violingirl

I had applied to several places in Minneapolis... thinking about moving up there. I just got a call today saying that they're not hiring any new grads this year at Children's... because of the economy. I think the freeze is definitely geographical. There's a "shortage" but it's only in certain areas. If you can't get a job there the best bet is probably relocation if you can. Thankfully where I'm at jobs are not too hard to come by.

I'll be 19 with my RN this year... I kind of like being the baby of the class. =P But yeah, don't let people run over you because of your age. Just think... the earlier we start the more we can learn! =)

Anything downtown and south of downtown is just kind of that way. I'm not sure about Northeast Methodist area... that's off of 35 and topperwein. Southeast is getting computer charting I think this week, which is before all of the other Baptist hospitals except one. The med-surg units are on the first floor. They have 2 nurse's stations, one bigger and one small. I guess with the computer charting now each nurse has a computer cart they take with them to each pt room. I can't remember how many rooms/beds. But the food in the cafeteria is super cheap. =)

Southeast Baptist is pretty small and old. The DON there is super nice though... Supposedly they're building a new hospital down there eventually. I had one of my clinical rotations there but I was only on the med-surg floor so I don't know much about the rest... it's in a rougher part of town so you'll get some more interesting cases.

Externships are easy to get if you get one right after the semester ends and the grads have given up their extern positions. They're hard to get a few weeks into the semester. It being a diploma is no biggie. It's actually viewed as slightly better than an associates because they know you have more clinical experience. The school has a good reputation. Pointers for first semester students... Have fun! Because the second half of the second semester stinks out loud. At least mine did... I think they switched a few instructors around/out so hopefully yours will be better. =)

May 09! First semester was awesome... only 3 to go. =) After this one we'll be half done! I'm in a 2 year diploma program.

Baptist is actually getting it changed over so the students will be rewarded with an associates degree by graduation. I'm not sure when exactly it will be changed, but I graduate in May of 09 and they said we'd probably have it by then... Even so, their program will be the same. It doesn't really make that much of a difference... an RN's an RN, and bridge RN-BSN programs acknowledge diploma as equivalent to an ADN. As far as the school goes. I've just loved it so far. The first sem. instructors are awesome. Everyone is really nice and encouraging. We have rotations at really good hospitals... and the people there seem to think more highly of baptist students than ones from other programs. We get a lot more hands-on then the UTSA nursing students and the focus is more on bedside hands-on nursing. As soon as we learn something we're doing it in clinical. And we started clinicals practically right away. SAC's supposed to be good too... but the drop rate's a lot higher. And you have to wear all white scrubs. As opposed to navy blue. =) I've heard mixed things about the instructors there too. But overall I'm sure it's a good program. Both of the schools NCLEX pass rate is in the 90's. My advice would be to go for Baptist. But I probably am biased some. Haha.

I graduate in May '09 with my RN and I'll be 19.

Yeah, I've lost weight so far. Probably from moving away from mom's home food and also being more active than I used to be running around to classes and clinicals and all. And I think stress makes me lose weight.

Way to go!! Awesome! =) Isn't it exciting?! I can't wait to get started. :biggringi

I'm 17. Finished with my prereqs and coreqs and starting nursing school (2 year diploma program) this fall. So I guess I'll be a 19 year old RN. =P

No, they don't do waiting lists. They count up your "points" due to GPA on prereqs and score on the NET and figure it out that way somehow. I was accepted first time. The NET study guide can be ordered when you sign up for the test. Or you can get it here: http://www.eriproduct.com/detail.aspx?ID=1 If you go to their orientation (which they have twice a month posted on their website, bshp.edu) you'll get the sign up sheet for the NET. Here are some of the online resources: http://hfcclab.info/NET/index.htm http://healthcare.maricopa.edu/pdfDocs/NET_Preparation.pdf

I'm starting there this fall. I was grandfathered in under the old academic plan and tuition and some books were quoted to me at about $10,000. They ARE revamping it though so it'll probably change. Not sure which way. Also, they actually require the NET test (Nursing Entrance Test) for people applying to the nursing program. There's a lot of info you can find on it in the pre-nursing forum. It's not too hard.

Nursing classes!! I'm so excited I still can't quite believe it! =D

I didn't use a study guide... but there is one that the makers of the test put out thats supposed to be good. There are also some online links in the pre-nursing student forum to free study guides. The math I found very easy... got 100 on it. The reading was surprisingly hard to me. I scored in the mid 70's and ended up with a composite of 88% or something like that. 96th percentile. There are more sections then just math and reading though that you have to take. It's just the math and reading that are graded and considered.