Gloucester County College Nursing Fall 2011 Hopefuls?

nurse2b2013 · Jun 13, 2011

Listen to this... I got all my bloodwork back and got an abnormal result for the chickenpox (varicella) apparently my antibody count was very high. My doctor called me to ask if I had any rashes etc... I don't. Either someone misread the test or I am a freak. So I went to get a second test done (lucky me) I have to go to Labcorp, which for some reason butchers me every time. I had chickenpox when I was like 9 years old. Has anyone had results like this? I have everything else aside from my CPR card which should be here soon. To make a long story short, I now have the pleasure of a large hematoma as I await my results... I will pay particularly close attention to the phlebotomy section of our courses so that I don't do this to someone else. :crying2:

SJerseygrle · Jun 14, 2011

The more time I spend in the medical sphere the more I believe good sticks are an art and some got it and some do not. I have rolling veins and whenever I was pregnant was covered in bruises from the lab. Ouch! Sending you my sympathy!

I havnt heard anything about my packet so hopefully it was all good! I raised 70K on Saturday and completed 2 major house projects today so I am really feeling like I am getting somewhere.

I havnt bought any of my supplies yet though, I was goning to wait until August. Anyone know of a reason why it's a bad idea?

PS The $1000 is a "nursing school is really popular and theres a lot of demand" fee - it's pretty new.

momtofore · Jun 14, 2011

That fee is also annoying. It doubled the cost! For whatever reason I attributed the cost to clinical fees.

The only thing I'm nervous about with nursing school is finding and penetrating veins successfully. Shots don't bother me at all. It's those pesky veins. I've got to change my thinking though so I don't psych myself out, lol.

The only reason I wouldn't/won't wait until August is the chance of something being unavailable. I've yet to find a one pocket scrub top that fits reasonably well. So I'm in a polo shirt until I do!

nurse2b2013 · Jun 14, 2011

The only reason I didn't wait until August is because I knew that my book voucher wouldn't cover the cost of everything from the campus bookstore and I had a nice family member willing to help out with the cost of books. Also, I was able to find everything for a much lower price on Amazon.com. As far as the vein thing goes, it almost seems as though they stick the people that are learning in places like Labcorp. I have had completely painless and bruiseless blood draws in the hospital, but in the past 6 months Labcorp is 2/2 for bruising and pain.

Also, are they set in stone on the one pocket scrub top or is the left chest pocket just a suggestion with the requirement being the white color? The only ones I have found with a left chest pocket are unisex (which I hate) but they have really cute plain white tunic style scrub tops that are tapered for women with two lower pockets. In my own personal experience, I tend to have things fall out of a chest pocket when I bend over. It would be so awesome if we didn't have to stick to that style specifically. Otherwise, I am going to have to be with momtofore in the polos.

nurse2b2013 · Jun 14, 2011

Oh! and Congrats on all of your recent accomplishments! Wow 70K! :yeah:

Skeletor · Jun 14, 2011

I will pay particularly close attention to the phlebotomy section of our courses so that I don't do this to someone else.

Phlebotomy was removed from the curriculum d/t time constraints and liability issues. The school's philosophy is that future employers will provide you with paid training when the time comes.

The more time I spend in the medical sphere the more I believe good sticks are an art and some got it and some do not.
PS The $1000 is a "nursing school is really popular and theres a lot of demand" fee - it's pretty new.

Correct, and absolutely correct. 2007 new . . .

The only thing I'm nervous about with nursing school is finding and penetrating veins successfully.

Save the worry until you enter the nursing profession. See above . . .

I tend to have things fall out of a chest pocket when I bend over. It would be so awesome if we didn't have to stick to that style specifically. Otherwise, I am going to have to be with momtofore in the polos.

Polos were comfortable during clinical rotations; however, not having pockets to store a red pen, black pen, highlighter, Sharpie, and alcohol prep pads was a disadvantage.

