Any Nurses/Nursing students?

[Sunshine]

I'm so excited to be starting nursing school in January!! :yippee:

I would love to hear from any others who would like to share their experiences as a nurse or student. To be honest, I'm a little nervous.. but I really think this will be a perfect career for me. So how about you? What field of nursing are you in? Do you like it? Any words of advice?



~Kristen~

[MaryNH]

I'm so excited to be started nursing school in January!! :yippee:

I would love to hear from any others who would like to share their experiences as a nurse or student. To be honest, I'm a little nervous.. but I really think this will be a perfect career for me. So how about you? What field of nursing are you in? Do you like it? Any words of advice?



~Kristen~
I'm Mary and it looks like I'll be starting the RN program in 9/04. My goal is to work as a Certified Nurse Midwife. I'm nervous,too. But I don't think we should worry~we'll do well.
Which college will you be attending?

[Kate]

I will also be starting the RN program in Fall '04. I will have a toddler and infant and go to school fulltime! I must be crazy!!

~Kate

[MaryNH]

I will also be starting the RN program in Fall '04. I will have a toddler and infant and go to school fulltime! I must be crazy!!

~Kate MY dd is two days older than your son. May I ask how your interview for the program went? What types of questions were you asked?

[Andrea1014]

I plan on starting nursing school hopefully sometime next year (hopefully Fall 04). I can't wait! What field does everyone want to go into? I want to go into labor and delivery.

[MaryNH]

I plan on starting nursing school hopefully sometime next year (hopefully Fall 04). I can't wait! What field does everyone want to go into? I want to go into labor and delivery. L&D is my first choice, but I hear you have to pay your dues on a med-surg floor beforehamd:(
BTW-and sorry to sound like a broken record-but how were your schhol interviews conductsed? Mine is coming up...

[staggats]

I will have to try and get my sister in on this site. She has just about completed the nursing program. She stays crazy busy with all of the school work, and volunteering at the hospital.

[Kate]

MY dd is two days older than your son. May I ask how your interview for the program went? What types of questions were you asked?
I didn't have to interview. I just wrote an essay and that was it. Are you going for a bachelors or associate?

I want to be a ED nurse. But will probably do med-surg for awhile.

How many of us have voluntered or worked in the healthcare field?

I volunteered for three years while in high school. I felt pretty lucky because I was on the floor that my mom was the charge nurse. So, I did a lot of things that I wasn't supposed to do, so it gave me a lot of insight.

~Kate

[MaryNH]

I didn't have to interview. I just wrote an essay and that was it. Are you going for a bachelors or associate?

I want to be a ED nurse. But will probably do med-surg for awhile.

How many of us have voluntered or worked in the healthcare field?

I volunteered for three years while in high school. I felt pretty lucky because I was on the floor that my mom was the charge nurse. So, I did a lot of things that I wasn't supposed to do, so it gave me a lot of insight.

~Kate Damn!!! I should apply to your program!!! My interview is on the 22nd. I am going for my ADN(which will hopefully segue into a BSN and then onto a CNM...I am entertaining the thought of going into the Army as a Medical Officer).
I've heard ED nursing is varied and fun!! Always something new to do!!
Kate-how is your program set up? Will you go year round?Days?Nights? What will you do with your little ones?
As for volunteer work,I am doing some right now. I am a member of the bereavement support team at our military hospital.

[mrskam]

I graduated in May of this year with my BSN. I took, and passed my boards 2 weeks later:rahrah:

I currently work as an oncology nurse in a hospital. It is rewarding, but HIGHLY stressful, at leat for me. After my baby is born I will be leaving this job and hopefully finding one at a clinic. Im just not into working the every other weekend, and every other holiday now that we are going to have a little one.

If you have any questions I can definantly help so feel free to ask.

Rhonda

[MaryNH]

I graduated in May of this year with my BSN. I took, and passed my boards 2 weeks later:rahrah:

I currently work as an oncology nurse in a hospital. It is rewarding, but HIGHLY stressful, at leat for me. After my baby is born I will be leaving this job and hopefully finding one at a clinic. Im just not into working the every other weekend, and every other holiday now that we are going to have a little one.

