MissBrn

Sundrop after reading your post I realize that I probably am the one holding myself back. Thanks for that perspective.

"Why can't you get transferred to ICU in your present hospital? That's how most ICU nurses I know have done it. Have you talked to the ICU manager there about transferring? What about trying to transfer to ED first and then ICU? You can get critical care experience in the ED, which would make you look more desireable for hire in ICU." That's exactly my question and just what I am trying to do. There are multiple ICU managers and multiple ICUs where I work. To get hired you have to apply online (internal and external). I think talking to the managers might work if I were buddies with them but I don't know them on a personal bases. Managers are supposed to go through the whole HR & interview process. I have talked to some during my interviews though, lol. And, honestly no. There's no more to the story than what I've posted. You'd think I might of burned some bridges but I'm not really the bridge burner type. So, nope that's not it. The 5 mons I worked in the ICU was an actual job, not a clinical rotation through school. I was already graduated from school. I took the NCLEX during that time and worked there as an RN. I had already done my preceptorship through nursing school.

I always thought I moved on because as a brand new nurse I just wasn't fast enough for ICU. I was in a trauma ICU. I was lead to believe..no, I was told I wasn't fast enough...by my "educator". And I often caught my "preceptor" rolling her eyes at me while I fumbled around organizing lines and tubing. Hey--I liked my stuff organized! I found out that my preceptor gossiped about me behind my back. I stuck this out for the entire orientation period because I wanted to be there--on my own. But, being new and not yet having the "back-bone" really played it's toll on me. My last day of orientation was a disaster. The educator I was with was ten-fifteen minutes late for work so I felt VERY rushed by her. Upon entering the patients room, the patient was obtunded. This was at at about 0800. We did sternum rub, clearly she breathing....checked the monitor, O2 Sats, called the Doc. etc.... Well...the patient finally said "What.....whaat do u WANT!!!!!" It was very odd, to say the least. Anyhow, this was now 0815 and the educator said, "Did u listen to her lungs yet?" I said No not yet. So she proceeded to gripe about how bad my time mgt is and how we are really going to be behind now. I mean really!!!! DO ya think LISTENING to her lungs was the main priority on my mind at that time!!! Long story short---I was ready to stay there and learn and grow. I was belittled and made to feel "stupid" so I got scared and left, thinking I needed to get more experience on a regular nursing floor. In fact, I did not. I just needed more supportive mentors. I did complete the orientation. I agree with you and I did think about why would they hire if they knew I was going to leave. That's why I opted not to include that anesthesia school was a goal of mine in recent interview. It didn't seem to make a difference. But really, I would require less training time than a new grad and I am already ACLS certified..so no need for that either. When they ask me at interviews why I left the ICU I always tell them "to get more time, skills, etc. under my belt". I am wondering now if I should just buck up and tell then the truth....the truth about what goes on in their unit. So you wonder why I would want to go back to that.....because I have a back bone now and that @h*^& doesn't phase me. I love critical care and that's where I want to be.

I haven't ran into this yet as a nurse but I have noticed at home (my son takes Miralax) that if the mix sits for bit it will thicken, not unlike a mixture of thickened water.

I believe Ztrack method is used for IM injections.

Allegheny General Hospital is unionized. It has it's ups and downs just like anywhere. It is an older hospital and not all "new and beautiful" like the "mega-rich" UPMC facilities are. But-being union, you do get treated well. As far as safer ratios and support in case of any incidents. Also, I make more $ at WPAHS then UPMC could "afford" to offer me. Not bashing UPMC because of that though--if they would match my pay rate I would consider working for them, but I would always keep my foot in the door at AGH.

Mercy hospital UPMC Pgh_21.30 or some jobs posted at 20.30/hr.

Hi. I have been a RN on a med surg floor for almost four years. I started in an ICU and stayed 5 mons. I want to get back into an ICU but haven't had any luck. I have interviewed for 3 positions with no offers. I heard it wasnt my interviewing skills so I am not sure what the problem is. I had one offer from a different hospital than I am currently at but they offered me way below my current pay rate, so I declined. I am ACLS and PALS certified. I have a BSN. I am just looking to transfer in the hospital I am at so the pay will be the same, the hospital would not lose money hiring me over a new grad. I have seen newer nurses move into these positions so why it hard for me to obtain a position? I want to go to CRNA school next fall. I need and want to get into a critical setting asap. Any ideas or suggestions? Anyone else have this problem and is so how did u overcome it? I feel like a CCRN stuck on a med-surg floor! Thanks!

If you are a new grad I'd say go for the ICU and stick it out for at a year. Then if you decide to go to CRNA school you got that down. + everyone likes to hire someone with ICU experience. Honestly the worst thing I found about it were the younger nurses who have been in the ICU---very cliqueish. Lots of horizontal hazing going on. Which is stupid when you are caring for critically ill patients! The hospital wouldn't really lose $ if I moved to the ICU as it would just b a transfer so my pay would be the same. You are right about malleable NGs. It is true that out of a group of ten maybe one or two actually stay. There is a messed up ethic in the units some times. But I have mangament to be great and very nice.

