kelisehunter

I don't think it's stupid by any means. If you've ever been a patient in a hospital you know that you may be confused and with nurses changing every 12 hours or so, the patient doesn't know who his/her nurse ever is. So I think the introduction of the next nurse is really helpful for the patient. I don't agree with the OP saying that the patient tends to start asking for help or medications and that can make the turnover much more difficult. It may be time consuming, but I personally feel that it is much more thorough. Just my opinion.

Irvine and Tustin are great areas to live and work in. I wouldn't say that there's a small population as compared to the other surrounding orange county cities. I would say in general that they are good safe cities to reside in and I think you will be happy there. Other than that I really don't know what else you want to know. If you have specific questions I might be able to answer them. Best of luck to you!

Hello- sorry I can't answer any of your questions since I'm just about to start in an ADN program this fall, but I wanted to ask you a question. I am very eager to begin nursing in post-partum right after I graduate. Would you say that it is hard to get a job in post partum as a new grad? Are they plentiful or competitive? What part of california do you live in? I'm very curious to see what you say.

I don't know where exactly you live in southern califoria, but there's the north orange county ROP LVN program that costs almost nothing. I've heard good things about it, but I believe you must take a course before you begin and do well. So, if you don't want to wait then I'd say try ROP then work while you finish up the rest of your RN pre-reqs and apply to one of the cc that offers LVN-RN. From what I hear, the wait for an LVN is half the time or less to be accepted(maybe a semester or two). It could be an option.

I'm sure the test is an effort to weed out people who can't read english properly and don't have the math skills needed to graduate.

I believe the test is on basic reading and math.

Starting Spring '08 semester every California community college requires a test before beginning the nursing program, so just expect it if you haven't already been accepted.

Goingformydream- I've heard you refer to yourself as being on the "priority" list. I'm just curious what that is exactly, 'cause I've never heard of such a thing. Good Luck!

I'm about to start an ADN program in the fall in orange county. I've always wanted to work in the mother baby unit. I volunteered in the MBU at st josephs in orange for two years and i loved the environment. Does anyone know if i would have a shot at getting a job right out of nursing school in MBU? I looked at Hoag's site and there's five 3rd shifts open, but it says must have recent hospital experience, so i don't know if they'd take me straight out of school or not. It's where I want to be as a nurse. I'm just asking this now because I wanna know what to expect once I do graduate-like if ill have to work in another department before i can work where i really would like. As far as im concerned, ill work night, weekends, full time or part time to be able to work in MBU. If anyone as any input id be interested to hear. Thanks!

I don't know anything about the schools in your area, but usually you need to take all the pre-reqs, attend an orientation for the nursing school, and maybe get CPR certified before you can get your name on the waiting list. I'd say take a couple pre-reqs each semester and do the best you can. If its a waiting list that means that you will eventually get accepted and probably a lot sooner than the school estimates 'cause many people drop out before they even begin the actual program. Don't stress about getting all A's- just do your best and try to learn something. That's my 2 cents. Good Luck!

I haven't recieved anything from any of the four schools that I appled to including Saddleback. Ill let you know when I do, though.

After completely finishing all my prereqs for nursing school, I have decided that nursing isn't what I really want to do. I chose nursing because it gave me some kind of a goal, a reason to go to school, and something to tell people when they asked what I was "going to do". Now I am pretty set on going to school for ultrasound. My dilemma is getting into a school not. The only schools in my area (southern california) are orange coast college(they said they had a 2-3 years waitlist) and cypress college. Im really interested in cypress college, but Im concerned that I won't get in because they have a point system for selection. You get some points for your GPA and many more for being a rad tech and having experience. This leads me to wonder if just having the GPA points will get me in. When I asked the counselor this very question she said that it depends on how many people apply and how many hospital location spots they get that year, but that people in the past have gotten in with just the GPA points. I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone who has gone to cypress or has gone there themselves and can help me with this. I don't want to drive all the way to cypress for a semester and bust my butt to find that I won't get in until after I become a rad tech. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After completely finishing all my prereqs for nursing school, I have decided that nursing isn't what I really want to do. I chose nursing because it gave me some kind of a goal, a reason to go to school, and something to tell people when they asked what I was "going to do". Now I am pretty set on going to school for ultrasound. My dilemma is getting into a school not. The only schools in my area (southern california) are orange coast college(they said they had a 2-3 years waitlist) and cypress college. Im really interested in cypress college, but Im concerned that I won't get in because they have a point system for selection. You get some points for your GPA and many more for being a rad tech and having experience. This leads me to wonder if just having the GPA points will get me in. When I asked the counselor this very question she said that it depends on how many people apply and how many hospital location spots they get that year, but that people in the past have gotten in with just the GPA points. I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone who has gone to cypress or has gone there themselves and can help me with this. I don't want to drive all the way to cypress for a semester and bust my butt to find that I won't get in until after I become a rad tech. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After completely finishing all my prereqs for nursing school, I have decided that nursing isn't what I really want to do. I chose nursing because it gave me some kind of a goal, a reason to go to school, and something to tell people when they asked what I was "going to do". Now I am pretty set on going to school for ultrasound. My dilemma is getting into a school not. The only schools in my area (southern california) are orange coast college(they said they had a 2-3 years waitlist) and cypress college. Im really interested in cypress college, but Im concerned that I won't get in because they have a point system for selection. You get some points for your GPA and many more for being a rad tech and having experience. This leads me to wonder if just having the GPA points will get me in. When I asked the counselor this very question she said that it depends on how many people apply and how many hospital location spots they get that year, but that people in the past have gotten in with just the GPA points. I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone who has gone to cypress or has gone there themselves and can help me with this. I don't want to drive all the way to cypress for a semester and bust my butt to find that I won't get in until after I become a rad tech. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well i havent started school yet, just on the waiting list, and debating whether or not I really want to get into it all. I don't want to work bedside at all, besides whats necessary for school. Is there anything I can do straight out of school with just a ADN thats not bedside?

