SNRN2BE

ttps://ojin.nursingworld Florence Nightingale once described a time in her nursing career and related it to military life. As a former Sailor of 10 years (active duty), in many ways nursing is so much more challenging and sacrificial than serving in the military. Veteran RNs can eat the young. This is the first time healthcare workers are being considered heroes. When for most of us, it’s what any decent human being should do for others. We’re not expected to pick up a weapon, but when you’re starting an iv on a MH prisoner who’s hep c positive, needing tx and has a hx of pulling out ivs. Our ivs are like weapons to some patients, even if they use needles to get high, (hep c). The patient and I had a rapport f a previous procedure. He was respectful, even in shackles and with guards to assist me, a needle near a pt who’s mentation is questionable (they should always be) with a deadly virus, can be considered dangerous to many people. My point is, if we can help, we should. I’m a smoker (30 years), have undiagnosed Copd (probably), just got over a nasty abscess on my bum and I’m a med/surg nurse. I’m ready to go. I’ll strictly employ recommended precautions and carry on while the virus is strong. I’m going to start building my travel nurse resume. So I can help. RN m/s tele, 4 years

Sounds like semantics here. I think to say that saying "most hospitals is irresponsible and incorrect" is somewhat of a harsh statement. I am certain there are magnet status hospitals who have many seasoned experienced nurses with ADNs or LPNs. While it may not necessarily be a requirement to hold a BSN to work at a magnet status hospital, a lot of the hospitals I have looked at (who hold magnet status) require that NEW hires agree to either have or obtain their BSN within a designated time period, ie. 3 years or 5 years. If anyone wants to know what the requirements are for a magnet hospital, go to the ANCC's website and read for yourself. And you know, with nursing job requirements, openings and several other factors come into play. But by in large, it's supply and demand, like basic economics. If there is a large supply, there is a smaller demand and vice versa. That said, according to a recent statistical report issued by the ANCC, 58.55% of magnet hospital nurses have a BSN that number is further broken down by number of patient beds in respective facilities. That number increases to 71% in peds magnet hospitals. We do not know the requirements of the hospitals for new hires or seasoned experienced nurses either. I think it can only be more beneficial for anyone to earn the highest degree they can in the field they chose to do pursue. But that's just me. I intend to at least get my BSN.

I'm not all too educated in the human body, probably not as much as I should be. But I find it interesting that you say that the muscle doesn't twitch and that there's no pain or sciatica involved. It's my understanding that muscle spasms or twitches don't have to cause pain or sciatica. Though they can. I think most everyone has experienced this type of sensation and that it's just a result of impulse activity that is occurring in the region you're experiencing it in. Though, I'm wondering, if you apply pressure or some other type of external stimulation to the area if it relieves or minimizes the vibration you're reporting. Can you share more? What are you doing when it occurs? Does anything trigger it or make it go away? How long does it last? Does it only happen in one place? Have you felt anything like it before?

I'm cleared to take the exam, just got my FBI background check cleared today! So I'm good w/the BON.

I called HR and they said they would definitely be getting a copy of the DD214. I also called the National Archives and they said they'd release that and anything else requested by a potential employer if I gave a blanket authorization for employment history. The good thing is unknowing ingestion was my defense and I have an 11 year old notarized letter from a person who explained the incident. Also, the military found be to not be a user or an abuser and that there was no basis or need for any type of treatment. So it's just a shame the whole thing happened and that it's all on my record. But that's the only real ding I have on my record.

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond. Honestly, it means a lot coming from someone who has experience and knowledge. I realize, knowledge is power. I wish I'd have put more weight into my past before trying to become a nurse. But honestly, my nature is service, I want to serve. It gives me something to know that I have done something positive. Anyway, thank you.

In response to the above post, I've submitted my fingerprints for the BON's FBI CBC. Based on the application for licensure in my state, I was not dishonest as it asked specifically if I had any convictions, which I do not. According to an attorney who commented on a situation similar to mine, I was not convicted nor punished just administratively processed for separation. If my BON decides to put me on a probation status, I'm willing to participate in whatever measures they require of me. I just hope and pray that it doesn't come to my having to have a restricted license or something of that nature. I understand perception is reality but if you can try to imagine how frustrating it would be if you were accused of something you didn't do and had documentation proving it yet continued to be treated like a substance abuser, how infuriating it would be. I have nothing to hide and am willing to undergo whatever measures necessary to prove I am not a substance abuser/user in order to be a nurse. As all RNs, I too, have sacrificed an enormous amount of time. I've missed a lot of my children's events and firsts. I would be extremely discouraged and depressed if I did it without even having a chance of being a nurse. Obviously, I have the knowledge, potential and determination or I wouldn't have made it through the program, my class lost more than half of the students we started with. More than anything I am just trying to determine if anyone would hire me. I mean, if I were to present paperwork explaining what happened all so long ago, is there a chance an employer would want to hire me? Does anyone have any input on that?

Thank you for your response and I will try to clear up any confusion I may have caused iwth my post. Some of what you wrote seems contradictory and confusing. Like this part: "I'm afraid of being accused and found guilty again for a crime, I didn't commit. I have official military documents proving my innocence but again, at the time, the military's policy was zero tolerance." What I meant was, going through that ordeal was traumatizing for me. I can't say for sure that I've gotten over it as I still wake up having nightmares from "being accused and found guilty for a crime I didn't commit." That was through an administrative process, I asked for a court martial so the rules and laws of court would apply, my request was denied, so there is no legal conviction or the like of this incident. In regards to my statement of zero tolerance, if there is/was more than 100 nanograms in your system, in the eyes of the powers that be for the military, it is viewed as having done the drug. To respond to the statement before that, "I have official military documents proving my innocence," my unit commander of the post I was on (with some 2,000 people), said he believed I deserved the benefit of the doubt but the military's policy over rode his position and thus he had to comply with military policy. I hope this clears up whatever confusion I may have caused and allows for someone to respond with something like, "yes, I would hire you if you came to me with a situation like this" or "no, I wouldn't hire someone with a situation like this, because of A. B. C. and D. or unless said person did A. B. C. and D." My initial approach to the situation is to bring all of my documents to the nurse manager and give it to her to allow her to make an informed decision. But to restate what I've said, I just don't want to be accused of something I didn't do all over again, it was very traumatizing for me. Thank you in advance for any time you spend reading and responding.

