[iliel]

I was born in PA, but moved to Ca. when I was 11, I lived in the Pittsburgh area. My step sister is a RN, I think she's working in managment at the Pittsburgh Hospice (?) Didn't realize so many people from PA

[Gator,SN]

Hey Pete!
I am from PA, born and raised. I just graduated from Penn State Unversity in May. I am working in CCU at a local hospital. I went to Penn State Hershey Medical Center for some of my clinical rotations. (NICU and PEDS, and outpatient psyche) I was able, last summer to "ride along" with Life Lion too. Several of my classmates have started their in the MICU and SICU. I worked until very recently for Wellspan.
PM me if you want.

Gator

[Zee_RN]

I'm a PA nurse too. Working in a community hospital's ICU, Pittsburgh suburbs. I graduated nursing school in 1995.

[Pete495]

Yes, I have taken the GRE. It was not very nice to me, let's put it that way. Since it wasn't that nice to me, I've decided to get my CCRN. I figure this might help my chances better for anesthesia school when I decide to apply. When I took the GRE, I did not study for it, simply because it is impossible to study for. Many of my psychology professors gave me the advice of simply doing some of the prep. questions to become familiar with the testing. I did spend a lot of time on this, but I've never done very well on GRE, SAT, yada yada yada. Those tests are a bunch of hogwash in my opinion. Just another excuse to see how dumb we can make you feel. Funny thing is I know people who are smarter than your average bear, but just don't do well on these tests. I believe I fall into that category.

I am not taking any classes right now. I'm enjoying the time off from classes actually. I spent 5.5 years in college to get two degrees, so I was tired after I got out. It wasn't exactly the easiest college. I'm trying to grit my teeth, and just go back to school, but most of me knows I cannot go until I'm really ready, or else I won't be able to tolerate it at all. Problem is, graduate school is becoming more competitive every single year, and it is getting increasingly hard to get into, and get through it.

[EricTAMUCC-BSN]

Have you thought about taking the MAT? I know alot of grad schools here in texas accept that instead of the GRE. I hear it is easier. Yes, I don't like the idea of taking those type of tests either.

[Jen2]

I'm a student in PA. I will be starting my first semester of the ADN program this fall. I'm about an hour South of Pittsburgh (20 minutes from the WV state line). I will be doing a few clinical days at Children's Hospital in Oakland this upcomming Spring. Anyone familiar with the staff/learning atmosphere of this hospital? I am so excited to get some clinical time at a facility with a reputaion like this. The next biggest thing in clinicals for me will be Ruby Memorial in WV. I also lived in Pittsburgh for a year when I went to MA school. I love it in "The City". We should all get together and hold an allnurses dinner or something. That would be really cool.

[MtnMan]

NE PA small town working in th e er as an EDT starting Nursing school in 10 days.

[Pete495]

Since the GRE is used more commonly than the MAT for my purposes, I took the GRE. Graduate schools are used to looking at GRE scores more, but most do accept MAT scores, at least for the CRNA schools I applied too.

I have no plans to take the MAT. I believe I can get into CRNA school with my current experience, GPA, etc. It's competitive, but I feel like I've gotten great experience in college and in the field. If you want to know specifics, you can pm me. If a school concentrates heavily on GRE scores, it says something about the idiots that are running the program. My feeling is that GRE scores are held to a lesser degree than your CCU experience, education, and GPA. So personally I'm not going to waste my time taking the GRE over or taking the MAT even though I didn't score what I wanted on the GRE. Not only that, I don't have the tolerance to sit through another GRE, so I figure If I don't have the tolerance, why bother. I can do other things to make myself look more attractive. About the MAT being easier, I'm not exactly sure. I can't see it being any worse or any better than the GRE to be honest.

Later now.

[pghfoxfan]

From Pittsburgh!
Not a new nurse...worked 20 years at a hospital that closed last Sept. 17 years in a CVICU and 3 years in Pediatrics.
Now I work in an EP lab at another hospital in Pgh.

Waves to all my fellow Pennsylvanians! At least we dont live in CA

[EricTAMUCC-BSN]

Sounds good!