Charity LPN Program

missdavis · Jun 27, 2010

So they do calls for the Lpn program?

Hopefull nurse · Jun 28, 2010

Hi!

yes, they called those that had been accepted into the program. For those that were not accepted, they were mailed a letter in which they also were told the reason(s) why they were not accepted.

I am sure glad I got a call.

What scares me the most is that I will run into nurses who will not want to show me how to do things. Currently, I work as a PCA (personal care attendant) at EJGH. Friday night my patient had a soiled diaper and I asked the CNA if she would mind helping me b/c I had never done it myself and wanted to make sure I did it correctly. Well, the CNA came in with the items necessary to change the patient and told me that the RN had said that she couldn't help me b/c I had to do it myself.

I got so mad b/c I couldn't believe how awful the RN could be. It was around 12am and all the other patients in Geripsych were asleep so its not like I was getting in the way of the CNA's duties.

Thankfully, 2 CNA's came in to help me and walked me through the process. The RN came in while we were changing the patient and she left without saying a word after the CNA told her that they were showing me but that I was doing it myself.

I felt so bad I cried in the patients room because I started freaking out and thinking that If I will have to deal with RN's who will not help me learn, I will never become a good nurse.

How do you guys think I should handle situations like this? I have no clue when it comes to nurses, hospitals and the environment. I have heard things about it being a competition and nurses being cut throat. It scares me.....

alidee · Jul 7, 2010

I too found out i was accepted to the charity lpn program for fall 2010. I didn't believe it at first either. It took me a year to get in.

I'd really like it if you'd want to talk about some of the requirements and stuff. There is so much stuff to do before the 21st!

I'm excited for both of us, along with the rest of our class. I've met a few interesting people along the way, and I hope our experience is great.

Hopefull nurse · Jul 8, 2010

Hi!

Oh, I am so excited to finally meet someone who will be joining me in August. The shock of getting that long awaited call has finally faded and now I am so nervous and excited about starting the program. I hope I can do well.

So what have you done so far? I just got CPR certified (work as a PCA at EJGH). Have to go get my first Hep B shot at EJGH (need it for employment requirement). I also got a physical per employment requirements at EJGH but I have to see if I can use it for Charity. My TB tests from EJGH and Childrens Hospital (volunteer there) are still good so they are completed.

I found out about our student accident and sickness insurance. Here are the prices from the paper we need to sign and send along with our dues

Annual $245 August 19 to August 18

Fall $103 August 19 to Jan 12

Spring $152 Jan 13 to August 18

Summer $57 May 31 to August 18

The one thing that is worrying me is that we need health insurance. I am not legally married so I cannot get on honeys insurance. I checked Blue Cross/Blue Shield and it would cost me $235 a month. I work as a PCA at EJGH but am only required to do two 12 hour shifts a month. It works for me because I have 2 small daughters that I stay home with during the day, so I do my 2 shifts 2 Fridays (7pm to 7 am) out of the month.

Looks like I may have to take some extra shifts to cover for health insurance.

I am so worried I will forget something!

If I left out anything please let me know :)

Looking forward to July 21st and meeting my future classmates!

alidee · Jul 8, 2010

I am working on getting all of my requirements ready too.

With the Hep B, I realized I got it twice already as a child. I'm not sure why they didn't do it the third time, but I need to see if that is good enough. I am waiting to schedule my physical until after I get my health insurance ready, because you need a doctor to fill out the form.

I keep forgetting about the cpr certification. I remember somebody saying not to worry about it, but as long as it's a requirement, I'm gonna need to worry about it.

As far as health insurance goes, I found pretty cheap coverage online. It's about $90 a month for my husband and I to be covered. Look into ehealthinsurance.com

I'm not sure about the accident and sickness insurance. I know we need Liability Insurance, which i also found online, and is about $40 a year, which is not too bad.

Now, I'm interested in how you got a job at ej. I've applied what feels like a million times, and never get anywhere. I would really love some hospital experience, which is hard to find without volunteering.

Hopefull nurse · Jul 9, 2010

Hey!

The Liability Insurance is from the vendor that Charity works with. Don't know if you can go with someone else so I just decided to go with them since $245 for a year is ok.

I got the first Hep B shot last year and then forgot to go get the other two. But as an EJGH employee I need to get them so got lucky with that because they will be free.

I just got CPR certified at East Jefferson (a requirement for employment). Lucky that they paid for that too.

Glad you were able to find good health insurance that didn't put a hole in your pocket. I am still looking and its ridiculous the prices. I am sooooo hoping I can use the physical I got at EJGH when I got hired because I can only imagine how much one would cost out of pocket. Have to call EJGH and find out.

