Calling all nurses! (Or nurses-to-be)

[dakcp2001]

Hi everyone! I have a quick question for any recent grads.. or anyone who feels like answering.

I'm getting ready to start my actual nursing classes in the fall (yay no more pre-req's!) and was just wondering about clinicals. I know that it will vary from school to school, but how many hours a week did you all have clinicals?

My first semester, the classes (and corresponding semester hours) I have are:

PNN-104 Metrology 1
PNN-138 Intro to Nursing 2
PNN-139 Practical Nursing I 5
PNN-722 Fundamentals of Nursing Clinical 2

The other 4 semesters have only 3 or 4 semester hours worth of clinicals listed. I e-mailed the nursing department to ask how many actual hours is considered 2 semester hours, but I just wanted to check and see what everyone else's experience has been.

First semester was Fundamentals 15 weeks- Thurs & Fridays- 7am-noon (10 hours/week) plus research night before (Wed you go to hosp & research your patients)

Second semester was Pediatrics & Maternity Rotations 8 weeks of each, and it was 7am-3pm (8 hours per week, plus research)

Third semester Med/Surg/Tele - Thurs & Fri 7-3 (15 weeks,) 16 hours per week, and wed night research

Last semester (last clinical this past week wooHOO) Med/Surg 2pm-10 pm, 15 weeks, 16 hours per week plus research

Throughout the program we were randomly assigned a 5 week Mental Health rotation, a 3 week home hath rotation, and a 2 week ICU rotation, hours varied. We had a few others we could sign up for, like ER 1 week, OR 1 week, Hospice 1 week, and those were in addition to your regular schedule and sometimes on the weekend. Some of the places were quite a drive too, so plan for that.


The best advice I could give, they will OWN you and every moment of your life. Be prepared to have zero control over your schedule or social life. I wish i had a nickel for everytime they changed my schedule at the last minute and I had to scramble to find somoene tocover at work. I'd be rich.

 

[AshleyW]

Thanks, guys. I'm mostly hoping to just get through my first 2 semesters working where I do now.. and after 2 semesters, I can take the NCLEX-PN exam and start working as an LPN while I finish up my last 3 semesters.

That's the plan, anyway. Who knows how it will actually work out.

 

[Mandychelle79]

We go 12 hours per week for clinical and 4 hours a week for lecture.

 

[Beka]

Hey all!

I took boards last Thursday....














I'm an RN!!!!!!

 

[xCourxCorex]

CONGRATS BEKA!!!!! That is SO exciting!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Congratulations!

 

[dakcp2001]

YAY! Beka that is terrific!!!!! I am in the proicess of studying for mine now, my test date is getting closer and I can't seem to sit stilll to study!! I might have to change my date. lol.


Any words of wisdom for those of us that have NCLEX coming up? I have about a month to go!

 

[Sehsun]

Congratulations, Beka!!

 

[Mandychelle79]

Congrats

Hopefully next year at this time I will be making the same post

 

[Judy from Boise]

Congratulations to a new colleague! Welcome to the profession

 

[LovableGluttons]

I just found this thread! I've been a registered nurse for almost 20 years (do I feel old?!!)

I was originally a Bio Life Sciences major in college, a party college if you get my drift.....

I left that college after a couple of years and met my husband. I went back to school for nursing at a college 144 miles from our home. I worked as a nurse tech at a local hospital who was renovating their level 3 NICU during all of this and was desperate for any help.

That help was me. I was rarely at home, rarely studied, just drove between the hospital and school, back and forth, sometimes just catching quick naps in my car or in the changing room on the couch. My poor husband didn't see me much for a few years.

Eventually, the renovation was completed and I finished shcool. I did it this way to save the cost fo tuition. In town, it was about $350 per credit hour at the private faith based colleges versus $36 per credit hour at my state university 144 miles away.

