ydnewrn

Hiii , thanks for the response! Do you mind elaborating on the "culture shock" part? How do you think it's different from Toronto?

Thank you so much ! Patient satisfaction says a lot about the workplace! :) Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it

Hi everyone, I am a Canadian educated RN with a Bachelor of Nursing. I am seriously considering moving to Orlando, Florida within the next year. I have a potential offer from the Florida Hospital in Orlando. Background about me: I graduated in 2015, wrote the Nclex, and I have been working in a very busy Emergency department in Toronto, Canada. I mostly want to move because the quality of life here is very..poor. Our wages are "high" - but not really- compared to the housing prices. ( Where I live a one bedroom apt. for rent is anywhere from $1500 - $2000 and house prices range from $600 000 to 1 mill.... I make $33 plus night/evening/weekend differentials and plenty of opportunity for overtime but taxes are 30% of my pay so I'm left with not much... We do have a union and I work full time with benefits BUT my life is miserable lol I need a change but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. If anyone knows anything about the Florida Hospital, it would be greatly appreciated. Pay scale approximately? Are people nice over there? Is it pretty and warm all the time as they say? ANYTHING... Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this W.M

I never got back to you! THANK YOU for this post, it did cheer me up! :)

Hi allnursesfam! I'd like to know how are RN jobs down there in Florida? I am a Canadian RN looking to move. I have my Bachelor's, wrote the NCLEX RN in 2015 and I have a year and a bit of experience in an Oral Surgery Clinic in downtown Toronto (PACU/Recovery) - where I still work at. My mom moved to Miami a few months ago and I'd like to live close to her. I am bilingual in English and Spanish and I'd have my work permit in three months after moving there. Getting my license shouldn't be a hassle. However, I am worried about not being able to find a job. Here in Ontario they kept talking about nursing shortage when I first started my program and when I graduated last year I was able to find nothing but a clinic job, as most hospitals don't have enough money to hire new RN's and I had no connections to help me in. I would not like to be disappointed once again hehe I'd prefer to work in any hospital that would offer me continuing education and just more opportunities in general (duh). Anyhow! so sorry for the long post! I hope you kind people provide me with some useful responses ! :) Thank you in advance :)

Hi everyone, I apologize in advance for the long post, I just need to let my frustration out a bit... I graduated in June and took an RN job in a dental anesthesia clinic, I applied to all hospitals in my city and even outside the city, but I only got called by this place. The pay is the same as a hospital and it is a full time, but I hate the job… I feel like I barely do any nursing… monitoring patients throughout anesthesia, taking blood sugar, airway management, drawing up IV meds, but they also expect me to learn all the "dentistry" part and do the job of a dental assistant while practising nursing. I have very little contact (bonding) with patients, they are mostly asleep (duh) or too drugged up after anesthesia, I mostly just make sure they are okay to go into the recovery room afterwards. My number one reason for going into nursing was because I love helping and feeling like I make a difference. I feel like a dentist's tool in this place….. The economy is horrible here in Toronto, Ontario, most new grads have no job and I am thankful for this one, but at the same time I am super scared I'll never get into a hospital. I never imagined ending up in a place like this. I don't like private places, I can tell the difference in the Dr.'s attitude when treating patients that pay out of pocket vs patients that the government pays for treatment. It goes against my ethical principles… I can't advocate for my patients or get involved… It's soo limiting. I know I have to suck it up for now, to gain some sort of experience, but I would like to know what you guys think, has anyone every been hired in a hospital after working in a clinic? Any advice to cheer me up? I feel super down

"Caring is the essence of nursing" Jean Watson I think we should remember this quote, whether you are a nursing student or a nurse already... We need to care for each other. We not only have to be caring and compassionate to our patients, but also to our colleagues/ future colleagues. Nursing students should stop complaining about being mistreated and show the nurses that they can be valuable (safely!...in their own way). Competency is the best way to inspire respect. And Nurses on the floor... Just be kind, to your patients and to the students, you don't have to teach them if you don't want to... But just be kind.

