Please pass the kleenex. I came so close to realizing my 20 year dream of becoming a Nurse and got a "very thin letter" from my school today. It said "We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as an "ALTERNATE" for the Fall 2004 Nursing Program". Supposedly, if one of the 40 that got in decide not to attend the program - I'm one of those in the running for the slot. After all the waiting it sure would have been nice of them to let us know exactly where on the "alternate list" we are. I mean if we're way down on the list the chances of getting in are slim to none...
Out of almost 500 applicants, I was one of the approx. 120 that qualified to take the Entrance Exam and one of the 60 that scored high enough to be considered for the Program. They only have 40 slots for the year - so obviously 40 people had more points than me and I'm somewhere among the 20 that are "on hold".
I was told early on that I'd probably be given bonus points for having attended Naval Hospital Corps School and spending 6 years in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. It was a very intensive 6 month course - our housing was "literally" attached to the school and all we did for those 6 months was go to class during the day and study at night (no family allowed and there were no breaks). I finished the Program with straight A's and Graduated with Honors and Distinction. Besides all of this - during my 6 years in the Navy I attended numerous medical training classes. A Hospital Corpsman is the Navy's version of an LPN and beyond. I gave the school I applied to my transcripts and Honors Diploma from School, all of the certificates I received, etc. They ended up giving me credit for Program related courses I took at a College in Boston before I joined the Navy (English, Psych, etc.) - but did not give me "1 single point" for Hospital Corps School or all of my medical training. They give bonus points for people who complete a short CNA course, but the background I have gets nothing - it absolutely STINKS and I'm totally disgusted with this whole process.
They don't have a sliding scale or let "alternates" have first chance at school next year. If a slot doesn't open up in a few weeks, they told me I can reapply next February and start the entire application process all over again - retake the entrance exam, physical, cpr cert, etc. etc. I'm 42 years old, as bad as I want this, there are so many steps to their application process, really not sure I can handle all that waiting around again...
Have any of you been on an "alternate list" and actually gotten into school that way? Should I still hold out some hope for getting in this year? Months ago someone on the boards suggested I look into Excelsior College - they accept Hospital Corpsman and it's definitely something I'll be looking into instead of sitting on my thumbs for another year - good grief, I'm not getting any younger here..
My 72 year old Assistant showed up at work today complaining that her left hand was numb, I saw how pale she was and all the signs - immediately knew she was having a mini-stroke and got her off to the ER where after 9 hours and a zillion tests, they confirmed my "non-nurse" diagnosis and admitted her. I know my stuff and hope eventually I'll get to actually get a chance to be an RN and not just dream about it.. GRRRR Thanks for listening. SusanNC