That sparkling new NICU had more beds when the renovation was completed, so they needed new nurses. Other than charting assessments, giving meds, and a few other duties that required a license to perform, there wasn't much I had not done during my time as a nurse tech. So they hired me!

A few years later, we moved to California (DH was Air Force). I worked L & D there (no local NICU) and attended a WHCNP program 5 hours away. See a pattern here LOL

My L&D hospital was bought and closed and I ended up the night charge nurse at a small community ER. (I worked as an EMT the first time I went to college). Once again, the hospital needed someone so bad, they hired me. I've been fortunate in my lifetime to pick things up pretty quickly, so getting my ACLS and PALS wasn't too bad. What a HUGE experience working in that ER was. The things I saw! The greatest nurse in the world worked in that ER for 40 years. She was an LPN and we were a team. She was incredible and the world lost someone tremendously talented in Wendy.

We then moved across country again. I freelanced for a while as a PRN nurse for various OP procedure clinics and physician offices while also working in my local NICU.

Another move to Montana and another NICU followed, with the addition of some prn endoscopy work.

One last move (dh retired from the military) and I was teaching OB/Peds at an LPN program, working nights in a local NICU, and admissions for hospice.

Right now, I just do admissions for hospice.

I didn't go back to finish that NP. FLorida doesn't seem to treat their NPs as well as they do in other states I've lived in.

I'm actually toying with the idea of an oceanography career now that I've grown up! LOL


I knew before the age of 10 that I was supposed to be a nurse. My mother wanted me to be a physician, but I LOVE patient care. That nurturing, loving, comfort care is what I have always had a fondness for. The hospice I work for has some of the most amazing, talented nurses and physicians I have ever had the honor of working for. If you think they're great, you should meet our patients and families!

Even if I go back to school now that I'm in my 40's (gasp!), I will likely always do something in nursing. Probably not teach. That was pretty frustrating and the pay was terrible.

I'll likely do something with hospice. I can move around there once my body gives out the rest of the way. LMAO They even have positions there where nurses have desk jobs. Not my idea of a fun job, especially compared to what I do now.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Hey all!

I took boards last Thursday....














I'm an RN!!!!!!

Congrats!

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

I haven't had much time lately to check the Disboards (life got in the way ), but I am excited to say that I have less than a month before I start nursing school!

We begin classes on Aug 23rd! I am nervous, but excited...I am doing an accelerated second degree program...16 months straight through, and end up with a BSN. My biggest worry is trying to balance my family life with nursing school, studying, etc. I have a 7 year old who will be in 2nd grade, and a 1 year old who will be beginning daycare for the first time next month...eek! Throw in a hubby who is just starting to realize that he will HAVE to be helping around the house (and is a little grouchy at the prospect, lol), and that is what I am working with!

I am sincerely hoping that the time between now and December 2011 fly by!! (My ultimate goal is to take a celebratory WDW trip in January 2012, but I will have to see how finances are by then since I am quitting my job to focus on school.)

 

[WDWisOurHappyPlace]

I've read through this thread some, and plan to read it all when I have time.

After thinking about it for quite some time, I finally made the move to enroll in the LPN program at my local Technical College. The next LPN program doesn't start until Fall 2011.

I took the Compass test last Wednesday, the last day to take the test to be able to enroll in classes this semester. (My scores Math/94, Reading/99, and Writing/98. Not too bad for an almost 49 year old who's been a SAHM for the last 24 years.) I'm excempt from math and english, so I'm taking a required online computer course, and a freshman orientation class on Fridays until October 15. Spring 2011 I will be able to take an Allied Science class. That's all I know for now. Would love any comments on this, and also what should I do to prepare for next fall as for studying/reviewing/reading?

I'm really excited about this!

 

[dakcp2001]

I've read through this thread some, and plan to read it all when I have time.

After thinking about it for quite some time, I finally made the move to enroll in the LPN program at my local Technical College. The next LPN program doesn't start until Fall 2011.

