[DebS]

Hi all,
Yes another newbie!!! I was told this was "easy as pie" LOL
I am an RN as of last May,I work at a small hospital on the MS floor. I am waiting for the year to be up,then sell my house and off I go into the traveling world! I lost my husband 10 years ago, last child is off to college. I have years behind me but I figure I still have plenty infront of me too!!! Looking forward to talking with you all.

[cougarnurse]

Hi, Deb, and welcome to the site. I knew you'd be able to post!

I hope you have fun traveling....keep us posted on your jaunts!

'Cat'

[SoldierNurse]

Welcome DebS,

Glad you conquered the art of internet message board wizardry.

Sounds like you have a very exciting plan... good for you!

Good luck & visit here often.

[Marie_LPN]

[nursinghumor]

Originally Posted by DebS

I am an RN as of last May,I work at a small hospital on the MS floor. I am waiting for the year to be up,then sell my house and off I go into the traveling world!

Hello Deb,

Welcome to the forums

Think I'd hold off on selling the house until you had completed a few assignments first. Some nurses take well to travel nursing, others do not. I'd test the waters before selling everything I owned and heading off into the sunset.

You can find more information on traveling here: http://www.4travelnursing.com

You can get a feel for traveling (at least for working in new facilities on a temp basis) by working with a local nursing agency a couple of days a month.

The important issue, is to be comfortable in your clinical skills. As a traveler, help isn't always available if you get into a jam.

You probably don't want to hear this, but I'd recommend staying where you are for 2-3 years, till you are competent and comfortable and able to help others.

Have worked travel/agency for the past eight years for the flexibility (have a daughter) and can honestly say there is a lot to be said for knowing the people/place you go to work everyday.

My wife tells me she could never work agency, I can see why.

She enjoys going to the same place, working with the same people, knowing the doctors, the procedures and where the freaking bedpans are.

Wish you the best,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137, AOL “nursefriendly”
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

http://www.4nursing.com
http://www.4travelnursing.com
http://www.jocularity.com
http://www.lopez1.com
http://www.nursinga2z.com
http://www.nursingdiscussions.com
http://www.nursinghumor.com
http://www.nursefriendly.com
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com
http://www.nursingexperts.com

[nursinghumor]

Originally Posted by DebS

Hi all,
Yes another newbie!!! I was told this was "easy as pie" LOL.

The forums are like a lot of things with computers. The more you "do" the more comfortable you are doing more. Same with Cell phone, Ipods, MP3 players, etc.

Ask questions if you have them, you'll find we've dealt with a lot of the issues you are now as a new nurse.

Did you start working in May or is that when you got your license?

Would be curious to know if any of your classmates are working in the same place. The attrition rate is pretty horrible among new graduates. Many decide to leave nursing within the first six months to three years.

Doesn't sound like you're in that category though

Wishing you a bright future in nursing

Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137, AOL “nursefriendly”
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

http://www.4nursing.com
http://www.4travelnursing.com
http://www.jocularity.com
http://www.lopez1.com
http://www.nursinga2z.com
http://www.nursingdiscussions.com
http://www.nursinghumor.com
http://www.nursefriendly.com
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com
http://www.nursingexperts.com

[DebS]

Thanks for your imput Nursinghumor, I graduated in May, where I am at in Wisconsin I will be lucky to sell within a year! I have one daughter who lives in Houston with her family, I have thought this next fall going down that way for an assignment. I do not think my house will be sold by then. I understand what you are saying about being new with the skills. The hospital I work at is very small and I am fortunate that we do everything, just about, that comes our way. It adds to the skills, and I have noticed my skills improving. This is not to say that I am fully there yet as the years go by will achieve.
I do not have any "classmates" working with me, however I have worked at this hospital as an aide for 3 years before becoming an RN. I think I am at a little different time than most(not all, key word is most) fresh out of school people, I am 51, had to begin a new life for myself at 41, confident at who I am, what I do, and won't be quiting for a VERY long time.

[CherylB]

Hi, fellow soldiers in the trenches! I'm not new to nursing, but I too lost my husband, like DebS. It was seven years this month. I live in CT where I bought my first home. I would have preferred to buy in another part of the country, but my family is here. I left CT at age 24, to move in with a guy that was twice my age, in the San Antonio, TX region. When I finally wised-up, I left him. That's really why I became a nurse; I had to pick a career that would keep me afloat financially, and be in demand. I chose the Diploma program instead of the ADN, because they had dorms and that gave me my 'out' from Mr over-the-hill-and-way-too-kinky-and-controlling. After graduation, I moved to Las Vegas, to be near my Mother (doesn't everybody's Mother end up in Vegas or Phoenix?), and to start my life anew. I met my husband there; he was a patient! He was also very disabled; juvenile onset diabetes, blindness, kidney failure, kidney transplants and much more. But he was SO special (and gorgeous), and had a great family, and I was a 'newbie', and stupid, and optomistic. We had 6 years together, and it was quite a journey, but at least I found out what it was to be truly and deeply loved. Well, after he died, I did some travel nursing (CCTC). I went to parts of the country where I had family; West Palm Beach was to see my Dad (he died in 2001, just 14 months after my husband, but I was glad I was living there when he fell ill and passed), Virginia Beach to get closer to one of my step-daughters and my step-grandchildren, and a couple jobs in CT (Bristol and Yale). I was living in Kingman, AZ when Kurt (hubby) died, and was working in Bullhead City, AZ (right across the Colorado River from Laughlin, NV). So, I've seen and done a lot. Now, I'm desperate for a new start. I have MS, Rehab, Tele/Stepdown experience, and I WAS training for an ICU position in my current hospital, but I succombed to 10+ years of stress and loss, and have been on disability since July 20th. Soon, I will have to go back to work, because I just can't live on what Met Life is giving me, being a homeowner, totally on my own. Sorry if this sounds like a sob-story, but it is what it is. I either want OUT of nursing, or I need to find an area of nursing where I can be content and not pulling my hair out. I gave up drinking and smoking; caffeine just isn't enough to compensate for all the CRAP nursing dishes out. So, if anyone can relate, or if anyone wants to give me some ideas, I'm all ears! I'm glad I happened upon this site, and look forward to meeting some of you. Be Cool, but stay warm!!!:39:

I wanted to add that while I was in TX, I joined the Air National Guard, then went to Denver for Tech school. I graduated from basic training with honors, and it was my success in the military that gave me the confidance to try to become an RN. Also, while doing travel nursing, I had done 9 months in Boca Raton, but decided that FL in the summer was too much for me, and moved on. I would love to travel again, if I had a buddy to do it with. It's tough going-it-alone. Who knows; maybe one of you will evolve into that buddy!
:houra:

[cougarnurse]

Hi, Cheryl, and welcome to the site! I am glad to have you with us.
Yeah, it's been quite cool where I am....'heat wave' of 40's coming up soon. Not soon enough, though.

I am sure you'll get some ideas and hints to help you from fellow members. Stop by often, and post often!

'Cat'

[SoldierNurse]

Hi, fellow soldiers in the trenches! - CherylB

Trenches? LOL, I have not been in any trenches lately. However, I was in a foxhole at the M16 Firing Range the other day where I qualified expert.








































:lmao:
... I just crack me up.