*Andrea*

I am toying with the idea of going back to get my Masters-Midwifery. There is one school in my state that offers this program, otherwise I have seen a lot of distance learning programs online (University of Cincinnati, Philadelphia University, etc just to name a couple) but I guess I am questioning how reliable and/or "legitimate" these distance learning programs are. Are they just as valuable as a degree from a local University? Do prospective employers look down on these schools? Has anyone had any really great experiences with any distance learning programs whether it be for CNM or another advanced nursing degree? I guess I am just not familiar with these. Any thoughts, advice, ideas would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance!!

Thanks for taking the time to write that...It actually made me feel better to know someone took the time... :)

Just graduated May 15th, am starting my first job on a postpartum unit on Monday. I need some encouragement! I look in the "First Year in Nursing" forums and see how many new grads are terrified to go to work every day which in turn makes me even more terrified to initially start my job so I was hoping some more experienced nurses could give me a little encouragement and support. I'm scared!! Andrea

Oh my gosh, after reading all these terrible threads about hating nursing, not wanting to be a nurse anymore, etc. I do not want to start my job on Monday! I am a new grad and absolutely completely discouraged reading these threads, I was scared to begin with but still...I really hope that I still like my job in 6 months or I might just be crying like it seems like everyone on here is! I'm scared!!

Oh gosh! Thank you all for your replies! I actually went to the mall to the uniform store after I sobbed over my computer writing the initial thread (j/k) and found some that weren't to the floor but just went over my shoes. They are Dickies flared scrub pants. I heard a lot about Cherokee too so I think I am going to look into that, thank you all soo much for your help!!

I'm starting at St. Mary's as a new grad and making a base of 28.70/hr.

Hi all, I really need some help because I am almost at my wits end. I am having a problem with probably one of the last things we think about in nursing: uniforms. I am a TALL nurse. I measure out at about 5 feet 11 inches barefoot and have anywhere from a 35-37 inch inseam in pants. Now, I have no problem buying scrub tops as my torso is a "normal" length but I absolutely, positively cannot find ANY scrub pants that are long enough. I just graduated and am starting my first job on Monday and I don't think a good first impression would be to walk in in my undies. I emailed Jascouniform.com and they told me their longest Tall sex inseam was 32...32? Isn't that a regular inseam? I even ordered scrub pants from a website that makes them especially for your measurements, got them in the mail today, and they were too huge and I need to roll them three times to keep them around my waist! Are there ANY TALL nurses out there that hear my pain and can by the grace of god bestow upon me the name of a brand or website that I can order tall scrubs (35-37 inseam) that will fit me?? I would GREATLY appreciate it and love you forever... Thanks, Andrea P.S. Just moved to Madison, WI if there might be any stores around here that someone knows of....

Hi all, I really need some help because I am almost at my wits end. I am having a problem with probably one of the last things we think about in nursing: uniforms. I am a TALL nurse. I measure out at about 5 feet 11 inches barefoot and have anywhere from a 35-37 inch inseam in pants. Now, I have no problem buying scrub tops as my torso is a "normal" length but I absolutely, positively cannot find ANY scrub pants that are long enough. I just graduated and am starting my first job on Monday and I don't think a good first impression would be to walk in in my undies. I emailed Jascouniform.com and they told me their longest Tall sex inseam was 32...32? Isn't that a regular inseam? I even ordered scrub pants from a website that makes them especially for your measurements, got them in the mail today, and they were too huge and I need to roll them three times to keep them around my waist! Are there ANY TALL nurses out there that hear my pain and can by the grace of god bestow upon me the name of a brand or website that I can order tall scrubs (35-37 inseam) that will fit me?? I would GREATLY appreciate it and love you forever... Thanks, Andrea

No, you can apply to a Bachelor's program right away as long as you have a high school diploma or equivalent, just look into the program you are interested in and see what requirements they have, like what prerequisite courses you will have to take before entering the nursing program.

I think you should do wahat is best for you too, I am in the same sort of situation, I had two interviews last week, both jobs I would really like to have, so if one calls back before the other I may just accept and wait and see to hear from the other place too, then weigh my options. I just think you need to do what is best for you and realize that other people have done the same thing in the past as well.

I think you should just go for your Bachelor's now. Why have to go back to school later? Once you are out, it's harder to go back and a Bachelor's is good to have, especially as an RN.

I have asked this question before on this site, and didn't get many responses, so I'll try asking again and any response would be appreciated!! I am about to graduate and have had two job offers, one on a busy med-surg unit, and one in the family care suites (post-partum, high risk moms, obgyn post ops). Now, I really dont know where to start. I LOVE OB and think it would be really fun to do, but i feel like i should do the med-surg and just get it over with. im afraid that i will hate med-surg though and constantly wish i chose the other job instead. I dont know if I'll want to work in OB my entire life, so if i do that for a little while and then want to move on to another area, will that be difficult to do? I mean, i know that i'll have to learn a lot of new stuff over again, but I mean, would an employer look at my OB background and say "No, sorry, you can't do [insert different job here] because all you know is OB." Sometimes I feel like I should just go with what I know I'll enjoy...Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much!!