I took the Compass test last Wednesday, the last day to take the test to be able to enroll in classes this semester. (My scores Math/94, Reading/99, and Writing/98. Not too bad for an almost 49 year old who's been a SAHM for the last 24 years.) I'm excempt from math and english, so I'm taking a required online computer course, and a freshman orientation class on Fridays until October 15. Spring 2011 I will be able to take an Allied Science class. That's all I know for now. Would love any comments on this, and also what should I do to prepare for next fall as for studying/reviewing/reading?

I'm really excited about this!

Congratulations! I would recommend trying to get a part time job somewhere in the health care field as a tech or an aide of some sort. Try to get the job in the area in which you would like to work after graduating, this will really help if you are in an area where jobs are scarce for new grads.

 

[Kellydelly]

I've been working as an RN for almost five months now and I'm stressed to the max ! When I was in nursing school I had no idea how much life would be sucked out of me working fulltime. I have four school-aged kids (6-10) who barely recognize me as their Mom after what they've been through the last 2.5 yrs with my school and now my job . So how do other nurses balance their jobs and family life? I currently work nights, four shifts a week (trying to get to three 12s) and it's kicking my butt. I have no energy for anyone or anything when I am home, half awake. Nursing school did not prepare me at all for what this job is like . I am not working on a unit I would have chosen (post-surgical and bariatric surgery pts), but it could be worse. I think I have to stick around in my current job for at least a year before I can try and move to a better hospital/job. The hospitals around me do hire some new grads, but there are so many schools putting out new nurses that the market is saturated with unemployed nurses. I originally wanted to be a nurse to supplement our income (thought it would help fund our retirement, vacations, orthodontics, etc), I don't necessarily have to work (it pays for extras and covers the gap between dh's old salary and his new one after being unemployed 9 months) so it is hard to struggle right now with putting my kids second fiddle just to make a paycheck (okay so we are better off with my paycheck, but if I wasn't working we would survive). I don't know whether to drop to part time or suck it up and wait for a better schedule and hope that when the kids go back to school things will go more smoothly around the house, I can get proper sleep without worrying about them getting into something, and that my work days (nights) will drop to three. I know some new nurses would love to be in my shoes, but the other new hires on the unit feel just as stressed as me, so I can't be that much of a princess . Please tell me this gets better and I will figure out how to manage my new career/life!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Kelly, congratulations on graduating and finding a job!

If there's a way you can do it, I'd suggest cutting back your hours. I cannot imagine working the hours you've described with 4 young kids at home. If you had no choice, that would be different. (Although I know plenty of nurses in this position.) But where you have a choice, it doesn't make sense to risk burning out just a few months out of school.

And btw, I would be honest with your manager. Your position is completely understandable. They won't want to lose you altogether after all they've just invested in training you. Sure, it may bug them a bit. But you have to do what you have to do for your own well being and that of your family.

 

[dakcp2001]

I've been working as an RN for almost five months now and I'm stressed to the max ! When I was in nursing school I had no idea how much life would be sucked out of me working fulltime. I have four school-aged kids (6-10) who barely recognize me as their Mom after what they've been through the last 2.5 yrs with my school and now my job . So how do other nurses balance their jobs and family life? I currently work nights, four shifts a week (trying to get to three 12s) and it's kicking my butt. I have no energy for anyone or anything when I am home, half awake. Nursing school did not prepare me at all for what this job is like . I am not working on a unit I would have chosen (post-surgical and bariatric surgery pts), but it could be worse. I think I have to stick around in my current job for at least a year before I can try and move to a better hospital/job. The hospitals around me do hire some new grads, but there are so many schools putting out new nurses that the market is saturated with unemployed nurses. I originally wanted to be a nurse to supplement our income (thought it would help fund our retirement, vacations, orthodontics, etc), I don't necessarily have to work (it pays for extras and covers the gap between dh's old salary and his new one after being unemployed 9 months) so it is hard to struggle right now with putting my kids second fiddle just to make a paycheck (okay so we are better off with my paycheck, but if I wasn't working we would survive). I don't know whether to drop to part time or suck it up and wait for a better schedule and hope that when the kids go back to school things will go more smoothly around the house, I can get proper sleep without worrying about them getting into something, and that my work days (nights) will drop to three. I know some new nurses would love to be in my shoes, but the other new hires on the unit feel just as stressed as me, so I can't be that much of a princess . Please tell me this gets better and I will figure out how to manage my new career/life!

