Hello!

Been lurking for a long time. Finally, at long last, I've graduated from my nursing program. I'm an "N". Now it's focus on NCLEX-RN (scheduled for 1/25) and getting work.

That last bit has be nervous as all get out. I live in the SF Bay Area and finding work as a new graduate nurse is terribly difficult at the moment here, due to the general economy and having lots of nursing schools in the area. I'm just worried as hell that after all this work, all this passion and immersion, after identifying my love of the ICU and pinning that up there as my main goal, I may flat out just not find a job.

Anyone else find themselves in a similar urban area/situation? Anyone have any tips, advice, links for good places to search for RN jobs besides the actual hospital websites?

Thank you in advance and hope y'all are having relaxing holidays.

Cheers!
-M

Why is it that everyone who says I'm the "greatest nurse EVER" says it's because I...
- kept their water jug filled
- brought them more pillows
- made them toast in the middle of the night
- gave them a warm blanket
- (insert just about any other thing that any person, trained or not, could easily do)

But I keep hearing the "golly you are smart why aren't you a doctor?" or "ever think of med school?" line when I...
- reviewed their meds with them
- suggested an appropriate dressing for a wound
- explained their ABG's
- picked up on an important change during their assessment
- (insert just about any other thing falling under my job description as an RN)

i_hope_that
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Anyone with psych experience--say you have a pt who is severely agitated. From my understanding you cannot administer a standing IM antipsychotic medication PRN severe agitation to adults in psychiatric units against the patient's will (unless it's court ordered). You would have to get a one time DOc emergency order to give the med IM X 1 on the basis of danger to self or others. Is this thinking correct?

I posted here about my new employee drug screening - I assume everything went okay :) I had my orientation yesterday and my first official day is tomorrow!!! I'm very excited :)

Just wanted to give everyone an update!

stepstomarrow
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I came across this article today called "For Doctors and Patients, Formal Titles or First Names?" in the New York Times. It's more focused on doctors, but the issue of calling nurses by their first names gets addressed too. My link is from the Well blog on the NYTimes website, which allows you to leave comments. There are several pro-nurse comments from people who feel that as professionals, nurses should have a title as well, instead of being referred to by our first names. Thoughts and opinions welcome!

I've previously attended Molloy College but I got very little-to-no financial aid so I had to switch schools. I was already in the program and have prior experience in the clinical setting. Academically I have all of my liberal arts and pre-reqs done. 75 credits to be exact. I applied to Cochran school of nursing (Yonkers, NY) not too long ago and I was wondering if anybody here has attended and if they liked it? What are the pros and cons and how hard is the program since it's a two year school? What kind of questions do they ask on the interview when you're accepted? I get pretty nervous when it comes to interviews and I want to try to prepare myself as much as possible.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

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Heya

New so I thought I should introduce myself, 21, I am applying to nursing school this month, I'll find out in April if I get in or not. So wish me luck!

Just finished A&P and Micro, tough classes but I managed to pull it off. Thank god Christmas season is here! ^_^

Anyone have any interesting plans for winter break?

Thanks!