RiFig_17

Well, just make sure you tell your manager/boss that you're going to nursing school so maybe they can provide some flexibility with your schedule. I've known of some people finding it hard to juggle a part time job and school. However, there are some who can have a full time job, kids, and still do phenomenally in class. I don't attend the same school as you do so, I can't say for certain how your clinical will be. At my school, we didn't attend clinical until a month in our first semester. We were validated on our skills prior to going to the hospitals. Clinical for us is an 8-hour shift once a week, however, our instructors usually didn't keep us there that long. I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for in terms of "details" for clinical. You are provided with maybe one patient, you get report from your nurse, introduce yourself to the PCA/PCT/CNA and let them know you'll be taking care of that patient today. You go in and introduce yourself to the patient (name, title, and your purpose for being in their room). Then you would assist them with morning care (cleaning them up, making their bed, assisting them to the bathroom- if they can/or are allowed).

It's doable. Know your learning style for sure! I'm kind of a mix of all three so, I like to record my professors, jot down any important points they mention during lecture. Then afterward, listen to my recordings, type them up, and copy them down in a notebook (organizing it, color coding, drawing pictures, etc). Not all professors allow you to record them so ask before you do so. Although I didn't do this part as often as I should have, SKIM THROUGH THE CHAPTERS PRIOR TO LECTURE that way you have an idea what is going on. Go to lecture, listen, be prepared to ask questions, record, etc, then go back and skim your book again reading more in-depth the sections that weren't so clear to you during lecture but were clearly important. I personally LOVE watching youtube videos such as RegisteredNurseRN, khan academy, Simple Nursing, etc. However, do not use these as your only resource because their information may differ from what you're taught in lecture. I also formed a study group and we met up prior to an exam to review together. We used practice questions online/in review books, spoke through why that answer was right over the others (before reading the answer or rationale). We asked each other any questions we had and it's also beneficial to form a study group so you can give each other little mnemonics to help you remember! Good luck to you all! PS I know everyone has their own obligations in life, you have jobs to work, you have children to take care of, etc. Just know that in nursing school, you really have to focus. I know way too many people who tried to juggle way more than they can handle and even prioritized work over school work and they wanted to be upset when they didn't make it through a tough program such as nursing. Just be prepared, this will not be easy, but neither is saving someone's life.

Hi everyone, I'm applying for Nursing Assistant positions, however, the job application I'm applying for is asking if I've had previous nursing assistant experience. I'm in an associate's nursing program and completed my first year of nursing courses including Fundamentals. I have not held an actual nursing assistant position, however, I'm considering the experience from clinical may count? Can someone clarify if the clinical experience would technically count? Thank you!

Congratulations!! Glad to hear you got into your nursing program! Good luck with your courses and make sure to study study study!! Maybe brush up on some of your A&P as it will make so much more sense when you're learning in your nursing courses!

I really want a nursing assistant job because it would help so much more once I graduate having that hospital experience. I agree with you, my job is also flexible and low stress but it's really boring too. I don't interact with patients at all and all I do is pre-registration for my doctor's office. Getting a nursing assistant job is proving to be a difficult deed to fulfill. Thank you so much for clearing up the sitter position.

Yeah, I was considering staying behind if she did move because I felt as though it wouldn't be a simple process, AT ALL. Thank you so much for verifying and I will do so! Thanks again!

Hi all, I'm currently enrolled in the nursing program at my community college. I've completed my first year, however, did not pass my second semester as I was 3 points below a C+ (the passing grade at my school). My mom is hoping to move at some point soon, nothing is set in stone as we haven't really found anywhere yet, but it's in the hopes/plans for the future. I have 2 more years to go before I get my ADN at my community college due to me not passing last semester. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what it's like to transfer from one nursing program to another. I'm sure it's difficult but just wondering if anyone has had any experience themselves or maybe heard stories?

I currently work in a doctor's office where I'm one of the few people who aren't an MA. A lot of my coworkers either became an MA for something quick, but others became an MA as a first stop before going into nursing. However, just as other people said they've kind of become stuck. My coworkers often times say they want to go back to school for nursing but just don't have the time. If nursing is really your ultimate goal, go straight for it to prevent you from getting stuck.