You are scaring me! lol. I graduated in May and just accepted a position across the country I start in a few weeks! In my area new grads are not hired at ALL right now (actually got turned away from 2 nursing career fairs at the door, no new grads let IN the door) So I am relocating for this job. I feel like I know NOTHING from school and I am terrified! Any advice for me? Anything I should look up or read before I start? Any advice on preparing my body for a 12 hour shift? How long was your training? Did you think it was sufficient?

This BTW was a super expensive job search, having to interview at my expense out of state, moving the fam across the country, and having to buy all new shoes/uniforms etc. If it doesnt work out, I will be out a lot of cash. And my home is up for sale, but where I live, this is what needs to be done to be a nurse. I can prob come back to the area in a few years once I ahve experience, but I am thinking I may enjoy the new area and want to stay.

 

[npmommie]

I've been working as an RN for almost five months now and I'm stressed to the max ! When I was in nursing school I had no idea how much life would be sucked out of me working fulltime. I have four school-aged kids (6-10) who barely recognize me as their Mom after what they've been through the last 2.5 yrs with my school and now my job . So how do other nurses balance their jobs and family life? I currently work nights, four shifts a week (trying to get to three 12s) and it's kicking my butt. I have no energy for anyone or anything when I am home, half awake. Nursing school did not prepare me at all for what this job is like . I am not working on a unit I would have chosen (post-surgical and bariatric surgery pts), but it could be worse. I think I have to stick around in my current job for at least a year before I can try and move to a better hospital/job. The hospitals around me do hire some new grads, but there are so many schools putting out new nurses that the market is saturated with unemployed nurses. I originally wanted to be a nurse to supplement our income (thought it would help fund our retirement, vacations, orthodontics, etc), I don't necessarily have to work (it pays for extras and covers the gap between dh's old salary and his new one after being unemployed 9 months) so it is hard to struggle right now with putting my kids second fiddle just to make a paycheck (okay so we are better off with my paycheck, but if I wasn't working we would survive). I don't know whether to drop to part time or suck it up and wait for a better schedule and hope that when the kids go back to school things will go more smoothly around the house, I can get proper sleep without worrying about them getting into something, and that my work days (nights) will drop to three. I know some new nurses would love to be in my shoes, but the other new hires on the unit feel just as stressed as me, so I can't be that much of a princess . Please tell me this gets better and I will figure out how to manage my new career/life!

oh goodness!!
I second everything Pea said. Cut back your hours. The stress and burnout is not worth it.
especially since you do not have to work full time.

You are scaring me! lol. I graduated in May and just accepted a position across the country I start in a few weeks! In my area new grads are not hired at ALL right now (actually got turned away from 2 nursing career fairs at the door, no new grads let IN the door) So I am relocating for this job. I feel like I know NOTHING from school and I am terrified! Any advice for me? Anything I should look up or read before I start? Any advice on preparing my body for a 12 hour shift? How long was your training? Did you think it was sufficient?

This BTW was a super expensive job search, having to interview at my expense out of state, moving the fam across the country, and having to buy all new shoes/uniforms etc. If it doesnt work out, I will be out a lot of cash. And my home is up for sale, but where I live, this is what needs to be done to be a nurse. I can prob come back to the area in a few years once I ahve experience, but I am thinking I may enjoy the new area and want to stay.

just curious what area are you leaving and where are you going?
does your spouse ( I don't even know if you are married?) have a job to go to as well?

 

[dakcp2001]

sent you a pm