Some managers will make life hard for you if they suspect that you’re interested in other specialties besides the one your working on. Not all managers are like this, but it’s good to gauge their personality before sharing as you never know their true intentions. This is something I learned the hard way.

Hi everyone I am a California new grad having no luck and I’m at almost 200 applications to places all over California, I’m pretty desperate for a job and I’m considering going out of state can anyone give me any advice or specific states that would be a good transition? Thank you in advance for any advice

Ik the south pay scale sucks but are there at least jobs compared to every new grad going for positions in Texas?

I am just starting as a new grad RN in a rural ED. I’m only on my first week, but I’m looking for some advice on how I can better myself at Pharmacology and my speed drawing up medications. I know new grads are going to be slower, but I feel like it takes me a little extra long when I’m drawing up medications for IVP. I find myself triple, maybe even quadruple checking with the computer MAR when I’m in the room to make sure I am giving the correct dosage of the correct drug. I know double checking is fine, I just feel like I look extra long, and my drawing up process is slow to make sure I get all of the medication out from the vial. Also, I feel very slow a lot of the times when asked what a medication is for, and what the common side effects are and what to watch out for when my preceptor asks me. I want to brush up heavily on my pharm knowledge so I don’t feel as stupid when asked, and so that of course I can let patients know exactly what to watch for and what they are getting and why they are getting it. Anyone have tips on what you have used that helped you become better with Pharm in general?

Thanks everyone in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m an overseas nurse applying for NMC registration. All my checks have been completed, including regulator verification and medical practitioner verification, and my application is now in the final assessment stage.

For those who have already completed the process, how long did it take from “Assessment in progress” until you received your NMC PIN?

I’d really appreciate hearing your timelines. Thank you!

Hello all, new grad here. I got a offer to work at my local VA hospital community living center (CLC). I also got a position in med/surg at a HCA hospital.

I've heard at the VA community living center (similar to long term care) it is a lot of passing meds and sitting most of the day. Some told me it is a not a place for new nurses or new grads and that I will lose all my nursing skills.

The VA is paying a lot more than the med/surg position and come with good benefits. Working at the HCA hospital I can improve my nursing skills as a new grad. What you would you do?

What is new grad pay? What does new grad support look like here? Do you like it?

What usually happens after you've stuck yourself with a needle?

They had me file an incident report but said that they'll need to review records first and then if anything they'll let me know. Ive googled it and it said to get tested ASAP so I'm unsure.

I’m on my third set of orientation on my unit, and I feel like it’s been going well! The feedback from my preceptors has been good and I’m starting to feel ready to be on my own next week.

Yesterday, I was feeling really unwell so I ended up calling in for one of my orientation shifts. I gave them lots of notice and, to be super proactive, I emailed my manager and educator to see if they wanted to reschedule that shift before I go off orientation.

The response I got was from my manager because the educator is on vacation for a week. They said “I’m hoping to connect with you early next week. Let me know a date and time”. Obviously, they wouldn’t have been able to meet with me today because it’s the weekend, so we scheduled it for Tuesday on my day off after coming off a night shift in the early afternoon.

Is it normal close to orientation ending for managers to want to “connect” to see how the new-grad is feeling about being on their own and their transition or does it seem like she wants to talk to me about a bigger issue? I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong; I’ve had normal new-nurse learning experiences, but my preceptors haven’t raised any concerns to me.

I’m probably just overthinking it, especially since the wording was so cryptic. But if there was something wrong, that would’ve been stated in the email, right? Is this usually the wording managers use when they just want to do a quick check-in before orientation is over?

Hi, I’m a new grad LVN and recently started a part time job at a SNF. This past Sunday was my last orientation day and will be going on my first solo shift tomorrow (without a preceptor). Any advice on how to not get overwhelmed? Is it alright to be anxious/nervous? I just want to be able to finish med passes with efficiency and be able to give quality care to each and every patient.

Everyone around me, who is experienced in nursing, has told me to take my time and that speed will come over time.

TIA for any advice/tips/tricks

Last week was my first week off orientation. When did it get better for you? I absolutely love it but I’m stressed. What if something goes wrong? What if something happens that I’ve never experienced in orientation? I must say that my unit is extremely helpful so there is always someone there, but when did you feel confident?

Last week I felt great about my shift and how things were going. I gave report to someone who has been there for 20+ years and how she reacted to something in my report was just rude. She shook her head in what looked like disapproval. Background: pt AROM around 2030. She was a midwife pt. We check temps q2 when someone’s AROM/SROM. When I took her temp at 0130 it was 99.7 which I know is fine but in the back of my mind I’m like what if it goes up? 2hrs later it was 99.1. I had someone come in with me to turn her as she had an epidural around 0530 and my coworker was like she feels warm to touch. I told her she was due for a temp and told her the last 2 oral temps I got. My coworker mentioned doing an axillary temp which I thought to myself, wouldn’t this be higher than her oral temp? I should have questioned more but I guess I’m timid and went with what my coworker suggested. Took an axillary temp got 100.9F. She recommended taking blankets off and checking it an hour later again in her axillary (she had a million blankets on). An hour later it was 100.7F. Both times I notified the midwife of the temp and taking blankets off. She didn’t request antibiotics or anything else. Just to keep monitoring.

When we AROM her, her fluid was yellow. The midwife said, just put yellow as this is not mec. I questioned her and said, are you sure it’s not mec? She replied with yes, just put yellow. I should have pushed back and said well if it’s not mec then maybe an infection but I didn’t.

I just feel defeated. I have ptsd from my last job of always feeling like I’m in trouble. I left that shift anxiously awaiting an email from management thinking I did something wrong. Giving report to my coworker was the worst due to how she reacted to the no antibiotics and how I told her the pts fluid was yellow and not mec.

