So I know it's been a while since I posted, and I really need to remedy that. Since I last posted I've started my first RN job!
It's pretty fantastic so far, and I can truly say that I love my job. I'm working in an Emergency Department at an urban hospital in NJ. It's not a trauma hospital, but I've already seen a GSW that got "dropped off" outside our front door, as well as a few cardiac arrests, some respiratory arrests, two or three STEMIs, and a couple of strokes...and I've only been working for 3.5 weeks!
It's definitely an awesome place to work, and I'm sure that after working where I am, I'll be able to survive in pretty much any ED, or that's at least what people tell me...
So that's all for now, on that topic...tomorrow's another day, and since it's Valentine's Day, I'm sure I'll hear some interesting stories from my patients!
Showing posts with label Nursing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nursing. Show all posts
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
I Got a Job!
It's finally happened...
It may have taken 5 months, but I finally found an RN job. To make it even better, I found my dream job! I will be working in the Emergency Department at a major hospital in an urban area of New Jersey. I'll be working 11 am - 11 pm, which is the perfect shift for me. I know that 11-11 is going to be a crazy shift, busy from start to finish, but I won't be getting up at 5 am, so despite being exhausted, I won't feel like death all the time, getting up and going to be in the dark.
I'm starting on January 9th, so I will still have a little mini-vacation in St. Thomas over Christmas. It'll probably be the last Christmas that I'll be heading to the Caribbean for a while, so I best enjoy it while I can.
I've decided to switch to part-time for school; still progressing with my nurse practitioner, just at a slower pace. At this rate, I'll be graduating in May 2014. I'll be taking a course over the Winterum semester, so a 13-week course condensed into 3 weeks. It'll be intense, but I'll get through it, it will just require me to take a text book to the beach.
The background check is done, physical, drug test and pharmacology exam next week...
**
Photo courtesy of Destination Hollywood
It may have taken 5 months, but I finally found an RN job. To make it even better, I found my dream job! I will be working in the Emergency Department at a major hospital in an urban area of New Jersey. I'll be working 11 am - 11 pm, which is the perfect shift for me. I know that 11-11 is going to be a crazy shift, busy from start to finish, but I won't be getting up at 5 am, so despite being exhausted, I won't feel like death all the time, getting up and going to be in the dark.
I'm starting on January 9th, so I will still have a little mini-vacation in St. Thomas over Christmas. It'll probably be the last Christmas that I'll be heading to the Caribbean for a while, so I best enjoy it while I can.
I've decided to switch to part-time for school; still progressing with my nurse practitioner, just at a slower pace. At this rate, I'll be graduating in May 2014. I'll be taking a course over the Winterum semester, so a 13-week course condensed into 3 weeks. It'll be intense, but I'll get through it, it will just require me to take a text book to the beach.
The background check is done, physical, drug test and pharmacology exam next week...
**
Photo courtesy of Destination Hollywood
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Weekend Health Roundup
This morning's, or I suppose the weekend edition of the NY Times has gotten me all riled up!!
The United States Preventative Services Task Force is now recommending that women only have pap smears to screen for cervical cancer every 3 years, AND they're recommending that women under age 21 not be screened at all, and they have the backing of the American Cancer Society...seriously?! You can read the whole story here. Just an aside, my cousin almost died of cervical cancer at 19. A pap smear saved her life...just sayin'
And appropriately...VD is on the rise in women...they better get pap smears!
Three doctors in Brazil have been convicted for killing four patients by removing their organs for black market procurement.
Researchers in Denmark have concluded that there is no link between cell phone usage and brain tumors.
The Institute of Medicine has called for a new "star" rating system for grocery products, as an offensive to decrease the rate of obesity in this county.
The Obama Administration is backpedaling on aspects of healthcare reform that would allow hospitals to fill physician shortages with nurse practitioners and physician assistants (yay-maybe I will be able to find a job when I finish my FNP!!).
Nurses in Thailand are curing cervical cancer with vinegar.
