an RN job at an Adult Acute Rehab Hospital, where I currently am. I'm wanting to get back into peds, but I am still wanting to keep my full time position at my adult rehab hospital. I've had co workers tell me it could be a good idea to work PRN as a Peds Home Health RN. Does anyone know if being a peds home health RN would count as valuable peds experience for when I do eventually apply to a hospital peds unit? Please do let me know! Any advice would be great! Thank you so much!

Hi! If you don't mind my asking, how long did it take for yo to feel comfortable in a Mom/Baby unit? Also, what made you want to transition from ICU to Mom/Baby?

Thank you for your kind advice! In my way of thinking, I am wanting a change..and since I've worked in rehab as an RN for the past year, I figured it may be best to go into ortho. I figured I would just look better with my rehab experience. But my heart is definitely set in peds. I will definitely be on the lookout for some peds positions! Thank you again!

Hello everyone! I have worked at an acute rehab hospital for adults for the past year. Before this, I worked as a nurse tech at a rehabilitation hospitals for pediatric patients. I have always loved peds, and am hoping to work as a Peds RN. I was not able to get a Peds job in my area as there were no opening for new grads when I moved to my new town (had to move because of husband's job...I miss all my kiddos at my old hospital!). Therefore, I accepted a position at a rehabilitation hospital. I love my job, but am aching for peds again. I have worked with the 18+ population for the past year. I was just wondering if I should even apply for any peds positions? Would the transition be too hard? Would it look back on me that I have very little pediatric experience (I only have peds experience for the year I was a nurse tech at the children's rehab hospital)...I have worked with a lot of ortho patients s/p surgery, IVs, PEGs, Foleys, etc....but all on adult patients only. I have always dreamed of being a peds nurse....but I know it is a totally difference world over in peds....so was just hoping for some advice! Thanks so much!

Hello everyone! I have been an RN at an acute rehab hospital for the past year. I love what I do, but lately, I feel like going for a change. I did first ever clinical on an ortho/neuro floor, and I actually liked it. My question is, for all of you Ortho RNs, (or anyone with similar experience), is would it be very difficult for me to transition from a working at an acute rehab hospital (dealing with a lot of ortho patients s/p surgery, CVA patients, TBIs, deconditioned patients, etc...I deal with blood draws, PEGs, IVs) to an Ortho unit? I feel like I'd almost be starting as a new grad all over again. But I am totally willing to learn and learn and learn...just was wondering how hard the transition would be. Any advice would be great! Thank you so much!

Hello wonderful RNs! I have been an RN at an acute rehab hospital for the past year. I love what I do, but lately, I feel like venturing out. I LOVED my clinical rotation for Peds and L/D in nursing school. I particularly loved the Mom/Baby unit. So my question is, for all of you Mom/Baby nurses (or anyone with similar experience), would it be very difficult for me to transition from a working as a rehab nurse (dealing with a lot of ortho patients s/p surgery, CVA patients, TBIs, deconditioned patients, etc.) to being a mom/baby RN (Which I feel is a totally different world!) I feel like I'd almost be starting as a new grad all over again. But I am totally willing to learn and learn and learn...just was wondering how hard the transition would be. Any advice would be great! Thank you so much!

Hello! I have worked at an acute rehab hospital for the past year, and I stated there as a new grad. How exciting for you! Congrats! I thought being a new grad at my hospital was fantastic. I had a lot of opportunity to learn and use nursing skills. I don't know about your unit, but on my floor, we get around 6-10 patients on days. Every shift, I do assessments, wound care (general wound care and wound V.A.C.s), any blood draws that need to be done, any IVs that need to be started, helping the CNAs transfer patients or helping patients with some ADLs, etc. etc. etc. You do a ton and are always busy! Time management is KEY! Some tips I'd give you: ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU'RE NOT SURE. It's never wrong to ask questions, especially as a new RN. I still ask tons of questions -- there's always more to learn. Don't stress out, and enjoy your new title as RN! Other tips: Esp on a rehab unit, keep an eye out on your patient -- notice any changes...drop in BP? HR going a little higher than normal? low grade temp? They just aren't feeling or looking "right"?. Sometimes, even the smallest things could mean the patient is going bad...so it's always good to keep a close eye on this thing. I see a ton of patients on my rehab floor. PLENTY of ortho patients s/p surgery, CVA patients, MVA patients, TBI patients....and they all need help to get back on their feet, and you and the rehab team are there to help them!. I think I rambled a lot, but hope I gave you sometime to take away. I'm happy for you! Take things in, and remember, ask questions and know the learning curve is going to be a big one as a new RN! Congrats again!