I have a goal to get into anesthesia school next fall. Only thing is I need ICU experience asap. I started nursing in an ICU and stayed for 5mons. I have been on a med-surg floor for 3.5 yrs. now. Not only do I need the ICU exp. but I want to go back to critical care. I have had 4 interviews and only one offer. The offer came from a different hospital who wouldn't match my pay rate so I had to turn it down. They were WAY under for my exp and BSN, in my opinion. I began thinking it was my interview skills but was told by an interviewer that "my interview was fine but the concern was that my ICU exp. was years ago." How much knowledge I retained was the issue, even though they still train you and offer refresher CC courses! So why is that a new grad can get a ICU job w/ no exp. and a RN with four yrs. exp cannot? I am ACLS and PALS certified with a BSN degree. I thought my manager might be holding me back....for staffing reasons...so I explained to her the importance of my career move. She seemed supportive. What can I do? Any suggestions? I feel like a CCRN trapped on a med surg floor with no way out. Has this been a problem for anyone? I've told some interviewers of my plan for anesthesia school and some I have not. I have to told all that I do have goals of furthering my education. Should I just act like I plan to be a bedside nurse 4 ever---highlight my "new grad" skills??? I am running out of ICUs to interview for! lol Thanks!

I agree with the Md on this. A quick Hx check should've revieled COPD related d/o. That could've clued you in regarding their sats. Maybe I would have bumped him down to 3 L to see if his sats. went up. Usually we have an order set that includes an order stating, "MD to nurse obtain blood gases for sats

:w00t:are you sure we didn't work together in the same place? lol. enjoy yourself and best of luck---you have an open door!!!!

I agree. It is hard to see the big picture when you are focused on tasks. I think most new nurses are very task oriented for about the first year. Moving from new nurse to experienced nurse is a whole different way of thinking--a different mindset. She will see this thought process in action if she gets to do some critical care nursing or ICU experience. Maybe as clinical hours you could send her and a couple others to observe ICU nusing. Often times students are assigned patients that don't really have a lot going on out of fear that something might go awry if they had a more complex case. Give her a challenge! Show what happens when a patient codes, get the wheels turning in that direction. If you are worried that she might fail it is because you see a spark there.....or you wouldn't be so worried. Has she ever had a patient that an infection starting or a new arrythmia?

If you do fall assessment and they are considered a fall risk then you should order a low boy bed with mats and give em a bracelet to wear. That way you cover ur butt and theirs. I would think that the patient who was lowered to the floor by the NA wouldn't be considered a fall as she was merely lowered to the ground. As long as the correct safety precautions for falls are taken before they happen then all is well...from a legal standpoint anyway. With the outphasing of sitters and the frowning upon restraints there isn't much we can do else we can do, as a solitary nurse with many patients, to stop someone who is determined and/or confused.

It seems to me that if you have the education and acheived degree then you are a NP. The pay rate may be less as your experience would be less. But, I can't see why you wouldn't get a job if you have the education/certification.

i know how you are feeling. i felt the same one at one time. so did many of the other "newbies" i worked with. we discussed between ourselves that we truly believe we were being sabotaged in one way or another. the goal, it seemed, for our so called "educators & preceptors" was to assist us through the out door....not help us in. you mentioned the "unit" a couple times, so i assume you are in an icu situation. from what i have read in nursing articles it seems that icus are often where many new nurses encounter this type of harrassment, although it exists everywhere. at the time i thought i was paranoid. that my lack of confidence and back-bone, being a brand new nurse, was driving me mentally over the edge. some of the nurses surely contributed to those feelings. this was a busy icu and i loved it there. but, the lack of support led me to believe that i was too stressed, not ready, and even stupid at times (crazy...i know). and i have never felt stupid, not in an academic sense anyway! ......so, i left the unit and have been a floor nurse ever since. i never knew that what i experienced had a name.....and many others shared my experience. maybe i was nieve but i just couldn't believe nurses would treat each other so badly. sure, i knew there would be cattiness....but never would i have considered hazing and hostility as i had witnessed actually existed. it wasn't until years later when going to school for my bsn that i discovered the term "horizontal hostility, or lateral violence, or horizontal violence"----same thing. i was intrigued. it does exist, it has a name, professionals acknowledge it, and maybe i wasn't really crazy after all! in fact, jacho considers this as high priority issue because it is such a problem in nursing. you should look up some articles and info on the topic....i think it will be an eye opener. had i known more about the problem of nursing hostility...my decision to leave the unit would probably have been different. these are important situations to report because of the many problems that they cause. patient safety is a big issue, not to mention nurse retention and sanity . the problem comes with a trickle down effect......the new nurses who make it through the barrage of bullets may come out feeling like they too must "initiate" newbies in the same way they were. the only way to stop the behavior is to point it out and not run from it.