If you have any questions I can definantly help so feel free to ask.

Rhonda Cool!!! First ?-What was the easiest/least easiest part of your training/current job?

[Juliemaye]

Nursing school is something I am thinking of after I have all the children I want to have...and then maybe midwifry school...we will see.

[Sunshine]

I'm so glad to hear from so many of you!!

MaryNH.. I got your private message, but I figured I'd answer you here. I didn't have to go through an interview. Maybe because it's a community college.. I don't know. :dunno: I'm so glad though because I don't do very well on the spot!

As for what field.. I honestly don't know at this point. I worked in a hospital for 4 years, the last 2 in the OR as an assistant. (Mostly setting up for & cleaning after surgeries - but I did get some patient contact) I liked it for the most part, but I got so grossed out watching the surgeries. I think I'd like to work in a recovery room or in pediatrics.


~Kristen~

[Kate]

Kate-how is your program set up? Will you go year round?Days?Nights? What will you do with your little ones?

The program is broken up into 4 semesters for day. That is what I will be doing.

Year 1 ~ Semester 1
Anatomy and Physiology I
Critical Thinking Strategies
Freshman English I
Nursing I
Introduction to Psychology

Year 1 ~ Semester 2
Anatomy and Physiology II
Computers and Technology
Freshman English II
Nursing II

Year 2 ~ Semester 1
Fundamentals of Microbiology
Nursing III
Humanties Elective

Year 2 ~ Semester 2
Nursing IV
Leadership and Trends in Nursing Practice
Social Science Elective

Total Credits = 77

I may take some classes over the summer to make life easier. My MIL has an in-home daycare so she will be watching my children.

[Kate]

Kristen,
What school are you attending?

[ChristiH]

Hi Ladies, I'm also doing nursing school. I am hoping to start the actuall nursing classes in the fall of 04...I guess we shall see. Christina

[mrskam]

hmmmm Well a for nursing school I would say the hardest part is just learning all the information you need. It seems so mind boggling, especially when you are sitting in a classroom. But in the end it really does come together.

The best part about nursing school for me is all the great people I met! My instructors and fellow students. We all became very close because we where together ALL the time. And my program was a five year bachelors one, so it was a LONG time we where together. The clinical area was two and a half years.with two and a half of the general college stuff.

Now as for my current job....I love the patients and interacting with them. But I hate the long hours, the every other weekend and holiday, and the fact that no one cares about YOU. Most days I dont get lunch, or even time to sit down. And Im six and a half months pregnant. You are expected to sacrafice a lot. I dont mean to make it sound all bad because its not! I think the area where I work in is part of it. Oncology. After the baby comes I am going back for a bout a month, then we are moving and I am getting a different job. Hopefully in a clinic, and if not a clinic a much lower stress area.

Rhonda

[kalynnsmom]

I'm Celeste :wavey: and I am applying for nursing school very soon. I have a toddler myself so I am hoping this will work. The deadline is Feb. I have all of my prereq's for the community college, but I have a few more to go for my BSN.,My inspiration is my own mother, she's a nurse (now the director of the ER) and she had 3 kids and went to nursing school! :eek:

If I don't get in for this college, I'll have to take A&P over again since it'll be past 5 years!

[Eva]

I am an RN (Currently on Mat leave). I work on a surgical unit. and prior to that worked in long term care. I have been an RN for over 5 years. As in anything some days I love it and find it really rewarding and others days it is a differnt story. :D

[MaryNH]

Just stopping in to let everyone know that I had my interview. I think that it went well:)

[Sunshine]

Just stopping in to let everyone know that I had my interview. I think that it went well:)

That's great Mary!! What sort of questions did they ask you?

[MaryNH]

I was asked why I wanted to become a nurse, what sorts of attributes I had that would make me a good nurse,etc...