Hello everyone! I have worked as an RN working at an acute rehab hospital for the past year. I love being a nurse and I love what I do (although sometimes, it can definitely be tiring -- but this is not a surprise!). I love seeing the recovery of my patients (not being able to walk to being able to use stairs!!!; using a PEG to eating foods!), but lately I have been wanting to kind of venture out to other fields. I started this job straight out of nursing school as a new grad. Definitely had my fair share of troubles in the beginning, but I have learned so much! I kind of want to venture into Mom-Baby (my favorite clinical rotation in nursing school). This is my main area of interest. I have thought about psych and urgent care (I turned down a job at urgent care after I was offered a job at my current hospital), and also peds (I worked with peds patients at my past job at a pediatric rehab hospital and LOVED it.) I have also thought about going into orthopedics... . I was wondering if anyone who has transitioned fields would let me know if the transition would be hard? Currently, I work days with a load of 6-10 patients. I do assessments, wound care, wound V.A.C.s, IV's (When needed), R.T. meds, blood draws, admits/discharges, foleys, ostomy bags, input MD orders when needed, and some trach care (and of course I give all my patients their happy pills aka narcs whenever it is due lol). Being in rehab, I also work a lot with transfers. I am about to start working on my ACLS, and plan on getting more certifications as needed. Before my RN position I was a tech for a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Any advice would be great! I would absolutely love to work with mom/baby (Or peds). I may start applying soon but just thought to get some input :) How did you transition? Where to? Was it difficult? Are you happy with your decision? Also any advice about the fields I have posted would be great! :) Thanks all and I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful day! And thank you for all you do for the patients!

Hello everyone! I have worked as an RN working at an acute rehab hospital for the past year. I love being a nurse and I love what I do (although sometimes, it can definitely be tiring -- but this is not a surprise!). I love seeing the recovery of my patients (not being able to walk to being able to use stairs!!!; using a PEG to eating foods!), but lately I have been wanting to kind of venture out to other fields. I started this job straight out of nursing school as a new grad. Definitely had my fair share of troubles in the beginning, but I have learned so much! I kind of want to venture into Mom-Baby (my favorite clinical rotation in nursing school). This is my main area of interest. I have thought about psych and urgent care (I turned down a job at urgent care after I was offered a job at my current hospital), and also peds (I worked with peds patients at my past job at a pediatric rehab hospital and LOVED it.) I have also thought about going into orthopedics... . I was wondering if anyone who has transitioned fields would let me know if the transition would be hard? Currently, I work days with a load of 6-10 patients. I do assessments, wound care, wound V.A.C.s, IV's (When needed), R.T. meds, blood draws, admits/discharges, foleys, ostomy bags, input MD orders when needed, and some trach care (and of course I give all my patients their happy pills aka narcs whenever it is due lol). Being in rehab, I also work a lot with transfers. I am about to start working on my ACLS, and plan on getting more certifications as needed. Before my RN position I was a tech for a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Any advice would be great! I would absolutely love to work with mom/baby (Or peds). I may start applying soon but just thought to get some input :) How did you transition? Where to? Was it difficult? Are you happy with your decision? Also any advice about the fields I have posted would be great! :) Thanks all and I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful day! And thank you for all you do for the patients!

Hello everyone. I am a new nurse (about3.5 months). I know I am only considered a "newby", and a lot of the more experienced nurses may not feel like I know anything. I, myself, can admit that I know almost nothing and am still learning each and every day I am at work. I love my job. I love working with my patients and learning more about their diseases and seeing their progress throughout their stay at the hospital. Throughout my 3.5 months at my job, I've definitely made some mistakes. I have let a patient's sats get down below 70 once. I learned to never let that happen again, should it get below 85, alert respiratory immediately. Learned my lesson, and I was grateful for it. The charge nurse that day pulled me aside privately and very nicely have me a teaching moment on it. There have been other instances where I have made a mistake (such as not documenting a temperature -- in order to justify blood cultures), and the charge nurse stated it was a teaching moment, and to take it as such. Again, I am very grateful for these moments. I am a new nurse, still learning...still very eager to learn and to do right by my patients. Today, I went to work and I always go to work with a smile on my face. Like I said, I love my job. I worked with another nurse (older and more experienced), and a charge nurse (also older and experienced). I was discharging a patient, but prescriptions weren't filled out. The charge nurse told me to ask my patients about what they needed and I did, I got the patient discharged successfully. But it seemed like the charge nurse was upset with me. The patient needed a prescription for a blood thinner, and the charge nurse asked me what the blood thinner was for. I did not know off the top of my head (my fault, I should have known), and I told her I assumed it was because of a knee operation (I know, in nursing there should be no assumptions...but I was trying to do the best I could). I did not truly know how to find out why the pt was on that medication. And instead of helping me figure it out, the charge nurse looked at me with an amused and belittling expression on her face and basically ignored me. The other older nurse then got onto me, because I had filled out discharge instructions on her patient. I had her patient the day before, and they had already had orders for discharge and I went ahead and filled out their papers. The nurse was upset because I had added on too many education leaflets about his medications. She asked me what was up with that, and I truthfully stated that I was told by another preceptor when I was orienting that if a patient were discharged home, to add all the medications leaflets to their discharge packet. The packet usually comes out to be about 60 pages long. A lot. But it was what I was taught. The nurse told me, "Well that doesn't make any sense. You're supposed to educate your patient about their meds and see specifically what meds they need leaflets for. Not ALL of them". Mind, she said it in a very condescending tone. And then her, and the charge nurse looked at each other, in a weird "this girl doesn't know what she's doing " sort of way, and I am pretty sure the charge nurse said something about me quietly....basically right in front of my face. I then saw the two of them gossiping at the desk, and I am positive I heard them whispiering about me. Then I was giving report to the older nurse because we were low on patients, and I was PRN and sent home early. I gave the best report I could on her. I did not have time to look over patient history, so I went off what I got from report from the night nurse. One patient was reported to me to have had an MVA and TBI. I reported as such to the older nurse. I went to the desk to pick up my bags and I heard the charge give an annoyed face at me and tell the older nurse "That's not right. Scratch it off, he did not have an MVA. She doesn't know what she's talking about." I left work in tears. I am a new nurse, and I try so hard to do well at my job. This is the first really bad day I have had. I have had othe rbad days, but today I truly felt like these nurses were almost ganging up on me. I do not mind constructive criticism. Like I said, I am a new nurse...I need it. But what I don't need is people talking behind my bad and gossiping about how I don't know what I am doing. I feel utterly discouraged, and I really hope this doesn't get to where I may lose my job. Even though today was a bad day, I still learned some things...I just wish they were conveyed to me in a more respectful manner, instead of having two nurses basically tell me I don't know how to do my job and gossip about me behind my back. I know this type of stuff is actually pretty common in nursing. But any advice out there? Is my job in jeopardy? Should I try to talk to anyone higher up about this, or should I just take it as a lesson learned? I have not had any problems with any other charge nurse or nurse. Just these two ladies today, and I am almost confused as to why the work environment was so toxic today....Any advice would be helpful! Thank you so much in advance!

