thyme39

Oakwood is trying to cut expenses until the end of the year. No nurses are being laid off that I know of. In fact we have 3 open positions for nurses on our floor they are actively recruiting for. However, we have been asked to work short 1 nurse for 4 hrs out of each 12 hr shift until end of yr. Our unit is usually busy so there is overtime if you want. They would rather cut agency and contingent and have us work the OT if we want. But the rumors fly that they could close departments. They closed a Med-surg floor earlier this yr. Also, nurses who have been here longer tell me they say the same thing for cost cutting the last 2-3 months every yr, so maybe it's not due to the economy or not totally.

I used binders for each class. You usually have 3 classes in a semester so I bought 3 different colored binders and put everything for each class into its own binder. Also downloaded all the info from the website they use to my hard drive because once I had a test and their site was down and was panicking cause I couldn't get to the info I needed for the test. I also made a monthly calendar on my computer and put all my class days, tests, papers due date, clinicals, etc on it so I could see a month at a glance what I had to do and where I had to be. I used the binders with a clear plastic sleeve on the front and kept the monthly calendars in there so I could quickly look at them but they were kept neat and not ripped/crumpled. I bought a backpack w/wheels cause the books are pretty heavy and I kept extra pencils, notebooks, etc in there. You do need to keep organized. It can be so crazy. You will find out what works for you. Good luck.

Where I work the weekend cadre is either fri/sat/sun or sat/sun/mon. You only have to work on a holiday if it falls on a weekend. You work 36 hrs/week but get paid for 40. (so if you work extra you get time and a half right away). Our critical care unit usually doesn't have enough people on the weekends so they rarely get pulled to other units or sent home.

Despite the nursing shortage, some ICU's still look for candidates with ICU experience. Go on the hospital websites in your area and see what the ICU positions are looking for. I've seen them say 2 yrs med-surg req, or previous step-down experience req.If you can't find anything in ICU, you can try a step down unit first. See if you can get into an ICU step down or a step down that takes high acuity pts. After you get some experience there, try again for the ICU. Many nurses use a step down as a transition to ICU and since you are getting some of the types of things an ICU gets (vents, some drips, etc) you will have a better chance of meeting their requirements. You may have to transfer hospitals to get what you want. Good luck.

Congratulations! I just took mine today. Like you I had 75 questions, 0 math, 2-3 OB & Peds. I had 15-20 meds and it seemed like every 4th question was an SATA. I thought "come on already". I don't know if I passed or not (will have to wait until Tues.) but I'm hoping that the large number of SATA I got means I was "above the line" since someone told me SATA are the harder ones. I took the Kaplan review and it really shook my confidence. I only got in the 55-60's on their tests. Their tests seemed a lot harder than the nclex questions. Congrats again!

Oakwood nurses are not unionized. Only Oakwood nursing assistants.

"The Michigan Nursing Scholarship, from what I have been told, is given to qualified students thru the colleges they attend. My school told me that they divy it up to the students who "need" it, and then see what's leftover for the rest." You are correct in that the MI Nursing Scholarship is given through the colleges. However, the colleges decide who to give it to and may or may not decide to use "need" as a basis to determine this. I received it for last year (2007-2008 yr) and my university did not use "need" as one of the criteria.

Went to OU. Got in first time. Did pre-reqs at Schoolcraft (much cheaper and closer). Did all my sciences there. Was in the accelerated pgm at OU and was a ton of work and even more stress. Lost some hair and gained some weight. But I lived through it and graduated. Had to wear all white for clinicals. You could wear a T-shirt under your scrub top if the top was cut too low. Work at Oakwood Hostpital now. Can wear any color except a med blue, which is what the OR wears. I bought all new print tops and solid colored bottoms. Woohoo!

I know of 2 hospitals in my area (MI) that offer $20,000 toward your CRNA school tuition in exchange for 2 years working after you graduate. At least one of them also offers health insurance while you are in school (for you only not family). Is this common for hospitals to do this? Is it advisable to take an offer like this? Has anyone done this and how did it work out? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

