shycat

Any of you working nightshift while being a single mom? I was offered a position in a nurse residency program that starts in September, but I'd be starting on nightshift (I can put my name right immediately on the list to switch to day shift, though, and I think I'm going to have to do that). I LOVE the idea of night shift for the pay differential and getting to learn when things are "slower" with less people around, especially since I have never worked in health care before and I'm definitely on the introverted side. My previous job was a 3-11pm, and if I didn't have kids, or had more support, night shift would be my 100% preference. However, I'm a single mom to a 2 year old. I moved to the US to marry my now-ex husband, so I do not have family here. Or even friends. My ex-husband may or may not be able to keep her, depends if he finds somewhere to live that she can stay with him within the next couple months. Not really sure how I'm going to make night shift work. I also realized that this would essentially work out to me just getting a 2-day weekend with my daughter since I will be sleeping during the day before and after my 3 shifts. And this is especially what makes me sad since one of the appeals of working three 12s for me was more days with my daughter. Plus, this means she's potentially sleeping at a babysitter's house overnight while I work, and then during the day while I sleep... What does your schedule look like if you're a mom? Do you sleep the full day before you start your shift? Or just take a nap before? Do you schedule all your shifts in a row? How do you maximize your time to be with your kids and what does your childcare situation look like? Thank you

I took A&P 2 and Microbio last semester while working full-time. I finished with an A in A&P and a B in Microbio. I also tried to take College Algebra at the same time, but had to withdraw as I was failing.

Pregnant Type 1 Diabetics at the height of insulin resistance in their pregnancy may hit ratios of 1 unit of insulin to 1g carb. So eating a meal with 75g carbs would required 75units of insulin.

Thank you. This story is very encouraging. I was feeling very down about it and wondering if it was a sign I'm not good enough for nursing. I am going to withdraw tomorrow and take College Algebra by itself next semester.

I am doing very poorly in College Algebra. It's online, I work full-time, and I am taking A&PII and Microbio at the same time. Right now I am failing College Algebra. I am still able to withdraw. Even if I were to complete the course I would have to retake it. Which looks better? A W and then later the same class with a better grade, or potentially failing (don't think it is salvageable unfortunately) and then retaking it and doing better? I am thinking I want to take JUST College Algebra on-campus next semester so it is the only class I have to focus on.

Well the first lecture exams are not starting off on quite the right foot: A&P II: 81% Microbiology: 78.25% College Algebra is up next on Wednesday and A&P II lab exam on Saturday.

I read this entire thread and noticed the suggestion of charities and such voluntarily paying for people's health care who aren't able to pay for it themselves instead of health care being paid for via taxes. There was a Type 1 Diabetic who needed insulin, so he set up a gofundme. He died. Libertarian utopia at work.

I'm Canadian living in the US (married an American), and I would take Canada's health care system any day over the system here. The only "edge" the US has that I've seemed to notice in my time here, is that the clinics/offices are much more aesthetically-pleasing and expensive-looking... not really a requirement for quality health care. I have Type 1 Diabetes and it's insane here in the US. $275/insulin vial vs $30 (of course, I can only get it partially covered if I buy 3 vials at a time now which is way out of reach and my deductible hasn't been reached yet, but paying 20% on $600+ is still a lot for me and that's only for one of the insulins I take). People, mostly Americans, are swapping their diabetes supplies -including expired ones, on Facebook groups just for the price of shipping because cost is so out of hand here. I am insured through my employer and the coverage is meh and I work for a large, international corporation. My coverage at a much smaller employer in Canada was better. I am currently using recently expired rapid-acting insulin that I originally received in Canada in 2015. I am going home for Christmas and will be purchasing insulin in my hometown in Canada. My visit at an endocrinology clinic with a NP was around $300 here in Southern US. My visit with an endocrinologist (the best one I've had!) in Quebec was free and they ordered more comprehensive lab work. Sure, that waiting room/hospital was fugly and the waiting room was very full, but my care was perfect. My husband is currently uninsured and at home with a possible inguinal hernia. He's in a lot of pain, but has been refusing for days to go to the ER because of the cost and what a gigantic medical bill would do to us. I'm not a nurse yet - I'm doing prereqs, so I am currently the only one employed grossing a bit under $25k/year (my husband lost his job after STD wasn't approved for his depression because he didn't have a "history" with the doc who filled out the paperwork.. He had no doc prior! and I paid with my HSA for his appointment with my family doctor, but all proper care for his mental health problems have been out of reach). You don't know how much I wish he was in Canada right now just to at least have his abdominal pain attended to. No wait in the US (which I think is largely inaccurate) means nothing when you feel like the price of care is too much of a barrier to even get to the ER in the first place. Plus, in Canada I didn't have to wait and wait and wait in emerg when I presented with high glucose (not in DKA) and suspected I had diabetes. My care was very "wham bam thank you ma'am." But that's the difference between something that can become a real emergency quickly (ending up in DKA) and someone showing up with a headache... I like lots about the US and where I live, but this ain't it.

