Agenyc

I was just looking for info on losing immunity and found this thread!! I recently did a pre-pregnancy work-up and tested negative for varciella, which normally wouldn't be a big deal, but I am working on getting pregnant with my second baby. I find it strange that I had it as a child, and I was immune when I started NS 5 years ago, and also 3 years ago when I was pregnant with my now almost 2-year old. I had no idea you could lose immunity or I would've had this done a year ago!! I have decided to get a new blood test to make sure it wasn't a "mistake" in the lab ( seen too many soap operas i guess, LOL). I would just get the vaccine again, and logically I know I should get it before getting pregnant, but you have to wait 3 months to get pregnant after the shot, and I just don't want to waste 3 months ( I'm in my late 30's and have tried for 4 months...). I am waiting now to see if I am pregnant and I am praying it was the lab that misses the little antibodies.....

I was scared to death of the math!! but it really wasn't that bad once I got over the anxiety of it. I don't think you need to repeat a whole college math course to manage it. You obviously have done well in math in the past, so I wouldn't worry too much. You could do it on your own. My program recommended a dosage calculations book for us to use and had one lecture as an overview, but we had to do the rest on our own. We used "Dosage Calculations- a ratio and proportions approach" . (I think it is by G.Pickar, Thompson Delmar Learning). There are also some practice tests online somewhere I think, could be from UCSF) Good Luck!

I am Swedish too, but have lived in the US for a while now. Good luck to you all! It is very ironic that fixing machines is more valued that healing people... Sweden is such a great country in SO many ways, but not when it comes to appreciating the value of the nursing staff. Unfortunately it's probably one of the drawbacks of socialized medicine... Lycka till!!

I could have written that! I am also on a two-week break between spring and summer semesters. half way through a 15-month program. Today was my first full day off after the semester from hell, and all I have done is sleep and sit on the couch feeling totally down and "flat." Have a long list of stuff to do to get my place back into shape and I was actually excited to get to it .... maybe it was just the desire to procrastinate and not study for finals anymore that was the motivating factor..... I hope it was just the first day and i needed the rest, hopefully I will feel better and more motivated about it tomorrow!! or the next day..

Hi, Sounds like you're not very happy right now. I feel for you.. I don't know how old you are, but gathering from the details in your post you are relatively young. It took me until I was like 32 to realize what I wanted to do with my life and I am in N.school with MANY students with previous degrees making carreer changes ( your career change would just be in the oposite direction...). The positive thing is that you have a completed nursing degree with the ability to support yourself and your family while you figure out what you want to do. I agree with one of the previous posts that you should probably not stay where you are. since you are so miserable it would not be fair to the patients, your family or your own wellbeing. But instead of quitting, why don't you transfer to another unit where you might be happier, work part time and you could buy some time and work there while you're in school and maybe even get some experience working with kids. I know it isn't the same as ECEd but why not try Peds? Do what you need to do and what is possible in your particular situation to follow your heart! Good luck!

Oh, geez I just bought this brick of a book yesterday for this coming semester for $100+........this does not sound encouraging..( I don't think I have seen a bigger, heavier textbook in my life) thanks for the warning

Hi, As I understand it, the programs are designed so that you will get the BSN along the way before you begin the true masters courses. I have a friend who attended the Columbia direct entry program and she even took some time to work/get experience for a year between the BSN portion and the MSN. You can't get an MSN withouth having the BSN. that's how I understand it. So, in the long run it is basically the same a a dual degree-type program, except you have to take the GRE's before you are admitted (at least a Columbia, and you don't have the option of just doing the BSN, at least officially...).

That is so exciting!! I will be in your shoes exactly 1 year from now!! You just took your last final and I am taking my first final tomorrow morning ( first nursing school final that is...). So technically I should NOT be browsing allnurses right now................... Good luck with everything!