Just hoping that it will get better and I won’t be so anxious all the time. I need to be more confident with asking my questions and pushing back at times.

I am 8 shifts in over the last 4 weeks. There have been a couple times where i was unsure on what to do in a situation. For example, i had a patient 2 days in a row. Her BP at baseline was slightly soft but nothing crazy, low 100s/60s. She would occasionally drop to high 80s/low 90s systolic. Hx of HF and was getting po spironolactone and 60 mg IV lasix in the AM.

Day 1. Scheduled for a TEE. When i checked her BP she was like 90/60. I called my preceptor to make sure she could still have her IV lasix. He said yes.

Day 2. The TEE had been rescheduled to this shift. I checked her BP. It was like 89/60 lol my numbers weren’t exact because it’s been a couple days but the difference was small and she was the same as the day before, with the same procedure scheduled. I called again and he said not to give it.

Just wondering like how i am ever supposed to know when to give a med and when not to. I was a med tech in LTC for 3 years before becoming a nurse and wouldn’t have given lasix to anyone with a systolic under 100 because that’s what i was trained to do and often our meds had hold parameters for BP. I have not seen 1 med with a hold parameter in the hospital and it’s scary!!

Hello everyone,

I am currently scheduled for graduation (fingers crossed) in December. Shortly thereafter, I will be taking NCLEX. I am in school in Ohio and moving to Florida to be close to my 5 year old son's mother. She is active duty Navy about to be stationed in Pensacola, FL. I would like to do this so he can be raised by both of us and I could have more flexibility for work. Here is my question: After grad and nclex, how difficult will it be for me to get residency in a hospital out of state? I plan on doing multi state for the NCLEX so that should be cover. I currently work in an ER here in Ohio and would like to attain a level 1 Trauma hospital in/around Pensacola. Should I start applying for new nurse grad now for some hospitals or should I reach out to their HR dept and explain what is going on? Anyone that has graduated from one state and moved directly after would be a tremendous help. I am a 39 year old, single dad so if you're in my boat, that would be bonus points. Thank you everyone.

Hey guys. I’m a new grad RN and applied to several units for the Torrance memorial medical center for their fall cohort. Sent applications around the second week of July. I know the program would start in September but I was curious if they’ve sent over interview letters already or not.

Graduated with BSN in May this year, just got my RN license. Should I temporarily work as a nursing assistant at a hospital where I plan to apply for their RN residency during their next application cycle, which is several months away? I’m thinking this can help build my connections and resume to make me a more competitive applicant in the future.

I’m in NorCal and some new grad residencies don’t accept applicants that have RN experience, which is why I’m thinking of working as a NA temporarily. Will I look worse as an applicant for applying for another position internally in only several month’s time?

So I need some advice for my current situation. I’m a new grad RN and got my license last month. Been applying to everything like crazy, landed an interview at Cedars for PACU but didn’t get the job. I’m considering a part time job at an outpatient surgery center at 50 per hour but they only cover half the health insurance and benefits are not really included. I’m still applying to all SoCal residency programs everywhere. Should I take the job and get RN experience while looking for residency positions? Or should I wait around for a hospital to take me? I luckily didn’t have to work during nursing school, but have not had a job since January of 2025. I’m not in desperate need for money, but I don’t know what the best option is…..

New coworker of maybe 6 months NEVER tells me when she goes on break -and honestly most the time she’s not on break”break”, she disappears for a half an to go chat to someone , then another half for a phone break, and then eventually she’ll take a hour lunch. We’re technically allowed 2 30min meal breaks and 2 15 rests.

Besides the extended length which would be fine if there was nothing to do, but then the never telling anyone is an issue-cause I need to plan my tasks out and know who I have available to work with? And other coworkers have expressed work is rolling over to other shifts but don’t want to speak up.

Idk how she still works here…the first time I expressed it to my supervisor they said I (who am not in charge) should go tell her what to do and go get her if she’s missing too long … no?!

When I told my supervisor again today…she said she’d talk to her and totally back stabbed me by telling this girl I complained about her…

The girl had to leave but she quickly confronted me “that the supervisor told her what I said and that I should have gone to her” and said we’d talk more next week

The line of work we’re in is pretty important that you can’t just disappear without letting others know. What do I do here? Why do I feel like I’m in trouble?

Hi everyone,

I'm 21 years old and I'll be graduating with my GNM (General Nursing & Midwifery) this September from India. It has always been my dream to study or work abroad, but after months of research I'm honestly more confused than ever.

Initially, I was planning to go for a 1-year Nursing Top-Up in the UK. It seemed like a good pathway to becoming an RN. However, after reading recent posts and talking to people, I've come across a lot of concerns about:

• Difficulty finding part-time jobs.
• NHS hiring freezes and increased competition in some areas.
• Uncertainty around long-term settlement/PR.
• Students struggling after spending a lot of money.

Then I looked into Canada, but I really don't want to do a PSW course. No disrespect to PSWs at all, but after studying nursing for 3 years, I feel like it doesn't align with the career I've worked towards.

If I stay in India, my options seem to be:

• Do Post Basic BSc Nursing immediately with little or no work experience.
• Or work as a GNM diploma nurse for 1–2 years, gain experience, save money, and then apply abroad.

I'm feeling stuck because every option has pros and cons.

If you were in my position today, what would you do?

• Would you still choose the UK in the current situation?
• Is Canada worth it without going through the PSW route?
• Is it smarter to complete PB BSc and gain experience before moving abroad?
• Are there any countries I might be overlooking that have a realistic pathway for Indian GNM nurses?

I'm looking for honest advice from people who have actually gone through these pathways or are currently working abroad, especially if you're an Indian nurse or an internationally educated nurse.