rds007

Hello. I am a nursing student that just finished my 3rd semester (only 2 to go!) I am absolutely positive that I want to go into the OB field upon graduation. I would love to work as a nurse tech for any experience I could gain (such as assessing moms & babies, taking vitals, learning conditions & meds specific to M/B, pretty much anything the specialty entails) but have had difficulty finding employment. There was an opening for a CNA in M/B at a local hospital, but I did not get the position because the nurse manager was worried about scheduling conflicts with my lectures/clinicals, although the posted shift was 3-11 and would not have caused any conflict. There are RN positions posted at 3 local hospitals, and I just wish that one would give me the opportunity to help the staff nurses a little as a nurse tech, since they are so short staffed. Maternal-child was by far my favorite nursing class and clinical and I earned the highest grade in the class. I can't imagine working in any other area of nursing (after the obligitory med/surg time as a new grad.) Can anyone give me any advice to getting my foot in the door? I feel so passionately about this. I would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!! Rachel

Hi! I am a 2nd semester nursing student am have always wanted to work in peds. This semester they are incorporated into our cirriculum, with each student spending 2 clinical days on the pediatric unit. I loved my time there, but I had a very hard time focusing on HR, especially on an infant (7 months) with a severe upper respiratory infection. It was so hard to hear that fast HR over the loud lung sounds! Any advice on how to focus on the HR and how to count it when it is beating so fast? I did fine with the other children I assessed, but they were between the ages of 2 and 10. Anyone know of an educational website for practice? I am going to try to work as a nurse tech over the summer in peds or M/B, so that I can gain some experience working with children. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Rachel

I don't know if this is something you would be interested in, but I was offered scholarships with two different local hospitals (pays for books, tuition, lab fees, student insurance, uniforms, stethoscope, & lab kit) with the agreement that I would work for the facility for two years after graduating. I chose the hospital that I wanted to work for and signed with them. Another bonus is once I graduate, if I decide to go for my RN to BSN, they have tuition reimbursement. So basically, they will pay for both degrees, with the agreement that I will work there for just two years, which I most likely would have been doing anyway. Works for me!

I am starting a RN program on Moday (so excited!) and was worried about working also. I am a CNA working homehealth, so I plan on studying the nights I work. I will work three 12 hour shifts a week-I'm hoping this schedule works out for me. Good luck in school. You can do anything you put your mind to!!:icon_hug:

Thank you all for your supportive replies and sympathy. I think part of the difficulty for me was my knowing the pain of loss that the husband was feeling (I lost my mother when I was 17 and my father when I was 21) and part of it was with the unforgiving finality of death. TriageRN 34, your story of the paintings during nursing school really helped put some perspective on things for me. It brought tears to my eyes! You so eloquently helped give me understanding of my role in situations like this. Thank you so much Rachel

I am a CNA working as a home health aide who will be starting nursing school in August. Yesterday, I covered a shift that someone had called off, and all I knew about the patient going into her home was that she was on hospice. She ended up passing away half way through my shift. Thank goodness the hospice nurse happened to be there, because I felt totally freaked out. I can't get her breathing and pulse rates out of my mind, let alone the expression on her face seconds before she passed. Her husband was so upset & I felt like sobbing right beside him. I felt so sad & so overwhelmed. I know this is part of the nursing field, but I just can't stop thinking about that patient. Any advice on how to come to terms with my own feelings (I guess the feelings of saddness and fear) and remain professional? Thanks. Rachel

Hi Amy! The best way to get information on BCC's program would be their website. It is www.brevardcc.edu. In the middle of the page, click on "health sciences." On the left, click on "programs and information" and then on "Nursing RN". That will give you a basic description & on the left you can click on application info, application criteria, cirriculum, etc. This website also lists the program contact person, her phone #, and her email address. BCC in Palm Bay has started a RN program that begins in January (where as Cocoa's starts in August). If you want to go to Palm Bay, you'll probably have to wait until Jan. of 2008, because you have to have all prereq's done before applying. I hope this info helps. Once I start the actual classes and clinicals in August, I'll let you know how those are. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask (on here on in a PM). Rachel