Cargo scrub pants are excellent for storing paperwork, saline I.V. flushes, a stethoscope (having it draped around your neck is dangerous and annoying), primary and secondary I.V. lines, etc.

Insert hemostats through a roll of I.V./bandage tape and clamp it to the bottom of your scrub top for ease of access, not around your stethoscope (infectious disease vector).

:twocents:

nurse2b2013 · Jun 14, 2011

Wow! Skeletor you are quite a source of information! Thanks for that! I can't believe they aren't covering phlebotomy. It seems like such a basic part of nursing. Trust me, I don't enjoy people probing my arm for a vein any more than the next person, but as a nurse I would think I should have more training than a medical assistant. I am not one to cause waves, but it would seem that this new "fee" that just happens to bring in a minimum of 100,000 dollars per semester should cover the costs of the liability associated with students practicing on eachother. I understand that I won't know everything there is to know about the nursing profession coming right out of school, but I would feel like an idiot telling my future employer who would be paying me a salary of at least 45000/year that I didn't know how to draw blood and that I need a medical assistant who they pay 28000/year to train me. Oh well, no sense in catastrophizing. It is beyond my control, but perhaps I will politely bring up my concerns at orientation.

Is there anything else I should be aware of that we won't be covering that seems like basic knowledge a nurse should have?

nurse2b2013 · Jun 16, 2011

I got my CPR card today and my labcoat (fits like a glove). Now I'm just waiting for my bloodwork to come back so I can hand in my paperwork. I am so relieved that the card didn't take long to get to me. I only took the class 1 week ago. How is everyone else doing with their cards? Any luck? Sometimes you can get a letter from the instructor to prove that you've taken the class to show to your employer, nursing school etc... while you wait for your card to come in the mail. It would be reasonable to assume that this would be acceptable to hold your spot in the event that your card doesn't come in time. It doesn't hurt to call up and ask. Good luck!

dannipoint · Jun 17, 2011

Thanks. My card didn't come yet..... i've been waiting forever and ever. I'm already in NYC..... so whenever it comes I will have to go back and hand my papers in. I don't know why it's taking so long. I took the class May 10th.....

momtofore · Jun 17, 2011

Wow, danni, that is a while! I guess you can expect it at any time! I'm still waiting for scholarship notifications!! I know you are, too. I need to get my second Hep shot and then I can turn all my papers in. I can get it any day now.

Skeletor · Jun 17, 2011

Wow! Skeletor you are quite a source of information! Thanks for that! I can't believe they aren't covering phlebotomy. It seems like such a basic part of nursing. Trust me, I don't enjoy people probing my arm for a vein any more than the next person, but as a nurse I would think I should have more training than a medical assistant. I am not one to cause waves, but it would seem that this new "fee" that just happens to bring in a minimum of 100,000 dollars per semester should cover the costs of the liability associated with students practicing on eachother. I understand that I won't know everything there is to know about the nursing profession coming right out of school, but I would feel like an idiot telling my future employer who would be paying me a salary of at least 45000/year that I didn't know how to draw blood and that I need a medical assistant who they pay 28000/year to train me. Oh well, no sense in catastrophizing. It is beyond my control, but perhaps I will politely bring up my concerns at orientation.
Is there anything else I should be aware of that we won't be covering that seems like basic knowledge a nurse should have?

You're quite welcome :up: .

Intravenous medication administration and laboratory draw skills are vital tools in the nursing profession, one you will learn over the course of your career. Each day at work I am learning a new skill and honing one I have practiced before; it's both interesting and, at times, intimidating.

An entry-level RN in NJ or PA can start with an income range of $55k-65k/year, depending upon employer setting and locale.

Maintain humility throughout nursing school and your nursing career, as nursing assistants, unit secretaries, and telemetry monitors will teach you what you need to survive in the nursing profession. Without each of the aforementioned multidisciplinary team members, I could not sanely fulfill my job description.

momtofore · Jun 17, 2011

Thanks, Skeletor, for both recent and past tips and information. You're one of the most valuable resources we can have!