I graduated in May with a BSN. I was offered a med-surg position at Beaumont and a critical care position at Oakwood Hospital. I looked for a position at DMC for ICU and did interview. I thought it went well (and the manager told me she thought my answers were very good) but they chose someone else. I feel it's probably because I had no experience. I did the excelerated program so did not have a lot of time to work. Many nursing students work as externs during the summer and then contingent during the year. This gets your foot in the door so to speak. Now, keep in mind I was looking for an ICU position right out of school. There were tons of med-surg positions out there. I never applied for them, except for Beaumont. I did shadow on the floor I am at at Oakwood. It is critical care (not ICU) but the ratio is 2 pts to 1 nurse, work every other weekend and I will be on midnights. I could also have worked the afternoon shift. I think that is 4p-4a. And one person who started with me is working days. So, as someone said it is a tradeoff. You should have no trouble finding a job. Most of the students in our program had jobs before they finished school. It might not be the one you ultimately want, or the time you want it, or even the place you want it, but you will have a job, benefits, and get some experience. Then you can move to something else or somewhere else if you want after a while. I like the floor I'm on. The nurses are great. I have 12 weeks orientation. I get to work with vents, drips, traches, and the type of patients we get mean I'm getting a lot of variety in my training. I've been there for about 2 months (on days) and the nurses work as a team. We had a pt who had a drain in his leg and blew his femor. While one nurse was holding his leg to stop the bleeding, 5 other nurses and the manager were all in there and helping. And when you have a problem with a pt and can't get to your other pt, the other nurses step in too. I've seen some posts from people who did not like Oakwood so I was a little leary. But so far it has turned out great. I was also told by someone who was on nights and switched to days that nights is even more cohesive than days. I'm a night person too. You will always have at least one person you wish you never have to work with but by and large, everyone is very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. Also, the think I just can't get over about Oakwood is that everyone is always saying hi to me and smiling. Just other people who work at the hospital. I've never seen anything like it. When I walk in to work, I'll have 4-5 people smile and say hi. Really friendly. You shouldn't have any problem with finding a job with benefits. And I think the turnover is such that you wouldn't have to work for very long to advance. I would like to say to try to find out what the floor you want to work on is like. In my clinicals I had some very good floors but others in my class had terrible ones. Mean nurses, unhelpful, etc. If you ask me I would say that hospital was great but if you ask them they would say it was horrible. So it really depends who you will be working with. HFH and DMC are maybe not in the most desirable areas but you would get great experience there. And the job market is such that if you don't like it you should be able to move somewhere else, either somewhere in the same hospital or another hospital, or travel nurse, or..... Even in MI. It also doesn't matter if you have a ADN or BSN as far as getting a job. Then you can do an ADN to BSN pgm if you like. At Oakwood you start at 23.65, 1$ extra for weekends, $2-2.50 extra for afternoon and midnight shift. But I heard they just increased the base pay of nurses. so it might be a more. Good luck.

I just graduated from OU's in May. They do 3 sessions a year and as far as I know still have rolling enrollment (which means you don't have to reapply each time just like a new person). The wait times are estimates. People who apply usually apply to other schools too. I applied to UofM and was in the process of applying to Wayne when OU called. So, some of those on their wait list may drop out to go to other programs, may not have their prereqs done as they hoped, etc. For whatever reason some do drop, so lots of times you may get a chance to get in before they told you. But , like everything there is no guarantees. so they can't tell you this (that you could get in sooner). This is what I remember. You can apply anytime but they will only consider you when you START your last semester of prereqs. Why apply early? I did it so I would know exactly what I needed to finish and so I would be familiar to them. Each semester of prereqs I sent the grades to OU and they updated what I needed to finish. They also run 3 programs a year. Take around 55 people each. So, the wait may be less if you were on their wait list than a school that does 1 session a year. I also like the fact that I could work until the day I started school. (I quit on a friday and started school on a monday). Wayne's is also 1 semester longer. I think the money is compatible with OU's but it was another semester that I would be in school and wouldn't be making money. OU's is based a lot on GPA. You do have to write something for them but I think unless you blow it or the interview, if you have the grades, you will get in. I just didn't like the idea of having to apply year after year someplace and maybe never get in. They do make you take 3 classes from OU. For me it was $2000. However, you can loans that apply to these pre-req classes (pharm, patho, nutrition). They were all online and you take them before you start. I took them all in the semester before I started and worked full time. I would suggest not doing it this way if you have a choice since it is stressful and a lot of work. But I DID do it and got 3.7,3.8,3.9, So it can be done. Also, try to get high grades in these because they are part of your nursing GPA so if you want to go on to more schooling (masters) you want to keep your grades as high as possible. 30's is not too old for the 2nd degree pgm. Lots of people are 30's and older. Also, I liked the program at OU. Like any other it can have it's problems. Just remain flexible, don't get too upset at last minute changes and hang in there and you will do fine. I think each class they try to do it better. They hire an outside company to talk to the students to find out what they should do differently. But I think you would get a good education in any of the 2nd degree pgms in MI. Good luck in whatever you decide.