Still in nursing school, graduating in May, and I just passed my HESI with a 962!!! So incredibly happy and relieved, now I'm officially graduating! I just wanted to vent my excitement to people that will actually understand how hard it is...seems like friends are happy for me but just don't get what it takes to do well. YAY!! Up next: NCLEX. Andrea

I take the HESI three times in my last semester of school, I am in that semester now and we are taking it for the second time this coming Monday. We need to pass it once to graduate but we all must take it all three times.

Okay, so I posted this similar question in other forums and got a few answers, but I really would like some more opinions. I tend to be an overly nervous person sometimes and I as I am in my final nursing semester and getting ready to apply for jobs I'm getting a bit lost. I am currently really interested in OB. I also like community health alot and psych too. Now, I want to know, if I graduate in May with a job in OB somewhere, am I going to have a difficult time getting a job in a different area in the future? I really, really like OB, but I feel like I might not like it forever, and I eventually might want to go into another field say like, 10 years down the road. I know I've been told over and over to start in med-surg (which i really sort of dislike) so what is the validity to this? Will starting in med-surg give me a better chance to move around more to different areas throughout the years, or will I be able to move to a new unit easily if I want to if I start on a specialty? You advice would be greatly appreciated. Andrea :)

Yeah, I am currently finishing up at Northern Illinois University here in Dekalb and I love it. Last Spring, the graduating class had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX, and we are one of the few nursing schools who has a 5 semester program, with the last semester (that I am currently in) completely dedicated to an NCLEX/HESI prep class and two clinicals. I love it here. It's small and intimate and the teachers really, really go out of their way to help the students. It's regarded as one of the better ones in the state for sure, and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have just discovered AMAZING books to help you study, maybe the best I have ever seen in fact. They are called the Memory Notebook of Nursing and I bought the three that I saw at Barnes and Noble (I don't know if there are more in the series). The books are hard to explain, they kind if incorporate mostly visual aids with pertinent information, but they are great. I highly recommend going to a book store and looking for them, or online somewhere. They run about 25.00 a piece. Good luck searching if you're interested!

Thanks alot everyone, all this info helps alot, but I posted the same thing in the Career Advice Forum...and they told me completely the opposite! Now I'm just a little more confused...eek!

Thanks alot guys, all this info helps alot!

I just had a question. I hear a lot that nurses feel over-worked and burned out, and even though I am really excited about the profession, I don't want it to be my life. I was just wondering, do most of you find yourselves working basic 36 or 40 hour weeks, or do you find that you have to do a lot of overtime too? Do you get time to yourself? I am really scared that I will end up disliking nursing because I'll feel like all I do is work, work work. Andrea

You will be orientated for many weeks. I haven't started a job yet but I've pretty much been told quite a bit. The nurses don't expect you to know everything, you're only beginning! From what I hear, the real learning starts once you graduate. Don't be afraid to ask questions, a cocky new nurse is no good, it's better to ask for help if you are unsure. As far as my skills go...my school has a complete skills lab where you must return demonstrate skills before you can pass. I have practiced trach care on a dummy (which IM SURE is nothing like doing it on a real person), I have inserted and removed foley's in the hospital, I've inserted an IV a couple of times, but that's about it. I've observed alot more than actually performing a ton of procedures, and even for the ones that I have performed, I don't feel competent enough to be able to do them alone in a new job yet. Transitioning to actually being the nurse takes awhile, and they know that at your new job. I'm sure that you know alot more than you think, give yourself some credit, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure.

Yes, but still, do you guys think I will have a hard time getting a job in a completely new area if in say, 5 years I choose something other than L&D/Peds (in my area, they accept new grads)...this is what I am confused about if I don't start out on Med-Surg.

I am still a nursing student that will be graduating this May 2007. As I am getting ready to begin the job hunt I am wondering what I should be applying for. Right now, I have a love for L&D, Mother/Baby, and Peds. It's what I really want to do....right now. I am nervous though, that after a few years I may get sick of this area of nursing, want to move to another unit, or become interested in community or home health (something that I have thought about enjoying too). I guess my main question is...Am I going to have a hard time getting a job in another area of nursing if I start out in OB or Peds right away? Will a community health agency turn me away because I don't have adequate experience to carry out that type of nursing? I really dislike Med-Surg and don't want to do it if I don't have to, but I feel like it would be the *smart* thing to do. Can any RNs give me some advice on your opinions? Thanks! :) Andrea

I am still a nursing student that will be graduating this May 2007. As I am getting ready to begin the job hunt I am wondering what I should be applying for. Right now, I have a love for L&D, Mother/Baby, and Peds. It's what I really want to do....right now. I am nervous though, that after a few years I may get sick of this area of nursing, want to move to another unit, or become interested in community or home health (something that I have thought about enjoying too). I guess my main question is...Am I going to have a hard time getting a job in another area of nursing if I start out in OB or Peds right away? Will a community health agency turn me away because I don't have adequate experience to carry out that type of nursing? I really dislike Med-Surg and don't want to do it if I don't have to, but I feel like it would be the *smart* thing to do. Can any RNs give me some advice on your opinions? Thanks! :) Andrea

My school is at 77% and we all think that's tough as heck! Thank God it's not higher. Our NCLEX pass rate each semester is between 95-100% though which is exceptional for our area...we also have to take the exit HESI too and pass to graduate.