BeccaB2014

Let me preface this saying that I graduated from a BSN program this past year and I started working at my current hospital soon after. I had 3 weeks of classroom orientation, 3 weeks in a MS floor, and 2 weeks in CC before coming to the ER which I have been in for about a month. We have 6 months of orientation. Furthermore, this is an extremely high volume ER. Just last week I made an error and co-signed on a mislabeled a type and screen for a patient that was possibly going to be transfused. It wasn't my fault, apparently, but it was still me who co-signed on it. In the end it was caught, the patient wasn't transfused, and I was informed that there wasn't a write up yet, but things are in limbo with this. When this happened I explained the error to my manager, said it wouldn't happen again, and re-educated myself on the policies and procedures. This was my first error, and it was a serious one. Since then I was extra cautious to label the T+S tubes correctly. Despite this, today, I mislabeled a specimen for CBC/BMP by swapping labels (both patients names started with the same letter and ended with the same letter). I sent it and my preceptor and I realized the error within 10 minutes and called to rectify it, but it was already processed by the lab under the wrong patient so I had to complete an incident report. I went in to the DON of the ED this morning to mention what happened, and was informed that I have also been taking too large of a patient load for a new grad which is probably what contributed to the error (not as serious as a T+S one, but an error nonetheless). The DON emphasized that it was the second time and I need to be more careful. I apologized for the mistake and promised to exercise even more caution (a given). Both of these occurrences are seriously giving my confidence as a new grad a beating. I have been feeling really overwhelmed and stressed at work, especially since things are seriously crazy in my ER with patient ratios of up to 20 for our preceptors. Ergo, they don't have much time to supervise us or offer tidbits of knowledge so it's a pretty challenging place to learn in. However, I felt pretty similarly on the MS floor and CC units that I was on. I am such a nervous wreck about this and am worried that it's going to be a three strikes and you're out type situation. I've been losing sleep over it and know if have to take things slower and double check myself, but it's so hard to avoid moving quickly in such an environment. Despite all this, I love working in the ED am excited to come in to work all the time. I feel like I am making a difference, and couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. Working with a really awesome group of people doesn't hurt either. Is it normal to feel overwhelmed like this on a near constant basis as a new grad? Does anyone have any advice they could offer?

I had my nose pierced before nursing school. If you need to keep the piercing in because otherwise it will close, you can pick up a clear retainer from a hot topic or Spencer's at a mall. It's kind of a pain to switch out the piercing before and after clinicals, but to me it was worth doing do. I also think it depends what kind of nose piercing you have as well. I have a plain cubic zirconia one that was in for 4 years and sometimes I switch to a hoop (obviously not when I am in a professional setting). When I am wearing the hoop, i very often have people who have known me for a long time ask when I got my nose pierced. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that the stud can be tiny enough that it's not noticeable to detract from the 'professional appearance'.

Just wondering if anyone has any input on the hospital. Is it in a safe area? Does the hospital have safe practice? What is their new grad orientation program like? Is it enough that a new graduate would feel secure on the floor? What is their retention rate like? I have heard different things about the facility, both good and bad, and being that I have an interview scheduled there for the ED, I would really like to know more about it before I even go in for the interview. I am kind of nervous because I called, sent in my resume, and received a call from the nurse manager of the unit the same day. To me this seems off, because everywhere else that I've gotten an interview, I had to know somebody to get it, and it took a little while to get the ball rolling with things. I don't know of any other ED that's clamoring for new grads.

This thread is rather old. Just wondering if they are still doing the open interview days since the merger with the Mount Sinai system?

thanks so much for the input! I just submitted something via the mount sinai website

Whoops.... just looked and noticed that you said the program started in May '14... best of luck and hope whatever you chose is working out :-)

I just graduated from Decker traditional program, and I would say that going to the NYU, Pace, etc is not worth it. Might be a bit biased here since I'm an alum... However, Binghamton is reasonably priced and has the reputation of being one of the best nursing schools out there and a heck of a lot less expensive--rent wise as well! I definitely felt like the program adequately prepared me for my NCLEX (Which I just passed!) and the program is small, so it's easy to become friendly with your fellow nursing students. The professors are all really compassionate and care about you, and the program itself really does prepare you as best it can to be a good nurse as well. As I have been finding out, it doesn't matter if you go to school in NYC or in an upstate area like Binghamton. I have a friend who went to CSI who even did clinicals at NYP and she is experiencing the same level of difficulty as me finding a job. A lot of it is who you know in the Tri-state metro area. From what I understand, hundreds of "new grad" applications pour in for each position, so having a friend who is an RN, NP, Physician, or even somebody who works in HR to get that nurse recruiter's business card for you is a big deal. You really don't want to just be another resume in the pile--getting their contact info and calling is the best way to put a voice to a resume if you will and makes you stand out. Job hunting as an RN in the metro area is really a full time job in itself regardless of where you go to school. I spent 4 years of Binghamton UG, and I had a friend who has been seriously dating a guy who lived in Upper Manhattan for 3 of the 4 years, and while I'm sure it was challenging, they managed really well. The nice thing is that Megabus has $1 bus deals pretty often to travel to NYC/Binghamton. Side note, a LOT of traditional Binghamton grads come from downstate, do their requisite 4 years, and then move back to the Tri-state metro areas--LI/Brooklyn/etc. I can think of about 8 from my nursing program off the top of my head. BATs and traditional students have some classes together, which means you may come back with a bunch of new friends living in your area to show for it.