I just finished an accelerated BSN pgm (12 months from OU). I think the other posters had some great ideas and comments and I agree with all of them. I have an 11 & 14 yr old. And a great husband that took over everything I was doing with them (homework, picking up/dropping off, meals, etc) so I could spend almost all my time out of class studying. I usually did not study on fridays and just watched TV with the family. I did absolutely study on sat and sunday and sometimes all day sat and sun. Like you I could not afford to not work for more than 1 yr so the pgm was perfect for me. You will need a lot of study time. Don't go in thinking you can study and hour or two late at night and that will be enough. BUT, it is absolutely doable. AND, it is only 12 months. I would like to add that planning is a big part. Read all these posts to your support system so they know what you (and they) are getting into. Tell them you will need them to be you for the length of the program but that it will be over in 12 months (if yours is 12 months, I assume it is). Know you will probably feel guilty that you will not spend much time with your family for the next year. My kids are older but even I got the "You're studying AGAIN" routine? Make sure you have backups if your kids get sick or need something that you would normally give them but can't since you are in school. I did not do much except school and study the whole year. My house was a mess, the outside even worse, and I never picked up a non-text book to read during that time. I hope I am not scaring you off. It is hard. But you CAN do it. Repeat. You CAN do it. Others have. Many of my class had very young children. One was delivering in the last 2 months of the program. The only ones that dropped out were those who had no help from anyone else and had to miss clinicals or not study because their children needed to be picked up from school or were sick. And just think, after this relatively short period of time, you will have no trouble getting a job and can work 3-12's and be with your kids and your family a lot. There is also a unique side to all this. My husband has grown so close to my 2 kids. Closer than I would have ever thought. I believe that without this time with them, he would never have forged such a bond. He may have been "forced" into it but it turned out good. Also, it's easy to forget you also have a husband who will miss you. I guess because he is an adult and we just expect him to understand. So maybe once a month take some time just with him. I also noticed that some times during the program were easier for me. Everyone had different times. So I spent more time with my family then. I truly believe you can do it.

I just graduated and am starting in a progressive/step down unit. I found it pretty hard to get a job in an ICU unit right out of school if you don't have experience such as doing your preceptorship on an ICU floor or working as a tech on an ICU floor. Even though several hospitals said they hire new grads into an ICU (and a lot more flat out said they won't hire new grads into an ICU) when I interviewed most of those wanted you to have done an internship or tech on an ICU floor. And then they only hired you if you had done it on their floor. I am very interested in critical care so I started out with my heart set on working in the ICU. What I ended up doing was starting on a progressive/stepdown unit. I think it is the best place for me. This unit gets almost everything an ICU gets but not as critical. I did not tech or preceptor on this unit but did shadow. I feel I will learn a tremendous amount here and in a year I will probably then look at going to an ICU. I know people who have gone to an ICU unit directly out of school but most has some tech experience. I think it can be done but you have to have a VERY good orientation/preceptorship when you start and a LOT of helpful experienced nurses. And be able to handle a lot of stress. I know this is off the topic but had to put in my 2 .

Natcat, I never did an internship or worked as a nurse tech. Some of my class has. I decided instead to concentrate on getting good grades since I want to eventually go on to my masters. My pgm is 2nd degree so it is very intensive and only 12 m long. Not a lot of time to work. I did however join the Dean's Circle (kind of a leadership group for nursing students) and was even in a video our SON made. I have pretty good grades and they will serve me well in the future. I could have worked and probably gotten grades that are passing but not as good. I am currently looking for jobs. Would having worked as an intern or nurse tech help me find a job? No. Would it have helped me land the job I want? Maybe, since I'm partial to ICU. However, after learning that I may not be able to get into ICU I broadened my horizon and am now looking at step downs. So what if I have to work a year in step down and then go on to an ICU. Or even a year in med-surg and then go on to something else. Maybe it's not what I planned when I started but things change and if I really still want ICU, I will work till I get it. A year is nothing and will fly by. In the meantime I will learn a lot and be MORE ready for the ICU. And - I hear all the time about great nurses who weren't so great nursing students. That is, they may not have gotten the highest grade. But they hung in there and are wonderful nurses now. I'm sure you will be one too, because you aspire to be one.