Now that the Fall semester has started, will there be a new thread? Unfortunately, I had a chemical pregnancy. We tried again, but our timing wasn't good (will find out in a week or so if the egg was caught) and I am not sure my husband is ready. Might be for the best anyway since a classmate said that it sounds like I am actually able to apply for the accelerated track that starts in the Summer. I have an appointment with the academic advisor for the health professions tomorrow to go over my degree plan and if I can, in fact, apply for a summer start. Obviously if I were pregnant, I wouldn't pursue the summer start. I know plenty of people will give birth and go back to class 2 days later, but that's not for me. I am taking College Algebra, Microbio, and A&P II and am definitely feeling the heat. The math in particular feels very fast paced and I am having a hard time figuring out my darn graphing calculator. It's online, but I am definitely thinking that I will need to take advantage of the tutors on campus. I love my microbio teacher. It's hybrid so it's just lab that's on campus, but she's very dynamic and helpful. She also did an excellent job with the online content - better than all my other online/hybrid classes. I have the same A&PII teacher as A&PI. Super boring and somehow there is a whole lot less content in my 3 hour A&P lab than in my 1h20min microbio lab!

I take my prereqs online at the same community college I hope to attend for nursing. However, the labs for my sciences classes (A&P, microbiology) are on campus. The theory/bookwork is still online. You will need to contact your college to see if they would accept science prereqs where the labs are mailed to you (and I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't possible for a class like microbiology where you're growing things like bacteria, need access to a Bunsen burner, good microscope, etc...). Your college may be like mine and also offer classes online or in the hybrid format for classes with lab. My math class is online, but they also required I take tests/exams at the test center on campus. My school does not allow online proctoring. All my other classes: English, psych, etc, are 100% online.

My goal with nursing is to ultimately become a midwife. I have wanted to be a midwife since I was 15. I am originally from Canada where midwifery is different than in the US (but more on par with CNM than CPM, but nursing education is not part of midwifery in Canada). After moving to the US and examining the different pathways, I have opted for CNM, but have also developed an interest in nursing itself. I am on track for my community college's nursing program which recently received their ACEN accreditation. This means I would be able to do the bridge program at Frontier after I get some nursing experience. My question is, do employers of CNMs prefer if you received a BSN before getting an MSN? Would it be smarter to get a BSN first vs going through a bridging program?

I have wanted to be a midwife for a long time. I am originally from Canada and midwifery there is direct-entry 4 year bachelor's program. When I moved to the US, I decided I preferred the CNM route over the CPM route. However, I do not plan on midwifery ASAP and will probably only pursue that education several years after nursing school. I am also planning a family and would rather three 12's (perhaps PRN at some point) while having young children. Plus, if the midwifery dream dies, nursing has many other fields for me to explore. There are many aspects of health & medicine I am interested in.

Found out today that I am pregnant! If it sticks (cross fingers), I am due late March/early April which is pretty good timing if I am accepted into the class that starts Fall 2018.

I took the Accuplacer today! Thanks to Khan Academy I PASSED my goal of getting into College Algebra and will be taking Precalculus. A&P II, Microbio, Precalc and Electronic Health Records is now my class line up for the fall. Potentially a bit intense... But I am excited. Additionally I will be applying to a local hospital to work as a PCA in their L&D/postpartum ward. Getting my BLS this week as that's all many of these PCA positions require: High school diploma/GED and BLS. I am also having a slight crisis re:nursing. I have been thinking more and more about med school.......

I agree with the others: If you don't want to wear make up, don't! As far as product recommendations... I don't know if it's been covered on this forum as I am unable to see search results on my work computer though it probably has, but in the Facebook group "Simple Nursing for Nursing Students" (I believe that's what it's called), this topic has been covered and people had many product recommendations for make up that can stand up to 12 hour shifts.

I have been reviewing algebra on Khan Academy to prepare for Accuplacer so I can boost my score and get into College Algebra instead of the minimum math required (which won't transfer to an RN-BSN program, so I will need College Algebra eventually anyway). I need to sit down and take the practice Accuplacer this week. My school changed from COMPASS to Accuplacer. I have taken COMPASS, but it's my first time with Accuplacer. Tomorrow my school is having a 2-hour pre-nursing advising/information session and I am taking my husband along so it can hopefully help his understanding of what nursing school is like (as much as he can anyway). One of my A&P I classmates in the spring semester went to one and said it made her cry! I'm excited though, especially since they've made changes as they've been going through the ACEN accreditation process and it hasn't all been reflected on their website yet.

