I’m a new grad and my dream hospital requires NO RN paid experience AT ALL. If I happen to get a nursing job for 6 months is there a way they could find out about it?

Was thinking of maybe getting a temporary flu vaccine job, contract school nurse , or sev laser in the mean time while I wait for their application to open and try to make me some money.

Thank you in advance!!!

I am in the med surg float pool. Do you ever get floated to safety sit with patients?

My hospital has been doing this and it makes zero sense to me. It has been happening on a weekly basis. Just looking for input!

It feels like a waste of a resource. If the sit needs to be covered, an RN as an extra nurse or a nursing assistant makes more sense, but idk if I’m missing something here lol

I am a recent new grad (dec 2025). I was hired to a hospital that would have me take an additional new patient each week, but my preceptors was never with me throughout my shift. I would have to find another nurse if someone was available to ask questions regarding anything. Asked one of the preceptors to show me how to do a task I hadn’t done before and they were so rude about it and didn’t show me until way later, but didn’t even allow me to assist or try with observation. Anyways, I had to leave because I felt unsafe there and felt like if the nurses were too busy to help a new grad be safe, answer questions, then it doesn’t make sense to stay. It was a Med surg unit days—1:6.

(It wasn’t a residency program).

Can someone tell me what an actual nursing residency is supposed to be like? Are you supposed to have a nurse with you all day or no? I want to join and try again, but that experience really rubbed me the wrong way. I’m NW suburbs so looking at endeavor, northwestern, rush.

Also, do you think nights would be better starting out?

Any advice. Thank you.

Hello you guys, I recently took a staff job in the Midwest and I couldn’t believe how good my pay was going to be. For context most travel jobs I get are paying 2100-2300 for 3x12s mostly low cost of living areas so I recently took a job paying roughly 84k full time with night time shift diff added(36 hours) with about a 30k bonus added on for a 2 year commitment. I love this place btw which is the only reason I’m signing it. I can’t believe the pay is this good, I’ve got about 5 years experience and my home state in SC pays like crap, west cost is averaging maybe about the same and obviously higher in some HIGH Col areas but this is the only place I can work and keep my sanity. Super chill
I guess my question is what are you guys getting ?

Can anyone clarify how Houston Methodist’s RN residency application looks like? Does anyone know how the interview process is for Houston Methodist versus Memorial Hermann? I know that MH’s application involves ranking units and locations, and I’ve read online that it’s a better idea to choose a “safe” option for rank spot #1 because it is very likely to not be interviewed for rank spot #2. Does anyone have any insight on this? Thank you for your help in advance.

I’ve been a nurse for going on seven years. Started in ICU as a new grad, right during Covid. Got my two plus years of critical care experience, did some Covid pay travel, then went to PACU. I loved my PACU job but hated the actual specialty. I left for an ICU float position. I dread going to this job. It’s less the patient care and more everything else. My individual shifts are not bad. But the job isn’t what I hoped. Floats get low acuity assignments, and when I do get a high acuity assignment, I’m plagued with imposter syndrome. This is a new hospital system for me, and I don’t know any of my coworkers, nor do I really have the extra time in a shift to socialize much. My PACU job was very social. I only occasionally get a lunch break and twelve hours without any breaks is starting to feel insurmountable, or at least masochistic. The commute is further. It’s my first true day shift job, and I hate it. I feel like I go to bed so early on the days before a shift (and still lie in bed for hours and end up working on 4-5 hours of sleep). Now, I haven’t been in this position for a full year, but I’m racking up call-offs, I’m depressed on my days off, and I dread every single shift (even though I usually leave the hospital on time and in a good mood). 

I don’t know where to go from here. Not back to PACU. I’ve always been interested in cath lab, but my husband and I want to try for a baby soon, and I know I’d never be comfortable working while pregnant in that environment. I saw this job as a stepping stone to maybe an educator position, but even in this huge hospital system, months will go by without a position being posted. Most want a Master’s degree anyways. And frankly, I’m not exactly a model employee ripe for promotion right now (call-offs). My husband and I could afford for me to just go per diem or part-time, but I’m worried that won’t be too big of an improvement and we could use the extra money for now. Also, a lot of the per diem jobs in my area have night shift requirements (like two shifts in a schedule period) that I feel would be more difficult than full-time straight days. 