Any other interesting stores you'd like to share? Send them my way!! courtney (dot) onedayatatime (at) gmail (dot) com.
The United States Preventative Services Task Force is now recommending that women only have pap smears to screen for cervical cancer every 3 years, AND they're recommending that women under age 21 not be screened at all, and they have the backing of the American Cancer Society...seriously?! You can read the whole story here. Just an aside, my cousin almost died of cervical cancer at 19. A pap smear saved her life...just sayin'
And appropriately...VD is on the rise in women...they better get pap smears!
Three doctors in Brazil have been convicted for killing four patients by removing their organs for black market procurement.
Researchers in Denmark have concluded that there is no link between cell phone usage and brain tumors.
The Institute of Medicine has called for a new "star" rating system for grocery products, as an offensive to decrease the rate of obesity in this county.
The Obama Administration is backpedaling on aspects of healthcare reform that would allow hospitals to fill physician shortages with nurse practitioners and physician assistants (yay-maybe I will be able to find a job when I finish my FNP!!).
Nurses in Thailand are curing cervical cancer with vinegar.
Any other interesting stores you'd like to share? Send them my way!! courtney (dot) onedayatatime (at) gmail (dot) com.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
What Happens on a Night Shift
A blog that I follow recently posted this graphic regarding what happens in a typical hospital during the night shift. Being a new graduate RN, I'm sure that my first job in a hospital will be a night shift position. Since I'm a morning person, I already have a feeling that this is going to be a hard thing for me, but after reading this little graphic, I'm sort of terrified!! One problem at a time though -- I guess I have to find a job first!
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Courtesy of RN Central
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Courtesy of RN Central
Monday, October 3, 2011
DNP vs. MD
An interesting article appeared in yesterday's New York Times debating the issue of nurses completing their doctorate, and labeling themselves as "doctors."
I find this issue particularly interesting because, as I've mentioned before, I'm currently in a Family Nurse Practitioner program. With the federal mandate that in 2015 all NP programs be eliminated and transitioned to DNP (doctorate of nursing practice) programs, I know that eventually I will be going back to school for my doctorate, and then I'm in the same position as the nurses in the aforementioned article.
It's a really interesting topic, and I'm sure with all the changes that are coming in healthcare, it will be something we see debated for a long time to come.
What are your opinions? Do you think that DNPs are going to "steal the market" from physicians? Do you think it's fair for doctors to pass legislation preventing doctorally prepared nurses from advertising themselves as "doctors?"
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Photo courtesy of Josh Anderson for The New York Times
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
PALS
Today concluded day two of my pediatric advanced life support (PALS) course. It was short and sweet, just the way I like it, and I managed to get out of there a couple hours earlier, provider card in hand!
I feel like I've gotten a lot done, and it's only Wednesday!!
**
Image via Safety Store
Monday, August 15, 2011
Where Have I Been?
That's a good question! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time, it's just that there hasn't been much to post about lately.
I've been working my butt off every day filling out job applications, to no avail. I have my RN license in hand, and I keep applying places, but there just don't seem to be a lot of jobs out there for new graduate RNs, at least not in my area. It's quite frustrating!
I thought for a while I was going to strike gold, had an interview for an ER position set up and everything, but the nurse manager's wife went into labor the night before my interview, and he hasn't returned to work yet, so that interview is postponed until further notice.
With grad school's start date looming right around the corner (Sept. 1), it's looking more and more like I'll be a full-time student, at least for the first semester. I'm going to keep applying for jobs every day, and hope that someone will bite, at some point!
Fingers crossed!!
I've been working my butt off every day filling out job applications, to no avail. I have my RN license in hand, and I keep applying places, but there just don't seem to be a lot of jobs out there for new graduate RNs, at least not in my area. It's quite frustrating!
I thought for a while I was going to strike gold, had an interview for an ER position set up and everything, but the nurse manager's wife went into labor the night before my interview, and he hasn't returned to work yet, so that interview is postponed until further notice.
