EDKrystal

Exactly! I broke my new grad contract. No hospitals in this area (I can't speak for the whole US) will hire a new graduate RN without a 'program' and a contract. You don't sign, you don't work. My particular hospital had no didactic portion. They assigned me to a nurse with no formal preceptorship training, paid that person 7% additional per hour (like... an extra $3-5/hr ish) and they sat at the nurses station shopping on Amazon and told me to find them if I had any questions. And this was the ER! We did the math, for the 12 weeks, 36 shifts for 12 hours it was about $1500 cost to the hospital. So where did they get that high number they felt their training was worth? I was told when I turned in my notice that I was now considered unrehireable and that would be relayed to future reference checkers. I contacted my union and they informed me (and HR) that this was unacceptable, and additionally the state of California had passed legislation that these programs were in fact predatory and the contracts unenforceable. I have not received a bill from my previous hospital and started a new job right away, where I have ratios and breaks and resources far beyond the first place.

If you have all your pre-reqs done it should take a lot less time than 2.5 years. I went in with nothing and it will be 3 years when I am done. I go there now. I like it. It IS expensive but I'm an older student and didn't want to go the community college route and take more time than necessary.

I understand demanding professionalism and seriousness when it comes to learning, applying knowledge, and working. I totally do. Like many above said, it's a profession and it's a very important one, a small mistake can literally cost someone their life. But I also saw someone last week get a 'Letter of Concern' (school writeup) because a bobby pin slipped in her bun and a small piece of hair escaped (and this was at school, not even a clinical site). Wasn't touching her collar, hanging in her face, just a small chunk of hair that popped out of a secured hair bun in the back of her head that she couldn't see, and that was enough for a uniform violation. So I kind of feel that THAT is the type of punitive, strict, 'extraness' OP was referring to. And the answer is I don't know. My classmate said it reminds her of the Marines, her previous profession.

What about skin integrity/infections risk/wound healing complications due to high glucose, low O2, poor diet, WBC count...or is that too close to gas exchange?

Regarding it 'getting warm', in the summer, many many parts of SD can top 100 degrees. Unless you are ON the coast, prepare for it to be really hot over summer.

North Park does get some coastal weather, but I personally wouldn't want to live there myself. I'm in Fallbrook (North San Diego county) and when I'm done with school I want to head down to either SD, or up to Riverside County/Inland Empire facilities. There are a ton of hospitals and opportunities here. I'm excited. I've been all over CA, and San Diego is still my favorite part. I'll never leave! I hope you love it too!

Hi Rochelle. I attend WCU. Thinking back, I believe the order I went in for admissions was the initial meeting, the orientation, the HESI, then brought transcripts to see what transferred, then went to financial aid. I think they need to know what transfers, to know how many classes you will be taking at WCU, so that they can give you a solid number for the loan amounts, etc. You apply twice a year for the loans, so for me, minus the cal grants etc, I think I take out $15k-ish every time. It does add up but if you can live frugally upon graduation, you can pay it back quickly (in my opinion). Then once the enrollment portion is completed you get the schedule. I am lucky that I do not have to work while going to school, I have two young kids and I think I would have a much harder time if so, but many of my friends who are LVN-BSN continue working and are doing just fine time wise. First year seminar is really dumb but they require it, it is like a common sense and time management class, 2 classes on ground, the rest online. I am not a math person by any means, so I was really apprehensive about the algebra, stats, and chemistry, but I passed all of them with no problem. The math professor is great, he has a way of breaking everything down so it all makes sense. I'm older, I noticed the kids fresh out of high school had an easier time in those classes because they were still fresh for them. But there are TONS of tutoring programs and resources if you need it. Critical reasoning, eh, another fluff class but some of it helps in regards to NCLEX questions so there is that. Pathophysiology is not too difficult, especially if you paid attention in Anatomy and Physiology, it was pretty interesting. GE Capstone is pretty much a class where you take a bunch of aspects of general ed learning and write a large paper using different facets. The trick with the 10-week courses is to not get behind. It's a little intimidating because you think, minus finals, you have about 8 weeks to learn the material, but if you break it down and stay on top of everything, you should do OK. I saw some posts saying you don't get to choose your schedule which isn't really true. You DO have to take the classes the term they assign them to you, but the daily part, they will send out a schedule to choose from a few weeks in advance then they have open enrollment for you to sign up for the ones that best suit you. Sometimes you don't get what you want, but it's really rare. It's never happened to me. It goes by really fast, I've been there for 18 months and it's really flown.