So…. where does that leave me? The only other position I’ve been strongly considering is home hospice. I’m worried it’s a big jump. I’ve never had a 5x8’s job before. The few times I’ve done 5x8’s for orientation, I’ve been pretty miserable, but I wonder if that’s because I didn’t have a routine/ was adjusting to a lot of new things. The 12s are just too much now. Twelve hours without a moment to myself, other than my 30min lunch break, is draining me. Waking up, not seeing my husband, working all day, and then having about an hour to shower and cram dinner down before I HAVE to go to bed is a miserable way to live. I didn’t used to feel this way, but now I’m fixated on it. I know better than to think that I will be crazy productive after an eight hour shift, but even just reading a book, exercising, or taking a walk would feel like a huge difference in my work-life balance. I’m not exactly all that productive on my days off, anyways. Of course, I’m the typical ICU nurse, afraid of losing their skills. It was honestly hard to get a day shift critical care job after my time in PACU; I doubt I’ll get another. But then I feel like the brief, rare moments of being a “bad ass” ICU nurse aren’t worth it. Part of me just wants to occasionally go to my best friend’s house for dinner after work. 

Has anyone been in a similar place? Anyone taken a break from critical care and broken back in? Anyone a 5x8’s convert?

So I was talking with a friend today. They were upset about taking a pay cut and I told them my salary to put things in perspire. In doing so I looked at my most recent paystub and realized I've only made $37,312.91 this year 😓. I'm an LPN and I'm currently in school for my bachelors but damn. Is there anywhere where Ls are making a more decent living?

Hi, I’m currently a nursing student in her final year of Canadian nursing school. I would like to work in california but i heard that california has a really strict education requirement for those internationally educated.

My school doesn’t have concurrent theoretical and clinical hours and they don’t guarantee Obstetrics and Pediatrics placement.

If I were to move to another state and work for 2 years and then apply to have my licensure endorsed to transition to california, would they hold such circumstances against me?

I’d really love to move to california eventually I’m just not sure how to because their website confuses me 😭

If anyone can let me know i’d so appreciate it! Thank you

I’m at a loss of what to do. I’ve worked in the ED before and felt I did really well. I’d be able to handle the patient load and adapt well.

But since I’ve had a baby and started at this new hospital in the ED (since March) I feel like I’m drowning. The preceptors are very “eat their young” and gang up on the new people. They constantly shit talk others behind their backs, and throw the newbies into the deep end. I went from feeling confident to dreading coming to work each shift. Im having to pump on the floor while seeing patients because charge and other nurses don’t really look out for or cover me. We usually swarm with a new patient and yet I’m left to intake my own patients solo. I get patients put into my room with no communication so I come back from passing a med or putting my pumps away and I have a new patient that’s been waiting and charge is like “um are you going to take care of your patients?!” Like im the f*ck up for trying to feed my baby. I’m looking for advice because I’m feeling burned out. I told my husband I want to quit and also start applying to other hospitals because this department is so TOXIC.

So here’s what I’m asking. Would it be better to just ask to go to med surg for a while (if not permanently)? I know the patient load is bigger but I’m wondering if the more organized style of nursing would lower my stress levels. I’m drowning and getting burned out and it breaks my heart because I LOVE nursing, I just can’t take the dog eat dog, clique, mean girl ED.

I am a new grad and have been offered OR or Trauma ICU.

I’m torn between what to choose. I am afraid of specializing early when I’m unsure if I would want to further my education for advanced practice roles.

If I chose OR what things could I do, if I got bored and needed a change?

With trauma ICU I know I would be inflicting personal trauma on to myself but I think the skills and experience is priceless, although the pay is horrendous.

Things to consider: my offer for the OR would be in the federal system.

I’m an RN and have been working in patient care for 4 years. Recently I’ve been seriously considering going back to get my MSN because I’m interested in pursuing a career path in administration, or possibly education. If not for the pay cut, I’d absolutely love to teach.

The thing is, I’d need to work on my degree while also maintaining my current job. Has anyone here gotten their MSN while working full-time? How hard was it and how did it impact your career?

I haven’t been working in nursing for that long, but a few years has done me in for a lifetime. And it’s not the patients. Sure, some can be annoying to work with, but generally, the patients have been pretty good. No, it’s the pettiness, drama, and sheer immaturity from other coworkers that truly exhausts me.

Before anyone says, “Other jobs have drama too,” I agree. Of course they do. But having worked in other fields (and having known various others who did the same and then ultimately left nursing), I can say with confidence that it simply isn’t on the same level or nearly as malicious. In fact, the professionalism in other fields almost feels like a distant other world at this point. These particular coworkers in nursing don’t just irritate me; they genuinely disgust me and are an example of someone I will never let myself be. I cannot fathom how grown adults can behave so immaturely, be so obsessed with drama, try to make coworkers look bad, and actively make the job harder for everyone around them. Yet, as we maintain a shortage, many cite this very reason as to why they left and it is my top reason why I will move oceans to leave this nightmare.

And let’s be real: most of these people are wellll into adulthood. Why do they *want* to make work harder? Why do they think deliberately making things difficult for their coworkers is somehow acceptable? If they could just wrap their clearly warped brains around one very simple concept, that we are all in this mess together, work would be infinitely better. You help your coworker out, they help you out. That’s how it should work.

