cincin1

Does anyone know where I can find detailed information about these laws in California if they exist? I found info on ratios but not much on the nurse protection from employers who violate them. What would a nurse do if she were given an unsafe assignment? Would California law protect the nurse from employer retaliation? Thanks for any help!

Ok. It's not the class that's the problem...its the money that I'm trying to save. I am already clepping out of one class. I guess I'm going to learn everything I didn't want to know about Texas government.

Is there a way to get out of taking this class? I am from out of state and it seems crazy to take a class that doesn't really apply to where you live or will practice after graduation...

After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who asks, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.

When I started there was a killing on the grounds. I talked to many ppl who said that assualt was inevitable, that most staff members had been hit or threatened. The personal alarm system did not work in many areas of the grounds, in fact, anywhere outside a unit; and one staff would be assigned to escort 8 patients at a time. Patients were walking around for hours a day outside units, unsupervised. Shanks were found all the time on grounds. Many patients could refuse meds, and this made them more dangerous. I don't feel bad saying these things because it is all true, and the news media is finally covering what happens here. From what I understand there are some changes being made, but I still would not go back. I would rather work in a prison where there is more of an officer presence. Why did I begin working here at all? Because I was desperate; but I guess I am not THAT desperate!

Thank you everybody, I emailed them to your inboxes.....Be brutally honest. I can take it!

I was wondering how the interview went at Vacaville? Did you get hired? If so are you liking it?

I am so sorry I neglected all your messages. I have been quite busy and never get on allnurses. The interview process at NSH is very simple; and questions related to how you would respond to people with mental health problems. They are very common situations, so if you brush up in any mental health text you will be set. Also, know some side effects of very common psych meds. Also, paperwork, assessment and common sense. You all should do fine. FYI, NS was too much for me. I quit after orientation. Good luck and know what you are in for!

Please PM or respond back and I will send it. PLEASE, I need all the help I can get. I thought I had a decent resume but I never get any replies.....Thanks a bunch!

I like to be prepared. I didn't ever stop to think this would happen to mental health workers before my training, but evidently it is not rare... I am also looking for good tips for keeping a low profile at work and decreasing the risk of patients gaining unwanted info about me. Therefore, FB account will soon be going, blocking access to my car license, etc. I can assume that a worker/nurse who is smart/observant, sticks to the rules, is consistent and doesn't make friends or "deals" with the patients will not have unwanted problems. However, if someone starts threatening my family or lets me know that they know where I live; it will make may skin crawl. So please share all that you know with me. I appreciate it, and will feel more informed and therefore, better!

Well, I am answering myself here (I was hired!) so if anyone ever needs to know the process just msg me...I can tell you most of my experience except for interview questions/answers because this is against policy.

I'm 45 and just got my first nursing job as a forensic nurse. It is what I dreamed of in my 20s. Never too late. Shoot, at your age you could probably switch careers two more times and be okay.Just my opinion; but only you know what is right for you.

Well, I just read a book concerning surgeons, who also are targets for lawsuits. And quite simply, lawyers will usually only take on cases that are quite certain to make them a lot of money. This unfortunately means that many people harmed that can and should sue, still cannot get representation. Just as well, you still also have the frivolous lawsuits that cause so much grief and cost us professionals so much money. A nurse can be named in a lawsuit for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time; where something went wrong (again in surgery for instance) and it had nothing to do with her/him. You must always carry malpractice insurance, if merely for the purpose of hiring a lawyer for your own protection if your employer is only looking out for themselves in a lawsuit; that is, if God forbid you find yourself in this situation. Many of us will

This is gonna sound crazy. I worked at a LTC, as a first nursing job, for about a month. The reason why I resigned is because of a family emergency, which was valid and I can prove. I was out for one week (some of which I was scheduled off), and it was a life or death situation of immediate family. There were other issues with the job, but I can honestly say that if the emergency didn't arise I probably would have stuck it out for at least 6 months to see if I liked/could adapt to the job, or until another job opened up. At the very least I would have given two weeks notice. As it stands, I called in and offered my resignation, since my family issue was not resolved and I could not return yet. They accepted. I know they were hurting for staff and wanted them to be able to hire accordingly. I also thought it a good idea to resign as the facility had begun calling classmates of mine and it was coming back to me that they were actively interviewing for a possible RN opening. Now after I have left, and the hired a buddy of mine, the DON said I couldn't handle the job, which was untrue. I did well for a new grad, showed up everday, rolled with the punches, and even got cut short on orientation (by 1 week) and switched to another shift without any orientation to the schedule at all. The DON and many of the nurses always told me I was doing well, even though it was challenging. I was sometimes not confident and would joke with them about it, and they all told me I was hardest on myself. I have been gone for about two weeks, and got a call from a hospital I would like to work at for an interview. I am afraid my last employer will now give me a bad reference. I don't mind them telling the truth about the calling in due to emergency, but I got good verbal feedback and I feel that the negative feedback (via my friend who got the job) is not true or fair, and will hurt my chances for this next job. I know that I have to put the last employer on my application though. I have dozens of good references for this ONE bad one. My family emergency finally resolved and I have never EVER been fired or received a bad performance review. I am generally very reliable and predictable. I even wrote the LTC a sparkling, diplomatic resignation letter, never going into the several questionable practices or poor treatment of RN's; which again, I will not go into, but are pretty common at alot of nursing homes. How do I explain this to my potential employer? Should I continue to stay away from the issues at the facility since the ultimate reason I had to leave was due to the emergency? Thats what I plan to do....HOWEVER, if the other facility mentions peformance issues on my part, I feel like I would be doing damage control by mentioning that it was almost impossible, even for the experienced nurses, to do a good job and do it on time. Indeed, things were charted (not by me) that were never done....I will stop there. Any advice?

