gdean1

Maybe yours is just a regional thing seeing no difference. I know three areas who will all tell you the same thing and in this particular area, the ADN program really does have more experience -- 35% more clinical hours than the BSN program. It just lacks the management courses. I've worked in hospitals in 3 different areas and almost without exception, the ADN grads are far more competent on the floor the first 3 months out of school than the BSN students. Plus, they are easier to get along with and dont have that "...I just graduated, don't tell ME how to do things" attitude

There are many areas that Professional doesn't require a Bachelors or a Masters, nursing is one of them. I've seen what comes out of the local BSN program and it's far from professional and it's all the same test. Don't worry, NY will be reversing this idiotic requirement too.

Reread the line. The point being made was that a masters degree doesn't make a good teacher and a BSN degree doesn't make a good nurse. I know good nurses with each degree and I know bad nurses with each degree. It's not the degree that determines good or bad so why would a state start to mandate that one degree is better than another. Again, I repeat, a BSN (degree) does NOT make a nurse good.

I've seen whiny newbies and b***chy preceptors and undortunately that is a management issue. First a preceptor should be wanting to train newbies or it won't work I've seen too many who do it for the 0.25 extra they make or because of the status of it or for all the wrong reasons. The ones who do it for the right reasons are wonderful -- except when they get the whiny ones. Newbies also need to have patience to learn what they need to. All too often, they expect to be able to do things on their own and do make scarey judgements. Fortunately you were able to catch some and use that as a learning experience if they were open to it but they obviously weren't. So sad for the newbie. I haven't been around long enough to see outcomes but I would venture to guess that those whiny newbies you talk about will mature into horrible nurses and even worse preceptors. The good nurses in training will make better nurses and hopefully see the advantage in being a preceptor and do a great job at that as well. Management should continually look at their preceptors and ask if they are doing a good job. If not, they should step back. Just because they took a precepting class about 15 years ago doesn't not qualify them to continue. They may have gone through an ugly divorce, been pasted over for promotions, fired from another job and returned and who know what all to change they ability to train new nurses correctly and getting a bad newbie off on the wrong foot will compound the issues down the road

I'm sensing it's the maturity of those you are hanging around with. I also have gotten the advances from those who believe a nurse will sleep with anything anytime. Well, we're not all like that. Most women I have met are exscited that I'm into the profession and wish to see more of us. Most men can't understand why I would ever go back to school at my age into such a technical field. BTW, I have never used nor will ever use the moniker "male" nurse. I do the same job as my female counterparts and hold the same title. I also found that the only thing that changes is your sense of humor and it changes for both male and female. No one but nurses could laugh at the same things we augh at. Check the maturity level of those who think you less manly. When they truly understand what a man is, it will be too late, you'll have all new friends.

I agree with the majority, give it time. Get through any way you can now and it will settle down. Vomit is the one that gets me and I can almost get through that after over a year. It does get better and you'll be in this job for all the right reasons.

I buy MOBB scrubs for the pockets and the price. Just google that. They are generally about $22 a set and you can never have enough pockets.

I relish the opportunity when I graduate! I spent one day in NICU and fell in love. There is one guy who works there and he fell into that position 21 years ago and hasn't left. I never thought I'd like it but can't wait. I have an interview this week with a VP interested in getting some of us in as LPN's while we finish school to train and keep us when school is out. I'm pumped, though I wished more guys were in that area.

I truly feel sorry for NY if they implement this. With the shortages coming in the next few years, NY will be further behind the rest of the country, forced to pay outrageous bonuses for signing. I say, same test -- same license. I was admitted to two nursing schools, one a 2 year program, one a 4 year BSN program and I chose the 2 year program because the clinical time I got to learn real application was almost twice the hours of the 4 year program and I knew from many nurses that the BSN school taught in orientation the things a "real" nurse was above doing. I lost a good friend who chose the 4 year program and was discouraged from associating from those not "pursuing excellence". I work with some very fine nurses from both programs but the favorites of both the patients and the doctors are those from the associates program, which incidently has a higher passing rate on the NCLEX. I'm not saying a BSN is bad, but it certainly doesn't qualify nurses to stand in a different class when they only meet the same standards. Go for it NY!! The law of supply and demand will quickly teach you a lesson. Master's don't make good teachers, BSN's don't make good nurses.

I had one of the greatest older guys one night with the most wonderful sense of humor. Working with an agency aid, he turned on the call light and she went in to see what he needed, she can't back out with a puzzled look on her face and said he told her to tell me he was full of s**t. She had no idea he was asking for a bedpan. I took one in, placed it with her help and she screamed. I thought he had gotten pinched but when he calmed down, he said it was cold. We laughed and i told him I had it in the warmer for him for 10 minutes and he said go back and put it in the warmer for 10 more. In between barbs, he revealed that he had taken care of his wife of 72 years for the last 6 years before losing her. This gentleman was 96!!

