beatarmy

Jeff hires ADNs. In fact, the university just started an ADN program two years ago, so they're not likely to go all-BSN anytime soon. That doesn't mean that a BSN wouldn't get preference over an ADN - I don't know. However, Jeff is a university hospital - the university has a nursing program, and I know that the managers are "encouraged" to hire those nurses. That being said, a lot of the new hires from last year came from schools other than Jeff. The main problem with your job search is more likely that you started it too late. By the time recruiters got your resume, they had a huge pile of new grad resumes already on their desks. Just keep plugging away. The Philly area is by no means saturated with nurses, and they're always looking for new nurses to replace the experienced ones that they've used up and thrown away.

Nothing that's covered is very hard in and of itself - it's the pace that'll get you. The best advice I can give is don't fall behind in your studies, thinking you'll catch up later - there is no later. They really try to help you - they have a very high graduation rate (it was still 100% when I graduated - I don't know if that's still true) and a very high NCLEX first-time pass rate (also 100% when I graduated.) Oh, and be flexible - the program always seems to be disorganized. Times will change, locations will change - often with next to no warning. If you let it bother you, you'll still have to make the changes, plus you'll raise your blood pressure. No school can adequately prepare you for a career in nursing, but it'll prepare you to get started, which is about all you can ask.

I graduated from the FACT program. You'll have 24 hours a week of clinical plus the classroom load. The schedule will vary - the reason you haven't been given a schedule is that they're probably still trying to finish the schedule. You'll have 4 12 week quarters with a week break between each.

Never heard of irrigating a subdural drain, but I assume it's to ensure that the line there's no more drainage, rather than the line being clotted.

A subdural drain will stop putting out, once the blood is evacuated and the bleeding has stopped. Generally, then the surgeon d/c's the drain, and everyone gets on with their lives.