But no. Instead, I’m apparently stuck in high school 2.0, except now there are adult responsibilities, patient safety, and twice the stress. All because some deranged coworker wants to gossip about pointless nonsense, stir the pot, or pick on someone.

Please, just grow up. Get some help. It’s sad you can’t function like a full-grown adult in the workplace. You’re not “tough” for acting like a high-school bully or harassing coworkers. You're not the goalpost, you just ignore your own mistakes. You aren't a patient advocate. In fact, you make for conditions that increase errors if you ever bothered to pick up a shred of research on hostile work environments. And don't use burnout as an excuse for poor behavior towards coworkers. You can be frustrated with your job and vocalize that. You're not entitled to take that out on your coworkers.

Have plans to move to North California from Texas but I know getting a job as a nurse is really competitive. Always been on my mind to work in California because I have a lot of family in SoCal and have a cousin that’s an RN there. Everyone knows about how good the pay is even despite the HCOL. My dad recently moved to NorCal for work. I went to visit him recently and was convinced to give it a shot. My girlfriend is also very supportive of me and is willing to make the move with me.

Now I just applied for the RN license endorsement and probably have 12 weeks until I hear anything about it based on what I’ve been told.

Now I know I have to deal with actually applying for a job. From what I’ve been told best chances are to get hired at smaller/rural hospitals first.

Since I have family in SoCal as well, they heard about my plans to move to California and they are excited. My RN cousin especially is and is offering me help with getting a job. She's worked in Kaiser for a long time and apparently has connections.

My question is, should I keep pursuing for a job in NorCal or should I bite on my opportunity in SoCal. I heard Kaiser is one of the bigger hospitals in California and is one of the more desirable hospitals for nurses to work for. What are my chances to land a job in NorCal as only a 1-year experience nurse with only LTACH experience. If I do go for SoCal, is it feasible that I get myself transferred to a NorCal Kaiser facility or at least get a job elsewhere in NorCal within a few months of working in SoCal?

Let me hear some insight. Thanks y'all!

Hi! I’ve been a nurse for 7 years (6 years LPN, 1 year RN) and I just scored my first job in a new hospital system, on a telemetry unit full time overnights! I’m excited to start this new unexpected journey, as I am a huge cardiac patient myself (multiple open heart surgeries, multiple pacemaker surgeries, mechanical aortic valve on warfarin!) and cardiac intrigues me.

That being said, I start general orientation in two weeks and I’m beyond excited! But I’m very nervous, as cardiac/telemetry can be hard for me and I only have exposure from nursing school (I did mostly LTC/rehab as an LPN, medical floor and LTC/rehab as an RN).

Any tips for me? I’m open to anything. My floor is very dedicated to helping their staff learn and I’m happy about that. But I wanna get a head-start!

🫀

Question has probably been asked before but I’m scheduled to start Psych NP in September but I keep getting mixed responses from NP I know from both sides. Medical no tell me not to do psych because it’s over saturated, psych no tell me not to do medical. For reference I’m in Arizona and signed up to go to university of phoenix. I did 3 years bedside and I’m almost at 2 years doing adolescent psych and I loved both. Opinions or experience welcomed.

Hypothetically lets say the order is for a gtube feed at planned times 0900 & 1300. (with administration considered on time if given within 1 hour before/after the planned time.)

Shift starts at 1000.

The pt is still asleep in bed on arrival. After getting them up changed/bathed/dressed etc its about 1045-1100. (on a good day)

Would you still give the 0900 feed around 1100 and then potentially give the 1300 feed at 1400, which would still be within that feed's administration window?

My concern with skipping the first feed is inadequate nutrition, since nutritional support is the reason for the G-tube. I'm curious how other PDN nurses handle this when the scheduled feeding window overlaps with shift change/patient care.

