I'm new...

[Hanabna]

Hey everyone. I'm Hannah. I'm 22 and currently attending a community college. I sent out the applications to a couple different Universities in Southern California over a month ago. Then, something huge happened...I realized I wanted to be a neonatal nurse *gasp!*. This has completely shifted everything I've been planning. I really really really wanted out of community college...

But I have made the decision to pile on the extra pre-requiste science classes and stay an extra two semesters at the community college for a CHANCE of getting in the nursing program at Cal Sate Long Beach. Sometimes I feel crazy turning down two Univeristies for this! But I'm hoping it will be worth it in the end. I just keep thinking what if I'm not cut out for this? I don't want to be a terrible nurse. I want to be a great nurse or not a nurse at all. It's just scary.

I'm so glad I found this site! I've been reading a lot and learning so much! I just wish I could shadow a neonatal nurse! I have no idea what it's really like except what I see on Special Delivery on the discovery health channel. But ironically you have to be an RN to shadow a nurse. :down:

What can I do to get my foot in the door and start working at a hospital now? I don't want to wait four more years. What is a PCT? What do they do? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks a lot.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

:welcome:

Glad to have you here - a PCT is basically the same as a CNA, you might be able to get some floor experience before getting licensed,

Good luck to you!!

[Hanabna]

Thank you for the welcome! This is just a huge step for me and I am so glad I found this message board. It's great.

Is a PCT a patient care tech? I'd still have to wait until the after my first semester of nursing school. So, that means the earliest will be the summer of 2009! Maybe I could be a receptionist or something like that. I just want to work in a hospital environment to get a feel for it.

Did most of the people on this board start working in a hospital AFTER nursing school? If not, then where was your first position?

Thanks =]

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

You may be able to get a NICU tech position, which usually just involves stocking, cleaning, assisting with pt transports, etc. It may be enough to allow you to see what goes on in the NICU. Congratulatons, and welcome to AllNurses!

Stevern21

[Hanabna]

You may be able to get a NICU tech position, which usually just involves stocking, cleaning, assisting with pt transports, etc. It may be enough to allow you to see what goes on in the NICU. Congratulatons, and welcome to AllNurses!

Stevern21

Awesome, thanks for the idea. I'll definitely check into that.

[amyk_ncsu]

A lot of CNA/PCT courses are a couple of months long. You could always take that now and not wait until after the first semester of nursing school. I took the course three evenings a week for a whole spring semester. Some of the other hours offered were 8 hours a day for a couple of weeks and you are done. It would also look good on a resume or nursing school application to already have experience in the medical field. If you would like more suggestions, feel free to PM me, I did a good bit (excessive maybe?) of research before enrolling in NS.

Good Luck, whatever you do!

[MA Nurse]

Thank you for the welcome! This is just a huge step for me and I am so glad I found this message board. It's great.

Is a PCT a patient care tech? I'd still have to wait until the after my first semester of nursing school. So, that means the earliest will be the summer of 2009! Maybe I could be a receptionist or something like that. I just want to work in a hospital environment to get a feel for it.

Did most of the people on this board start working in a hospital AFTER nursing school? If not, then where was your first position?

Thanks =]

I worked as a CNA first, it was good experience. Being a unit assistant (ward clerk) would be a good way to get a feel for the hospital environment, which is very busy.