Metry_RN

Waiting anxiously over here as well! Applied for FNP for Fall 2015.

The Protege RN position, is basically working under an RN but there are things you can't do, such as administering meds, hanging blood, hanging IVs (you can start them though), drawing blood, sterile dressing changes, and a few other things. Other than that, it's JUST like an RN, but without the pay. It's like an on-the-job interview to get a chance at an RN position.

Ochsner doesn't hire agency nurses because they have their own in-house pool. Nurses that work for Ochsner and float to all the other Ochsner hospitals.

So, does that mean that y'all got positions?

Same here. Two interviews and then nothing. Hoping to hear something.

It depends on who you have as an instructor and if you go day or night. I did nights at STPH the second half of this semester and we got our pt assignments when we got there right before we got on the floor. I did Touro the first half of the semester and we had to go the day/night before to pick up out pt and check the charts and meds and such (half the time though the pt was gone by the next day anyway, but what can you do, eh?). It all depends on your instructor though. PM me and I'll tell you who I had and what to expect.

The night Pharm teacher is hard, but you will learn your meds. They day Pharm teacher is easier from what I've heard. She puts more dosage calcs on her tests. I didn't mind the night teacher at all, although she does have a bad rep. BTW, she is a NAC II instructor, so if you can get in good with her in Pharm and figure out how she operates, you'll know what to expect if you get her for NAC II.

Dosage Calc is really easy, if you know how to do math. The rest is conversion, the hardest part is going back and forth b/w metric and apothecary (drams, minims, etc.) If you have the time and/or money DCC City Park has a Dosage Calc class and a Pharm class, both undergrad that will help you loads in your first semester. As for Clinicals, we learned on last Tuesday and have until this Friday (a week and a half) to do our check-off, not that bad, lots of time to practice. Oh well .... Our first test is tomorrow .... time to study. Good luck and will give you more info as the semester goes on.

I don't know how I feel yet either. It really hasn't been OVERwhelming. Just like going to regular classes, but for just a little longer. The information really isn't anything terribly new, or hard for that matter, just your basic intro level stuff (I wouldn't even call Basics a Master's level course). The clinical day is the best part. I like the hands-on aspect of it all. The good thing is that I'm used to all the check-off's, that's basically what my EMT-Basic licensing test was (different skills stations). I also noticed we only have to do 8 days in the hospital itself, with one day being orientation. That's a whole 48 hours at the hospital. It's going to be a quick 16 weeks, that's for sure! Just sit back and enjoy the ride, we'll ALL get through this semester.

I got my health insurance through United Healthcare, short-term policy paid monthly. It's only $50 a month, but hey if I need it, I have to have it. I only need it until I get married and can get on my fiancee's Health Ins at her work. They're pretty quick about stuff too. I applied on the 26th of Dec to have my coverage start on the 1st of January and got my cards and all the paperwork on this past Tuesday the 2nd. Not bad for being during the holidays.

I took the CPR class already but just haven't gotten my card yet. I have my liability insurance through NSO also but I haven't gotten anything in the mail from them yet, have you? f you did, how long did it take? I did mine on the 17th of Dec and haven't gotten any paperwork yet.

I just ordered my books last night, they should be here by Wed. Still need my uniform and my CPR card hasn't come in yet. Oh yeah, and that Nurse Pak thingy, need that too. The student-to-student is at 9:00 am in the 7th floor Gym right? I'll be there. Can't wait!

Just wondering how y'all are paying for school. I know it will be hard to work while in school and I was wondering how everyone was paying for school. Are y'all getting grants or loans or stipends from CSN or any other source? I might need some help getting through the first semester and if anybody has any advice, it would be helpful, not only to me but to anyone considering going to school at CSN. Thanks all!

I went to an after hours clinic to get mine done (they have regular hours too). It cost $40, but I couldn't get it done at my local health department. Might be an option for you.

I'll be there as well. Just hope I remember to bring some cash for the class and the card. $55, geez!