Poll Time: Come in all you Distant Learners

cahutchings · Jan 14, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

my medical background is all pre-hospital, first as an emt-basic and then as an emt-paramedic (since 2002) - so 8 years total

2. what setting do you currently work in?

i am currently not working. i am pregnant with baby number 2 and due in early march.

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

i am not sure. i am interested in a few areas - emergency room, labor and delivery, cardiac critical care unit, and i would not be opposed to working in a physician's office either.

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

it's hard, but i just do it. i have a lot going on (marine husband who deploys every 6-12 months and is gone constantly for training), almost two kids now, and a volunteer job. it's a slow process, but my goals are small and feel good when i accomplish them. (i.e. pass each exam)

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

i would do the traditional route. if i knew where we would be living ahead of time, i would have not done the distance learning route.

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

i will be able to have more options and be able to get a job/career easier than being a paramedic. i will be able to find my niche and stick with it.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 14, 2008

I'm anything but a lurker (no, really? LOL), but I'll answer!

1. What is your Medical Background and how many years have you done it?

I became an EMT in 2000 and an EMT-Paramedic in 2003. I work in an ED as a tech and I volunteer as a medic.

2. What setting do you currently work in?

ED/rescue squad

3. What setting would you like to work in once you get your RN?

ED, most definitely! :) I'd also like to try the ICU at some point.

4. How do you keep up your momentum to study for exams?

I'm a very stubborn girl. Once I decide I'm going to do something, don't try to stop me!

5. If you had to do it all over, would you go to traditional classroom or stick with Distance learning?

I'm not done yet, but I really love being a distance learning student. Not only for the learning while in my jammies, but also for the sense of empowerment and accomplishment I've gained doing it this way. This isn't easy, people ... you should all be proud!

6. Once you get your RN degree, How do you think it will impact your life?

It'll open doors, to be sure. I want to stay in my current ED for a while, and then we'll see where life takes us. :) We're always considering Colorado -- we love it there. But it'll be nice to know that no matter where I go, I'll be able to find a job.

akcarmean, LPN · Jan 14, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

i am currently and lpn 7yrs before that i was a cna for 4 yrs. i also have an aa in business management

2. what setting do you currently work in?

home health care

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

nicu

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

hard to do with a family, full time job, and all the other responsibilities that go along with but i guess that it is the ultimate goal that i want that keeps me motivated.

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

i have done it both ways not real sure which way i like it the best. i guess i would have to say distance learning because of the ultimate flexibility it offers with a family and a 4yo

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

hope not to much just give me the advantage of having more opportunities in the work force and some more money so we are not having to struggle all the time

Lorie P. · Jan 14, 2008

[.

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

lpn 4 years

2. what setting do you currently work in?

medical-surgical, acute care facility

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

cardiac- i have had 2 open-heart surgeries and have a passion about women and heart disease

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

i love learning new and interesting things.

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

stick with distance learning, i have a very low tolerance for a class room setting where people are just there to take up space and not to learn!

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

more flexability with scheduling and more options to chose from.

:w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t:

aegirl · Jan 14, 2008

1. What is your Medical Background and how many

years have you done it?

LPN 2 years

2. What setting do you currently work in?

Doctor's office, but not for long.

3. What setting would you like to work in once you

get your RN?

Labor and delivery

4. How do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

Schedule my exams ahead a time, then I know I have to study to be prepared for my exam date. I did slack after my very last NC exam though.

5. If you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with Distance

learning?

Actually I would have just went straight for my RN I think, instead of doing the LPN route first.

6. Once you get your RN degree, How do you think it

will impact your life?

It will definitely impact me financially as well as emotionally because I will finally be able to get the job I want and be able to pursue an even higher degree.

TraciRN · Jan 14, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

lvn 7months

2. what setting do you currently work in?

medical-surgical, acute care facility

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

ed/pacu/icu/teaching?????

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

schedule the test (i do better with a time line)

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

distance learning, i like having a paycheck!

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

choices, flexibility, confidence and then my husband can go back to school.

btw thanks for starting the thread! very interesting where everyone is from background wise.

fatcat0899 RN · Jan 15, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many
years have you done it?
lpn for 13 yrs
2. what setting do you currently work in?
homecare- pediatrics
3. what setting would you like to work in once you
get your rn?
homecare, trach/vent for pediatrics
4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for
exams?
knowing that i have the support of this site as well as rnstudy group on yahoo to help me thru
5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to
traditional classroom or stick with distance
learning?
this is my first experience. i next thought i was disciplined enough, but i realize, financially this is the only way to go
6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it
will impact your life?
more time at home. (i currently work 16hrs/day x 7days) i would love to make what i'm making now, and work less

thanks for the thread. this is such a great idea

annaedRN, RN · Jan 15, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it? lpn 8 yrs and rn ( adn) since last may

2. what setting do you currently work in? home health

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn? become wocn once i get bsn and continue in hh

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams? struggling with that! i guess paying for test and setting a date for the goal

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning? did traditional for both lpn and adn - new to the distance learning

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life? i have really appreciated the in depth learning of the disease processes in getting my adn - i love being able to explain to my patients why/how way better than i could before. i love learning!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

i have been a cna, hha, rma and have worked as a lvn since the late 1990's

2. what setting do you currently work in?

currently work in ltc skilled unit.

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

i will be staying put for right now.

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

pay then schedule the test. facing the college education expenses for 6 kids

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

i am a 100% supporter of distance learning. i cant force myself to sit in a classroom

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

it is a stepping stone for bigger and better things. i want flexibility and more opportunity.

kappykatlpn · Jan 15, 2008

lol, i like that, lurker. i guess i would be a lurker, i haven't posted much here, since i am just starting to get my act together, haven't taken a class yet, working on a and p. anyways my name is kathy and i am from michigan.

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

7 years cena

7 years lpn

2. what setting do you currently work in?

nursing home/ltc

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

defiantly hospital, not sure what area yet, maybe cardiac, i

know not pediatric for sure.

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

lol, not very well. its being hard, working full time, single mom,

but i just keep thinking of the goal, i try to study an hour a day.

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

well, i did traditional for my lpn, very hard, no flexibility with homework, and exams. at least this way, i can go around my daughters schedule or work schedule, defiantly distance learning

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

more options with career

lvnandmomx3 · Jan 15, 2008

1. what is your medical background and how many

years have you done it?

i worked in a hospital in the admitting department for 5 yrs lowest position held admitting rep highest emergency lead superviser of the admitting dept.

2. what setting do you currently work in?

i work with disabled adults as a consultant (sort of campared to a school nurse but for adults we)

3. what setting would you like to work in once you

get your rn?

not really sure

1.emergency

2.continue consulting

3. l&d nursery

4.quality assurance or utilization review (eventually will do this after exp.)

4. how do you keep up your momentum to study for

exams?

i'm a single mom of 3 kids.........

5. if you had to do it all over, would you go to

traditional classroom or stick with distance

learning?

not axactly enrolled with the distant program yet but doing pre rec's now so not sure.

6. once you get your rn degree, how do you think it

will impact your life?

financially it will make a big impact.