I have been considering working in or around Boston or the North Shore. I am wondering if anyone has any insight regarding commuting from Southern NH or Maine to Boston area hospitals for work. I am curious:
How is your commute?
Do you drive, or do you take either the bus or train?
If bus or train, does the cost offset parking fees?
Is the generally higher pay worth the hour or more commute?
Any pro's or con's that you care to share?
Any problems with taxes (if live in NH)?
I have been in my current position as an overnight staff RN in a small community hospital ED for 5 years. It is my first job in nursing. (I am a direct entry Master's in Nursing graduate) I also started last year to teach one day per week in the nursing simulation lab at a local university. My wife recently gave birth to our first child and now I am passively looking to find another job in the Southern Maine and NH or Northern Mass. area with daytime hours. I was wondering if anybody has had any experience - or know of somebody - utilizing nurse recruiting firms or "headhunters". Are they worth it? Any pitfalls or successes? I am not considering traveling agencies. I have been getting e-mails from these recruiters a bunch lately. Any info that you wish to share would be greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the toughest academic program you are likely to encounter. It truly is brutal. BUT, and there is a bit BUT (not butt) it is so worth it. In just over 12 months I became an RN working at a local emergency department. Life is good. The first year is going to drain you mentally, physically and emotionally. You have to just keep plugging away. I placed a piece of paper with my name and R.N. after it and stuck it on the refrigerator. When I got stressed (or my wife noticed I was stressed which was usually the case) I just looked at that piece of paper. It helped keep me focused. Things get harder as you progress - not easier. There are a couple of professors out there who are utterly fantastic and you will find out quickly who I am talking about.
I am not trying to scare you off. But you should be aware of how demanding the program is. Our cohort (we were the second patch) lost two students through the program. Some of us went part time grad school after the NCLEX. There are three tracks at the moment (at least for our class) the AACN CNL track, Self-directed where you hook up with a prof. in your area of interest (limited in scope at UNH as there are only a few specialties represented amongst nursing professors) or the Education track (this is my focus).
Good luck with school, congratulations once again. IT IS WORTH IT IN THE END.
I don't know about this year. I have just gotten hired at YH and my wife and I live in Durham. She doen't work in ME. I too have heard about this fallacy of the tax system of ME. I am not too sure of how it will work but check out this web page if you haven't already. I am not sure if it helps. I am kinda tax illiterate.
Just started poking around in the NCLEX discussion forum. Wow, there are so many threads. I spend much of yesterday and today trying to glean as much info as possible. It is almost overwhelming.
I have received my ATT and scheduled my exam for Feb. 2. Like the majority of you -who have not yet taken the NCLEX - I have been getting rather nervous. I have been offered a position as a new grad in the ED of a local hospital. The specialty of my choice. However the position is contingent upon passage of the NCLEX. Just a little bit of pressure. As far as grades are concerned, I had a 3.7 although I understand that GPA has little correlation with success. My school has just recently adopted the ATI predictor test to evaluate how we will do. My score on the 180 question proctored exam was a 65.5 which equates to a 96 percent pass rate. This was encouraging for a while and I felt confident.
Then, after taking a number of 100 question comprehensive tests from the Saunders, Delmar, Lippencott MIE CD's, my confidence has eroded. The Lippencott MIE seemed too easy (scored in the high 80's and low 90's. The Delmar scores in the low 70's and the Saunders in the low to mid 60's.
With these scores, my confidence is shaken. I did purchase the Kaplan book with the CD. I read this book a little yesterday and took the Saunders today using some of the strategies and only scored in the mid 60's again.
I am planning to keep on studying and reviewing content areas and taking more and more of the practice exams.
Are my scores too low?
What scores should I be getting consistently to pass the NCLEX?
How good is the ATI predictor?
Should I purchase the Mosby's CAT
What about the NCSBN's Review?
I know these questions have been addressed in various threads but there are so many I find it difficult to keep going through all of them. I apologize for this repetition in advance and to also those of you who may take the time to answer some of my questions.
