NewGrad2014

Thank you so much RunBabyRN. Your response actually helped a lot.. I really am eager to learn and I hope that comes through in my interview tomorrow. I'll spend tonight thinking about situations I've dealt with in school/the past few months in the community that may help demonstrate my abilities if asked. Thanks again - you helped to calm my nerves!!

I graduated as an RN last year and, although I applied to many acute positions, I have been working in the community ever since. I am in an administrative position.......the most nursing skills I use is to teach PSWs to apply compression stockings or apply a medicated cream. A position recently opened up at the hospital here and I am ecstatic.. I really want to start a career doing nursing - especially since it is in my dream place. Labour and delivery/post-partum. I took a neonatal resuscitation course last year when I hoped to get on in a hospital after graduated however that's the extent of my knowledge. I can't start an IV (was not taught in school, should have learned in placement however was unlucky enough to get psych and had no opportunity to learn), I do not know how to complete a lady partsl exam, I do not know how to care for someone with an epidural, I don't know anything about fetal monitoring....... I have an interview next week and I am so scared they will ask me about all of these things I don't know. I am more than willing to take phlebotomy and fetal monitoring course but will my not already having these skills be a huge deal breaker? I am trying to prepare for the interview by reading up on common emergencies/situations that they may ask behavioural questions about but I am so nervous. Can anyone offer any insight to whether I am reaching too far or if I still have a chance? Or if I should be doing other things to prepare? Thank you!

AHHHHHHH I just got my results and PASSED!!! I cried out of pure relief. Congratulations nurses, four long years behind us! Here's to our futures :)

Longest weekend ever!!! Had a horrible fail dream last night. Come on Northern Ontario!

I did the same thing as erikauy_23 - I feel like I did terrible although the questions seemed easy at times. This is a horrible feeling.

I'm not refuting you know way more than I do - doesn't mean I can't make a valid argument for why colour coded scrubs aren't a horrible direction to go in.

I disagree. I think that nursing is a profession and trying to take a more uniform (haha) approach is understandable.. So long as it's practical and there are reasons for it. And while you seem to have 100% knowledge that they do not help patients nor should they help staff identify each other cause we should all be magicians, I'm sure there are instances where it comes in handy to have a colour coded system instead of a free for all with patterns, colour, style, ect. I also don't see how nursing going in this direction has anything to do with management stepping on our necks. I guess some people need to go against the grain so badly they will find anything to complain about.

Something about your situation gives me the creeps! When you google this clinic does anything come up? The doctors name not coming up is too strange to overlook - before going for an interview please please verify that the address IS this wound care clinic and that the doctor is who he says he is. Is there a look up where you are to search physicians? Maybe I'm too untrusting but I hope it works out well for you!

Okay, well either way we have to buy scrubs anyway. Would be a nice perk though!

I would love to have colour coded scrubs- as long as they are comfortable and practical and NOT white I am all in. Plus since they would likely be institution ordered they would probably be discounted. While I agree that it may not help all patients identify staff and *might* be confusing as I've seen as an argument, it's far less confusing than all the disciplines wearing whatever scrubs/tops/patterns/ect they please. I think a really big positive is staff being able to quickly identify who belongs to which discipline, which could be very useful in an emergency or something.

I agree with the previous poster - at least at my school they took it very seriously when a student would record without the instructors permission. Ensure you have their ongoing consent (why not make it informed, just to make it even more nurse-y ) or else you could see yourself in a pickle! I've seen people use small recording devices that the instructor allowed on their podium or desk at the front of the room to get a good sound.

I haven't been in this situation yet but I can imagine your stress! I've had similar feelings throughout school - not feeling prepared or confident in my abilities. If you love what you're doing, I hope you stay with it. It can be so hard to find a job that you really connect with and love. I'm sure you've had to take multiple courses and get different certifications but maybe there are more out there that would help you gain confidence and feel more ready to finish your orientation!

I think this is a very thin line. As an employee nurse, bringing up another patients chart with no acceptable reason, of which there are few, would be a violation of privacy. As a student, your intentions were to learn. I still have a gut feeling it would be seen as inappropriate, obviously as you did after that prompt. I think you did the right thing :) In the spirit of learning though, maybe you could ask your clinical instructor to take you on a tour of the unit or arrange for another nurse precepting on that floor to give you a tour? Maybe in that setting it would be more appropriate for them to show you some charts and let you go through them.

I sincerely hope karma bites you where you deserve it.

I had a hard time just reading this and not responding. If caring for a persons basic need is too far below your importance level as a human being and title... I don't even have the words to express how sorry I feel for your patients. Or for you for that matter. I'm in Canada, so I'm not completely familiar with the roles and responsibilities of RNs and LPNs in the states but I'm sure it does not differ that much. I suggest to this poster that you read over some standards of practice and i hope you come to the realization that "changing diapers" isn't something you're too good for. Assessing and monitoring skin integrity, performing vital perineal hygiene, noting colour, odour, and amount of urine as well as monitoring frequency, ect... PSWs and CNAs (unsure if there is much of a difference) are instrumental to providing quality health care..... and that doesn't translate to only changing briefs and other "unimportant" things you're supposedly too good to do. /end rant.