Hello everyone! I am a new grad RN! Graduated in May and just got my license about a week ago. I have been applying, applying, and applying to hospitals around my area. And I have not gotten an interview or anything of the sort. Many of the hospitals in my area do not hire new graduate RNs. So I have started branching out and looking at urgent care clinics in my area. One urgent care clinic has called me back and I had my interview this morning. I think it went well. My question is: If I am offered the job, is this a good opportunity for a new grad RN? I am not really having luck at any of the hospitals in my area and I don't want to keep sitting around the house. I want to get out there and start nursing! Is urgent care a good place for a new grad to start? I plan on applying to hospitals again once I gain more experience. But just wanted to know opinions about the urgent care clinic. Thank you for reading this! Any input is appreciated, thank you!

Hi! Well congratulations on your job at the ICU! I am also going to be applying to Pueblo and Castle Rock. Can I ask if you applied after you got your license or did you apply while you were still in nursing school? Oh yes, I have heard the job market out there is difficult, but it is encouraging to hear you landed a job you love! Yes, definitely an RN military spouse over here, and proud of it!

@New808BornRN, I really think Colorado SPrings is quite lovely, as well! My husband and I will be stationed here till about 2017 (we've been long distance for a year while I finish my schooling). I have actually never looked into Pueblo, and I am so happy you suggested that. I am willing to travel to Denver, but from what I have read/heard, the commute can be atrocious at times (due to weather and traffic). My husband actually commuted from Denver to C. Springs for a few weeks when he first moved to Colorado, and he said he really disliked it. I am still willing to go to Denver as a last resort though! I just want to find a good job! I will definitely be looking in the Pueblo area!! Thank you for all of the info and advice, and good luck to you and your family! Thank you for your family's service!

Hello! I am currently a future University of OKlahoma College of Nursing BSN graduate, and am planning to move to Colorado to be near my husband! I have a couple of nursing school friends who are already applying to RN jobs, even though they have not had their license, taken the NCLEX, or anything like that yet. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice about this? Should I go ahead and apply for RN positions and put on my resume that I will be working on getting a Colorado nursing license prior to my start date? Should I try to call the nursing recruiter and start there? I don't want to fall behind in the game, especially since I know the nursing job market in Colorado is no joke and is not an easy playing field! I plan on applying to nurse residencies in Colorado, but I am asking about RN positions. :) Any advice would be great and very much appreciated! Thank you so much!

I did, indeed, hear that the job market in Colorado is particularly bad....I just keep hearing very negative things about Colorado. I would be willing to travel an hour to Denver is need be, but it seems the job market there is quite bad too. It is all very discouraging! Especially since I know that my husband is here in Colorado, and I absolutely refuse to be apart from my husband for any longer than what we have been doing. I had a co-worker of mine tell me her nursing school friend relocated to Colorado and it took her about 6 months to land a job. I would be willing to wait that long and search search search. I am VERY determined to find a nursing job there. I just hope that there is a nursing job available to me!!