Tealeaf72

thanks so much for your advice... i really appreciate it. I know the job is tough and the money is not great (CNA) but it probably would be a good experience and really give me a feel for the Industry. Can you tell me what the pay is for a CNA in MA? I am hoping it is over 10 an hour... but I am worried it may not be. I really would love to hear it is at least 15 but i think I am dreaming. Do hospitals pay better than LTC? Thanks again.... :)

Has anyone seen the article in the boston globe today about Massbay? The nursing program is frozen right now to new applicants. I am a little concerned because although I wasn't in the program, I was taking a lot of my science classes there anticipating possibly applying... Does anyone know anyone currently in the program & how serious these issues are? Are they likely to be resolved? What is this school's reputation in general? http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/07/10/nursing_program_frozen_at_massbay/

Hello all, I having been taking many science courses in preparation for possibly entering a nursing program... but I have not made a definitive decision as to whether this is the path I want to go. I am just not sure whether I would enjoy it and I find it is very hard to know for sure whether I would like a job until I am actually doing it. This would be a career change for me. I want something that is interesting, pays well and has flexibility. Would being a CNA give me a good perspective as far as whether this is the right career for me? It would at least get me into the medical field and I would get a feel for the environment. I know how hard CNA's must work and I have the utmost respect for people that do this job, but I also am concerned that CNA's probably do a lot of things nurses don't deal with on a daily basis... and I worry it would not be a fair representation. I am concerned that they do a lot more of the less desirable tasks..and that this could turn me off to nursing and won't be a fair representation. I really would like to get a feel for the environment and whether it is something I would like. I don't want to get a distorted view of nursing... but I want to gain experience and make some money while I am in school. I understand even as a nurse I would have to do some things that are not pleasurable, but I don't want to unfairly bias my opinion if I did a job that really wasn't comparable at all. I want to also get into the environment to meet people in the field. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also where would I take a program in MA (live in south eastern part of MA)? The only one I know of is the red cross program and this is a combination home health aide/Nurses aide program and costs 800 dollars. If people think this program is worth it then I would pay and do it... but I don't know that I need the home health aide training unless it would open up more opportunities somehow. Thanks for your advice.

Hi, I am taking pre-requisites to get into a nursing program and was hoping some of you nurses wouldn't mind providing some feedback... I would really appreciate it. I am hoping to get some honest advice about the schools below and their nursing programs. I am looking for any and all feedback... both positive and negative. Even if you didn't go to these schools yourself, I am curious as to what your opinion of them is within your profession and how you feel they stack up.... and how well they train their students. Thank you so much. Mass Bay Massasoit Quincy College Middlesex Community College Thanks in advance....

Would anyone mind telling what their B.S GPA was when accepted to a direct entry graduate nursing program? I am trying to figure out just how competitive these are. Any other hoops you had to go through to get in? thanks

Hi, I hope someone might be able to offer me some advice... I am feeling very disappointed lately and feel nursing is going to be an uphill battle for me due to competing goals in my life. I am in my mid thirties and recently married. Due to my age, my husband and I want to try to have kids as soon as possible. We don't want to have to put this off several years in case we run into problems and for various other reasons. I also am trying to make a career change into nursing. I have been taking pre-requisites and have been doing well. I spoke to the admissions people at Mass Bay and just asked them what happens if you become pregnant while in their program, assuming that a nursing program that has mostly women in the program would make accomodations for someone who was pregnant if they were doing well in the program. I was told that I would have to leave the program and it would be difficult to get back in. She said very difficult, not impossible, but due to the competitiveness much less likely. I feel so discouraged. Are all nursing programs like this? I thought of all professions this would be one that would be understanding of the fact that life sometimes happens along the way. I have never heard of such a thing before. They said that it was due to you not being able to perform the clinical duties. I had hoped in these situations they would work around this and allow you to do duties that still allowed you to work in a nursing capacity but with less physical risk etc. Is it unreasonable to expect this from a program? This is very important to me.... but so isn't having children. The earliest program I could even attempt to get into would be fall 2008 for a full time program or spring 2008 or spring 2009 for a 3 year part time program... assuming my grades were excellent. This is going to put me at around 38 or maybe even 39 before i could finish a program... and we want to have more than one child.. Never mind knowing whether you will end up with fertility issues that delay things even more. Does anyone have any advice for me? The other thing I thought of is trying to get pregnant now, have a child and go to school with a baby. This doesn't sound like a very fun idea either... although I know many of you women have struggled though this and gotten through... Does anyone have any advice, or any thoughts on other Mass. RN programs that might be a little more understanding? I have a bachelors degree already and was going to do an ADN RN program. Seems to be very few accelerated Nursing programs around, and I wasn't sure that was a route I wanted to go or not. Thanks for your help.

Hello, I was hoping someone could give me their opinions. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology that I received 10 years ago. I am looking to make a career change into nursing. My goals are to have an interesting, rewarding, fulfilling career that pays well and has flexibity. I want to have children and want to have a job that offers flexibility - Big factors for me are flexibility, good pay and an interesting career. Nursing is interesting to me so I am pursuing this option. My biggest goal is to have a career that works with our life goals. My aspirations at this time are not to necessarily get an advanced degree in nursing, I have other goals that are more important to me at the moment (having children, having financial stability etc.). I spoke with several nurses yesterday who have masters degrees. They were very helpful, but had a very different point of view of what I should be doing. I was planning on just going towards a 2 year associates degree to get an RN. For starters, the community college programs are much more affordable. My understanding was that nursing jobs are in high demand and an AD degree/RN is perfectly acceptable and will get me into the field with no issue. Also they don't require me to take GRE's or have 9,000 references for the program... basically I don't have to jump through as many hoops to get into these programs... although there may be a wait from a lack of teachers. That is a possible issue. The women I spoke with had a very different perspective. They strongly felt I should not do an AD degree, but should pursue a dual degree - BSN/Masters... some of the reasoning made sense but other aspects didn't necessarily fit in with my goals. They said I can do an accelerated program since I have a BS already... and it would be the same time commitment, but would cost more. Then if I did want to move forward with a masters to become a NP down the road I would be in a better position... (I do agree with that aspect, but at this time am not very interested in becoming an NP....though that could change)....also they said I would have a hard time getting a job coming out of some of these 2 year AD programs??? They seemed to have a bias against anyone with a 2 year nursing degree... but explained it as these nurses would not get the same opportunities and would not have the same experience, education....etc. I have never heard that before... I thought RN's at every level were in demand. I was told I would be fine if I just wanted to work at a community hospital but probably wouldn't get into a hospital in the City. I am not sure I even have a problem with just working at a community hospital... though it would be nice to have other options as well. Maybe my goals are just different than theirs? Here is my issue... the schools that offer these dual programs in my area or even an accelerated Bachelors degree program are very expensive private schools. It will cost me at least 3 to 4 times as much if not more to get a degree from one of these schools. I guess my question is , how accurate are their opinions? Or are their opinions just personal bias based on their own choices. They definitely felt I would be limiting myself with an Associates degree. Is this true? thanks in advance for your honesty....