My discharge was characterized as "General, Under Honorable Conditions" reason for discharge "Misconduct, Drug Abuse." This allowed me to use my Montgomery GI Bill, thus my ability to go to school. I am clean now and was then as well. If I had provided that sample for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, it would have resulted in a negative test. However, the military's standards are lower than many other testing facilities. Based on an evaluation conducted by the military at the time of the positive UDS, I was found to not be a user or an abuser of controlled substances. For the record, typical positive UDS service members get an Other Than Honorable discharge. It's rare for a service member to get anything worse than that for a positive UDS. Back to my question, if a nurse came in with documentation proving the unknowing ingestion and you were a hiring supervisor, would you hire said person?

Three days of orientation after graduation almost seems like the workplace is failing nurse and the patients the new grad would be caring for. All of the facilities my classmates are working for will receive between two and six weeks to acclimate to the facility. Granted that's getting certs too, ACLS, PALS, etc. Three days as a new grad seems risky for everyone. Three days to learn where everything is and facility operations seems rather short. The place I'm supposed to start working at I've been doing my clinical rotations at and my preceptorship at as well, so I feel more confident about the organization of the facility. They still told me I would get to shadow a nurse for two weeks though. Perhaps they're more focused on patient safety than other organizations, imho.

If places don't hire new RN grads without experience, how is a new RN grad supposed to gain experience? They/we have to start somewhere, don't we? That appears to be an odd statement to me. And I think the OP said they recently passed the NCLEX - PN, still my initial question has validity, regarding new grads gaining experience, whether they're a PN or RN, I believe a new grad needs to have the opportunity to start somewhere or else how would an experienced nurse expect them to gain experience? Perhaps I'm misreading the post.

So are you offering any advice on how to proceed? Would you consider hiring someone in my circumstances?

I should have been more clear, my apologies. I've been offered employment as an RN, where I did the bulk of my clinicals while in my RN program. The hospital's HR has asked me to complete an online questionnaire with a company that's been contracted to perform a background check on all new applicants (as well as current employees). You enter your information in the fields offered, one is "relevant military service." The parent human resources department representative I spoke with about accessing my DD214, said that they will receive a copy of my DD214 but that they only go back seven years. Wasn't entirely sure if they'd receive it and consider it or not. That said, I already put military service and my MOS on my resume which the nurse manager has. The military stated on my discharge paperwork that I was not found to be a user or an abuser. I have all of the paperwork surrounding my discharge, on military letterhead. They told me that one day, I would need it to explain what happened. I guess I'm more asking if I have a chance of gaining employment by just bringing in the paperwork and explaining the circumstances. In other words, would you consider hiring someone in my position? Other than this obviously unfortunate situation, I have never had any involvement with any kind of controlled substance (other than prescribed medications). I am now in my 40s and am hoping to one day create a life for me and my children, free of this whole mess for a crime, I didn't even commit. Interestingly, the military has since changed it's policy and allows a one time blip for those who were positive on UDSs but that change occurred two years after I got out. Any tips would be appreciated. I do have some time as I'm not even able to take the NCLEX until June. Thank you

Next month I graduate and will be sitting for the NCLEX-RN the following month. I'm not all too concerned about the BON allowing me to take the NCLEX and get my license but instead am worried about an employer taking a chance on me. Have a job lined up but I failed a UDS in 2005 for cocaine while in the military, I was found to have 123 nanograms in my system, 177 below the NCSBNs cut-off level but 23 nanograms above the military's cut-off level. I have paperwork explaining the positive result but the military's policy was no tolerance at the time, 2005. Of course, as my luck has it, they've since changed their policy and will allow a one time positive result. I was not in the medical field at the time I was in the service. I was a well decorated military member and am just trying to move on with my life and eventually found that nursing is a field I could continue to serve in. I haven't told my potential employer about this but know that eventually, I am going to have to. I am supposed to submit the background check soon and am apprehensive about how to proceed. There is a box that I can either check or avoid. It specifically asks for relevant military service. Two schools of thought here, there is no relevant military service (as I wasn't in the health care field) and I'm not getting any kind of benefit from having been in the service. Though, omitting information is kind of like lying, imo. I'm afraid of being accused and found guilty again for a crime, I didn't commit. I have official military documents proving my innocence but again, at the time, the military's policy was zero tolerance. My initial thought was to present the official documentation to my potential employer with the hopes of understanding and a bit of latitude. Then again, I fear I'll find myself under scrutiny and without a job if I do. I haven't worked in many years primarily as a result of being so traumatized from not only the accusation but the ultimate outcome. Just wondering if anyone here would either A. hire me or B. tell me to take a hike. Any suggestions, comments and the like would be appreciated. Anyone who has gone through a nursing program knows there is a lot of personal sacrifice involved with the academic journey required for success in a nursing program, so please, keep that in mind when addressing this topic. I'm not looking to be ridiculed but instead want to know if I even have a chance of ever obtaining employment as a nurse or if I just wasted a lot of time, money and most importantly the enormous amount of effort I just expended to complete the nursing program. Thank you in advance for your time....