Blupaisley

I can tell you that I am a senior at WVUIT, and that was one of the reasons I chose that school,... NO WAIT! Their requirements are high, but I spoke to the director of the program, and they are desperate for applicants! We were allocated 32 spots for next year, and only 14 had the qualifications. So if you meet the criteria, it's a good program with quick entry.

Don't forget flavored colas. Grape soda will also turn the poop a nasty green color. Ice pops definately. My brothers would revel at their technicolor poops after downing a whole box of Otter Pops.

I'm currently in my third year at WVSCTC, technically. I used State's Community College to get my Pre-Reqs out of the way. Now I'm dually enrolled at WVU Tech's BSN program, and still filling out the rest of my schedule at State ( APII, and Eng. 315 Shakespeare....). I will tell you that everyone and their mother is a Pre-nursing student, but few make it into the program. As long as you pay attention, go to class, and study, you should have no problem. It's a really nice little school w/ a great faculty. Oh, and make friends with Bonnie Dean, the prenursing advisor. Show up for advising as soon as it is available, she is irritated by procrastination, and you will probably end up w/ her for your nutrition teacher. Trust me. :welcome:

I bought a set of Mosby Nursing Skills by Potter and Perry, you could probably do a Search on Amazon and find a cheaper set. I bought mine through http://www.elsevierhealth.com for about $100 brand new. Nice set of videos (8 in all), That cover Basic Skills, Intermediate, and Advanced. All skills you would need in your first year. The school had a set in the library that we had to go watch during the week, my school's an hour away, so I bought the set. Turns out the computer's in the library won't play them, so now we have to sit through them in skills lab. Still, it's nice to have them to review whenever I want.

Get organized and STAY organized! And have fun with it, as much as possible. A healthy sense of humor will go along way in maintaining sanity.

I think you're off to a great start! I would say the more accustomed you are to the terminology the better off you will be. Don't let these threads scare you TOO much about A&P. I found that if you pay attention (and to do this, you MUST show up...don't snicker, it blew my mind the sheer number of people that missed labs and lectures), study (reading, rereading, notes), and stay focused you'll be fine. It is the massive amounts of terminology that stop many in their tracks, so if you can become more familiar with key points, you're really cooking with gas! Good luck!

Okay, I'm speaking strictly as a Nursing Student, I am not a CRNA (......yet), however, ALL CRNA programs require AT LEAST 1 year of critical care experience. I also know that the competition is fierce, so a 3.5 with great GRE scores and great references you would definately have a chance. Check out the website of the school, they usually list entrance requirements (though I can tell you that the minimums required do not represent the students accepted.) Many with a 4.0 in a BSN program wait several years before they are accepted. Also look at the CRNA page on allnurses, tons of valuable info about entrance requirements and different schools.

Google the Red Cross. I found the link on a United Way website I think. Really nice because they had all the different CPR classes (who knew there were so many different CPR certifications) listed with the dates and times. It also allowed me to register for the CPR class online. I signed up for the CPR/AEF (Adult Fibrillation) version, don't think I need to know how to use the defibrillator but I figure it doesn't hurt to know, many facilities now stock them as first aid equipment. Also, if you have a YMCA membership, some offer CPR certification. Good luck! I hope this helps.

My mother dealt with the liscensing of docs at Cabell for years, knew the records of most in the area, and she has insisted for years that Cabell has the best overall medical staff (St. Mary's is getting better), and that under NO circumstances was I ever to go to CAMC for ANY reason ( I live in Teays Valley). The work conditions are supposed to be awesome and yes, the medical coverage is great. I plan on applying for a job at Cabell as soon as I graduate.

I think a quick look at the pre-nursing boards will give you some idea on the difficulty involved in the "getting in" process. It is hard, it is frustrating, but it is completely doable! I spent 2 years getting into a BSN program, still have 3 years to go. If I knew then what I know now, not sure if I would have had the courage to weather through such a long period of time (My original intent was to get my ADN). However, this is something that I truly WANT, and after spending so many many years in retail on my head, I realized that this was temporary, and that I was at least moving forward, TOWARD a great career with incredible flexibility and stability. The idea of never having to worry again about my families financial stability is an incredible motivator. Just get started --take your classes and you will find that the rest will fall into place. Don't forget to look into different schools as well. I know where I live it is EASIER to get into the BSN programs than it is the ADN. BSN-160 applicants for 40 spots, ADN program 400 for 40 spots. After it is all said and done, my CC peers that went in the ADN route will have spent at least 4 years in school, and my BSN will take me 5. There are many routes to an RN, so PLEASE do not get discouraged now especially if this is something that is your passion. :w00t: :monkeydance:

You will find that those that settle for "skating by" are whittled out slowly, the ones that remain are those that decided to buckle down. I had a study group for A&PI that was filled with this sort of attitude, even worse they said "Oh well, I'll just take it again with a different professor", couldn't believe the attitudes, and these were pre-med students. I passed with a high A, some passed with a C, some did much worse. Do what you can do for yourself. I found that studying with these dopes (correction, me re-teaching the material to them) actually helped cement the information for me at least.

Our advisor has boxes outside of her office that show all the local colleges and the list of requirements as well as a list of classes that are transferable to these schools. Ask your advisor, ask many questions, that's what they are there for. They can be a wealth of knowledge, but they can't read your mind, you must let them know your academic goal before they can set you on the path. I didn't ask enough questions my first year and ended up taking classes I didn't need, pigeon-holing me into 1 school that's over an hour away. And as always, never be afraid to ask questions here because there is almost always someone here to offer advice and support. No question is stupid.:typing

OP,...you have described my last 2 years in school, except I have an 11 year old and a 3 year old. The one suggestion I could offer, and I can't claim that it has been a 100% success, ....but I found that if I put a FAMILY chore chart up and divy out duties, they get done more often. If they see what needs to be done in written word (can't understand why the stink of the catbox doesn't clue them in that IT NEEDS CLEANING!) then they seem to be more likely to help out. Again, not 100% effective but it helps, it also takes the guilt off of me and places some responsibility on them.

And it is for this reason that I keep my mouth closed when others ask about my future plans for advancement. I get lots of eye rolls and smirks, as if saying "OF COURSE you want to be a CNRA, then you MUST be only interested in $$," I first looked into Anesthesia years ago, well before the salaries went through the roof. I won't lie, the idea of being financially stable for the first time in my life is quite attractive, though this could be fufilled by any advanced degree. Flip-side, I guess I harbor the same ideas about students who talk of being a CRNA, especially those I know are barely making the cut in nursing school.

You SEE! Thus is my inner conflict! I am all about sharing, I'm normally a very shareful sort, however I do gleen some personal satisfaction in that I am always one step ahead of the other students. Wrong? Maybe,....but it feels soooo good!