With grad school's start date looming right around the corner (Sept. 1), it's looking more and more like I'll be a full-time student, at least for the first semester. I'm going to keep applying for jobs every day, and hope that someone will bite, at some point!
Fingers crossed!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Grad School Orientation
Yesterday was orientation for the Family Nurse Practitioner program that I am starting in September.
My cohort is rather small, only 19 people. I'm not sure if I'm surprised by that number or not. I actually knew one of my fellow students, as she was also in the second-degree BSN program with me that I just completed. It was nice to see a familiar face, and certainly took the edge off the day.
Orientation was pretty informative. I still haven't decided if I will be taking a full or part-time course load. Everything is contingent upon if I am able to find a job or not. I registered for a full-time schedule, taking advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, theoretical foundations, and human diversity and social issues. If I can find a job, I will switch to part-status, and will only be taking advanced pathophysiology and theoretical foundations.
Full-time studies allow me to finish my FNP in 15 months, whereas, if I am part-time throughout the degree, it will most likely take me about 28 months to complete. This isn't the end of the world, as I'd like to be working while going to school, but if it's not in the cards, at least I'll have someplace to focus my energy!
I have a phone interview with a really great hospital today, so I'm hoping that that will lead to an in-person interview, and eventually a job offer!! But, we'll see!
My cohort is rather small, only 19 people. I'm not sure if I'm surprised by that number or not. I actually knew one of my fellow students, as she was also in the second-degree BSN program with me that I just completed. It was nice to see a familiar face, and certainly took the edge off the day.
Orientation was pretty informative. I still haven't decided if I will be taking a full or part-time course load. Everything is contingent upon if I am able to find a job or not. I registered for a full-time schedule, taking advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, theoretical foundations, and human diversity and social issues. If I can find a job, I will switch to part-status, and will only be taking advanced pathophysiology and theoretical foundations.
Full-time studies allow me to finish my FNP in 15 months, whereas, if I am part-time throughout the degree, it will most likely take me about 28 months to complete. This isn't the end of the world, as I'd like to be working while going to school, but if it's not in the cards, at least I'll have someplace to focus my energy!
I have a phone interview with a really great hospital today, so I'm hoping that that will lead to an in-person interview, and eventually a job offer!! But, we'll see!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
It's Official...I am an RN!
After 48 hours of anticipation, I received my results and I passed NCLEX. Now the job search can commence!!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
NCLEX is Tomorrow!!
So let me just start of with a big AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Ok, well now that that's out of my system...
Tomorrow I am taking the NCLEX-RN exam. It's sort of a big deal. For those of you who are not nurses, the NCLEX exam determines competency for all new graduate nurses; if you pass, you are granted a license. If you fail, you have to wait 45 days (in NJ) to retest.
Since I'll be starting my nurse practitioner in the fall, I really need to pass, so I can actually attend the classes that I will be enrolling in...more on that in another post.
Anyway, I've been a bit stressed out, so I woke up this morning and decided that the best way to prepare for tomorrow would be to go to a nice, relaxing yoga class this morning. So that's exactly what I did, but now it's 2 p.m., and I haven't opened a book yet...
So on that note, let me get back to the books, and WISH ME LUCK TOMORROW!!
Ok, well now that that's out of my system...
Tomorrow I am taking the NCLEX-RN exam. It's sort of a big deal. For those of you who are not nurses, the NCLEX exam determines competency for all new graduate nurses; if you pass, you are granted a license. If you fail, you have to wait 45 days (in NJ) to retest.
Since I'll be starting my nurse practitioner in the fall, I really need to pass, so I can actually attend the classes that I will be enrolling in...more on that in another post.
Anyway, I've been a bit stressed out, so I woke up this morning and decided that the best way to prepare for tomorrow would be to go to a nice, relaxing yoga class this morning. So that's exactly what I did, but now it's 2 p.m., and I haven't opened a book yet...
So on that note, let me get back to the books, and WISH ME LUCK TOMORROW!!
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