NewBeginning

Fun! Is it supposed to be a specific "skill" or a topic special to mental health. A few things come to mind: 1) Mental Health Nursing Assessment versus the good ole Head-To-Toe. 2) Obtaining informed consent for psychotropic drugs 3) Recognizing escalating patient behavior and interventions to use to de-escalate prior to acting out behaviors. 4) Seclusion / Restraint policies. 5) CPI techniques These are just a few that popped into my head that may be good, easy teaching projects. Good luck!

Have been thinking about all that started with ARMC in April. Hope that everything is working out nicely for you all!

Didn't they JUST hire and start training 20+ new grad nurses? I thought they hired to staff both facilities. What happens to all of those nurses with one of the two hospitals shutting its doors? Hopefully this all turns out well for everyone involved!

Oh wait, just went back and read whole thread.....how long was classroom orientation?

It does seem short. I started at a psych facility this week. The first 5 days was all new hire orientation (for nurses, receptionists, social workers, BHT's). Next week the nurses that were hired start nursing specific training. We will start 3-4 weeks of classroom training next week then several weeks of training on the unit. If you don't feel quite comfortable, ask for more time training. It couldn't hurt to ask. Worst case they say no....best case, they give you more time and you are able to continue your dream of being a psych nurse.

Congrats to all GCC Weekenders. I started that program in Jan 2011. If you have any general questions, please feel free to ask. I know there are a couple of us on here who would be happy to help in any way we can. We were fortunate enough to have some great allnurses.com folks answer our questions and give us lots of helpful advice. You'll be starting before you know it!

Congrats to the GCC Weekenders. I started that program in Jan of this year! It's a lot of work, but lots of fun as well.

OK, just started a nursing program last week. We were trying on gloves (non-sterile) to get a sense of what was needed for supplies for the semester. I grabbed an XL and with some effort, stuffed my hands inside. I would have preferred slightly looser, but whatever. I can deal. However, one of the clinical instructors watched my struggle with the gloves and raised concern about difficulties that may arise during sterile procedures and needing sterile gloves. She pulled out a size 9 and with a little effort, and the assistance of the nearest 3 people standing next to me, I was able to get my hands inside. Needless to say, had this been an actual procedure, I think the gloves would not have remained sterile but for a few miliseconds. The school is going to look to see if there are larger sizes they can order, but expressed not being able to in past situations. Now, I don't consider myself or my hands freakishly large in any context. Am only 6 foot tall. Surely there are others of you that have had some difficulty with glove sizes. Any advice? Brands that run loose, or in sizes larger than 9? I have searched on-line and 9 seems to be as large as many stores carry. Any 10's out there that can tell me where you/your school/your employer have purchased sterile gloves for the plus-sized hand?? Many thanks!

Has anyone received notification that they have been enrolled in classes yet? I know there is a payment deadline coming up this Fri. Am a little nervous I may have missed something. Thanks

Many congrats AZCodeBlue. Look forward to meeting you and getting this show on the road as well!

I received a note that orientation packets for the weekend program will be sent out towards the end of November. Wish it was sooner, but at least I know to not be watching the mail so closely until then!

I hear you on there not being a "perfect" time to start. We have a pretty busy family life as well, but only forsee it getting busier, so no time like the present to start nursing school. Oh, and actually, I am male. We have two daughters and my wife is in a relatively new career. It's going to be hectic until we get the pace down, but we have every confidence (almost) that we can make it work out.

Hey mom2twinz and layciem. I was accepted to the weekend program as well. Super excited after such a long wait. I live in the West Valley. Look forward to getting to know you better in the coming years! There is a slight chance I may have to use my one time deferral and start in Fall 2011. Hopefully that won't be the case!

Yes, sorry. Was April 9, 2009.

Yeah, just got placement in Glendale Weekend Day program. My timestamp was in April. Don't recall exact date and time since the application status screen is still down until 2:00. Congrats to all those receiving word today!

Congrats back2class. I got a call this morning as well and am very excited about the opportunity to interview with Banner. Were you able to attend the March information session? Did they mention what the shedule would be for the P-T program. I have the info from the December meeting, but was wondering if anything may have changed as far as the days/times the P-T program has classes/clinicals. Congrats and best of luck to all those who receive a call today!

I turned in the old application with typed answers attached as well. I have seen the new application. It is essentially the same, with two exceptions. One is that there is now one essay question, limited to 300 words (which is quite short). I can't recall the exact wording, but essentially why did you choose nursing and what are your goals with respect to nursing. Also, the new application specifies the criteria they apply for what minimum scores they will accept for HESI and NET scores. I don't think they will accept two applications for the same cohort. You should be fine with having turned in the old application.

Crystal, I believe its something like HCC145. Looks like there are several options to take this class online. I just can't decide if I want to take the class, or just get the book and read and have as a resource. Hmmm.

Aww man. I have a BBA and was told I most definately had to take ENG 102 to satisfy the writing requirement, even though I had mutiple writing intensive courses that were not English classes. I took Eng 102 this past past Spring online. I'm glad I took the class, but it would have been nice to get a waiver and be able to have taken something else during that timeframe.

I look forward to seeing the new application for Banner when I attend the next info session. Is there a place on the new application where you show your grades for the pre-reqs, or do they just hunt and peck through the transcript to find them? When in your timestamp with Maricopa? Mine is in mid April 2009.

Thanks mambear! Did they mention how far in advance to start getting immunizations? Have you already started, in anticipation of getting into the program, or do you wait until you get accepted. Sorry for all the questions. I need to dig my notes out from December so I can get my questions together for the next info session! I'm excited for you to be at this point. Wish you all the best!

Hey mamabear, I missed the March info session. I attended back in December. At that time, the July Banner co-hort was scheduled to be a part-time program. Is that still the case? Good luck to you!

Well, the right thing to do would be to bring it to his attention as soon as possible. You can't use the excuse of his being busy to justify not bringing up the issue. Would you not ask your preceptor for important guidance on patient care becuase they were busy? Sounds like you are doing well in the class and a C would be a partial setback. I would urge you to do what is right and bring this up. In addition, you mention that "everyone is telling me to leave it alone and be thankful." This tells me you have shared this with others. Believe me, they have shared that with others as well. If you don't bring it up, someone who is dissatisfied with their grade may bring it up for you.

Crystal, did you ever hear anything back from the calls you made? I have left phone and e-mail inquiries to several of the Maricopa and Banner individuals from prior information sessions and have not heard back from a single person. Its kind of disheartening, especially with so much riding on whether the correct forms are turned in.

My guess is that the flexibility lies in the number of program choices you make. If you know you can only take a part-time program, the options are limited. Your wait will be longer. If you can only do the weekend program, same thing. If you choose 5 options, your number will come up sooner than those who were more limiting with their choices, even if they were time stamped after you. Sounds like they are saying if you chose 5 programs, you will likely be in one at the two year wait, but if you are more limited in choice choice (be it location, part-time), etc. your wait will be longer. How much longer? Who knows, but certainly above the 2 years. I also understand that the wait begins with the semester after the semester in which your application was time stamped. If you are stamped Oct 2009, then your wait starts the semester following.