Monica D

My great-aunt worked in dialysis at Cabell Huntington for years and retired. She was off for about 3 months or so and decided to go back working part time and she was in her mid 70s then. She passed away while she was still working there in 2004. She had received her nursing degree from St. Mary's School of Nursing back in the 1940s and always loved nursing and just being out of the house working altogether. She used to tell me that once it is imprinted in you, it never goes away.

I'm a May '09:nmbrn: The way I'm looking at it is after this semester, I'm at the halfway mark...only 1 more yr! Good luck everyone!!

Obviously, since I'm now in NS, I didn't work there as a nurse, but I worked there about 6 yrs. ago as a phlebotomist and the pay there was higher than at CAMC and when I interviewed I was told that they were in the process of raising it more in competition with CAMC. I would think that would have applied to RNs salaries as well. Again, that was 6 yrs. ago and I'm not sure if anything has changed since then or not.

I agree with everyone about the "kiss your family goodbye for 2 yrs." thing. I still spend plenty of time with my family and my husband and I have even gone away for the weekend and exams are always on Mondays. Granted, I did study the whole way there and back and a little during the time there. I don't spend time with my friends anymore, though. And I'm sorry, but the time I have will be spent with my family before friends. This has just been my 1st semester, so things may be different next semester...we will see. I also get A's in my classes. Not as much as I was always used to, but I get them and I'm just glad to be getting through anyway. I think that it really depends on how many pre-req's one is still doing with their nursing class and how much one has to study.

I will be 36, close to 37, when I graduate in May '09

Ditto...same here

I agree. I'm starting week 7 and am not nearly as uptight as I was week 1. It seemed like once I took that first exam and got a feel for it and started falling into routine with studying, I was fine. And yes, nursing exams are different from any other exam you'll ever take. The point of these exams are essentially to prepare you for NCLEX. It is to my understanding that they are setting them up like the NCLEX so we will be used to it when we take it. Don't panic and good luck!!

Passing is maintaining a B with 80% being the lowest percentage. They evaluate at the end of Nursing 101, then again at the end of 102, then at the end of 103. If at anytime someone does not have this when they evaluate, they are dropped and cannot go on to 102, 103, etc.

Name: Monica School: WV State Comm. and Tech. College Program: Associate Degree Nursing What area of interest at this time: Haven't completely figured that out, but may lean toward cardiology Biggest fear: Not having what it takes to get through school What you'd like us to know about you: I've been a Medical Assistant for 12 yrs. I have 3 kids, 14, 10, and 5. My 14 yr old helped me through Algebra

Hello all, I was just accepted to WVSCTC's Fall program and was wondering if there is anyone else here that has also been accepted. If there is anyone who is currently a student of WVSCTC's program, any suggestions, tips, etc. is greatly appreciated!

It has been several years now since I had it, but I distinctly remember the cellular level being the hardest for me. Once we got past that, all the organ systems were much easier for me!!

The funny thing for me is that I never had the slightest interest at all, whatsoever, in being a nurse when I was growing up. After I had my first child, I started becoming more interested in healthcare, however I still did not want to become a nurse. I went to school and earned my certification as a Medical Assistant and have been working as an MA for the past 12 years and finally figured out a few years back that healthcare is what I'm good at and I should move forward with it.

I'm copying and pasting this from the Introductions and Greetings forum for more feedback I stumbled along this site in search for answers to alot of questions that I have regarding the whole selection process of prospective nursing students and all I can say is...WOW!! What a wealth of knowledge! I am 34, have 3 kids ages 13, 10, and 4, and have been married for 15 years. I went to school and took most of my pre-nursing classes before the birth of my third child and now that he is going into kindergarten next year, it's time for me to get back on the wagon! I'm currently competing (yes, I said competing) for a slot in a new nursing program that our large local hospital is starting new. With this program you get full tuition paid, plus supplies, lab fees, etc. in exchange for your commitment to work for 3 yrs. immediately following graduation. Personally, I think this is an incredible opportunity. The problem is they are only taking 40. I passed the first test in the process of selection, which is the great news, but I have no idea what else lies ahead of me other than I know I will have to take the NET. I know that in our testing group alone for the first test, there were at least 50 people and they had 4 or 5 other testing groups before mine so finding out how many more are left to weed out is what scares me. I am to attend an informative meeting tomorrow evening to find out more in the next steps, but I am literally racking my brain and trying to get an idea of what other programs require in their selection process. I'm sure I will probably be interviewed, but if any of you have any other thoughts on this, I would greatly appreciate your feedback!!