Hi, I am attending NYU right now, just finishing up my very first semester and don't really have time to "waste" , projects and finals are looming, but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in: To be hosest, my first degree's GPA wasn't all thet great, and I believe I got in because of all the other things; a "killer" honest essay, an honest explaination of why my GPA wasn't that great "back in the day" -- so they do not only look at your GPA! They actually take the time to read all those essays and statements that we all worked so hard on! (not to say that they aren't a little disorganized at times...., make sure you app. is in and complete) There are alot of really smart people with a wide range of experience, or lack there of, in the program, and I am doing really great, so GPA isn't everything, and they know that!!! I had all my prereq's done before I started. ( I did do well in the prereq's though..) When I was accepted this spring I had physiology in progress and hadn't taken nutrition yet. I thought that I would take it at NYU, including any other credits they wouldn't accept. However, they accepted all my credits (even the ones that were a little past due the 10 year mark..) and even suggested that I get the nutrition course done over the summer somewhere, so I could start with the clinical courses directly in the fall--so they are not that coorporate that they only want another semester of money out of you (at least not the actual people at the school of nursing)!! SO go ahead and get them done before hand. I am glad I did, because that tuition really stings.... -you'll get info on the BCLS (basic cardiac life support) when you're accepted. I did that course the week right before classes started at NYU (="free") -you have to buy scrubs at the bookstore (run big), but a nursing kit is included in your tuition/student fee. You actually get a really good stethoscope and cuff, sissors, etc, in a great messenger bag ,so don't buy that stuff. -immunizations: get them done as soon as possible and get them in to the school, for your own peace of mind, but don't drive yourself crazy. Have copies of everyting and be organized about it, and bring them with you to orientation as well, just in case. Did I mention they can be a little disorganized at times??... As long as you're on top of your own stuff you will be fine. I could go on forever, but I need to get back to the books big time... Good luck all!

Hi One little thing to think about if you want to work at NYU is--try to live somewhere near the 6 train ( the green line local), or the 4 or 5 (express) has an easy transfer across the platforms. so you don't have waste too much time waiting to transfer trains... It is the closest subway line to that area and could shave some time off the commute. Good luck!!

I am far from an authority on the topic, (still in NS), but from what I hear 60,000 sounds low. From what I understand, new grads here get about 68-72,000 starting salary.... I could be wrong.

I would highly recommend learning some medical terminology and abbreviation. I just started in September and that really help me not to panic when the prof's throw out CVA, DVT, AVD, etc !! You can get a Medical terminology book at Barnes & Noble and read it for fun. Relax and get your "ducks in a row," get your study area organized, clean out you closets, do stuff you have put off and cook and freeze food for later, stuff like that helped me to keep my "old life" from taking energy away from my new, 100% nursing all the time, life!! Just had my dosage calculation test today and we used the Pickard book too, but I don't think it is worth $70+ if you don't have to !!! I wear Dansko's and just bought anotherpair to wear outside of clinicals!! Really great, but get the size up and try on a few pairs in the same size-they do vary a little. Stethoscope wise, we actually got a great one as part of out nursing kit/ student fee, so don't buy until you know (- I was gonna buy the Littman classic II) Oh, and knowing the cranial nerves did help me for my health assessment test yesterday! Good luck

Don't know about their NCLEX rates, but the last time I heard NYC Tech is not an accredited Nursing program, I could totally be wrong about that, but I just thought I'd mention it so you can check it out. It may have changed since then. They are all CUNY schools, so the tuition is a great value, which means it is very, very competitive. I took one prereq. at BMCC and I think they don't even consider you if you don't have like a 3.9 in the "core classes", and no recomendations, essay or personal statements considered (as far as I know) I'm rambling...

My first clinical site (LTC) has 1 armband with different colored dots indicating DNR, diabetes, "wanderer" etc. (aswell as in the chart) . Seams to be working well. Didn't have to sign any HIPAA forms before though.. I think that system is working well for them. Going to a "real hospital this week so we'll see how it works there...

This is not good news for me.. I had counted on actually loosing weight when I start working by all the moving around all the time.!!!! I began putting on the pounds when I started doing my prereqs and I assume there will be a few more as a go through NS strating next week... I guess I'll be hitting the gym ASAP and adjust my eating habits right this minutes. Thanks for the wakeup call!!