EndOfTheTunnel

We must be working in drastically different circumstances. I’m in an ICU with covid positive patients and R/o Covid. Appropriate PPE is necessary 100% of the time. I’m way past the screening point. We’re attempting to save lives of the critically ill.

Doesn’t sound like you’re directly working with this pandemic. No one has the appropriate amount of PPE to fight this. No one.

I went directly into ICU. It was overwhelming at times, but boy did I learn. Any kind of nursing should be a little bit scary, I feel we should never be over confident. So, if the opportunity presents itself and you feel like you can handle it, give it a try. Fortunately the ICU I started in had us shadow a nurse for half a day to see if we were a good fit before the job is even offered. That cut down on a lot of new grad/ nurses who wouldn’t hack it. Then 4 or more months orientation depending on abilities, and you’re on your own.

I am unsure of how someone would think they would be prepared to manage other nurses or diagnose and treat patients if the only patient contact they will have ever had is in school. Not to mention, go and see what current employers are asking for prospective applicants to have for job openings in these settings. I can't imagine any place would hire a new grad who has no experience working on the floor aside from clinical. Edited to add, I am about to graduate with my BSN and I have worked on the floor for years as a PCT (combined CNA/phlebotomy position at my work), and I in no way feel comfortable even just applying for my masters at this point. I will work the floor for a few years as an RN before I even consider myself ready for that.