[sweetypie925]

Hi, I graduated from a 2 year nursing program in May 2003 and began working that June, passed my boards in July. I'm currently on mat leave and have to go back to work jan 11.

As far as school goes, it was hard i won't lie. It took everything out of me and I didn't have kids or anything, but I made it and so can you!!! When i started the degree looked so far away but it came so quick and I'm so proud to be the first RN in my family.

I currently work on a basic medical floor. I love my job but not the stress of it. I started working when I was 3 months pg and ended up having complications and delivering my daughter at 35 weeks. i don't want to scare anyone, but I needed to work that's why I stayed so long and didn't leave sooner. The stress made my blood pressure severely high and i was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and had her by c-section but she's fine and so I am I.

I plan on going back mostly for my co-workers who are excellent people and gave me so much support and a huge surprise shower =). If it weren't for them and the fact that I'm scared to start a new job with an 8 week old i would probably not come back to the floor I work on. I just hate thinking about how much pain I was in working up to that last day(actually hours) before I had her. I plan in the future to work in Mother/Baby. i was an intern while in school on the maternity floor at the hospital I work at and liked Mother/baby better than L&D. I will probably ride out the next year and a half till I'm on my floor 2 years so I can get my full sign on bonus. But things may change.

Good luck to you all you can do it! And it is worth it!

Teresa

[mrskam]

Teresa our stories sound so similar! I graduated in May of 2003, passed my boards in June, started working and found out I was pg in July. I had been working full time (Im on oncology and hospice) up until I developed high BP and tachycardia, but only cut down two days a pay period because we need the money too:( I dont really want to go back after I have the baby in March, but I need to stay two years to get my full sign on bonus....I have most of it saved tho so if I want to leave we can pay it back. I like my patients, but I HATE the stress....Really hoping I can do outpatient/clinic work instead sometime in the future!


Rhonda

[MaryNH]

Can I ask...did anyone here take the NLN Pre-Admissions test?

[Lacie]

I'm just starting the RN program at a comm. college, doing my prerequisites right now. Eventually I would like to do an RN-MSN program and become a nurse practicioner. I'm undecided what kind of nursing I want to do when I get my RN--I started out wanting to be either L&D or neonatal, but since I got my EMT certification, I'm starting to like working in the ER. :dunno: I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

[MaryNH]

I'm just starting the RN program at a comm. college, doing my prerequisites right now. Eventually I would like to do an RN-MSN program and become a nurse practicioner. I'm undecided what kind of nursing I want to do when I get my RN--I started out wanting to be either L&D or neonatal, but since I got my EMT certification, I'm starting to like working in the ER. :dunno: I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it! Welcome to the thread,Lacie:)

[Sunshine]

Can I ask...did anyone here take the NLN Pre-Admissions test?
I guess I didn't because I'm not sure what that is? The only test I took was a placement test to make sure I passed the minumum math & english classes.

[mcox]

I guess I'm the only LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) here. I've been a LPN for 5 years now. I worked in a Dr.'s office for 4 years. I quit my job in Dec. 02 to open my own daycare center. Unfortunately, the daycare didn't work out. I am currently in the process of getting my LPN license active again and then I plan to get a job in the hospital. I have never worked in a hospital and I'm afraid that I have forgotten alot since graduating 5 years ago. I'm sure it will come back to me but right now I am TERRIFIED!!!!

Michelle

[ChristiH]

I just started microbiology last week..that's my last core class..all I have left are the 4 nursing courses...I'm getting excited! but scared.

[jenr812]

HI ladies! Hope to revive this thread!

My dream is to be a L&D nurse, or maybe working aftercare. I am on the waiting list at the local Technical College (the only local place offering the ADN program). I am going for my Associate's right now, bc from the people I've spoken to locally, there isn't a big pay difference btwn BSN and ADN to start at least. I plan to obtain my BSN and then MSN after I begin working, when the kids are a bit older. I start classes May 17th. I am going to take all my electives while I am waiting. Thankfully, the school took my 1989 SAT scores :jawdrop: and my 1990 HS chem class!!! :banana: I am so relieved! I plan to CLEP out of math and hopefully English too :crossfing to save me some time and money!