Well, you might think about retaking those classes but what you should do is really look at what you really want to do. Sure grades aren't critical and that's not bad, but no one can argue that grades aren't a good indication of how you will be doing in your other classes. Nursing classes don't get easier and if your starting out with C's in your prereq's, what are your core classes going to be like and do youwant to struggle through 2 more years and still not make it? Is there something else going on at this time of your life that is holding you back?

YES YES YES, but set your sites on a hospital. I work while in nursing school and have placed catheters, drawn blood, started IV's in addition to all the other NAC stuff. The nurses are super supportive and help answer all the questions the instructors don't know how to explain well. I don't know that I would have made it wtihout the nurses' help and the experience has more than solidified my decision to pursue the career. Unless you feel drawn to geriatrics, find the work in a hospital: they will probably pay more and most that I know of love nursing students and really want them to gain the experience and be ready when the NCLEX is passed.

Sorry about KMR's response but the one thing most on the coast miss is everything east of the mountains. I was raised in Seattle too and couldn't wait to get out. My housing is less than a third that in Seattle, it's the second largest citiy in the state without the horrendous traffic and jobs are plenty. Those on the west sidecome here to vacation constantly because of the wide open beauty. Then they go back to the hectic rat race they live in. I'm 15 minutes from work, have 5 acres, livestock, dogs and have 15 wonderful golf courses within 30 minutes, 3 different ski areas within 60 minutes and countless lakes that you can still afford to live on.

I started out with Emergency too and it's taken me 30 plus years to get into the profession. Better late than never!!

What's really needed is a reality check for current nurses. No other profession has such a need for compassion and caring providers and yet too many nurses act as though the patients are just in their way. I know there's a nursing shortage that will only worsen in the coming years but no one should go into nursing for the money and no one should stay in nursing for it either. Those who have lost the heart and passion for patient care should find another way to waste their day.

how about any other family in the area, maybe adopted "grandparents" or child sharing with another student -- different major

Try Spokane. Everything west of the mountains is too crowded and too expensive. If Spokane is too big, there are several small communities within a 2 hour drive that have hospitals of 20 - 70 beds. Tri-cities is a good place to stay away from but Wenatchee might be a nice place. Yakima isn't bad but has a higher population of migrant workers. I used to live in the seattle area and now live in Spokane but this is a far better place to raise a family and enjoy the outdoors. Better skiing in the winter, better lakes in the summer.

Good heavens, be a little creative. I'm not a nurse yet and even I know there are far more options that different units in a hospital. How about case manager for health insurance companies? How about state surveyor? How about pharmaceutical or medical equipment rep? How about legal consultant? You may also want to talk to a career coach. Not a recruiter or placement agency but someone who can work with you to understand why it is you don't like doing what you are doing. It sounds like it may not be nursing you don't like but working. If that's the case, if your husband doesn't divorce you after this career change he will after the next. School nurse? Instructor? Think outside the box.

quite honestly i love SHMC and know many many other nurses that do. Management? not the best but I know places in Seattle and LA I would never work at either. SH has had some tough years and many of the nurses there are a little bitter over some things but don't let that discourage you. Enjoy your time here and i hope you stay. It's the best place in the world to raise a family and despite recent growth, is one of the most affordable too.

Good for you, keep up the good work. One thing I learned was to get over the competitiveness of most prerequisite programs. Learn to work in teams to study and if at all possible, get a job in a hospital as an NAC. That's the best experie3nce you can get. Should be a requirement as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, keep plugging away and good luck.

I'm working as a NAC in one hospital while in nursing school (the best experience ever) and I do volunteer work in an ER in another hospital. I have one hospital designing a program for me to work as an LPN after the first year of school and another designing a program for an internship (and work after that) after the second year. Clinicals are a good contact point but so is volunteering.

Had a little 18 year old septic princess that pushed the call light to get someone to come in the room and move her glass of water closer for her to reach. Oh ya, the call light was farther away from her on the try than the water

Something other than walking!!! racquet ball, swimming, softball or whatever. And to think my wife wants me to tae walks with her......

Kim, dn't give up the dream. One more good nurse, regardless of the initials behind the name is better for all of us. I'm a male nursing student and I see the same thing but naturally hang out with the guys. I know great nurses, male and female and stick close to them. You'll find those that appreciate all you do and want to teach you more. Stick close to them, the rest will fade away.

Unfortunately, as nurse shortages grow across the country, these situations are going to become more routine. Management will hesitate to "lose" someone even more becasue that means another shift not covered. Keep doing the right thing. too few nurses are better than too many bad nurses.