MassRN1991

Hello! I would love to have a little more insight if you have it. I need to make my decision very, very soon! Thanks, anything would help!

I need a little advice for some nursing fellows if you all don't mind! Here is my situation: I currently work in a health clinic in the city of Boston. I recently transferred clinics and as a result, different departments as well. I went from an UC department to an Adult/Family Medicine department. The clinic in which I am at now, increased my pay by $6 and hour, will certify me in ACLS, PALS, as well as IV's. The department staff itself is fine but the flow is much slower than I am used to. While applying for this before I was offered, I was applying for a travel job. Recently, I was offered a position. I was offered an ER position in a small, small town in South Dakota. I nailed the interview. She was honest with me, said they're small and sometimes they don't see many patients but on other times, they're busy and need to use their critical thinking skills because of the lack of resources. It is a 9 month opportunity, however, I am worried that the pay is a little less than half what I am making now and not sure if the ER experience in a small town will help or hold me back in the my future. I need a nurses advice, especially seeing as I have a few days to make my decision. What do you all think? Please advise! I like honesty (=

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I had no issues yesterday so hopefully that remains an occurring theme!

Ever feel inadequate over something that should be so simple? Well, I've been out of school for a little over a year and I currently work at a health clinic. I'm fairly new there and am coming from an assisted living facility. Last week wasnt the best for me and being on a busy unit while being new with little guidance is stressful. Lately, I've been having trouble hearing blood pressures and I feel inadequate because of all things, I should have that one down. I can't seem to hear it and have someone double check. When I speak with the doctors about different BP readings, I feel extremely embarrassed. We all start from somewhere but I feel as if I should not even be having difficulty with such a miniscule thing. I'm dreading work for such simple reasons but if I can't perform simple duties, I question my abilities as a nurse. What a feeling.

Ever feel as if you're not a good nurse because you simply are having a hard time doing even the most simplest thing? Well, that was my week in a nutshell. I've been a nurse for about a year at an assisted living facility and I recently switched jobs to an RN at a very busy, diverse health clinic. I'm learning a lot and I enjoy it but sometimes I just feel like I can't do my job well because I sometimes can't seem to perfect the most simple things, such as a BP. I'm not new to this of course but I can't seem to hear a sound on every other patient and I feel extremely inadequate. I ask for help and I wonder if the doctors think differently of me. If I can't preform the most simple task then how will I be able to do my job efficiently? I leave feeling horrible and stressed. I know practice makes perfect but it's discouraging knowing I can't do something so simple and essential. I question my skills and career more and more every time I can't perform a simple task.

Nursing school is hard and it doesn't get easier. Motivation comes from within. If you want it, you will have it. If you're hesitant, maybe try and take some time off to figure it out? There's nothing worse than going all the way through school and realizing then that this wasn't for you.

Green is the new blue

I was fortunate to be offered a job a couple months after I graduated nursing school. Although it wasn't in a hospital, I learned a lot. I went from being a per-diem nurse at an assisted living facility to working 5 nights a week. Yes, it wasn't the job of my dreams but I look back and I am very thankful someone was willing to give me a chance. Although I was not able to practice many clinical skills, I became more confident in my head to toe assessments, triaging, case management, and talking to doctors. After a year of experience, I started looking for new jobs. I wanted something more with clinical experience but job searching still remains hard. Assisted living is at the bottom of the candidate barrel but I am glad I took the job because I have learned. Currently I have two potential FT job offers. I can choose prison nursing or being a nurse at a health center. I am nervous because both are very different but I am hoping the future looks brighter. I would like the opportunity to be interviewed for a nursing position at a hospital one day and hope that these opportunities guide me.

Thank you for your response and honesty! Right now I believe it's a step in the right direction and I will see what happens. Getting a PRN hospital position down the line would be a great foot in the door when the time comes. Thank you again!

Hello, I recently have become a correctional nurse. I have yet to start but am extremely interested in the position. I am unsure of where I want my career to head but all I've been hearing is that hospitals don't hire correctional nurses. Why is this?

Recently, I have been applying for new positions because I am miserable at my current job. I currently work at an assisted living facility where I love my patients but my boss, well, she is not a nice lady to put it nicely. After many, many resumes being sent out, I got a few call backs. These two jobs stuck out most and I would like your advice. The first job is a traveling position. It is a pediatric job. No clinical work, maybe weights at best. My job is to make sure that these kids meet their developmental stages for their ages. I need to make sure that these families have all the right resources to do such. I get paid for the hour that I am with the families. If they cancel, it's my responsibility to reschedule and make sure that at the end of the week I meet my minimum hours. I do not get paid for paper work for it is considered part of my job. No paid holidays also. The second job option is a correctional facility. The job is about 45 minutes away but it's not far from where I currently work. There is more clinical work but more dangerous. The benefits are great and they will pay for me to go back to school. I am unsure where I want my career to go but I have been thinking med/surg in the future and possibly going back to school. I am stuck between the two. Please, all advice is welcome!