Portland Nursing Programs and Volunteer

[xkgbx]

Hi,

I'm just looking for a little guidance in terms of which way to focus my attention when applying to schools.

First, a little about me... I'm 28 with a fiancé and a 4 year old (so, I need to stay in the Portland, Clackamas, or Vancouver area). I have a B.S. in Kinesiology, but limited volunteer work. I'm currently going to PCC and trying to get into their program. A lot of my prerequisites I earned from my previous degree weren't taken at PCC, so I'm at a loss for points in the prereqs completed at PCC. For the PCC program, I have currently have a 4.0. I'm open to considering applying to OHSU, U of P, Linfield, CCC, Clark College, etc.

I will be completing my prereqs this term and applying by February to PCC's program. I was just wondering if there's anyone to give some advice on earning some more of those darn discretionary point (as a prior degree is only worth one point). So, really my question is: after this term should I try and get a CNA license? should I work on taking more prereqs at PCC? or should I take different prereqs that qualify me for applying to other schools, too?

Also, I'm having a hard time finding volunteer work that is in a medical setting. I've applied to various hospitals over a month ago and still haven't heard anything back. Are there other volunteer positions/places that anyone can suggest that qualifies as a "medical setting" that I might be able to get into quicker?

Any tips on any of this, or applying to Portland nursing schools in general would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Getting your CNA is probably the best bet, then you can be working in the medical field.

There are a lot of places to volunteer at don't limit yourself to med/surg.

Most hospitals have a volunteer coordinator, have you tried to contact them?

LTC and SNF's also use volunteers, which is part of the medical healthcare field.

[nt2002]

Sent you a PM. Also, you can try hospices -- Medicaid mandates that a certain amount of a hospice provider's services are provided by volunteers. You have to go through a pretty lenghty training that seems to be offered on set cycles before you can start, so if you want to get started right away, this might not be the best option.

[NurseJD123]

yes, get your CNA license through the PCC program and try to get a job at a decent rehab/skilled nursing facility like I did. Personally I did this and got a job in Lake Oswego. I do believe this experience helped me to have a good essay story to tell with my OHSU acc bacc application and also helped me securing my first job in a nurse residency program. CNA work is hard and can be stressful/back breaking so finding a quality facility to work in is key. I considered it my pre nursing program boot camp of sorts and it showed me how important team work is in nursing. I also volunteered at a hippo therapy program - as a side walker where i worked with physical therapists and patients doing therapy on horseback. That was a great experience as well. I say do both - volunteer work with hands on patient experience and CNA licensure and job. Latter if it takes longer to get into nursing school you can then after one year or less get your CNA 2 licensure and apply directly to hospitals for those jobs which will give you an even better chance in securing a hospital job after graduation. You are young, I was in my forties when I went back to school to do this...you can totally make it happen, just work hard, be strategic, and don't let anyone tell you its too hard, etc. I love my current job now at Good Samaritan in NW Portland with Legacy and am so happy I preserved through the challenges I was faced with. It is worth it.

[NurseJD123]

Try to this nonprofit for possible opportunities.

Equine Therapy, Riding Therapy and Hippotherapy for Portland Oregon - Forward Stride

[NurseJD123]

The shortest path to the BSN is OHSU's accelerated program. It makes financial sense in the long run to try your hardest to get in to that program vs. extending the length of your education since you already have a BS. I think you would be a great candidate for that program. Go visit the school of nursing at OHSU and talk to an admissions counselor there to get more information, they can give you great advice too and explain the program.

[ajw414, ASN, RN]

Hey xkgbx - I would suggest looking into being a Medication Assistant at an assisted living facility. There are some in your area that you could probably start working at, without prior medical experience. If you want to volunteer, start the process soon. I would put it a volunteer application at a bunch of local hospitals... the process takes a while!