NursingZen

• Don’t follow the rules. Recruiters and nurse managers will say: “Please don’t bother/overwhelm the managers by going to their office. Just submit your job application through the HR website. It’s first come first serve, time is of essence.” What a load of crap. A friend who submitted her resume in December ‘07 didn’t get any interviews until she basically knocked down doors and gave the recruiters some frustrated wake-up calls. Indeed, the people who got interviews were the ones who did precisely what the recruiters told us not to do. How is one supposed to know what one should or shouldn’t do? (Well, now you know.)
• The nurse you work with will make or break your day, so choose your precepting nurse wisely. Most nurses are nice and friendly, but that doesn’t mean they’re good to work with. They may be paranoid about letting you do anything, they may not be good teachers, or they may be too lax and leave you too much on your own. Other nurses might be control freaks. They’ll treat you like it was your first day on the floor, despite much evidence on the contrary. Look for the nurse who isn’t stressed out, who actively listens to you, and who can see the big picture. It’ll take a few trial-by-fires before you know which nurses to hope for and which to avoid, but go with your gut instinct.
• Don’t be lazy! Get a good foundation in Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology, if your time permits. Learn the material the way it’s supposed to be learned: from solid science professors and over the course of one semester, not 10 weeks! It’s tempting to wait and take Patho in the UCSF program, but there’s not enough time in the quarter to get a good grasp of Patho. You’ll be less stressed out and feel like a stronger nurse (and student) if you get a good foundation in all these subjects.
• Don’t overthink the admissions process or your application. It’s really true that there’s no one tie that binds all of us. As far as I can tell, it’s totally random. Everyone is different–for example, some people had hardly a clue about the nursing profession, while others worked in health care. Some people have dreamed of being a nurse and advanced practice nurse for years, while others decided two months before the application deadline!

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