Hi everyone, I currently work in a doctor's office as a receptionist and really want a hospital position working as a PCA/PCT/Nursing Assistant. I've gone through two clinical rotations, have medical reception experience as well as hostess experience at a restaurant. I've applied to numerous PCA positions all at different hospitals near me. It's been a month since I've applied to my first one and I haven't received one call for an interview and just getting a little discouraged. I also applied for one patient sitter position, but I'm not 100% sure this is a position I'm interested in, but I was called in for an interview. I am happy because at least I'll have an opportunity to be working in the hospital but I wanted more of a hands-on job where I'll be doing something a little more nursing related as I am currently in a nursing program. Just wondering do I even have a chance for being called in for an interview for PCA as a nursing student? Is it at all good being a patient sitter as a student nurse over being a PCA?

I want to start off by saying your science courses are definitely WAYY more memorization than your nursing courses will be. Nursing you should have a pretty good background in your science courses because now is when all those courses, especially A&P comes into play. You may have some memorization in your Nursing courses with maybe lab values, but pretty much nursing you have to be a critical thinker. You have to be able to adapt because you can have one professor teaching you one thing, but the following semester one who tells you that it's not that simple. You can go to a hospital for clinical and their lab values are different from the last one you were just in. Just be prepared to critically think and don't simply memorize because things will constantly change on you and if you work with concepts then it makes nursing that much easier to get through! The biggest piece of advice: be prepared to do as many practice questions as you can! Good luck!

Hi everyone, I'm currently in my second semester of nursing and we're doing Med Surg, right now being Cardiac. I just took Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary and didn't pass, so I'm really stressed because I need to pass this course so I can even retake GI/GU January. I just took an exam in Cardiac and got an 82, but I'm not satisfied because it's only going to hard with each exam. Can someone offer any tips on how to study? What worked best for you? I find I study better by myself, but just don't know exactly what the best options may be or what exactly I should be focusing on most. Any tips are useful! Thank you in advance!

ETD= Emergency Trauma Department. That's exactly why I'm considering a PCA/PCT position, however, I passed my Fundamentals course so would be able to take a position that allows nursing students. I'm still working at the moment, except I work in a medical office as a receptionist, but don't really see a lot of action, or hands on experience like a hospital would provide me. Just not sure if the fact I'm not currently taking nursing courses cause of the failure if that would affect me getting a PCA/PCT position at all.

Personally, I would say wait it out. It would take longer to become an LVN and then you'd have to practically start from scratch when you enter the RN program. Yes, you'd have that clinical experience and you can apply it to your learning but in the long run it's longer time you went to school. Maybe check with your school, maybe they have an evening program? My school is an ADN program and there's a day program which are predominantly morning classes/clinicals but you start your nursing courses in the fall and every semester afterwards so you'd graduate in May (end of Spring semester). Whereas, the evening program you start in the spring semester, and would graduate in December, but these classes are all night classes. Just an option so you don't have to wait that full year.

I'm enrolled in an ADN nursing program and I'm currently in my second semester. I failed my nursing course by 3 points and now have to wait until January 2019 to retake the course. In the meantime, I want to get a job in the hospital and really get some hands on experience so I can apply some clinical experience to my coursework when I return. I know Patient Care Associate or Assistants are good positions for nursing students to take because you're working closely with patients and RNs. I'm considering applying for a PCA position in the ETD, however, considering I failed, fear not getting the job or maybe I'm just in over my head? There are also jobs available in Labor & Delivery, which I think may seem a little more my level, but again, want to challenge myself as well as have something I can apply to my whole time in nursing school. We only have half a semester of Mother and Baby and feel like if I go into L&D would know so much about L&D but it won't help me with the other courses (again only asking because I know floors can have patients with coexisting diagnoses). I personally, feel working in the ETD may be the best option because you're exposed to such a wide variety of cases and will probably learn the most working in this department. I'm also considering doing registration for ETD just because it would allow me to still have patient contact (I know, not the same as PCT/PCA) but it would allow me that same variety because it's the same department. Just looking for some advice on what the best position may be to gain that clinical experience and help me to succeed when I retake the course in January. Also any helpful tips regarding how to study for MED SURG would be greatly appreciated too!