I definitely won't get into the actual nursing program in Fall 04 and MAYBE not even Fall 05! :eek: There are THAT many people waiting. tHey only take 44 students each fall, and I am number 99 so I am PRAYING that at least 11 people drop off the wait list bc they get pregnant or change their minds or something :crossfing I've been told from a friend currently in the program that many people dropped out of the program after last Fall semester, but they don't accept new students in the Spring bc of the order of the classes.

Good luck ladies!

[Cat]

I just found this thread. I am hoping to be accepted into University to study to become a Midwife.

I realise that its all very different the process between the US and Britain, in fact its very different between Scotland and England.

I have just sent of my application pack to CATCH, which is a type of clearance house through the NHS, they will then take into account I have a young family and can only do my placement in the local hospital.

Its a 3 year degree course, and in that 3 years I will need to complete my study and exams full time, deliver 40 babies and see at least 200 women.

Hopefully I will be accepted as I have a medical diploma which I did in '99 when I studied alternative therapy, and hope to start my study September 04.

It will be great to keep this thread going to give us all encouragement and support when the study time comes :)

[kalynnsmom]

I sent off my application to the Nursing school a couple of weeks ago! Hopefully, I'll hear something in another couple of weeks. They only accept 30 people, and the nursing director said that 100 people applied! :eek:

I'm so afraid that I won't get in. They go by points, you get extra points for having a bachelor's degree, having some kind of medical certification, having a 3.5 on the A&P I, II, and Micro, and living in the county. Unfortunately, I don't have any of that.

[Sunshine]

Good luck Celeste! :crossfing


Jen.. wow that is crazy!! I hope you can get in! I myself have to wait until 2005 to start the nursing courses just to finish 2 classes. :( Even though I'll finish my pre-req. after the fall semester of '04 I still can't start until the following year. I was already accepted pending my completion of the pre-reqs but waiting is the hardest part!


I know someone mentioned here that they were a CNA.. any tips for a soon-to-be newbie? I just accepted a position starting in June at a nursing home. :yippee: (after I finish my CNA class) I'm super excited but I already get nervous when I think about it!

[mcox]

Kristen, I'm not a CNA but I currently work in a nursing home as a LPN. I'm not sure about all nursing homes but the one that I work at the CNAs work their butts off!! They are responsible for baths, feeding, changing clothes and diapers, getting residents into and out of bed, turning and repositioning, etc. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way. MOST of the CNAs love their job. It is an exhausting but rewarding job. The LPNs are responsible for passing meds, treatments, taking Dr's orders, transferring residents out, admissions, etc. We work our butts off too. We actually do things that only RNs are allowed to do in the hospital. All the RNs do at the nursing home is supervise and care plans.

My hubby is currently going to school to become a CNA. He has about 3 more weeks to go. After he finishes his CNA class he will be starting a phlebotomy class and then he will take a medical assistant class after that. He should have everything completed by September. Good luck!!

[Sunshine]

Hi Michelle! :wavey:
Thanks for replying. Congrats to your husband! :) That's basically what I've heard from all the CNAs I've met. It's tough work but it's rewarding.

I am especially nervous since the nursing home I will be working in only accepts patients who have behavioral disorders as well. The woman I met with told me that it gets pretty wild there. I'm looking forward to the challenge of it and I know it's good experience.. but I'm still nervous. :blush:

[mrskam]

I forgot about this thread! Good Luck to all those just starting out! I remember what it was like, and am so glad to be done! I never thought Id say this, but being home on bedrest I actually miss my job! Working as an oncology/hospice nure in a hospital is so stressful tho, I am unsure if after the baby comes I am going back. I would really like to work in a clinic, but those jobs are hard to come by.

