elasticheart

Hey, guys!!! So I'm about two weeks away from graduation (thank the lord!), but I'm graduating with about $50K worth of student debt. I went to a private university and am finishing with a BSN, so it is somewhat understandable to graduate with that much debt. While I had some scholarships, I had to support myself throughout school working full time as a nurse aide. It was quite the challenge and there were many sleepless nights, but my hard work was worth it and I don't regret my decision to become a nurse. I've been reading a lot recently about how to pay off student debt quickly. It's my goal to pay this off within the next few years so that I can work towards being financially stable. What are some tips that you all have for nurses (specifically) to pay off student debt?!

Hey, guys! 25 days until I graduate!!! Whoop whoop!!! Anyway, have a problem. I've been working as an extern/nurse tech on a CVICU unit for about a year now. I pretty much work there full time while in school and use the unit for my leadership clinicals, which I feel like is burning me out to the profession of nursing very quickly. I originally came to the unit thinking that is where I would work as a new grad because the manager was wanting to use my time as an extern to train me to be ready for working on the unit as a new nurse. This manager left in February, which just so happened to be the time frame to send my application for an RN position. It's been since February and I'm still getting the runaround about getting a job on this unit. I have an interview finally scheduled today because my recruiter forgot about scheduling my interview. I had to call her in person to remind her to schedule me for an interview on my own unit!!! I'm just getting mixed emotions. I feel burned out of critical care and I'm tired of my unit, mainly because I just work too much there along with school full time. My unit is also really old, moldy, and has only one window, so the atmosphere is rather depressing. It doesn't help that my coworkers are just getting on my nerves. I have another interview scheduled with a heart hospital on their cardiac interventional unit, which is pre and post cath lab patients. I do part of my clinicals with this hospital and it's so incredibly nice, new, and has a positive atmosphere. I've also had coworkers that say it's such a lovely place to work and one coworker said there is an option to cross train later on in cath lab and their CVICU. I originally was interested in critical care, but the job with the heart hospital is not a critical care unit. However, I'm afraid I'll be burnt out of critical care or overwhelmed way too quickly as a new nurse. The heart hospital job sounds a little more paced and welcoming to new grads. My problem comes down to if I were to be offered both jobs, which should I take?

I know that one hospital that I did clinicals at had almost a "reward system" for the nurses that took on students. Not all the nurses cared about taking on a student, but some of them would jump on it. One nurse explained to me that they get bonuses and incentives if they take on students during shift. ALTHOUGH, I understand that on a busy shift taking on a student may be more trouble than it's worth. Another thing I wanted to share... We had clinicals one semester at a teaching hospital that had a large amount indigent/no insurance patients. The floor was always understaffed and the nurses would be too much in a rush for students. I did have one nurse that really took time to work with me, but my other nurses weren't too willing. Normally the nurses would ask me what skills I could preform (which was all my nursing skills and we just passed our dosage calc) and they would give me tasks while they were doing their rounds. I had two different nurses that nearly treated me like a staff member and had me work by myself. That may sound bad, but I actually had a fun time on those shifts! I was always busy passing meds or helping with wound care. I probably did more during that clinical than any other that I have attended.

Some colors are more consistent than others, from what I've noticed. I have never had any trouble with my clinical scrubs, which are a royal blue and from different brands. Although, I have a pair of grey scrubs that are two different shades, which is so frustrating (but it looks okay). Two things I would recommend with ordering online: One would be to order from the same brand, which will almost always be the same shade (Amazon carries a bunch of Cherokee, which is my favorite). Two would be to order a different color top and bottom. I have a really nice burgundy top that I couldn't match whatsoever, so I decided to buy black pants.

I really do love my Littmann. I've used the classic and the cardiology; both work great! I would say maybe going to a scrub store and trying out what they have on hand. Most stores will carry the Littmann classic, which is a great affordable stethoscope under $80. If money is a bit tight or you don't want to spend so much on a stethoscope right now, most stethoscopes around $20 will work excellent. If you're having trouble hearing things, ask to borrow your instructor's stethoscope (if he/she is nice!). My instructor always had a really nice Littmann master cardiology that worked well. Just make sure to wipe it down before and after use with an alcohol wipe and return it right after use! During clinicals, I've actually had a few physicians ask to borrow my stethoscope and walk away with them. Nothing is more frustrating than hunting someone down that took your stethoscope! haha