MSJ2007

While I can't tell you how the work environment is, my Mom suffered a CVA a couple of years ago and was hospitalized there. We had no complaints about the care, and the nurses seemed to be available and happy to help for the most part. Hope this helps.

I have a Littman 3000 and love it. I have some hearing loss, so I need the amplification. The post above that says it doesn't hang well around the neck is not true for me. I wear mine around my neck easily, although it is slightly heavier than other stethoscopes. Hope this helps.

I am deaf in one ear (born that way) and have struggled at times to hear what's being said. I cannot locate where sounds are coming from, and people who talk softly are very difficult to hear. Point is, after many years of dealing with this, I just frankly tell people that I'm hard of hearing and they'll have to speak up. No one laughs or acts awkward--mostly they are just happy to help. I graduate this summer, so I'm conscious about where I will work. I'm a little concerned with specialties like ER where there is potential for shouting or chaos. BTW, I own an electronic stethoscope. That makes my life so much easier. You might try one if you haven't already.

I'm not too concerned about the variations in pay across the country. I'd just like to know if RNs in the OR make less to start that do RNs who start out on a Med Surg floor or ICU. Does anyone have the answer? Thanks!

I moved from Grand Rapids a year ago with my dh for his new job. I miss the area and our family and friends are there, but we're enjoying Cincinnati too. Grand Rapids gets a fair amount of snow, maybe slightly more than some areas of Michigan due to lake effect snow. The area can be conservative--a high population of Christian Reformed (Dutch) and Catholic (Polish). Of course, being the second largest metro area in Michigan, the diversity is increasing. There are many great areas in Grand Rapids. I was on the SW side in Grandville, and that area and southern parts of Grand Rapids are nice, as well as areas north of town. Not too bad on the far east side either! Good luck to you!

Sure hope someone sees this soon! Thanks for your work setting up the chat room, Lyz. Great idea.

I'd say go straight for the MSN. Here in Cincinnati, Xavier University has an accelerated direct entry nursing MSN that is completed in 5 semesters. I'm assuming the MSN program you are referring to can be completed in a reasonably similar timeframe. Why go to school for a BSN that might take 3 or 4 semesters, just to turn around in a couple of years and spend another 3 or 4 semesters completing your MSN? Skip a step I say. Good Luck!

i'm right there with you ruby vee. i contracted hpv when i was 18...one of the first things i did as an "adult." when i was 29, i had cervical displasia, cin ii, and iii. it scared me! i had been to the doc's office the year before on schedule, and all was well. message here: don't miss an exam!! i just worry that young girls will perceive gardasil as a reason not to get their annual paps.

Great Link! Thanks!

So the Discovery channel-type shows are fairly realistic? I was wondering if the "real life" shows were in fact close to accurate. In particular, are the surgery scenes shortened so much that they no longer represent an actual procedure?

I will be starting the nursing program in May, and I wonder if other students or nurses can tell me if they enjoy watching medical and surgical shows or not? I love watching them all! Will I grow to dislike them once clinicals start or after I become a nurse? What was your experience? Thanks for the input!

I just received my Financial Aid Award letter from my college. I am enrolled in an MN program (similar to a 2nd degree BSN), and I'm shocked that I am eligible for subsidized loans. My husband makes good money, and I work part-time in a retail environment. I earned very little last year. Loans appears to be based more on the student's income, not the spouse, at least in my case. Has anyone else experienced this? Does Masters vs. Bachelors make a difference?

I took the Sociology CLEP last year. I bought a study guide/book with CD. The book contained 3 practice tests. The book contained about 80 pages of reading. I read the book twice, and studied with the tests until I felt comfortable. The whole process took about 3 to 4 weeks. I passed easily. I would suggest giving it a try. Good Luck!

Fundamentals of Nursing -- Potter and Perry 6th edition ISBN: 0323031587 ISBN-13: 9780323031585 Title: Nursing Skills Online for Fundamentals of Nursing (User Guide, Access Code and Textbook Package) Qty: 1 Price: $115.00 Total Price: $115.00 Make sure you get the online Nursing Skills Online too. It's required. www.elsevier.com Hope this helps. I noticed that our schedules are posted online, but I haven't received the registration in the mail yet.

