flufffyo1

Unfortunately, I am not an experienced nurse. I am a new grad that has just been hired into public health with a local county (also in California). I can assure you I also had the issue of choosing between what everyone else told me to do versus what I truly wanted to do. With a little encouragement from my PH professor, I chose public health despite the risks. Public health job security depends on the current economy. In 2008 when the recession hit, many PH nurses and county workers were laid off due to budget cuts. That is something you will need to consider. Good thing for you is that you have previous work experience at the hospital. If something like 2008 happened again, I'm sure you will be able to find a job elsewhere. Job security is never guaranteed, no matter where you go or what you do. You just have to have faith that things will be okay. That being said, I ended up following my heart because I am the type of person who knows that if I don't belong somewhere (ie. the hospital), I will be wasting my time there.

May I ask how you were studying? How many hours you studied, did you take notes, etc.? I personally used only UWORLD on and off during my final semester but a month before the actual NCLEX, I took 50 or 75 questions mocked exams every day and really studied the rationales. My school also forced us to get 900+ on the Hesi RN exit exam before graduating and I think that somewhat helped. One tidbit is never change your first choice of answer unless you're absolutely sure you're wrong.

At my school, med errors are huge. Usually that means you're placed on jeopardy or some instructors will fail you right away. Other than that, it's pretty hard to fail. It depends on instructors though. I've had instructors that are very uptight and watches your every move and then I also witness instructors that allow a fellow classmate to turn in late assignments three times without failing him even though in their syllabus, that was not allowed. And he did not have any excuses either! It really depends I think...

Popular residency programs put more money and effort to train new employees and to slowly transition you into the nursing role while just an RN position would probably throw you on the floor with less training. It's completely up to you imo... If you think you're competent enough and can learn quickly, I don't see any problem in applying for a regular RN position. I've heard stories of new grads being put on the floor with full workload and expectations just after 2 weeks of training and they turned out very stressed but strong RNs. Likewise, I hear new grads in residency programs with 6 months-1 year training that turn out to be very well knowledgeable and good nurses as well. Why not just apply to both and see where it takes you?

Oh my gosh! You describe me very well except in my head, I don't see myself as shy and reserve but in other people's head, they think I'm shy and reserve. Makes no sense. I think there's common misconception that if you're quiet, they think you have no back bone and can't do anything for yourself. To that, I say BS! You learn what you need to learn and when the chance comes up, fight for your learning opportunities. Focus #1 on your patients and #2 on your skills/knowledge as a nurse. Everything else comes with time and experience. It's hard at first especially if you feel like you need to prove to others about your capabilities but in my opinion, you don't have to compromise your personality and dignity to please others. Be proud to be who you are and when you're proficient, show it to others and they'll eventually have your back. I refuse to suck up to people and pretend to be someone else just because others do not like my quiet nature. Life is too short to care so much about what others think of you, especially if you've done nothing wrong. About the friend situation in class though, that takes some initiative on your part. Though I used to not approach people, I now approach others that seem like a quiet soul like myself. Now I have plenty of trusted friends surrounding me and knows how I am as a person. Look for those people, they are everywhere and they can probably understand you better. As for working, if a hospital has nurses that are vicious and go after the quiet people, run away from that hospital ASAP. That's not a healthy workplace environment for anyone!

I have NCLEX RN Mastery. You gotta pay for it though which is the downside, but I got it on discount. It's quite nice with a lot of questions for extra practice!

Do you know any of your classmates that did well? I suggest learning how they study and try it for yourself. At my school, we often go to upperclassmen to get advice on how to study for a particular class. It's been working great so far...

I had a pretty unique experience ending up with studying nursing. Though my parents suggested it out of high school, and though I researched it up and was intrigued, I never thought I was fit for it because I was extremely shy and reserved back then. So I studied something else...international relations at a large university. Got a chance to study abroad. Encountered natural disasters abroad and helped volunteer there also. During that time, I met a very unique and inspiring nurse who took care of the volunteers and sick people in the area. I was so inspired by her that right after coming back home, I ended up in nursing school and I am enjoying it very much. It's been quite an up and down roundabout way of ending up in nursing but if I could, I would do it all over again. I want to keep volunteering abroad as a nurse in the future as well. :)

Well, for sure, there will be people you don't get along with in nursing school and in your workplace. Such is the reality of life. So spend time with the people you perceive as high quality people and distance yourself from the drama of others. I learned that especially in my experience. Being ignored and treated like a nobody in my own clinical section group is degrading and lonely but that's okay, because I found a different group of students in my class who helped me realize just how great I am as a person and who has encouraged me to be the best I can be and go after opportunities despite having very little confidence in myself. The result? Since being with the other group of people outside of my clinical section, I have improved my grades, passed all my classes no problem, been hired into an internship at a well known hospital on my preferred unit (with high chance of being hired on the spot after graduating) and I got elected for a high leadership position in a club. I owe it to their kindness and encouragement. We bring each other up, not down. And my clinical group? They remained where they are at in their closed off clique, no internship, and un-involved in extracurriculars. You just gotta go off and do what you need to do. Nursing school is short; don't let some people ruin it for you. ETA: Oh and one of the poster already said this but befriend the dudes in nursing as well. No joke. I have no idea why but men in nursing are really some of the most chillax people I've ever met on earth!

Hm, from my understanding, the littlest things in clinicals matters the most. Gloves is huge infection/transfer risk, especially after you've touched a patient. Being on time with working is extremely important as well when you're out in the real world and you'll have more patients and responsibilities. Take everything seriously and you'll be ready to work when you get a job in the hospital after graduation. I find that instructors that are extra in tune to what a student is doing wrong and making sure you know what you've done wrong, are those that cares the most because they want you to be prepared to take care of patients when you get out of school. The dangerous instructors are the ones that don't care... same with nursing students.

Carry pepper spray when you walk around. Never listen to music while you're walking. Carry very little. Be confident and always be alert and look at everyone in the face when you walk by so you'll know what they look like if something happens (this actually deters criminals from committing crimes on you as well). I grew up in the ghettos and that's how I survive. lol. This is only temporary placement and you'll only be there two days a week so I'm sure you'll be fine.