Amy, :welcome: to allnurses! This website is wonderful!! I am a student at BCC in Cocoa & was recently accepted into the nursing program there. Your post had me worried about the school accreditation, so I called the nursing department in health sciences. I was very relieved to find out that Brevard Community College IS a nationally accredited nursing school. Keiser, I'm not sure about, but I'm sure you could contact their nursing department and find out. The process for entry to nursing school is not as easy as just "signing up." At BCC, you need to take all of (& do well in) your prereq's, take the NET test, meet with an advisor, & go to an orientation. It is competative, but I'm sure you can do it. Good luck with whatever you decide.

SecondFiddle, I completely understand what you mean when you said that you don't want to put having a baby off any longer. I am just starting nursing school this fall (2006) & am waiting until I am finished to try to have my first. My husband & I have been married for two years & have been trying the entire duration of our marriage. We have been referred to a reproductive endocrinologist, but want to wait until I graduate to try any high tech methods. I will be 28 when I graduate & am so afraid that it will take forever to get pregnant-if I even can (gulp)! I guess I just need to focus on school for right now... Good luck with the rest of your nursing program & baby-making! Rachel

These are so creepy, but I can't stop reading this thread! Keep 'em coming!

Shaiv82, First of all-congratulations on your acceptance!!:balloons: :balloons: You sound just like me-I stress about everything! If I were in your shoes, I would call the nursing dept. and ask, just for peace of mind. I wouldn't worry about pointing it out to them-I'm sure they'll look at it anyway. I would think they would go by your cumulative GPA, anyway... Let us know:icon_hug: Rachel

My situation was a little like yours. When I moved from PA to FL, many of my classes were accepted as electives down here, so I didn't meet the requirements for the BSN program that I wanted to get into. I thought that surely I would be able to get into the local ADN program with no problem. I was one class short of the requirements for that, but applied anyway. I was put on the "stand-by" list. This crushed me, because like you, my husband has been helping pay for school & I was anxious to get my own career started. Plus, I am 26 & don't want to wait too much longer to start a family. Still trying, I finished my last pre-req & applied to the ADN program again- I got in! I start this August. After I finish that ADN program, I will be able to get my BSN after taking 10 classes at local university (since moving to FL, I have earned my AA, which is equivilent to completing all gen.eds. at the university, which is why I will only need 10 more classes for my BSN after attaining my ADN). Anyway... it is possible to get in-if you are motivated & patient. Or, as another poster suggested, maybe you could see if there are any other areas in the medical field that interest you. One friend of mine was tired of trying to get into the nursing program, so she started the medical lab tech program & loves it. Good luck with whatever you decide! Rachel

Hello! I moved to FL from Pennsylvania 2.5 years ago & haven't found the crime to be too bad here. (I live about 30 minutes north of Melbourne, in Port St. John.) Everywhere in the US has some crime. The low frequency of crime in Port. St. John is actually one of my favorite things about living here- I feel safe leaving my windows open at night while I sleep. It may be worse in Melbourne, but it I don't think it's horrible down there either...(compared to Orlando or other large citites)...

It took two tries before I got in, but I didn't have all of my pre-req's finished for the first try (I still made it on the stand-by list, but never got the call). I start the ADN program at my local CC this fall. I am currently and plan on continuing to work as a home health aide (I am also a CNA, but I don't think all HH agencies require you to be a CNA). This allows a ton of flexibilty with scheduling and I can study while I'm working. Perfect! I am probably going to switch to nights in the fall. The company I work for doesn't mind if you sleep when the patient does, as long as the patient is properly cared for & any household duties (such as laundry, dishes, etc.) are completed. Good luck with whatever you decide!