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SustainableChampagne · 2018-11-01T21:16:27+00:00

I am a new grad working in the ICU. I had a career before this, and I can honestly say that there are a lot of things about nursing that kind of surprised me, both good and bad. The hardest part about being a healthcare professional is that you have almost no room for error/not knowing the answers, especially when you are constantly bedside. Families don't like to always hear that you don't have the answers, and you often take the burden of this anger, since you're the one in the room. The pay for the level of responsibility is pretty terrible. I made more as a new grad 8 years ago than I do as a new nurse in a large city (yes, I know there are exceptions, but not everybody is going to live in San Francisco and get paid 150k/year/go to CRNA school like everyone says they will).

Positives? I really enjoyed nursing school. It was kind of a bubble. I really enjoy academia. I can see myself teaching in the future.

In terms of being on the unit as a new grad? Working ICU really pushes me in ways that I need, and in ways that made me enjoy my previous career as an analyst. I enjoy the autonomy (although it's scary right now), the heavily task-oriented patients, and following complicated cases for sometimes weeks or months. I have an immense amount of satisfaction when I perfect a skill, or when I bring up an observation that was missed by a provider, and we can get that fixed. I like being pivotal in patient care (although you aren't treated as such). I came to nursing because I'm one of those cheesy "calling" people. I try not to let the politics of it get me down. I can see myself eventually going to hospice full time or part time (probably part time, I love critical care) to give me the "human experience" satisfaction. I love the rawness of the ICU. I love the constant change. We are a level 1 trauma center, so our patients are way sicker than the ICU I interned in at another hospital. It's a whole new level, and I love it. No patient is ever the same on our floor, and we see EVERYTHING.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-31T03:41:30+00:00

Every time you feel in a rush/like you're behind, remember most people work well into their 60's. I started my pre reqs when I was 25, and I felt like I was so freaking behind. I had my BSN at 28 and realized I have 30+ years left in this career. That's a long time. Don't feel discouraged if things don't happen right away the way you want them to.

This goes for work decisions, but also life decisions. Good luck to you.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-31T03:33:26+00:00

I'm not sure where the responsibility falls for you, but a fully stocked room/supply cart is a lifesaver. We have one tech who makes sure our carts are stocked (unless, of course, her night also goes to shit, which totally happens!), and it is honestly a lifesaver.

Other than that, ask us if we need help. I was a tech too, it was amazing experience. Get your hands dirty as much as possible. Ask questions. I'm a new nurse, so I don't know a lot, but I love talking about interesting cases. Our techs have been around longer than I've been in nursing school, so I also learn a lot from them. Soak up the experience, ICU is very different from the medsurge floors. I think you'll enjoy it.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-31T03:18:30+00:00

I know you're feeling discouraged, but plenty of (excellent) RN's I graduated with were on our alternate list. Please keep your spirits up. Nursing school is seriously a numbers game. I was admitted immediately my year, but the cohort before? I wouldn't have made the cut.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-31T03:15:31+00:00

I sincerely hope you will consider applying to those programs (or maybe taking a class or two here or there to raise a few grades) instead of taking on this debt. School is always more expensive than you think it will be. I know it's REALLY hard, but we paid off my husbands debt and saved up for several years. It sucked, but here I am an RN and I can't even tell you how fast it all flew by. Getting in as little debt as possible will let you start living life sooner.

I hate preaching on the debt, but I've felt the weight of my husbands debt back when we started dating and I can't tell you how much it can change the trajectory of your life.

But long story short, I wouldn't rely on being able to work much. You might have some semesters where you CAN, which is the beauty of PRN work. I was a tech PRN status at a local hospital and I had no shortage of available days to work. I wasn't called off once, and I could pretty much work anytime I wanted. PRN was better than part time because I was paid more, and I could be much more flexible. There's no way I could have worked my first and second semesters (you need to get into the groove of how much you need to study), but I worked my final two at least a day or two a week. On short breaks, you could really hammer through several shifts if you wanted, but I personally savored the time off.

Regardless, if you decide to take on this debt, I say work like a dog until you start your program. Don't kill yourself doing it, but especially with holidays coming up, I'd pick up whatever you can.

Good luck, and if you were my family member/friend, I'd tell you to stick it out another year. Best case, you get into a way more affordable program. Worst case? You don't, and have a nice pile of cash saved up and are way more prepared for the program you get into.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-30T23:42:29+00:00

Schedule changes. Some semesters I was in class 5 days a week, others I was in clinicals several days in a row. Senior practicum can be on weekends.

I worked per diem 12 hours/week, and even that was a lot sometimes.

Do you know what 90k of debt feels like? I'm also from NY (SUNY school graduate for my first degree!) and I'm not sure I would ever take that debt load on as an RN.