I too am an UNH DEMN student. (one of two males in this class) Although I am in the second batch and as such I am just starting my summer courses. Those of us in the Class of 2007 do thank the Class of 2006 for paving the way. However, not all the bugs have been ironed out.
Yes. this program is new. Yes, it is intense. Sixty-four credits in the first year of study leading to the NCLEX. One has to be flexible and have a sense of humor. (the advice we are all given) Information is crammed into you and you must be prepared to study, study, study. There are a few weeks off but not very many.
It helps if you have a supportive family network of some kind and a source of income. This program is expensive due to the "extra" credit hours abouve the normal graduate load of 9-12 per semester. This past spring we have taken 26 credits. The cost for the first year is well over $20,000 including fees and books etc. The remaining year-and-a-half is at a normal graduate level pace and thus normal cost.
We do (will) have a lot of clinical experience before taking the NCLEX. Generally, two days (16 hours) each week in the clinical setting. I am now in my community rotation and again 16 hours per week in clinical. Additionally, after passage of the NCLEX you can work as an RN and complete the graduate studies portion of this program (1.5 additional years)
The program is designed for those whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than nursing. Mine was Parks Recreation and Tourism (concentration in environmental education). Many of my classmates have had some experience with health care. I was an EMT in college and with the National Park Service more than a decade ago.
I would encourage anyone to consider this program. But you must have a thick skin also as many RN's out there (and doctors also) are critical of this type of program. We find ourselves frequently defending the program to these people. Our solution is to be the best nursing students possible.
The program at the moment has three tracks after your first year: Education, Clinical nurse leader (see the AACN website for info about this) and a self-designed track.
If one is interested, I say go for it. This is no cake walk and is perhaps the toughest and most demanding education I have received so far.
Does anybody have any insight regarding working at Beverly Hospital/Northeast Health System? I had heard of union members picketing recently. Thanks
Hello,
I have been considering working in or around Boston or the North Shore. I am wondering if anyone has any insight regarding commuting from Southern NH or Maine to Boston area hospitals for work. I am curious:
How is your commute?
Do you drive, or do you take either the bus or train?
If bus or train, does the cost offset parking fees?
Is the generally higher pay worth the hour or more commute?
Any pro's or con's that you care to share?
Any problems with taxes (if live in NH)?
Thank you for any of your responses,
Tim
I have been in my current position as an overnight staff RN in a small community hospital ED for 5 years. It is my first job in nursing. (I am a direct entry Master's in Nursing graduate) I also started last year to teach one day per week in the nursing simulation lab at a local university. My wife recently gave birth to our first child and now I am passively looking to find another job in the Southern Maine and NH or Northern Mass. area with daytime hours. I was wondering if anybody has had any experience - or know of somebody - utilizing nurse recruiting firms or "headhunters". Are they worth it? Any pitfalls or successes? I am not considering traveling agencies. I have been getting e-mails from these recruiters a bunch lately. Any info that you wish to share would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tim
Congratulations Arciedee,
Welcome to the toughest academic program you are likely to encounter. It truly is brutal. BUT, and there is a bit BUT (not butt) it is so worth it. In just over 12 months I became an RN working at a local emergency department. Life is good. The first year is going to drain you mentally, physically and emotionally. You have to just keep plugging away. I placed a piece of paper with my name and R.N. after it and stuck it on the refrigerator. When I got stressed (or my wife noticed I was stressed which was usually the case) I just looked at that piece of paper. It helped keep me focused. Things get harder as you progress - not easier. There are a couple of professors out there who are utterly fantastic and you will find out quickly who I am talking about.
I am not trying to scare you off. But you should be aware of how demanding the program is. Our cohort (we were the second patch) lost two students through the program. Some of us went part time grad school after the NCLEX. There are three tracks at the moment (at least for our class) the AACN CNL track, Self-directed where you hook up with a prof. in your area of interest (limited in scope at UNH as there are only a few specialties represented amongst nursing professors) or the Education track (this is my focus).