Other than bedside nursing, what jobs can a new grad RN get straight out of school? Are there any other options? Im sure that bedside isn't for me at all.

Hey Veronica- Im applying to Saddleback Spring '06 semester too. I have 14 points out of 18. Im unsure of my chances but im just hopin' for the best. Are you going to put your application in on Sept. 1, the first day we can apply or will you wait a little bit? Ill be there the first day, so maybe ill see you there. Anyways good luck to you!

All of the community colleges that I know of in southern california require that the science pre-reqs be completed within five years. You should look on your school's nursing website or trying emailing your question.

I know Golden West college has a good reputation along with Saddleback(Mission Viejo), Santa Ana College, and Cypress college. These schools all are good, from what I hear. Whichever school you get in, is the one I'd take 'cause the competition's stiff. Good Luck to you on your endeavors!

Hey Salsaking From what I am aware of you must take general microbiology if you ever want to transfer to get your BSN but if you aren't then medical or health microbiology will suffice. This is coming from the socal community colleges point of view. Best of Luck!

Thank you everyone for the help!

Hi! I just recently finished my pre-reqs at SAC and would like to know what my chances are of getting into the ADN nursing program at Santa Ana College in the Spring '07 smester. I received an A in Microbiology, Anantomy, and English and a B in Physiology, which means I got 35 out of the 40 points possible. I'm on the waiting list at Santa Ana and will apply to Goldenwest, Saddleback, and Cypress. If anyone knows others who were in similar situations and what happened to them, please let me know. Im very anxious to find out how long I may have to wait. Also I'd like to know my chances at the other community colleges that I will apply to. Thank you!

I want to know what the benefits and downfalls of being a nurse with an AA and a dental hygienist. I would appreciate it if you would be completely honest, because I'm still considering both. Why would you not be one and not the other. I enjoy working in a calm environment, but I always want to be challenged. I live in Orange County, California so the salary for the DH is a bit higher but that doesn't make much of a difference for me if I don't enjoy what I do. Any help would be great. Thank you!

Well, luv2shop I was exaggerating and I guess that compared to orange, corona and riverside are ghetto but they really aren't just not as upscale in general. If I were you and I am sort of like you, being 20, and I really wanted to move to CA, I would live in an apartment in Huntington Beach. Trust me that area is great for young people, lots of life and its beautiful. Good Luck in your endeavors!

To all california prospectives: If you are just getting your license and live in the midwest or east and you think that california is everything you ever dreamed of, think again. Just because you may have watched the OC or Laguna Beach on MTV, doesn't mean that it is anywhere near what they depict ca to be like or that you know what you're getting yourself into. I've seen this too many times: a young person wants to get away and move to california, when they find the reality of it they move back. Yes, you can survive renting, but renting gets old and you will eventually want to buy a home. Buying is also possible with a nurses salary, but not in orange county well not with just a nurses salary alone. The IE isn't what non-californians expect when they move to ca-its ghetto and you'll be labeled as living in the "909" or most recently "951". So if you think that the californian lifestyle is for you think again. Do you want to save money, ever live in your own home, go on vacations or constantly be watching your budget. Don't get me wrong, i love ca and ive lived in orange my entire life but you must be very prepared and know what the truth about the situation here. Good Luck to you all