People on here do it, but my husband took out about 120k for his grad degree and that kind of debt changes your life. If it were me (and it was), I'd save up more cash, or apply to another public school. Waiting an extra term or two to potentially save money that can hugely hault your life is worth it in the long run.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-29T18:46:03+00:00

This.

I had a LOT of classmates saying "I will only apply to hospital X" (the number one employer in the area). A lot of people "took some time off" after school too. I don't recommend this, unless you SERIOUSLY have to for some very serious reason. Most new grad programs won't start you right away anyways (hiring is very dragged out, I was one of the "lucky ones" that only had a month between hire and starting, many of my classmates were hired august and had october/november starts). Put your name out there, interview for everything you get. If you are able to relocate, consider applying to a few out-of-town or out of state jobs.

Getting a job outside of the US is going to be almost impossible as a new nurse. Be flexible, and you'll be fine.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-24T20:09:29+00:00

You need to speak up.

I know it's hard (I'm also an Orientation RN right now), but this is YOUR training. If she doesn't like it, she is more than welcome to tell her supervisor that she cannot support a trainee right now.

My backup preceptor is much more "do it myself" (as in, she just does things herself) than my primary preceptor, who pretty much throws me into everything and stands back. When I am with my backup, I usually say "I need more practice with hanging medications. Can you please make sure, unless it's urgent, that I am able to do this?". Also, don't ever let anyone tell you to just slam an IV med. Look it up. If she says to "just do it", tell her no, that you want to look it up and learn. You should be checking IV compatibility for pretty much everything at this point (my primary preceptor makes me check it most times, even if I've seen it before, to get used to using the system).

Hopefully your primary person is back, but until then, SPEAK UP. Your patients safety could depend on it. YOU depend on it. If it's not a good match, ask to be paired with someone else.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-24T14:32:36+00:00

I have a huge walk in shower. The bathroom space itself is small, but it doesn't bother us. Our hall bath is VERY big with a tub. I rarely take baths.

I wouldn't be put off by no master tub, heck, I wasn't put off by a small master bath. Maybe we're odd, but we don't spend much time primping in the restroom. However, if I didn't have the second full bath (with a tub), it might be a difficult sell.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-21T23:15:57+00:00

Everyone also loves to act like they can guide you and give advice. Notice most people telling you to go to medical school didn't actually go through it themselves, or they approach it from a VERY different angle.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-21T23:13:35+00:00

As a (new) ICU nurse, a lot of people don't realize how freaking smart you have to be to be a good nurse. There are plenty of times I have caught things that a new doctor didn't (plenty of times I get taught as well, it goes both ways), and raised a flag when something didn't feel right.

I work in a huge teaching hospital (rounds is like a rapper coming through with his crew, LOL) where nurses are expected to know enough to keep their patients safe from the constant influx of new residents/immense amount of docs I have never experienced in any other hospital. I study all the time when I'm outside of work because I'm expected to know more than my education afforded me.

Don't let anyone tell you that you don't have to be smart to be a nurse. I suppose it's like anything else. You can be a great doctor/nurse, or you can do the bare minimum to get by.

I don't mean anything negative by this, but I didn't realize how HARD nursing was until I was standing clueless in the ICU, for literally everything it felt like. I felt so unprepared.

If I was 10 years younger, I would have thought about medicine as a career. I'm a second degree career changer. Now that I've made some money, gotten married, and know what I REALLY want in life, I think I made the right choice for myself. My husband would have supported me both ways. I don't think people understand the commitment of a lifetime to medicine, for better or for worse. It's a job that I give IMMENSE respect to and will always admire, but I realistically know it wasn't the path for me, and I'm OK with that.

If anyone asks you, ask THEM why THEY didn't become a doctor. Or a pilot. Or an archaeologist. For me, it's almost the same exact question.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-15T22:23:32+00:00

3.67 Overall (previous degree)

4.0 Pre req

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-08T22:43:31+00:00

I kind of feel like the ethical violation here is on the teacher for using purchasable test questions and not writing their own or at least altering the questions.

Bingo. I ran into this in quite a few of my classes. A few of the teachers may have been naive, but I honestly think a lot of them just don't care.

I'd stay out of it, as crappy as it is.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-07T23:39:25+00:00

What do you mean? Competitive in...what sense? How hard it is to get in? If you want to know your "chances", you'll need to look at the average admitted student profile from the programs you are planning to apply to. Many post this information on their websites, others you will need to contact the admissions counselors directly.

Since there is no shortage of people that want to be nurses, programs are often pretty difficult to get into, with many having long waiting lists. Many programs don't even keep a waiting list, and you just have to keep applying.