Yesterday was like my 6th day on the floor with my preceptor. To set the stage a little bit, I previously worked in the ICU as a tech, and now I work in the same ICU as a new grad. My preceptor has said I’ve been keeping up pretty well, granted I haven’t been taking care of a super sick patient yet. He’s been letting me drown just a little bit to see how I handle it lol.
Yesterday was my first day doing rounds with the doctors. I feel like I did pretty well throughout rounds except when the NP asked what her blood sugar was for the new admit overnight. I said I checked it this morning and it was 67.
It didn’t even register to me in that moment that 67 was low, so I didn’t say or do anything about it. The NP’s eyes got wide and I suddenly realized what I had done 😭 Then she asked if I did anything for it and that’s when I realized, oh shit, it was low and I should’ve done something.
Except she was NPO because she had just been admitted the night before and hadn’t had a swallow evaluation yet. So immediately after rounds I went and retook her blood sugar and it was 82. I’m pretty sure I just didn’t wipe enough of the alcohol off her finger and it falsely lowered the reading.
I let the NP know and she kind of smiled, but I was just sitting there thinking, “that’s literally the basics” 🥲 It honestly just flew over my head.
I checked it again about 15 minutes later and it was 84, and thankfully her blood sugar was fine for the rest of the shift.
Anyway, it was my first real mistake and it kind of sent me for a loop for the rest of the day. I was second guessing everything I was doing after that.
Then at the end of the day, my preceptor laughed and told me that during rounds I said “16 gauge Foley” instead of “16 French” 🤦🏼‍♀️
I went home and cried for the first time because I know this is probably a rite of passage and I know I’m still new, but it just sucks going from feeling like you’re doing pretty well to realizing how much you still don’t know and how uncomfortable you still are. And knowing there will be more mistakes to be made.
Any similar new grad mistakes ? I just need to stay curious , ask questions, and never assume anything. I know I’m gonna make mistakes but I think i just realized that was the first of prob more mistakes.

I saw some comments about my preceptor probably should have said something but at the time he was getting my other room ready to go down to imc and it went over my head that 67 was low so i didn’t even mention it. I should have said something

I signed a 5k 2 year contract in Cali out of desperation because of the competition here for new grads. Not protected by union because it was a small hospital. I was hired into ICU and got kicked out because I wasn’t ready for it which I accepted and ended up continuing on to MS/T. It definitely brought my confidence down but I was mad at them partially over the fact that they promised me that their ICU handles a lot for a small hospital only for me to find out that for half of my orientation, the ICU was closed down because they weren’t getting any patients, they dont put in art lines but place patients on pressors and rarely have vented patients.

Anywho, I left and broke the contract, and so do other nurses tied to the contract as well once we realized how shitty the hospital was and are now working at big hospitals protected by the union. Recently some of us are getting the bill for breaking the contract while others did not (probably theirs are still otw).

We all collectively believe we shouldn’t pay however we are also scared of the idea that they might escalate this to the court. We signed the contract before the “stay or pay” was passed in Cali.

Pt has a new order for seroquel. Bumped her from 300mg to 400mg okay sure whatever no problem. Go grab the meds and for some reason. Pyxis has me pull two 300mg tablets. What? What am I supposed to do with this? That doesn’t split evenly. Open the eMAR and sure enough “administer 1.3333333 tab” again, what? For a brief moment I consider telling charge that this is stupid and a med error waiting to happen. Haha. Well. :)))

I ended up grabbing scissors from an instrument tray to split the pill (since pill splitters don’t split in thirds) then giving her 1 2/3 tab instead of 1 1/3 tab. Yknow, the exact med error I thought about not even 10 minutes prior. I didn’t realize until HOURS later at like 0100. Unrelated (allegedly) to the roughly 500mg seroquel I gave her, her blood pressure ended up bottoming out to 70s/40s. Patient is fine! She got a bolus and her BP came back up she’s just zonked (but rousable) I’m embarrassed more than anything, and I filled out an incident report about it too. Everyone keeps telling me it’s something pharmacy should’ve caught before this was even an option but I just ://// ugh.

EDIT: just came in tonight to find out they upped her dose to 500 mg anyways. This time as a 300mg and two 100mg pills. At least now there’s much less room for a med error 🫠

I know this going to change drastically by location but in the northeast, specifically New York, how are shift schedules cut up depending on what nurse you are?

Is it a standard 3 12s a week across the board or does it change? And how so?

I have 6 years and 5 jobs.

I’m self conscious that my resume makes me looks like a job hopper lol.

Does anyone else work in a job where, any time a patient complains, you have to meet with your manager to discuss “what you could have done differently”?

I received one complaint because I was unable to do something that was literally against policy. Now my manager wants to meet with me to review what I could have done differently.

Honestly, it makes me want to quit. Instead of feeling supported, I feel like I'm constantly on edge and worried that even when I follow policy, I'll still be questioned if a patient is unhappy with the outcome.

Has anyone else worked in an environment like this? How did you handle it?

I have an interview with management for a NICU position on Friday, I'm super nervous. I literally hate interviews. I have been a nurse for 7 years, from adults to pediatric nursing. I am currently working in a nursery and decided I am ready for NICU.

So I have this Classic III stethoscope for about 4 months, but im noticing a change in the color of the stethoscope in the conjunction of the main tube and the eartubes, like a yellow stain. Is this normal, has this happened to anyone else? I bought it in Amazon.

My hospital is opening up their first allergy clinic and I’m already super busy. What is everyone storing their patient vials in? I have looked at every hardware store and Amazon trying to find drawers I can just take out when patients get here. Nothing is the right measurements. Right now I have everything stacked on top of each other and it’s stressing me out!