Okay about the job at EJGH...don't I feel lucky! I had applied to 7 jobs on their website and wasn't having any luck. Then I saw this PCA position available. It didn't require you to be in a nursing program, have any experience, or be a CNA. So I applied and waited. About 2 weeks later, I got a call and was asked to go in for a panel interview. When I got there I was told I was too qualified (have a BS from UNO). They said I could be making so much better money and have a nicer position. I was completely honest with them and told them that it was a foot in the door and I was hopefully going to start a nursing program in August and hoped to move to full time someday withinn EJGH. I told them I could use the experience towards my nursing program and would not be so shocked when I stepped into a hospital and worked with a patient since its what I would be doing at EJGH as a PCA. I answered a couple of questions right and got the job!

It consists of taking care of a patient for 12 hours but I love it. It can get exhausting since you have to keep awake even though you are dead tired. I work the 7pm to 7am shift on Friday's and so far it has gone well. I have worked in Adult Psych, Geripsych and I liked it. And believe me...I pay close attention to how CNA's, LPN's, and RN's deal with my patient. I watch what they do, listen to how they communicate and how they handle situations. I have to assist my patient with daily rituals (bathing, dressing, brushing teeth) and have had to change after bowel movements. I don't mind it at all and am lucky to be gaining that experience.

So keep checking EJGH website and apply as soon as you see a position you like.

Gosh I can't wait till July 21st! I am so excited to finally start the process. I think once orientation on July 21st is done, I will oficially feel like I am a nursing student. CANT WAIT!!!

alidee · Jul 12, 2010

I just thought of something. I know advising is in a week or so, but I'm curious. I know so many people that have taken the nutrition and intro a&p, and every example schedule charity puts out has those 3 classes as part of the first semester.

What are they going to do for the people who took it already? That is 7 credit hours... almost half a semester, or a full summer semester. The only two options i can think of is that they will a) give us a break the first semester and have us just take the two or three classes, or b) let us take a class or two early, which could possibly get us out of school up to a semester early.

I know they will tell us on the 21st, I just can't help but think about what it will be like.

What do you think?

Hopefull nurse · Jul 13, 2010

Hey!

Funny you should ask about that. A classmate was asking me the same question yesterday evening. She thought I would have to take it again! While I am 200% sure that is not the case, I am thinking we will have a less stressful 1st semester since we have those classes completed already.

It makes me wonder though, how do they have those classes as part of the curriculum once in the nursing program if you can't get accepted without them?

I am so excited for next Wednesday. I have been thinking of what nursing orientation will be like. I can't wait to meet you and the other students who will be joining us. Once I figure out what in the heck I am going to wear, I will let you know so you know who I am. Although my long "Pochahontas" looking hair might give it away :)

This month is my best month so far! My birthday is tomorrow and next wedensday is nursing orientation!

Do we have to have anything completed by the day we go to orientation? I am scared of missing something something.

Let me know!

alidee · Jul 13, 2010

That sounds great! I'd love to meet up at orientation. It'd be great to go in knowing at least one person.

And I just dyed my hair red, so i'm pretty sure i will stand out in the crowd.

I'm very anxious about orientation, and all the questions being answered. I've been waiting for this for over a year, and it's finally happening.

And Happy Birthday! :) what a great birthday present.

as far as things that need to be completed, we need to have our physical, a copy of our birth certificate, and a copy of our high school diploma turned in by the 15th. I'm not sure about what paperwork they want for the physical, b/c the tb test and hep b shot are on the physical papers.

hope all goes well until next week. we're almost there!

Hopefull nurse · Jul 14, 2010

OMG! I dyed my hair red last night!!!

I have pitch black hair and I really want it a light shade of Reddish brown. So I tried a Garnier Red tailored to Black hair and nothing happened. I am so disappointed. A while back I had some highlights done in red and my hair looked gorgeous. Of course at $130...its a little too much right now. And I would rather spend the money on other things.

Anyway, I have yet to go to Team Health at EJGH and talk to them about my physical. I am really hoping I can just have them write it out on the Charity documents. I would really hate to have to go pay for one. I can imagine they cost a lot. Actaully, I am thinking I should go tomorrow and go get my Hep B shot since I need it for work. Gonna ask about the physical while I am there.

Thanks for the B day wishes! I'm turning 31! I'm trying to sound like its a good thing....lol!

I can't wait till next week. And I am glad that I know someone in advance. It will be so helpful and less stressful knowing someone when I get there.

I will send you a PM...hope you can open it.