APP

This is exactly my dilemma! I want to do a second degree program or a direct-entry NP program, but I was a liberal arts undergrad so I have to do most of the pre-reqs. At 47, I really don't want to spend any more time than necessary. So now I am trying to figure out how to work part-time (I am now full-time) so I can take more than one course at a time. Sigh

I actually am fairly far into a very well-payiong career - but it gives me zero sense of fulfillment. Although it can be technically challenging at times (though rarely) I find it boring beyond belief. No human interactrion, 8 hours a day at a terminal. I want soething completely different: something that is fulfilling, something that pays decently enough that one day I can go part-time and enjoy the rest of my life! My problem is how to go from well-paid to starving student. :uhoh21:

"I work at a LTC and they have a scholarship and I work on the weekends that gives the largest pay rate." I just don't know if I have the stamina to work, go to school full-time, AND have a life!

My big problem is that I am 47, and work full time. I really do notr know if I can deal with taking pre-reqs one at a time while working full time and THEN have to do another 2 years. I want to quit working at go to school full-time, but don;t know how to swing it financially (not so much tuition as living expenses). Thoughts?

I am in my late 40s, and, after 20+ years in IT, want to change careers. My problem is that I am working full-time, and realistically can only take 1 pre-req at a time. I have a Master's degree (Publica Dmin) so I feel fairly confident I can get into am ecellerated second degree program, but unless i can quit work and go to school full-time, I'll be 50 by the time I get out of school. I need to figure out how to fund the completion of my pre-reqs so I don't have to work full-time. Any ideas? Should I just rack up the debt for a year? Are there any loan programs for people not yet in a degree program? Scholarships? My problem is not so much tuition, but living expenses.

I am taking a class at Norethern Virginia Community College that is a two-course series combining A & P and micro-biology. I have set up a forums for people in the class. I've been posting the instructors notes with links I have added to sites I find on the web that explain the topic well. Feel free to take a look: guests can view but not post. http://www.freeboards.net/?mforum=NAS161162 BTW- I justs et this up yesterday, so there's more to come!

I can see both sides of this. My husband spent 6 years getting his PhD (in anopther state). So I developed my own interests and activities to keep busy, which did cause some friction. How did your husband feel about your going back to school? Sounds like someloooong, heart-to-hearts are needed. Hang in there, and congratulations on graduating!

I wish the OP had given examples.... That said, even if the instructor is a homophobe, there is nothing anyone can do about that: all one can do is one's best.

XXXXXXXXXXX I think the original poster needs to find out why the instructor is giving her the grades she does without assuming that it is bias. While it is true she may be friendlier with some students than others, it could also be that those students are getting better grades because they are better students. even if the instructor is biased, there is nothing th eorginal poster can do to change that. S/he can only control her own thoughts and actions. If she thinks she is doing well, she needs to show her instructore that she is trying hard and wants to do well.

Speaking as a former volunteer who is now considering going to nursing school... I endeared myself to many nurses by asnwering call lights: if it was something I could do, (get a bed pan or water, help adjust bed, etc) I did it and told the nurse, if not, I told the nurse what the patient needed- saved them some steps. I also spent time with the older patients who just needed company. Also, let the nurses know you are planning to go to nursing school!

Go to the instructor and ask her to review the exam with you. XXXX but it is highly unl;ikely she would give you a poor grade if you answered most of the questions correctly. You need to put yourself forward and demonstrate that you want to do well. Get the chip off your shoulder and find out where you need improvement.

Reading this makes me wonder if there should not at least be an intercom so you could talk to the pt to ask what they want before going to their room... Or maybe have a phone the patients could use for non-urgent requests with an operator to triage the calls, and have a LOUD siren attached to the emergency call button to discourgae it's use!

"I once had a patient who called me to the room to wipe his butt because he did not wipe his own butt at home....his wife did. (I'm not kidding about this):rotfl: That same patient would call me to his room to pull the bedside table closer to him, and pour him a cup of cold water. He didn't have to do this for himself at home. His wife did it, or their "help" did it." I bet his wife was enjoying her vacation from him while he was in the hospital!

Could you just do the extra coursework? or is it the clinicals being short-changed?

You need to develop a rappor with his doctors, as they can best answer these questions for you. Also, ask if the hospital where he is getting chemo has any support group for cancer patients and their families. Most hospitals have social workers, htey can probably point you in the right direction. Yous should also conatc your local hospice organization. I am so sorry you and your father are having to go through this.