DoveNoir, Just curious where you got the list. A previous student? I contacted MSJ directly and was able to get the to commit to one book that we will need to purchase. Thanks!

Thanks for the clarification, sunnyjohn!

chaundrah, Yes, I think you're correct, but I would certainly check each of their websites to be sure. Sometimes I get bogged down in the terminology of "accelerated" and "direct-entry". But yes, there are two programs here in Cincinnati that are Masters-level programs for people with BS/BA degrees in some other field than nursing. The best part is more loans/funds/grants open up to you vs. getting another BS degree. Always a good thing!

Yes, you are correct that the program I will attend is not an MSN. In Cincinnati, there were two programs to choose from; an MN at Mount St. Joseph and and MSN at Xavier University. I am 40 years old, and have little plans to do any post-masters programs, so it didn't matter to me if I earned an MN or an MSN. Should I change my mind, I would likely have to take a few extra courses to make up the difference. The MSN program at Xavier (MIDAS) is one semester longer (5 semesters). http://www.xavier.edu/MSN/midas.cfm I'm curious...are there programs out there that combine the MSN with NP, or are they completely separate? Good luck!

I took A & P I, II, and III last summer. It was a lot of work, but I was glad to get it finished so quickly. Basically, it was a chapter per day, and class 4 times per week. What helped me the most were the CD's that came with the book. They had games and matching exercises that really helped with memorizing anatomy and learning the different physiological processes. Good luck!

I think you may have misunderstood me. I'm starting the MN program at Mount St. Joseph in May. I currently have a BS in Management. The MN program includes the RN for non-nursing degree holders. See the following link. It'll explain it better: http://www.msj.edu/academics/majors/graduate/nursing/index.asp

If you're considering going on to an MSN and already have a Bachelors degree, maybe you should skip the BSN and go immediately to an MSN or MN. I know that here in Cincinnati there are a couple of schools that offer second degree programs (Xavier and Mount St. Joseph). This route might save you some money. Check out the schools in your area. Good luck to you!

What, are you kidding? Maybe you should consider working for free! As a woman pursuing a career in a female-dominated field, why shouldn't we be paid for our education, training and efforts? If my husband weren't "in it for the money", I'd think he was nuts. Why is it any different if a woman seeks a decent wage? Of course, I think it is very important to like the work you do, and specifically, to care about the people we serve. If not, no amount of money will be enough. Ok, time to climb down off my soap box!

My doc just put me on Fish Oil and Niacin for my cholesterol. He wanted to try that first for 3 to 6 months to see if it helped. If anyone has tried this or knows someone who has, please let me know how effective it was.

Yes, obviously I want self satisfaction and a wider range of job opportunities. But let's be real, how much is satisfaction worth? Is it worth $20,000, because that's the difference in cost between an ADN and MN. Of course, if I understand what you're saying, advancement should be easier for me in the future after I gain valuable experience because I already hold a Masters degree. I get that. I appreciate your opinions. Thanks!

First, let me say that I am new to the nursing arena and probably a little naive. I will start my MN second degree program in May. I chose this program mostly because of availability and speed. I certainly didn't choose it because of a perceived superiority of a Masters vs. BSN vs. ADN vs. Diploma. Secondly, I am wise enough to know that after I complete this degree I will likely receive A LOT of extended training from experienced ADN and BSN nurses. Regardless of the degree, I'm sure all experienced nurses view new nurses as the grass trimmers around the bottom of the totum pole!:wink2: Finally, I feel that there is a place for all nursing education levels. Good nurses should receive appropriate responsibilities and commensurate pay. However, while I don't think my MN degree should automatically vault me to the top, consideration should be made for the advanced educational effort and financial debt (totaling over $55,000 including BS in my case) for BSN and MSN/MN degrees. Is it so much to ask that we get paid a little extra? After some investigation, I was disappointed to find out that entry level wages for advanced degrees are as little as $0.80 per hour. If experience is everything, why bother?