amdale

Grayson, I am currently a PHN and have been so for about 1.5 yrs. If Public Health nursing is your passion do it if you are uncertain I recommend getting some hospital experience first. In 2009 my first job was in a hospital on a Med/Surge floor. It might not be where you will stay but the knowledge and experience you will gain is priceless. Also many of the best nurses I have met are those with many different areas of nursing under their belt, especially ER or ICU nurses. Their knowledge base seem to me much more developed. Best wishes to you which ever you choose but remember as they tell us in school nurses can do anything so don't feel you must stick with one job only.

Is it legal for the hospital to require an RN stay on call for the entire 12 hour shift? Without pay?

Thanks for the support. I am shocked, horrified and somehow relieved to see I am not alone. Today I have updated my resume and began to look on line for new opportunities. I do like (love) some aspects of my nursing job. Spending time with my patients. Problem is there is so little time in 12 hours to actually spend with the pt. Yest. again my team consisted of 7 and I was charge as there was a very new and 2 pulled nurses on my floor. I realize that there has to be an area that I can excel in. I am thinking about hospice or maybe a Dr.'s office but I do like to be somewhat busy. Anyhow I am glad that I can share here and again appreciate the support and advice.

I have not been a nurse very long 1.5 yrs. I work on a med/surge floor. It is an extremely tough floor to work. As I am told the worst floor in the hospital and possible in the county. I am already feeling burnt out according to the list provided and can't believe it. I generally think of myself as strong, though I know can be a push over. So to feel this way about a career that I thought I would love is frustrating and depressing. I feel so overwhelmed at times that I am afraid to try other aspects of nursing. I feel stuck. It seems if I can't do nursing here I will fail elsewhere as well. Any suggestions?

I am soo glad I found this thread. I have felt very hopeless at times. I just hit the 1 yr. mark on a med-surg floor. I was started on nights. The first wk off orientation had a team of 8. Whew, many times I would cry either at work or on the way home. Many times I wanted to quit but my motto has been perseverance furthers. I am now on days and have teams of 6. Many days this is way too much. I feel as though I don't know my pt. and worry will I catch the important issues as the day progresses. I feel very inadequate as nurse. Sometimes I wonder how I even made it this far. I have been reassured by others including my nurse manager but my insecurities surface. I love the hands on interactions with my pt..just don't think I have enough time to spend with each. I am often working late to catch up. I try to organize my day but you know how that goes Dr.'s, family members, pain meds now, suddenly there goes the organization and now I am behind trying to play catch up. I know that it is 24 hr. care but I hate to leave the next shift trying to clean up behind me so I stay late. Any advice? Thanks.

I too am preparing for the NCLEX. Just took an ATI predictor test which showed I have a good percentage of passing NCLEX first time but I am still very nervous. Should I take it sooner since I believe I can do ok or later and get more review time in? I am trying to hit hard the areas I have done poorly in. Going back to old texts, NCLEX review, and the review we received from ATI(MedsPub) so far it seems to be going well. Also as many have stated practice tests. So far I have done some but probably not enough. So good luck in your studies, and I hope you do well.

Wow, I'm not even sure what to say. I think you are impressive I don't think you failed her. Thank you for your story. That daughter was only thinking of herself. I'm sure shell never comprehend what a horrible way her mother passed. Thank you again.

I am in peds currently and feel as if I am struggling. I think I would really appreciate a teacher like you. Part of my problem is that we have not been given clear guidelines on vitals. We had one lecture and then the next am were given pt. to care for. Up until that point nearly all of my experience was with elderly and very little from maternity. Yuck! I was terrified. My biggest fear is of doing harm. We are told not to chart abnormals but the thermometers only seem to register abnormals for axillary temps. The nurses on the floor always chart them. So then is it abnormal or regular for that pt. The info is not exactly clear. Care plans do seem to be hateful subjects in our class too. Different instructors looking for different things, some say you should never use at Risk for should always be a problem. Some students required to turn in many more from certain instructors. There seems to be no consistancy so it makes it difficult to figure out what the instructors are looking for, or to see what we have learned. Anyway that's my rant. I'll stop now :) But did want to say thanks again. I am glad to see what you are looking for in a care plan, it might make my future plans better.

Thanks for the mag sulfate antidote, That may be on this weeks exam. Great reminder.

I too have difficulty with medspub, and I am also now having difficulties with same format of questions in class. Any tips for reading, thinking more clearly, critically would be great. Up until this semester I have been doing ok in clinical but this maternity thing is kicking my butt. I am a bit discouraged.

Thanks for the input. I do not want to start off behind everyone else so your input is important and appreciated. I can hardly wait to get started. Thanks again. :)

Hi everyone. I will be starting my clinical rotation this fall. Orientation is on Aug. 20th. I want to be as prepared as possible. Are there any important items I need? Is it necessary to have a lap top or really good PDA? Any tips advice etc... will be greatly appreciated. I have read some of the other posts and beginning to get more freaked out. I want to do the best I possibly can should I start purchasing NCLEX practice stuff now? Thanks!

I too know your pain. I have already waited 1 yr. for clinical rotation. I was waitlisted again this year. I started to take courses towards my BSN. Finally I received notice that I should attend orientation that I would be considered an alternate if others dropped or failed out. Whew. How nerve racking is that. Then I received notice I could register. Oops computer glitch. More nerves racked. Finally the school personally called me. They have opened another few seats and I am in. So this fall yippee I get to start really moving forward with my life. :)