"It seems that I always leave something out or put it in the wrong order." It sounds like the facility youre in has their own ideas as to what to include and the correct order: ask your preceptor or DON!

Since he is relatively mobile, could he find a short-term apartment rental and continue to use visiting hospice? I realize insurance/medicare wouldn;t cover the rental expense, but it is an option if he can afford it.

I am 47, have NO experience in helah-care, but I am thinking ofgoing into nursing school, with the ultimate goal to ne a Nurse Practitioner. By the time I finish all the pre-requisites (while working), a may be 50 by the time I can apply to schools. Anyone else come to the party this late in life with no healthcare background? I need reassurance!

My brother-in-law once applied for a job. Got a glowing letter of recommendation except for the last line "I would recommend Dr VM with reservations". Fortunately the horing manager took the initiative to call th e person who wrote the letetr to find out what the reservations were: turned out it was a tyypo made by a secretary. Moral of the story: mistakes happen. Ask yur nurse manager (who asked you apply) to see what she can find out.

"I hate it when family members come in not to see the patient but to inspect and see what the nurse has or has not done." Sorry, but if I had a loved one in the hospital, you can be d***ed sure I'll make sure they are getting the care they should. Just read these forums and see how understaffed most hospitals are. Read about the mistakes that get made by even the most well-meaning nurses. Read about missed meds. Read about new graduates getting little or no orientation. Wouldn't YOU double-check if it was YOUR mother in the bed? I spent a week in the hospital on IV antibiotics for cellulitis. I was supposed to get them every 4 hours, and have a hot-water heating pad on my foot (site of the infection). Well, the IV had problems and needed to be replaced. Had to wait for a Phlebotist or IV tech or some such thing (I am not anurse, am thinking about going to nursing school), so I went 8 hours without getting a new IV. Had I not been well enough or aware enough to keep after the nurses to find the IV tech, Lord only knows how long it would have taken. I also had to badger to get the IV switched to another arm when phlebitis developed in the first site. Then the heating pad malfuctioned: again, ahd to raise holy-old what-for to get a new one (which also dodn;t work!). Had I been elderly, young, or confused or sicker, I would not have been able to look out for myself. Families do not need to be obnoxious about how they do it, but I surely can't fault them for keeping an eye on their loved one!

Not wanting to pour salt int he wound, but could you give some specific examples? I ask as someone considering going into nursing.

Talk to your school as see if you can get a 1 ir 2 week delay in your exams for medical reasons.

Ask for a performance review. if there are any issues with your job performance that are behind your lack of a raise, the review should make them apparent. It also gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your desire to do a good job and to improve. If the review does not show any performance issues, then ask about the raise. If you walk in and start off asking about the raise, you amy come across looking whiney.

I'm not sure ignoring your preceptor is a good idea. Why not set up a meeting and ask her if there is some way to constructively address her issues? It sounds like she does not really know how to be a preceptor: so work with her to work out how she can give you feed-back and for how you can document your progress. As for the others, some complaining is inevetiable. But of people are griping about things that can be changed, how about saying "Hey, do you think it would help of....?" or "OK: you;ve identified a problem: do you have any solutions to offer?". For those who are sincerely interested in fixing problems, they will appreciate constructive suggestions. The ones who just want to whine will realize you aren't joining the pity-party and, hopefully, will not ***** around you.

By all means, keep after the NM for training, and start looking for another job if that seems appropriate, bit in the meantime, learn as much as you can: all those things you are not allowed to do yet: do you know how to do them? If not, watch, ask questions and take notes. Find the most helpful nurses and CNAs and, when things aren't too busy, ask them to show you the things you are not yet allowed to do. Get them to show you how to use the computer. As for the 'misdeeds' and rumours, forget about finding out who is saying these things: do not say 'These are lies; to your NM. Treat these as 'Areas for improvement' and ask your NM what you need to do to demonstrate improvement in these areas. Keep a notebook handy and document the things you do so you can show her how many times you've cleaned up poop etc. Ask for a weekly review of your 'Areas for improvement' and your notes. If people are lying this will make it apparent without you looking like you are making excuses or calling co-workers liars. This approach will make it clear you take any criticisms seriously and genuinely want to improve your performance.