I passed the NCLEX-RN with 75 questions and my cumulative score after doing 900 questions was 57%. My scores ranged from 55% to 60%. Don't focus on the score, review rationales and do as many questions as you can. Good luck :)

Hey! I'm sorry to hear you didn't pass, but try to cheer up :) Failing (anything ) makes you humble. You will succeed next time :) I passed my NCLEX- RN on July 17th of this year with 75 questions. I used the Hurst review ( I know it's expensive ) but if I had to pay for it again I would. The content review they have is amazing and they also have 6 "mock" tests. I learned more with Hurst than I did in nursing school (I'm serious). I also used Uworld, averaged 56% , Saunders for reviewing what hurst didn't offer and I did all of the Mastery App. I did over 2500 questions total and I think that really helped me. I studied every day 4-6 hours for a month and a half. I did a minimum of 75 questions each day. Best of luck and I hope my tips help :)

When I was a student I never felt entitled to any attention from nurses, if anything I knew they were doing ME a favour by teaching me when they had the time. When I was in clinical, my CI knew which nurses didn't want students, so she would make sure we weren't paired with them. I understand we are overworked and having someone following us all day expecting to teach them can be an extra stress, but let's not forget how that student feels. Students see these nurses as role models, and want to learn from them. If you are having a bad day, try to make arrangements so you can get "rid" of the student, most facilities ask you before you take anyone ( the ones I know ) . It's better to do that than to make the student feel awful for trying to learn. This entire thread shows how nurses "eat their young". Sad to see because as a new grad myself, I have nothing but admiration and respect for older nurses. I learned most of my skills and "critical thinking" from amazing nurses on the floors, who opened up to me. They helped me gain confidence and I will forever be thankful. Also, we do have a responsibility towards nursing students (not only patients). They are the nurses of tomorrow, and it would be a shame for them to see how much separation and anger we have among each other .

The day before my Nclex-RN I woke up early and read that 35 page review that's going around. I stopped studying at 5pm, took a shower, did my nails and planned what I would do when I got out of that testing centre the next day: shopping lol I prayed a lot the night before (I'm one of those bad Christians who only pray when they need something ) but I prayed and prayed for God to let me sleep that night. I was in bed by 9pm and had the best sleep of my life. I woke up at 6:00 AM, took Imodium and Peptobismol (prophylaxis lol) and reviewed my lab values . I wrote at 8:00 AM and finished at 10:00AM. Passed with 75 :) Good luck and trust your instincts :)

I don't think nurses get paid for having students on the floor for only one day, but they get extra pay if they preceptor a student. My preceptor in my pre-grad got paid $0.65 per dollar more when I was with her. I live in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). She was wonderful and loved to teach. I don't think the incentive is much but it shows some sort of appreciation I guess ... It made me sad to read so many negative comments on this thread towards teaching nursing students. I understand we are swamped with work but it's not students' fault, they are just trying to learn. I graduated not long ago and if I were to tel you the horrible experiences I had with mean nurses ...you have no idea how your negative attitude affects nursing students. Before you are rude or mean to one of them, let your supervision know that you do not welcome nursing students and believe me, they'll find someone else who is more willing.

If you put the same passion and effort you used to write that post, towards studying to be a nurse, you will do great. Remember being a nurse is 80% heart, anyone can pass chem or bio. Study hard and you'll make it. You sound very determined, I have no doubts you'll reach your goal! Good luck :)

Hello fellow nurses, I am a new grad RN in Ontario. (Unemployed) After receiving feedback from some people, I am now very confused about what continuing education courses I should take. I see many postings require a "Physical Assessment course", but I took a very similar course during my BN program. If I do not need to take it again, how can I include it in my resume? The job market is really bad in Ontario, that's why I am trying to get some courses in, but I don't want to waste money if they are just repeating what I already learned. Has any new grad taken a post grad physical assessment course?? I would love to hear what you have to say! Thank you!

Hi @dishes, you might be right actually, about me misreading the posting. But now my question is, why would they put it on the posting if all programs require you take an Assessment course? is it maybe for the more experienced nurses who finished school a while ago? I'll still take it though, it says it's a course to "refine" assessment skills, it won't hurt. Many certifications like Critical Care or Emergency also require you complete a post-grad assessment course.