vaileheart

Wow thank you both for those awesome replys. I will definately remember what you have written and take it with me while I am in school. I hope to keep these things in mind as I am learning and try to do as much as possible while I have help behind me. I just wanted a more in-depth answer than "the first year is HARD" and you guys gave great reasons. Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate it!!

hi everyone!!! i am going to be starting my nursing program this may so i am not currently in any classes or anything but i just love this website and how all of you are so open to help out and give your advice and expertise. i have read a lot of forums on why things are hard the first year and i am mainly wondering why school doesn't prepare you more for going into the field. is it just because there is so much to know and all the cases are different? if thats true, how does anyone ever get "good" at it? hopefully i worded this question right thanks in advance!! :hpygrp:

I hope my experience ends up like yours, good luck on your NCLEX next week!

If you have a degree already in another subject you could apply to Barnes college of Nursing, they have a 12 month long program for a BSN but you would need a Bachelors degree to get into the Accelerated program. If you don't I am sure you could do the regular BSN, not sure if it is a 2 yr program or what though. www.barnesjewishcollege.edu

awesome!! hopefully i'll see you there!!

to add to the "thank yous" in these replys I also want to thank you for writing about your first year. i will take some of your words with me as I go through my classes and with me when I work as an RN. thank you!!!!

it sounds like you handled the situation very calmly and with a clear head which is one of the qualities that make a good nurse!!

i am pretty sure that Barnes doesnt have a wait list, so I dont think you have to worry about "competition"

Working overnights and weekends you get more....I have a friend who worked overnight weekends and made a VERY good salary!!! Its a sacrafice, but thats where the money is!

I am planning on starting Barnes in May of '08, and I have 2 friends that are planning on going the same time as well. I am just waiting to hear from them, but I'm sure I'll get in since there is no waiting list. Have you gotten to know anyone else that is going at this time?

Ah, I didn't even think about the school I will be going to having a rule! See, I knew I came to ask the right people! Thanks so much!!!

hello all!!! I am going for my BSN, have not yet started my actual Nursing classes. I have a really good friend who works as an RN in the ER at a nearby hospital and she has answered this question for me but I am wondering if all hospitals are as lenitent about this as hers is...I currently have NO tattoos. I recently lost a pet who meant a lot to me, he was a kitten and I was lucky enough to have gotten a paw print of his...I was wanting to get his print tattooed on my wrist, pretty much in the area where a watch band would be (I'm thinking here it will be visible if I want to see it, but hideable also), his print is very small, under an inch tall and wide so I am wondering what everyone thinks of this. My friend that I mentioned said that at the hospital she works at a lot of the nurses have tattoos on their arms and other places that you can see them. One guy even has a 1/2 naked woman! I know, of course, that no visible tattoos would be thought of by most hospitals as best, I am just wondering if I should totally rule out the idea of getting the tattoo there. I am wanting to know what you guys think or what your places of employment have as far as rules. I didn't know if it being so small and being something that is not a naked woman would make a difference. Thank you so much in advance!!!!

Thank you for responding and it is great to have someone on here that goes to the same school as I do. I will be starting probably the same time you are finishing up! Thanks for your advice, I will take it all!! I have heard the same-about studying and becoming kind of like a "family" with the other students. I am really excited. Thanks for responding!!

That is very interesting about how I should keep it kind of a secret. I understand what you are saying, and THANK YOU for that advice. I see how that would play out, because I know most people do frown on those who work and go to school. Thank you for that!!!

:roll Hello all!!! I know that nursing school is a very time-consuming few years of all of our lives. My question/wonderment is how many of you worked (or are working & going to school now) while you were enrolled in school and how many hours did you work. I have not yet started my classes but am doing everything possible to get ready for this. I am getting someone to move in now so that I can save that money, I am working every little odd and end job I can find and saving every penny. I know I won't be able to work as much as I do now and take my nursing classes and clinicals and studying time seriously so I am doing what I can to save up as much as possible. Thanks in advance to everyone who replies !!!