Thanks so much for the input everyone. I really appreciate all of the advice everyone has to offer. I'll just do my best with the cards that get dealt to me. As far as things go with my grandfather that connection has only managed to get me the interview. I've spoken to friends who have been hired there and they've all said that you really can only get an interview with that facility if you know somebody. Should I be fortunate enough to get the job, I plan on keeping that under wraps, unless somebody asks. Unfortunately, I've been finding that this "knowing someone who knows someone" thing holds true for new grads at facilities throughout tri-state/metropolitan area. I actually didn't anticipate the Friday night/Saturday being as much of an issue, not because I would have family going to bat for me or anything like that. One of my friends is a nurse at NYP, and she as well as several of her friends [from what she told me], and all had been in the same exact position as I am in as new grads. They all managed to get Fri/Sat off in exchange for working off shifts (Sat overnights) and Sundays. I have also been in contact with the nursing director I would be interviewing with and they are aware of this issue. I mentioned it because I thought it would have some bearing to the vacation matter I was asking about. However after reading these posts I am definitely concerned. >_

Side note, how do you post your vote about the accuracy of the PVT? My computer isn't letting me submit anything.

Update: Found out today that I passed!

Looking for some advice... Here's some info about my situation: I am fresh out of nursing school with my BSN and really want to work in a NYC ED. Would it be wrong of me to job hunt knowing that I cannot work from the 19th of December to the 2nd of January? (My family planned a vacation over a year ago with 2 other families that can't be refunded. I would be truly devastated if I had to miss it.) The thing is, in addition to this, I can't work Friday nights or Saturdays for religious reasons. My family keeps suggesting that I try to find per diem positions where I can choose to take off those two weeks. However I don't think a lot of hospitals are willing to have a new grad on a per-diem basis in the ER, and most would require completion of a residency program. My grandpa has been an internist at a Brooklyn Hospital for decades, so I have basically been offered a job there. However, I am concerned that if I accept that job and manage to get the vacation time as an RN with only 5 months experience at that point in time, people will think that's nepotism and start treating me differently. [Not sure how valid of a concern this is considering it's this connection that will probably get me the job in the first place--not to be presumptuous.] I would be more than willing to work Sundays, the graveyard shift, Easter and the following year's Christmas and NYE, as well as any St. Patty's Day or chaotic shifts there are to compensate. I would also be willing to take the two weeks I would be missing as unpaid, as opposed to paid vacation time. Any advice or thoughts as to what I should do? People with experience on issues like this feel free to chime in. :)

NYP Cornell has a nurse residency program that was accepting applicants in early May. I spoke to the woman running them on the phone and she said they don't hire new grads to the ER. Regardless, I wasn't able to make it to those New Grad Meet & Greet Event days. Do you think they would hire a new grad to the ER without having applied through the residency program? Mount Sinai has been going through a lot of changes with their Beth Israel merger lately, so maybe that has impacted things.

Seriously. I walked out of that test so fatigued, and mine shut off at 75 questions! I definitely do not want to have to take it again. I wish there were a way to find out definite results sooner than 24 hours.

Just took the NCLEX-RN, it stopped at 75 questions which means I either failed or passed spectacularly. I got the "good" pop-up, but am still skeptical of its' accuracy and terrified that I did not pass after my months of studying.

I am taking my boards in two days . I have already been applying to ER positions, including the fellowships at LIJ, and Winthrop, neither of which I was hired for. I was wondering if anyone knows of Emergency Departments in NYC that hire new graduate BSN RNs. I would like to apply to these hospitals first to maximize my chances of getting into the ER. My dream position is in the ER at St. Luke's-Roosevelt hospital center, but I don't even know if they hire new grads, so I'll take what I can get. A bit about me: I have 6 years of EMT experience, an externship in a L1 Trauma, a senior preceptorship in an ER known for its' mental health facilities, and a forensic nursing certificate. I have been networking and trying to make connections at hospitals to get a position in an ER but it is rather disheartening when I have been doing this for over 3 months and have not heard back from anyone. Thoughts/advice?