Hahahaha, I just got corrected for making my initials to big in the MAR. Can you believe that??? It's comical! "STAY WITHIN THE LINES!?" Seriously, I wanted to fall on the ground laughing at that one. Yes, we are the door matts of the institution. Until the newer one comes along.

Can anyone tell me if the California budget crisis(which happens every year) will affect planned new hires for California state facilities? I assume that there is still a hiring freeze but that we are replacing nurses that have been lost to retirement, etc. I guess I could just call the recruiter and ask....I was told I was a top candidate for a small number of positions at NSH for this fall's hiring and wondering if I should be celebrating or not. Also, what is the actual hiring process, physical and orientation entail?

Sorry to not have any answers for you Anne, only questions. I have applied to all the correctional places in Calif about 2 months ago. I received a few letters of inquiry about 4 weeks ago, which I promptly responded to. I think my rank was about 2 or 3 for SQ....Anyways, was wondering what the chances of being called back for second interview (and hired) are and, how long will it take? When did you start the whole process? I accepted and am getting ready to start a LTC job on the outside but the pay is not that good and I heard it is a really, really hard job (28 to 1 RN ratio). So natually I want to keep my options open and hope to get a job in corrections or DMH in a unit that actually does some acute nursing. Thanks, I hope someone answers your questions too, I think maybe you should start your own thread as maybe your message is being lost within mine. Good luck.

She helped me in a lot of situations....will be missed by me

Hi choatic, I was wondering how long the whole process of getting the prison job took. I just sent back a 'letter of inquiry' from SQ a day ago, and have received another from Folsom. I mailed them back right away, and I took it upon myself to mail some general applications to other facilities.... My rank was 3 out of 29 I think, I am basically a new grad, but have experience working at Napa State during clinicals. Do I have any chance of being called for an interview? After the letter of inquiry is sent back, do you automatically get an interview? How many interviews are there? Also, I heard something about a lie detector test. I'm not worried about that but am curious what kind of questions they could possibly ask. Also what does the physical test entail? To be a nurse we already have been cleared of wrongdoings, and have proven that we can lift heavy things and stay on our feet for hours. As you can tell I am pretty desperate for a job. There is not much out there for us new grads right now; and that is more scary than prison to me. I can appreciate that you have to be careful on the job, but I grew up in a rough area (high school was basically like a prison with race riots going on once a month), and I am also a big size (6 ft tall) woman who could probably do a decent take down. Okay thanks for your help and congrats on your new job.

Mine said that the positions are filled. Thanks and try again....

I am sad to hear the job market in Hawaii is the same as California, and I know there are way fewer hospitals/options so it must be horrible. I think that at this time, the states should stand behind their natives and give preference to them(vs travelers); I know it costs bucks to train the new grads but the travelers are gettin' paid really big bucks I understand...how about renegotiating the starting pay of new grads to offset the orientation costs? How about more externship opportunities? Indeed, someone needs to start thinking outside the box because people are in big trouble, especially when they have no job yet and are not considered new grads anymore because so much time has passed. I would rather work for half the pay, than sit around getting an unemployment check from the state for doing absolutely nothing. Oh, and btw they hospitals won't even hire many RN's for CNA and tech jobs, so yeah, unemployment here we all come.

I just heard it thru the grapevine. As of today my profile still says that they are looking through applications, so I still have hope that what I heard is wrong. Problem is, I heard it from a couple of different people, and one of them knows the Nancy well and therefore I assumed she knew the scoop.... One of my friends was hired internally about a week ago into PCU, but she started Monday so her gig couldn't be part of the traditional Versant program. Maybe they are still interviewing for the WC campus which still has program date to be announced? Good luck, precepting there gives you such a good edge, my step-son got hired on there (with just an AA) after pecepting and he loves it. Keep us updated of your status-I never got a call so I will have to be excited for those who did :) and sorry, don't know what units they are hiring for.

I heard from a charge nurse at JM today that the new grad positions have been filled now apparently by internal applicants.

If you did not discuss a ANY particular patient then what could be legally wrong here? Like you said, you leave all your opinions at home when you go to the hospital. Everyone has their own opinions; and if someone says they always agree with everyone else, they are lying. You give care to everyone equally and maintain privacy of your patients, that is what matters. However, this is a lesson learned; don't even joke about sensitive subjects with people you barely know. Just ask people the morning after their rowdy company Christmas parties, they will tell you many horror stories!

I will approach this question another way; why would someone pass the NCLEX? Because they have learned to think like a nurse, and they have learned to do it under great stress and pressure. This takes more practice for some, and I isn't at all based solely on intelligence.