SAC101

I had no idea a bra was such a big thing!

Resigning may not be your best option. Just make sure you do proper documentation whenever you receive telephone orders. You never know the hospital next door may just have the same doctors practicing there. Are you going to quit again?

If your ADN program is at a community college and way cheaper, then go for it. You will save yourself tons of money in student loans. After getting your RN you'll certainly be able to pay for two more semesters for your BSN out of your decent RN salary. Other factors to consider may include your age, personal responsibilities,how old your other prereqs are (remember some schools won't accept pre-req olders than 5 yrs), etc. All the best.

I agree that you should concentrate on taking the NCLEX and then concentrate on the letter. If I were you I would focus on what is distracting me from passing the NCLEX. It could be the experience you had in school. Write the dean about it so it can get off your mind. Then tackle the NCLEX. You can't focus on studies so well if something is on your mind. Sorry about yor experience.

Immigration benefits for F-1 students include but are NOT limited to Work authorization, Change/Extend your status, etc.

90 days prior to finishing your program is good time. Talk to your International Coordinator for further advice. Key is: It has to be done before you graduate.

Let me clarify my earlier posting that is said NOT to be "enirely true". When I say it is NOT a smart move for an employer to petition for you, as an F-1, when retrogression is in place. I mean just that. NOT SMART. That does no mean you can't do it or start the process. The smart way of proceeding is to start the whole process with your employer, have all your documents in place, and wait for a window of opportunity when Visas are current before you file your I-140. The rationale is that as an F-1 you may at some point desire to apply for some Non-immigrant benefits and in some forms you may come accross questions such as: 1. Has an Immigrant petition ever been filed for you or for any other person included in your application? Yes/NO. 2.Are you or any other person included on this application an applicant for an Immigrant visa? Yes/No. A yes answer to either of these questions warrants further scrutiny of your Non-immigrant benefits application. Remember you have to offer an explanation for each yes answer. If I were you I would NOT want to be caught up in such a situation unless you are absolutely sure you won't be applying for any Non-immigrant benefits after filing your I-140. You don't want to take chances with immigration though "It is well known fact that any that come here and go to nursing school are usually planning to stay". There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting the whole process with your employer...Remember this is NOT a legal advice. It's always a good idea to seek professional legal help.

Your last concern first:You are eligible for 12 months of OPT for each higher level of education attained. That is you may apply for OPT after your ADN, and later after your BSN, and so on. As for your first concern: It is NOT a smart move to have an employer petition for you if retrogression is in place. Because it shows that your intentions are be in the country permanently and NOT temporally as your F-1 status demands. Better file your papers when visas are current so you may apply for adjustment of status at the same time.

For some reason it seems like there is like nobody from SA on this board. I have asked questions before and gotten 0 replies. Best of luck. Amy You are not alone. I am from SA too.

Couldn't agree with you more. Some orders are quite silly. SCDs for a patient who goes out to smoke every hour? Some doctors' orders are so rehersed. You know if Dr.123 is on the phone for orders that he is going to order: VS Qshift, strict I/Os, CBC, Chem 7, BNP, in am in peadi tubes...and so on..

Passing the NCLEX exam gives a sense of accomplishment. I can't imagine nursing without this exam. The current information I am aware of is that The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) voted at its December 5-6, 2006 meeting to raise the passing standards for the NCLEX-RN exam. This takes effect on April 1, 2007. There is more information at their website: www.ncsbn.org

Your age indicate that you are still quite young. Why not relocate to some place with better opportunities? Some doors close up for a purpose.

Just a clarification on the F-1 student status: When you enter the US on a student visa or when you change your status to F-1 from the U.S, you are usually admitted for the duration of your student status. That means your departure date will indicate D/S (for duration of status). What this means is that you may stay in the country for as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. You are still in legal status. Make sure your I-20 and passport are current.However, if you happen to depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you are expected to return with a new Visa. There is more information on the U.S. state Dept. website: http://travel.gov/visa. Click on frequently requested visa information. Then go to student visa section.

Welcome to San Antonio. Texas Board of Nurse Examiners website is: www.bne.state.tx.us. See how much information you can get from there. You may also wish to contact them directly for further clarifications. I wish you well.