Ms.PreReqs

Never do an ABSN. It's insane. There is never time to study, they give you so much homework that you're always constantly and frantically hunting for answers, you'll be so overwhelmed you can't process it all, and although we're known as the "type A" ones who can handle it, we are all individually breaking down behind the scenes. If you can take the time to give yourself more time to absorb material and not jump into this masochistic hell hole of academia, do that instead. imho.

Hi people! I'm starting in May too and cannot wait to meet you guys! I dropped to the floor sobbing when I opened my email on my phone lol (I was home). It's been such a long journey- this is my second career and has always been my first choice. ? SO STOKED to meet you guys! ❤️ I'm a Colorado native who has happily moved back home this year and am happy to go on some hikes to dewind (and talk class!) when we finally start!!!

Can you try nursing informatics? Or even night shift maybe?

Is it possible to work as an RN and a social worker simultaneously? I've applied to nursing school and am really hoping to get in, but would also like to work one on one doing psychotherapy with clients. I've heard from PMHNP's that their role is predominantly med mgmt. I turned down a PsyD acceptance after tallying up the insane tuition amount and decided the ROI wasn't worth it when you can do nearly the same thing with a masters in counseling or MSW. Anyways, are the schedules potentially doable to work part time doing both? Thanks for the input!

No but really- did they actually give you that much time off every few months? Is that a thing?!

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO TRAVEL SO MUCH?! THAT'S AMAZING!!!!

Aloha people!!! My interview is this week for the FNP track and I would love to hear from anyone who knows more about the “Group Interview” setting. They are nerve racking bc you have to be in front of a group of people who are of course amazing and say “bla bla bla well I’M amazing because...” ? Man I *REALLY* wish it wasn’t a group interview. Any thoughts there? Anyone been through this rodeo before? Thank you!!!! ?

Aloha, I'm new to the site and am new to the world of nursing. A few of my friends currently work for Kaiser in Oakland. I am a teacher in Oakland and live in Berkeley. For those of you who are unfamiliar to the Bay Area, this is the region of the "East Bay". Most people work in "the city" as we reference it colloquially, or San Francisco, and live in the East Bay. As you can gauge from the name chosen, I am hoping to enter said world of nursing and am currently taking prereqs in order to do so. However, there is a lot I've learned on this journey so far and I want to share my experience with you guys who are considering relocating. Alas, I think from what I've learned on the boards so far, everyone wants to be here. I want to tell you a little bit about that reality so hopefully more people will realize why home is where you're better off. I make below/circa 50k, average for a teacher in California. A friend who lives with me works in tech and makes below/circa the mid 100k region. Our rent is $2,600 for 1/3 of the small house we live in- before utilities, which can be high because it gets freezing here also. We share said house with two other families. From an "ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY SAVE HAWAI'I OR MANHATTAN" standpoint, the house itself is rather small. Not only that, but we were extremely lucky to even find one as the market itself is very competitive. It took months and we lost two we wanted badly in the process. Nursing salaries are "more" in the Bay Area....KIND OF. Kind of NOT, also. It is one of the very few areas in the nation where the benefits of home ownership versus renting is financially debatable. Also, our taxes are very high. After taxes, I take home about 35K and my friend rakes in around high 80's, 90's, depending on how the STARTUP is going. That's the thing too- the industries here can be fickle. One day you're raking in the dough, the next you're unemployed. Something to think about with the lack of stability if you have a partner in tech. There also aren't nearly as many jobs as there are elsewhere. I've conducted tons of nursing informational interviews and all of the nurses I've spoken to who were new grads had to move somewhere else for a while first. Those who didn't had to wait, unemployed, paying Bay Area rent on debt, for 1-2 years. Additionally, crime is high. This is just a fact of life here. Anecdotally though obviously close to home, my friend was physically assaulted this year by a stranger at night. The injury was bad enough that it culminated in a CT Scan and surgery. After the attack, he was in the ER for 8 hours and worked from home with a broken jaw for two months. True story. In downtown Oakland I am verbally assaulted about twice a week. Another friend of mine witnessed a stabbing in the city while out one night in a "normal" area. If you are a nurse in a peaceful community and you have dreams of making more in the Bay Area, I can promise you it isn't worth it. It won't pan out financially and there is a huge chance you are walking away from something good. I am 30 and would LOVE to not have housemates. However, everyone I know has housemates or roommates. Two of my friends in tech make 150K and each have multiple roommates. There is a very high chance that I will NEVER own a home. I am young, productive, have good educations and good connections, and still- this may never translate into stable jobs and home ownership. This means listening to my neighbor's kids practice piano 24/7 through the walls (no offense to them, but they are beginners and besides who wants to not be able to control what they hear when they're home?), never having a dog (very common here, unfortunately), and never owning our own space. I think people see the salaries of nurses here and think "that could be me". But there aren't tons of jobs, they are very competitive to get, and for those of us who are already here we look at transplants and think "you left WHAT again? A family? A yard? A salary commensurate to the region you call home?" Don't just see that big number and think it's going to the bank. It's not. It's going to the landlord. There are so many things you will realize you gave up once you get here that you'll miss. I'm not saying this to say stay away from our turf. I'm saying this because I would be truly heartbroken to leave something good and realize the reality here and I don't want that for anyone.