NurseKitty NC

As far as prerequisites go, Duke accepts courses taken at community colleges as long as the courses meet certain requirements. Just make sure you get approval from Duke before taking your prerequisites elsewhere -- it would be terrible to complete your coursework and then find out that Duke will not award you credit. One thing you might want to focus on is your application essay. The topic you select and the time/effort you put into writing a great essay is what will set you apart from all the other students, regardless of standardized test scores, GPAs, academic transcripts, etc. It is quite challenging to get into their accelerated program, but keep in mind they do have other options, including a traditional 24-month program. Also, there are other reputable nursing programs in the general vicinity of Duke, such as UNC-Chapel Hill and Watts School of Nursing, which you may want to consider as a backup plan.

How long ago did you take your Anatomy? The reason I ask is because if it's been a few years, you may find that you'll benefit from taking the full Anatomy & Physiology sequence again. The subject matter is so very important in your nursing courses and the NCLEX, that a refresher course can be very helpful.

Have you considered looking into an RN program at a community college near Charlotte? Most community colleges do not have "waiting lists," but rather admit students based on academic merit. Most will also allow you to complete "prerequisites" while enrolled in the nursing program, so you don't have to take a lot of courses ahead of time. ECPI is quite expensive, and after you get your LPN you'd still have around 2 years more schooling to get your RN. Community colleges are much more affordable.

I have a few friends that have gone through the program. Some worked, some didn't, some had small children at home, some had very active social lives ... Basically, those who wanted to succeed badly enough found the means to balance school with other responsibilities. It's all about managing your time efficiently, keeping in mind that school has to come first. It can be done .. :)

I too had difficulty dealing with Wake Tech. I applied the the RN program, completed all my prerequisites, attended orientation, and waited for what seemed like forever. I called the admissions counselor to follow-up, but she never seemed to answer her phone. I left several messages and never heard back. As the decision deadline approached and I still hadn't heard anything, I called again, and found out that they had LOST my application. So basically I wasn't even considered among the other applicants and of course did not get in. I then applied to Vance-Granville and got in right away. I am graduating in two months. It is a much more organized program -- the admissions process is very streamlined and they keep you informed every step of the way. The admissions counselors answer their phones and respond to inquiries. All policies and expectations are clearly spelled out from the beginning and are posted on the school's website as well. Vance-Granville is a farther drive for me but overall has been much easier to deal with than Wake Tech.

In the Raleigh-Durham area, CNAs make anywhere from $7 to $9 just starting out. Even after several years experience, it is rare to make even $10. You might want to reconsider quitting your job if you have a mortgage to pay ...

Hi everyone! Last week I applied for an RN position at Kennestone Hospital, Oncology unit. So far I've heard mixed reviews on this hospital. Does anyone reading this work at Kennestone? How do you like it? What should I expect if I were to work there? Thanks!!

In most schools, whether you do 2 six-hour shifts or 1 twelve-hour shift, they usually start really early ... 6:30 or 7 am. This is so you have an opportunity to take report, do morning meds/assessments, etc. Lots of students in my class had small children. They either arranged to have family members watch them, or found a day care center near the hospital that opened early enough to drop them off. It was a challenge but they managed to make it work.

I am graduating in May, and will be relocating to Kennesaw, GA from North Carolina. I will be living fairly close to Kennestone Hospital. What does anyone know about their new grad opportunities, employee satisfaction, etc.?

Why not apply to some nursing programs in NC and see if you get accepted before making the decision to relocate or not. I was accepted the first try back when I applied, and I started the program right away. (I live in the Raleigh area.) Don't be fooled by so-called "waiting lists" -- most schools do not really have those. When I was applying, everyone talked about how there were supposedly 2,000 students on the "waiting list" -- in reality, there were 2,000 students applying to the program, most of whom did not meet the minimal requirements and so were not accepted. The schools that I know of all select students based on grades, prerequisite courses already taken, relevant work experience (if any), completion of physical exam/CPR certification. By the way ... another thing you may want to consider in deciding to relocate is the salary differences between NY and NC. I lived in NY for 20 years before moving to NC, and the salary differences are huge. Most LPNs in NC only make around $14-15 an hour; RNs start at around $18-19. Whatever you choose to do, good luck!!

I'd look really closely to see if parking is the only "con" on your list. I'd questions what else they expect you to pay for. There is only one hospital that makes employees pay for parking. In addition, they also offer lower salaries than other hospitals, more expensive yet less inclusive benefits, an extremely high-priced cafeteria and no means for storing employee meals brought from home .. they don't even provide coffee in the breakroom (but they do conveniently offer an on-site Starbucks to purchase coffee at a mere $4 a cup). From my experience working at this and other facilities, I have found that hospitals that truly care about and appreciate their employees will demonstrate such by at the very least providing parking and other necessities free of charge.

From my own experience with Duke, their salaries are lower than any other area hospital, benefits are sub-par and expensive, and they are the only hospital in the area that makes employees pay for parking at $6/day! That plus the political environment due to recent news reports about things that have happened there made it enough for me to no longer want to work there. Are you absolutely set on working at Duke? There are lots of other choices in the area -- UNC Hospitals, the VA Hospital (next to Duke), Durham Regional, REX Healthcare, Wake Med, several small community hospitals ... there are many choices that are much more "employee-friendly."

I just PMed you the name of a great real estate agent. As for schools, you will generally find better quality schools and more choices of schools in the Raleigh-Durham area as opposed to Wilmington (based on state test scores, graduation rates, and other data). There are some really good schools in Wake County (i.e., Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Wake Forest, Morrisville to name a few towns) Are you looking for public or private?

Duke Hospital is one of the only places in the triangle area that will hire new grads directly into NICU or other specialty areas. Wake Med, REX, UNC, and most of the others require several years of Med-Surg experience before entering a specialty. May I ask why you are intent on NICU? Many new grads who immediately enter a specialty area later regret it, as they have lost most of their med-surg skills and don't have any other experience. Regarding parking at Duke, it is $6 per day to park in the main parking garage, although most employees park in the "H Lot" which costs $10 per month. So it's really not that expensive if you don't mind parking a little further away. As far as inexpensive places to live close to Duke ... West Raleigh has some good choices, and so does Wake Forest. Durham has some inexpensive places, but a higher crime rate. If you don't mind a slightly longer commute, you can also check out towns like Butner, Creedmoor, and Henderson. They are smaller towns located just north of Duke off I-85.

Scary situations like those recently mentioned above make me really wish that nursing programs mandated a personal interview as part of the selection process. Think about it ... with so many students trying to get into the program and so few spots available, interviewing the top students before accepting them based on grades alone would help to "weed out" the weird ones from the beginning, so as not to have to deal with such drama later. I find it so unfair that those lacking compassionate, caring personalities and social skills get into the program because of a high GPA, whereas someone who has the makings of a great nurse does not get in because of a mere fraction of a GPA point. Being a helping profession with such an emphasis on psychosocial skills and abilities, I really think that nursing schools need to re-evaluate their selection processes and take a closer look at who they are actually accepting.