[MedicEllis]

I'm glad to see such a informative site with a wealth of information and helpful people that this site seems to contain.

A little about my self; I currently work as a full-time Paramedic in a high paced EMS system in upstate NY for the last 7 years. I have a wonderful family with 2 kids and absolutely love my job and the autonomy that I currently enjoy. I live on the front lines of health care and absolutely love the fast paced, critical thinking objectives that I must attain and the help/health care that I can deliver to many people. But (there is always a but isn't there?) I must work on average 17-18 hour days (and as much as 24 hour shifts) 6-7 days a week. This pays a heavy toll physically and mentally not only on myself but on my family which has lead me to search for other options and I think the bridge program at excelsior college may be my best choice at this point in time. I currently possess a B.S. in Biology and definitely qualify for the BAT (Bachelors advanced track) RN program at the locally university but would require me going back to working full-time nights as well as going to school full-time, which to me is not worth the even higher toll my family would pay. I understand there are some disadvantages to the EC program at the moment with several states putting restrictions on EC graduate RN's but the advantages far out way the disadvantages at this point (NYS has no such restrictions, as well as 44 other states). I feel that I have alot of clinical experience and that the EC program will benefit me greatly with advancing my career in health care.

I currently possess advanced standing as a state level preceptor in NYS in EMS, as well as having certificates in ACLS, PALS, NALS, AMLS, BTLS, PHTLS, as well as being nationally certified with NREMT's. After I attain my goal of becoming a RN I hope to find a job that will let me work in a critical care area and use both my EMS as well as my RN certificates.

I look forward to interacting with all of you in this interesting/informative forum which I see is very student friendly.

Chris

[nursereka]

Hello there,

I'm new too. I thought I was busy , but I don't think I come close to the hours you put in. I'm a 1st year student and was blessed enough to fall into a wonderful program offered by my employer. They are putting 24 people through nursing school and paying us to go as well. It was a very stressful process, lots of writing, panel interviews, individual interviews, testing etc,....but here I am 19 months later and 1 year to go. I had to re-take all my pre-reqs, but it was worth it. We are an accelerated class. We did ALL our pre-reqs in 9 months. That was quite stressful. We are going non-stop until without a summer break so we can graduate next December. We do get the holidays off though. We still have to work at least an 8 hour shift a week but most of us work 2 - 10 hour days, and the rest of the time is spent in school, studying, developing NPP, and concept maps, etc. I have 2 children, but luckily they are older 18 1/2 and 20 1/2 so they don't need mom anymore. I have a husband,....I think. I see him for a few minutes when he comes home from work then in the morning before he leaves. So anyway......I glad I came upon this site. I was looking for some NANDA diagnoses and I found a whole lot more. I hope some friends too!

Warmest Greetings to you all!!!
NurseReka

[EricEnfermero]

Welcome to Allnurses, guys! Chris, be sure to check out the Distance Learning Forum where the majority of Excelsior-related discussion takes place.

[Tweety]

Welcome to Allnurses!

Good luck to you in all that you do!

[Daytonite]

Hi,MedicEllis and nursereka!

Here is a link to a list of the NANDA list of nursing diagnosis.
http://www.nursingstudio.net/2005/03/20/nanda-nursing-diagnoses/

I think it may be the list before the last update in 2005. It is very hard to find a free list since they are proprietary and NANDA charges a copyright fee whenever they are re-printed. If you go to the nursing student forums you will find links to the Gulanick and Ackley/Ladwig care plan constructors that have some current NANDA nursing diagnosis information, although not all 172 are listed on them, here:

http://allnurses.com/forums/f205/desperately-need-help-careplans-170689.html - Desperately need help with careplans (in Nursing Student Assistance Forum)

Welcome to allnurses, both of you!