Good luck with school, congratulations once again. IT IS WORTH IT IN THE END.
Let me know if you want any more info.
Tim
Dear palesarah
I don't know about this year. I have just gotten hired at YH and my wife and I live in Durham. She doen't work in ME. I too have heard about this fallacy of the tax system of ME. I am not too sure of how it will work but check out this web page if you haven't already. I am not sure if it helps. I am kinda tax illiterate.
http://mainegov-images.informe.org/r...edNRHDoc05.pdf
NHDEMN
Just started poking around in the NCLEX discussion forum. Wow, there are so many threads. I spend much of yesterday and today trying to glean as much info as possible. It is almost overwhelming.
I have received my ATT and scheduled my exam for Feb. 2. Like the majority of you -who have not yet taken the NCLEX - I have been getting rather nervous. I have been offered a position as a new grad in the ED of a local hospital. The specialty of my choice. However the position is contingent upon passage of the NCLEX. Just a little bit of pressure. As far as grades are concerned, I had a 3.7 although I understand that GPA has little correlation with success. My school has just recently adopted the ATI predictor test to evaluate how we will do. My score on the 180 question proctored exam was a 65.5 which equates to a 96 percent pass rate. This was encouraging for a while and I felt confident.
Then, after taking a number of 100 question comprehensive tests from the Saunders, Delmar, Lippencott MIE CD's, my confidence has eroded. The Lippencott MIE seemed too easy (scored in the high 80's and low 90's. The Delmar scores in the low 70's and the Saunders in the low to mid 60's.
With these scores, my confidence is shaken. I did purchase the Kaplan book with the CD. I read this book a little yesterday and took the Saunders today using some of the strategies and only scored in the mid 60's again.
I am planning to keep on studying and reviewing content areas and taking more and more of the practice exams.
Are my scores too low?
What scores should I be getting consistently to pass the NCLEX?
How good is the ATI predictor?
Should I purchase the Mosby's CAT
What about the NCSBN's Review?
I know these questions have been addressed in various threads but there are so many I find it difficult to keep going through all of them. I apologize for this repetition in advance and to also those of you who may take the time to answer some of my questions.
Yours in nursing
NHDEMN
Sorry folks. I just found this thread.
I too am an UNH DEMN student. (one of two males in this class) Although I am in the second batch and as such I am just starting my summer courses. Those of us in the Class of 2007 do thank the Class of 2006 for paving the way. However, not all the bugs have been ironed out.
Yes. this program is new. Yes, it is intense. Sixty-four credits in the first year of study leading to the NCLEX. One has to be flexible and have a sense of humor. (the advice we are all given) Information is crammed into you and you must be prepared to study, study, study. There are a few weeks off but not very many.
It helps if you have a supportive family network of some kind and a source of income. This program is expensive due to the "extra" credit hours abouve the normal graduate load of 9-12 per semester. This past spring we have taken 26 credits. The cost for the first year is well over $20,000 including fees and books etc. The remaining year-and-a-half is at a normal graduate level pace and thus normal cost.
We do (will) have a lot of clinical experience before taking the NCLEX. Generally, two days (16 hours) each week in the clinical setting. I am now in my community rotation and again 16 hours per week in clinical. Additionally, after passage of the NCLEX you can work as an RN and complete the graduate studies portion of this program (1.5 additional years)
The program is designed for those whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than nursing. Mine was Parks Recreation and Tourism (concentration in environmental education). Many of my classmates have had some experience with health care. I was an EMT in college and with the National Park Service more than a decade ago.
I would encourage anyone to consider this program. But you must have a thick skin also as many RN's out there (and doctors also) are critical of this type of program. We find ourselves frequently defending the program to these people. Our solution is to be the best nursing students possible.
The program at the moment has three tracks after your first year: Education, Clinical nurse leader (see the AACN website for info about this) and a self-designed track.
If one is interested, I say go for it. This is no cake walk and is perhaps the toughest and most demanding education I have received so far.
Despite the late info, I hope it helps.