Smokey1129

Hi! Thanks so much for your response! I ended up choosing SMCC. I finished my first semester in the fall and start my second semester in a couple days. I am glad I decided to go with SMCC. It’s hopeful to hear you had a great experience. Best of luck with your future endeavors as a nurse and congratulations on passing the NCLEX!

Thank you so much! I just subscribed to your Youtube channel and will be watching some of your OR videos :) Are you located in the northeast as well?

I am currently enrolled in a nursing program and have about one year left. I have researched nursing specialties extensively. From what I can gather, the Operating Room, seems to be an excellent fit based on my interests and personality. I am also interested in traveling after a few years of experience. I am interested to hear if anyone has any insight correlated to new nursing grads training in the Operating Room. The hospital located closet to me, offers a residency program with a Peri-op 101 program. I am not sure how competitive this residency is. Are there any other OR nurses that are located in the northeast, who know of any other hospitals with good new grad residencies, that would be worth checking into? Any further insight would be appreciated. Thank you!

I am currently in the first semester of my nursing school clinicals. I've noticed that many of my peers have some level of healthcare experience, namely CNA experience. I've worked in the restaurant industry for almost 20 years and do not have any experience within a medical setting. I am feeling very inexperienced compared to the other students in my cohort. I have considered obtaining a CNA position, however, the program I am currently enrolled in is very rigorous and only allows for me to work part-time to be successful. I just don't think it would be feasible to work as a CNA with how low the pay is; I literally do not think I could pay my bills working part-time as a CNA. Working part-time as a bartender/server in a restaurant is absolutely feasible with the pay being double to triple the rate of a CNA's hourly pay. I am in a tough predicament because of my lack of experience. Have others been successful not working in the medical field prior to becoming a nurse, or will this be a huge detriment to me if I continue to working in the service industry during nursing school? Any further insight is would be greatly appreciated!

I have been accepted to both USM's nursing program and SMCC's program. I am wondering if anyone has insight about each program. I have taken all of the prerequisites for each. If I was to attend SMCC I would graduate with my ADN in May 2023. If I decided to go to USM I would graduate with my BSN in December 2023. I'm leaning towards SMCC because of the affordability factor and it would allow for me to start working as an RN faster. I would love to hear from other's experiences at these schools. Thank you!

My dream specialty after graduation is to end up in some form of critical care nursing, so OR isn’t the exact direction I will be heading in, at least initially. I will be taking a pay cut working in the hospital, which will mean I will also have to work more hours- so these factors are what is determining my hesitancy.

I have an opportunity to pursue a Sterile Processing Tech position at a local hospital. In my state they do not require a prior certification and will train you on the job. I am currently in nursing school and start clinical in the Fall. The position is an overnight schedule. I am currently working in the service industry, which helps me maintain a flexible schedule with decent pay. I do not have experience working in a hospital setting, so I am wondering if it would be beneficial to take advantage of this Sterile Processing position? I’m a little worried about the hours, but I do think it would be beneficial to obtain hospital experience. If anyone has insight or advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!