sail81

I am currently attending SACN. Tough school but I hear it prepares you well. What ?s do you have?

Thanks for the reply! You are saying pretty much what I have expected. Is there anything I can do now to make the gap from student to nurse better? It's hard to think I am just getting my feet wet because I am stressed out in school and to think its really going to hit bottom before it gets better isn't very encouraging. BUT, I am in this and I am not quitting! I've been in the "real" world for some time and really feel nursing is a calling. So, if you can think of anything I can do to really dive in now (especially when I have an instructor on the floor) let me know. I plan to get an internship over the summer to gain more experience too----then when I graduate I hope to do a Nurse Resident program........ blah blah....OK, got to do a care plan :-) Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a student and appreciate your honesty. I'm expecting hell for the first year, but hoping to get used to it or get out. But what us students really need to know is: Is it even worth it? Are you telling us to forget it? OR Are you saying it is hell for a while until you get used to the ropes..............

I'm in nursing school now and going into this I was determined not to let anxiety and depression get in my way. Easier said than done. I'm on sertraline and also listen to Joel Osteen a lot which seems to help me bypass depression on those "bad" days. Its not fun and it doesn't help when people just tell you to "get up and go" or "stop worrying".....it's a disease. My prayers are with you guys! Hopefully she'll gain strength because with her experiences she probably brings valuable knowledge to the world of nursing and there are many patients that need her. God Bless.

Hi, I love this forum! As a current nursing student I can see that my biggest problem is being aggressive with my questions. Obviously since I am new at this I have questions and obviously since there is a shortage of nurses every single nurse is always busy---everytime I ask them a question I feel like I am bothering them. I've used a couple tips of my own---but does anyone have any tips on asking for other's help without feeling like your buggin them? I know I need to get past this if I am going to be a good nurse b/c as a nurse bothering is neccessary (especially calling the Docs)....just wondered how anyone else dealt with this. Thanks all, I appreciate it!

Pam, You are in my thoughts and prayers. I too lost a loved one and there are no words to describe the pain. Remember, although you may be angry at him, God is with you---always. Try to be strong, especially for your children. I promise to send prayers your way each and everyday. With my deepest sympathy, Kristin

The UW begins at $25.07 for brand new grads. So it's only up from there.

I have applied to a traditional program and the accelerated program at UW-Oshkosh which is one year. I have heard that this program is very intense and some people actually wish they would have done a slower paced program to really absorb concepts. I already have a degree and really just want to get done. I would just like to know what other people would do in my case. I have the time...so should I be patient and do the traditional program? What would you do? Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

Hi Erin, I recently applied for May 07 and am on the waiting list. I will reapply for Oct, as I think I would prefer this start date anyway so I don't have to overlap my pre req classes this semester with starting the program. The telephone interview was not bad at all...not sure what I can say...it was your typical phone interview. You're interviewed by two people, one an instructor and the other a Director....they are both real friendly and just ask you questions to ensure you're ready for such an intense program. I have heard it is crazy intense, but totally worth it. Maybe we will be in the Oct class together!! Hope this helps.!

Hi there! I JUST applied, I'll probably get put on a waiting list (cuz its so late) if I get in...I already have degree but my GPA from my previous degree was only a 2.6 from UW-Madison, so I am hoping they take the grades from my most recent classes more seriously! We'll see....what have you heard about grades and SACN? What about the waiting list?...Hope all is well.

Talk to an advisor. As long as you can explain yourself well in your letter to the admissions committee you should be ok. Plan on applying at other Nursing schools around the area. If all else fails get a degree in something similiar and go back and do an Accelerated program for a year to get your RN. Whatever you do you have options!! Don't quit...just look into every option. If you want to be a Nurse bad enough you can't quit! Good luck!

That rate is for brand spankin new RNs, it just goes up from there.

Thank you everyone for all of your help! You have really really given me a good picture to go by...I am going to speak with my Nurse Manager soon and tell her I just will not be able to handle CNA work, full time HR work, and 9 credits. I hope she understands because I have only been there since May! But the purpose of me doing CNA work to make sure Nursing was for me, I've done that and now I need to put all my energy into getting good grades to get into an Accelerated Nursing program. Thanks again for taking the time to write your thoughts!

At the UW RN's start at $25.07

Yes I would make $10 more as an RN versus HR but to me its not about the $$. Thanks for the advice

Hi there, I have a bit of a dilemma here. I am planning on going back to school in May to get my BSN. Currently, I work in HR and picked up a CNA job to do once a week to "make sure" Nursing was for me. I don't love it by any means but its manageable. This fall I will be going back to school to finish up pre-reqs. I can't continue to work two jobs and go back to school. I make more money in my HR job, but am willing to work full time as a CNA instead to be a better RN. My question to you is how valuable do you think CNA experience is to becoming an RN? Is it enough that I have experienced it?

Great to hear! Thank you for taking the time to clue me in! I plan on applying for May 07!!

At the hospital I work at you cannot be apart of the new grad program if you have been out of school more than 6 months.

Promise me you will not let that stop you! I graduated with a Psych degree and a GPA of 2.6, there are schools out there that will ONLY look at your pre-req courses for entry, so as long as those are good you'd be ok....don't sell yourself short, a lot of "smart" Advisors are willing to work with you. You would most likely have no problem getting into an Accelerated BSN program however getting into a Direct Entry Masters program maybe a tad harder but it is definately doable. I e-mailed all the direct entry Masters programs in the country and some Advisors were very willing to consider me for the program. I hate the GPA requirements!! Some of us have very real reasons for having a low GPA. Good Luck!

I'm sorry, after reading my post it came off "rude". I just want to make sure Nursing students aren't discouraged. Didn't mean to sound bad! :-)

Nursing incorporates so many aspects, not just bedside nursing, so yeah I would agree doing the same thing in Nursing (or in anything) for 20+ years would be awful! I think if you would have changed careers within Nursing long before you wouldn't be so bitter about the Nursing career in general. For all those Nursing students, remember it all has to do with your attitude----YOU ARE IN CHARGE, you control your destiny. Take risk and try new things if one thing gets old.

Hi there, I just started this week! I am overwhelmed right now and question if this is for me...but I know that's just who I am "my worst critic" I'm going to give it the summer before I make any decisions. I just hope I don't hurt anyone or break any rules...there is so much to remember...I hope I can do it and I hope the RNs don't "eat their young" on my floor b/c will have a lot of questions especially regarding medical terminology. I just need to remember if it was easy everyone would do it and we wouldn't have a Nursing shortage and just to have confidence and do one thing at a time and NOT look at it all together. We'll see I'll keep you posted. Thanks for being interested!

I have my interview tomorrow. I will definately keep you posted on my experiences...I am excited but also really nervous! But I need to do this to see if I truly think Nursing is for me. Thanks again and I'll keep you posted!

Thank you thank you thank you!! You made my day!!

I just got called to interview for a CNA job that would be twice a week (I already have a full time job). First, I have been going back and forth on a career in Nursing and I read this forum daily. Some of the negativity really scares me but I read a post recently stating that many RNs use this place to vent about Nursing issues and it really isn't all that bad)...I just really feel when I look back at my life I want to see I made a difference and Nursing seems to be that career... do you think I will get more comfortable of the idea to be a Nurse by doing two shifts a week as a CNA? What happens when you are asked to do something and aren't quite sure how to do it? I took my CNA class last fall and I am just scared I won't be able to remember it all! Thanks!