If anyone would like to share their views on the variety of nursing facilities in Pitt. PA please post. I would like to compare them as far as pay rate, patient acuity on medical units, nursing satisfaction-----anything. I work on a BUSY regular nursing floor now, which at times isn't unlike the trauma unit--lol. The patients are more complicated now than ever it seems and we are responsible for many different aspects and teaching that we aren't educated on (unless it is self-education). For example, an enterostomal nurse can make a up to 37.00 an hour, depending. Where I work we are at times "enterostomal" nurses without the pay and the title. This is just one example. Pt. acuity is so high. We get many ICU transfers who aren't ready to leave the unit, (related to bed availability) they crash upon arrival and our med-surg floor does not have the means to adequately monitor these patients. With each experience it seems as a risk to any good nurses licensure. I often think about leaving but I don't have any comparisons. Depending on status, Incentive pay, OT hours, etc. this varies greatly but where I work a nurse with 1-3 years experience wage is 20.63 to 21.02 per hr. for non-BSN and 21.24 to 21.63 for BSN-----not a big difference. This is reflecting recent changes and pay increase we have received. I enjoy caring for complicated patients---but not on a medical floor where we don't have the means to do so! I get the feeling that each level of staff is completely frustrated with the way things are right now. Any input ?

Have you taken the test again since this thread? #1 rule....DO NOT worry yourself sick! #2 you may get lots of prioritizing questions....try to use common sense first along with what you have learned. When I had free time I did some questions from a big NCLEX study book. I scared the crap out of myself because I got most of them wrong! BUT I read the rationale behind the right answers and that is how I began to learn the correct answers. When it came closer to test time I thought back through school about all the things I didn't know much about or had little interest in. like Glaucoma, cataracts, Meningitis and isolation precautions, insulins, etc. At test time I am soooo glad I did read up on the last minute things because oddly enough many of questions were based on these things. REMEMBER the ABCs also: AIRWAY, BREATHING, and CIRCULATION!!! Pick those answers first! And PATIENT SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST! I hadly had any drug calc questions. I did have a few questions on uncommon drugs...like chemo and transplant drugs.

Wow--I had an interview and wasn't given any scenerios at all. I was asked about stength and weaknesses, what my career aspirations were, a challenge I faced with a patient and how I handled it and why I would like to work on the unit. Good luck! I didn't know what to expect so I really wasn't prepared.

:balloons: NJnurse--I just wanted to say how awesome of you to type up this list for everyone!!!!!!! Thanks so much, your time put in is REALLY appreciated! There are so many meds to know!

From my experience and many others (I have heard) it is a waste of time to apply online. Typically you'll not get a responce. Job fairs and calling nurse recruiters is the way to go. Unless you want to make a road trip and fill out a bunch of applications and turn them in by hand.

That is a thought. They did say they were hiring for other Depts. Six months isn't long at all. I could stick that out. I like Medsurg also. I'll keep it in mind.

Hi there! Congrats on graduation! I will also be a GN in May. I have many questions also! I know Magee doesn't hire GNs, but I wonder if the BSN you will be holding will make a difference. I think everywhere needs MedSurg nurses. I have heard all good things about West Penn and their salaries are really competetive. The nurse recruiter told me just tonight that they are looking for Nrs. for Med surg (general surgery), Cardiothoracic stepdown, and Renal and Endo. I believe that Allegheny General Hosp. is also. They have an infertility dept. there (or at least they did). I have heard mixed opinions, both good and bad, on working there. If I hear some good stuff I might apply. Don't know if they are hiring GNs for OB there either. Best of luck to you! You'll like the 'Burgh! Hope my limited info has helped a little.

That's right nurseybaby! Now we have to start working on the other hand! :roll I hadn't thought of St. Claire. Thanks for bringing that up. I live near the North Hills area. I had heard from some of my classmates that had clinical there that it was slow as far as births go. But if they are putting on a new wing it must not be doing all that badly. I will look into it. Appreciate your input very much!!!!! MsProtoe-Nix

Hi there! I am hoping to get some advice on hosp. units in Pgh. I am graduating in May and I am searching for my niche. I think that my heart is in OB, labor and delivery/postpartum. Magee has told me that they do not hire GNs----so I guess that is out. I have an interview at West Penn Hosp, but they said they have already hired all the GNs needed for their OB dept. They have positions in Med Surg (general) and Renal/Endo. ALso Cardiothoracic stepdown. Anyone work there or have any experience in these units? What can I expect? My internship is scheduled at Mercy. I am guessing OB. I have heard some not so great things about both Mercy and AGH. Would it be worth my while to apply there? Also, does anyone know anywhere in Pgh that is currently hiring GNs for OB??? Any input is appreciated. Of course I would love a high pay, benefits, and convenience....but I would also like to work doing something I enjoy. It seems as if GNs that I know are being hired left and right. Should I wait to get a position I like. Or take a job I might like if the incentives are all there? I know this is more of a personal decision.........but I am in need of some advice from those who might have been there, done that!