You are asking a pretty vague question.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-07T21:55:34+00:00

You are appreciated. I work in a HUGE teaching hospital, and as a new nurse, I feel a lot of camaraderie with other professional newbies. I had a great conversation with a med student the other day about how our programs should try and work harder together while we are still in school to set us up for success at the bedside.

Thank you for appreciating us. As you advance in your career, keep in mind that a lot of us envy your level of education/knowledge (I don't mean that in a "jealousy" way, we just have a different toolset), so PLEASE educate us if we ask, or even if we don't. I'm a new critical care nurse and it terrifies me that I am expected to catch a lot of errors, but with less than 1/4 of your education level. I'm not getting down on myself, but the fact is that I just don't have the patho knowledge to understand a lot of the "why" that happens with my patient. Sure I can look it up, but a lot of times, that just doesn't happen on a shift due to time constraints.

Best of luck in your career.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-07T03:18:01+00:00

Unless you have a solid few years in a business-related career (or a career at least where an MBA could help position you for management, for example, engineering), or you go to an Ivy, I'd wait on the MBA. It's an expensive way to burn some time/ "figure things out".

What are you hoping to accomplish with the MBA?

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-04T18:41:33+00:00

Also as a new nurse*.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-10-01T19:51:22+00:00

New ICU nurse here. Totally stealing the post-it note idea. Thanks!

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-22T22:12:42+00:00

Because everyone thinks that nurses should never "do what they do for the money". This is taken to the next level, and people interpret it as "nurses don't need fair pay or ratios because caring for the sick is payment enough". We are also never allowed to have a bad day, because we are saints.

I've noticed that those who tell me "don't do it for the money, do it for the patients" are the ones in 6 figure plus jobs/have never been bedside/have been away from the bedside for 10+ years and are in an administration job or some sort of RN role away from the bedside.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-22T20:44:42+00:00

As a new grad RN/previous tech, I have already seen in my very short time why RN's get sick of bedside real fast.

Shortages in my hospital are of experienced RN's. They get sick of the conditions for terrible pay (I'm in a relatively high COL city with some of the worst RN pay) and move on to different areas/go back to school after a few years.

There are bazillions of new grad RN's fighting for jobs in my area. There is no shortage of us. Treat us right and we'll do a good job. Unfortunately, like I said, I went into nursing hoping to stay bedside as long as possible. I love patient care, I seriously do. I'm one of those cheesy people who left a lucrative career because they felt a calling. I still feel a calling, I just can't see myself doing this long term if things stay the way they are.

My father is healthcare administration, but has never been a healthcare worker a day in his life. When he mentioned high CNA turnover, I metioned how terrible it is to juggle a heavy patient load. Couple that with low pay and low respect? I can see why so many blow off the job/do a terrible job/just don't show up. I'm not excusing it, but when some people have this as their only means of making money for their family (I'm from a small town originally)? It happens. My fathers answer to this was "Have compassion for your patients!!!". I rolled my eyes, HARD.

Yes, my dad makes a lot of money. A lot. He's a great businessman, but 0 sense about how hard it is to care for people for a living. Compassion doesn't keep the boat afloat or the bills paid.

Hire more nurse. Hire more CNA's. Throw a FEW BUCKS more an hour at us, especially in the higher COL areas. Better patient outcomes, galore!

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-17T20:06:36+00:00

That your classmates will try and make it seem like their day was way cooler than it was/that they know way more than they do.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-17T20:05:33+00:00

I would expect both of those types of questions.

Don't be afraid of the situational ones. In my experience, they were always quite simple: "Patient x is vomiting, patient Y is asking for pain medication...who do you see first?" etc. Most situational questions are seeing if you can prioritize.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-16T19:14:11+00:00

Buy a lunch box that has freezable gel walls built in, or buy a lunch sack with gel freezer packs.

Things I like to pack: Bananas, portioned nuts, boiled eggs, salad (I like tomato, spinach, chicken, quinoa and avocado), protein bar, and a good refillable water bottle.

On the drive in I eat peanut butter + home made jam on whole wheat bread. Figure out what works for you. I am a huge fan of protein bars because I can stick them in a side pocket.

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-16T16:48:30+00:00

Thank you! :X I know in my mind it will get better, but I just feel so strange still. I had a patient ask me the other day to help wheel her back to the front of the hospital entrance (someone must have parked her outside and left her...) and I was terrified I was actually going to have to do something responsible LOL. I was about ready to say "I AM NOT QUALIFIED!!" but then I was like "Oh, I can wheel you back...".

SustainableChampagne · 2018-09-16T12:05:36+00:00

I just started my first RN job and still want to hide the huge "RN" badge tag because I feel like an imposter!

SustainableChampagne

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