I was a CNA for 2 years while in Nursing school, and although it is really hard work, you learn a lot. When you start the clinical phase of your nursing classes you have a real jump on those who have never worked in a healthcare setting. Plus once you are a nurse you won't take for granted all the hard work the CNA's are doing for you.
Rhonda

[Jennifer122102]

Hello!

I am currently in the ADN program and will graduate May 2005. From there I plan to go on for my BSN, take a little break from school and try to get some L&D experience. Once I have that, it's on to midwifery school. I have a long road ahead of me still.
I have been a CNA for four years. The work is very hard, but it is good experience if you want to get into nursing.
I also want to say to all of you that are thinking of starting nursing school, get your core classes done first! It is near impossible to do them at the same time as the nursing classes. The nursing classes are way too hard to be able to manage both.

[kalynnsmom]

That's exactly what I'm doing! :yippee: All my core classes are done after this semester!! Hopefully, I'll hear back from the nursing college that I applied to soon. I applied back in Feb.

[starbound25]

Hi all, I am thinking of starting nursing school this fall, I would have to take my prereq courses this summer if I do that
can someone tell me what the clinicals are like?
I am a tad squimish and am not sure what I can handle, can someone please fill me in on the details of this?
Also it sounds like all the RN"s here work full time, since you can make so much money an hour why dont you work part time?
I have 2 young children, 16month and 4 months! I dont know how I can go to school and work part time and take care of them for 2 years!! I really dont want the opportunity slip by because it would be a great lifelong career but I dont know how I'll do it
thanks so much everyone!!
Susan

[Shanna]

Count me in on the heading to nursing school list!! :yippee: I am going for my BSN, and hope to either work L&D, NICU or OB/GYN practice.

[kalynnsmom]

Just thought I'd share this piece of news..My mother is a nurse for a major hospital here in DAllas...She just told me that they are so short on nurses that they went to the Phillipines to do some recruiting!! I didn't realize that the shortage was that bad!

[Shanna]

The hospitals around here will pay for your nursing school and pay you while you are going if you agree to contract with them for a certain amount of time :nod: Nurses are in BIGTIME shortage....

[kalynnsmom]

The hospitals around here will pay for your nursing school and pay you while you are going if you agree to contract with them for a certain amount of time :nod: Nurses are in BIGTIME shortage....
Yeah, my mom said the same thing..But for my mom's particular hospital I THINK it's for ADN's wanting to get their BSN's...I'll have to ask her...she does all the hiring.

[Shanna]

I'm goin to do some checking around here too. There are two big hospitals, and I have oen in particular that I prefer to work at.

[kalynnsmom]

That would be SOOO cool if I could find a hospital that would pay for my schooling!! Course, still waiting to see if I actually got in the Nursing program :lol:

[jenr812]

Just a word of advice - I've been on All Nurses for a little while now and have been reading up on those hospital contracts. They can have major loopholes and I've read that some will sign you for a certain pay that is a lot less than other new grad hires will make. Also, many of those contracts have fine print that state they can float you anywhere they need you and you can get stuck in a job you hate. I am still researching the hospital contracts because it can't all be bad, but just wanted to give a heads up to you :) BTW go check out the All Nurses Discussion Board (http://allnurses.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=42240) - it is a wonderful site with so much information. There are forums for students, as well as separate forums for just about EVERY kind of nursing specialty there is. There are regional forums for each country, then broken down by state. I've gotten so much from there :nod: My user ID there is SCMomof3 - hope to see you there!!!

[kalynnsmom]

Thanks Jen! I'm there as TXMOM

[jenr812]

:jump: YAY!!!

[jenr812]

Just thought I'd come back with an update on how school is going...

I am finished with College 101 - I love that it was a self paced course. It started May 24th and I was finished a week later :lol: I got an A :woo: My instructor is in charge of WIA at my school, so I met her last week at the WIA orientation. She is really sweet and I'm looking forward to working with her with WIA.