My college changed the placement test they use from COMPASS to Accuplacer. I have taken COMPASS before and scored high enough for the required math for the nursing program, but not high enough for College Algebra which would give me extra points towards my nursing application and I will need it anyway when I do RN-BSN. Has anyone done both of these placement tests and can tell me how they compare? I have downloaded the Accuplacer app and am honing in on some of my weak spots (like inequalities) and have been watching Khan Academy. I also got algebra books from the library. I feel like I am grasping math better now than when I was in high school 7 years ago so have confidence in my capabilities to get myself to College Algebra level, but want to make sure I am learning the right things, not just for the test but to succeed in the class. Thank you!

Last semester I took A&P I, General Psych, and English Comp I while working full-time and going through a pretty rough and stressful period. I work second shift and would get up early for schoolwork. I finished with straight A's. I plan to take A&PII, Human Growth & Development, Electronic Health Records, and College Algebra next semester while continuing to work full-time. I need health insurance and my employer pays for it completely, so less than full-time is really not an option for me.

I think that really depends on the individual. If you have good time management skills and are actually learning & internalizing the information, online classes can be just fine. Instructors who are responsive to email and have on-campus office days would be important too. Extra important with nursing. What would make me hesitate is that I see a lot of graduates emphasize how important their classmates were to them, so I imagine some of that support would be lost. I know I didn't really have anything to do with my online prereq classmates - even the ones for my hybrid science classes where we saw each other just for labs. My school used to have an elongated, hybrid path for nursing (online lectures, on campus labs & obviously clinicals). They are going through the ACEN accreditation process right now and when ACEN did their campus visit, the school was advised to get rid of the partially online nursing program. That track also had lower NCLEX pass rates. Sorta sucks for me because that's the path I had wanted. It means I will be starting nursing school 8 months later than I wanted to IF I am accepted, and the traditional track will make working more complicated.... But I understand it is probably in my best interest given the lower pass rates, lower interaction with classmates, and I doubt ACEN made their recommendations lightly. I am also not sure if it was the online component that contributed to its lack of success, or because it was elongated, or because of a combination of both.

OP posted in 2013 that they dropped out of the program in Fall 2012, but was wanting to re-enter a nursing program. No updates since. I am introverted, shy, and do experience anxiety. So this thread has been interesting to me, though I am able to "fake it" much better these days (in my opinion anyway. Working in customer service has helped). I am still pre-nursing and am nervous about how I will manage in clinicals and then as a nurse. This is why I do want to get some CNA experience - perhaps some counseling to learn and perfect communication skills. EDIT: Just realized that I bumped a thread that hadn't had a response in a month. Sorry!

I currently work 1st shift on Sundays and 2nd shift Monday-Thursday. I could totally work a Friday night, if that is something a local LTC would want. I am going to look into part-time work further. Thank you all :)

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

I am a pre-nursing student and have been interested in becoming a CNA. I can't afford the classes so would have to be sponsored by a LTC and then work for them. This would also mean I would make $1-1.50 less per hour. I currently make $12.01 at a clerical job that has half decent benefits. Of course, we all have different costs of living, varying amounts of income from partners (or not), etc, that would play a role in this decision... But would you consider the experience of being a CNA prior to becoming a nursing student/nurse so valuable that it'd be worth the pay cut?

I will be 25 this year. Almost 26 when/if I get into the nursing class I am planning for. I have had a lot of "false starts" (programs I started, but never completed) with school, as well as regrets. My goal is midwifery as well. I've wanted to be a midwife since I was in high school, but the path for that in Canada is different and independent from nursing. It's its own profession/BHSc program there. I ended up not pursuing it in Canada due to being in a relationship with an American and now I'm in the Southern US getting started on my path to CNM. At this time I don't plan on going directly into a master's program once I complete my BSN (which I do plan on getting soon after my ADN).

I had enrolled in the minimum required math class (online), but was dropped for non-participation the day before I got paid and would be able to buy the materials to get started on the assignments Just as well as I am going through a particularly rough period in my life. My summer plan is now to study algebra and prepare to retake a placement test so I can get into College Algebra. I'll need it for my RN-BSN eventually anyway and I get extra points towards my application at the community college if I take it instead of the other math class I was enrolled in. Now I am hoping to take math, A&P2, electronic health records, and human growth & development in the Fall if I can get grants/figure tuition out without having to take out loans. I refuse to take out loans for prereqs. lol.