I took my first Psych exam Sat. night. I got an A!! 94/100 :victory:


I took my first Computers exam today - got an A :banana: 97/100 I posted a vent about my instructor in this forum... My instructor is an IDIOT!!!! (http://www.onceuponalife.com/showthread.php?p=168842#post168842)


I am glad to have COLLEGE 101 out the way so I can concentrate on the real classes. I've got a term paper due the 26th in Psych. I need to pick a psychologist and do a bio and then research his contributions to the field. I still haven't chosen a psychologist yet :eek: I'm not too worried though. Yet :lol:


How is everyone doing??

[jenr812]

:rotflmao: I typed it correctly here, but I made a typo in the title of my vent - I put MY INSTRUCTOR IS ***A* IDIOT! And I have the nerve to complain about grammar?? :lol:

[Sonyak]

It's crazy how many qualified students are being turned away at nursing schools in this state and it sounds like to some degree all around the nation. I know in MN the Deans and Directors of Nursing turned away over 600 qualified applicants statewide. (I work with the Deans and Directors of Nursing in Public Higher Education.) One Dean said that he had 400 applicants for 44 slots. Crazy.

Good luck to those of you in the application process. Be patient, Nurses are in really high demand and the demand will just get worse. One statistic I've seen in MN is that our demand for nurses will peak in 2008, so we haven't seen anything yet.

SonyaK

[kalynnsmom]

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated..I didn't get in to nursing school. I was totally bummed. But, I am going to take A&P over again. I'm going to try again next semester.

[jenr812]

How's everyone doing? This thread DIED! Just had to come post - I got an A on my first A&P exam!!! :banana::jump::hface: I am so happy :biggrin:

[jenr812]

Guess I'm the only one still here?? :dunno::mope:

Well I got an A on my exam Monday! PHEW!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/jump.gif I have a quiz in lab tomorrow on the skeleton (minus the skull - already did that last week http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/nod.gif and got 108!!) I really enjoy this class. It's challenging but I enjoy the material.


Plus I got the most incredible news today! I called the Admissions office for $hits and giggles, to see if they could tell me my # on the list. I'm number 29!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/faint.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/banana.gif WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/roses4me.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/clap.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/bow.gif It's now OFFICIAL - I'm in the class of 2007!!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/jumping.gif She said I'll get my letter in January and my $100 deposit is due 2/28/05. Thankfully, I still have some money in my account from a scholarship I got last semester, so I won't even have to worry about coming up with it http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/aok.gif This has made my week http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/bigsmile.gif

[Irish Luck]

Guess I'm the only one still here?? :dunno::mope:

Well I got an A on my exam Monday! PHEW!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/jump.gif I have a quiz in lab tomorrow on the skeleton (minus the skull - already did that last week http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/nod.gif and got 108!!) I really enjoy this class. It's challenging but I enjoy the material.


Plus I got the most incredible news today! I called the Admissions office for $hits and giggles, to see if they could tell me my # on the list. I'm number 29!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/faint.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/banana.gif WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/roses4me.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/clap.gifhttp://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/bow.gif It's now OFFICIAL - I'm in the class of 2007!!!! http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/jumping.gif She said I'll get my letter in January and my $100 deposit is due 2/28/05. Thankfully, I still have some money in my account from a scholarship I got last semester, so I won't even have to worry about coming up with it http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/aok.gif This has made my week http://home.ourlittleuniverse.com/images/smilies/bigsmile.gif
Congratulations :supergrin:

I have been an RN for 12 years now. After completing my training I did a variety of jobs before settling into a job as a Hospice nurse. I worked there for 7 years before leaving to have my second son. Now I work as a practice nurse in a local doctors surgery. The hours suit me much better with my family.

Michell (mcox) what exactly is a LPN as opposed to an RN??

[jenr812]

Thanks Suzanne!! I'm still grinning everytime I think about it :biggrin:

[mcox]

Michelle (mcox) what exactly is a LPN as opposed to an RN??



A LPN is a Licensed Practical Nurse. My schooling was only one year, where a RN is two. I am licensed instead of registered.