Mia123

I can say that several of the students I graduated a BSN program with 3 months ago cannot find jobs. They are applying at several hospitals and would accept any department, so they are not being too picky. Some hospitals are on hiring freezes, and yes, that does include nurses. My advice is to apply to many places and take what you can. Once you get experience, the opportunities should open up a little more.

I am not exactly sure how other programs schedules work, but in my BSN program, we have the same people in every class for 2 years. I have made some very good friends. Friends who are going through the same things as I, friends who "understand" nursing school. Unless you are or have been in nursing school, there is no way to understand how different and more difficult it is than regular school. I have absolutly made life-long friends with many people. Our class is so tight knit, because it is small. I do not think anyone knew anyone else on the first day. There are a few people who took pre-req classes with others, but they were not "friends". So, to stop my rambling, yes, I have made the best friends I could have ever hoped for in school. Just a few pointers, don't think you know everything, don't think you are better than anyone in your class, be nice to everyone, help others when they need it.....just basically be yourself and have fun.

I am precepting in ICU, and I have to give report on my two patients. In ICU, we only have two patients and the reports tend to be more in-depth than on a med-surg floor. I made a worksheet (but did not save to word) and I fill it out when I get report, make notes throughout the day, and just give report that night from the worksheet. It makes it easy and everything I need is on the sheet. These are the catagories: General: Name, DOB, admitting dx History: Pts history Neuro: LOC, etc Cardiac: telemetry, HR, etc Resp: lung sounds, cough, Oxygen, etc GU: foley, incontent, color of urine, output GI: INT: skin condition, breakdowns, areas to watch, etc IV: location, infusing, patent, fluids, rate, etc Meds: what they are taking and what time, how they responded, what is due next (then on the back of the sheet, I write down all the meds I am giving and look it up in the drug book and write what it is for, S/E, that kind of thing) Treatments: wound changes, breathing treatments, etc Labs: any abnormal findings or labs that need to be drawn Tests: tests the pt took that day, any findings, what tests are scheduled Of course, this can be taylored to your own client or what area you work in. I just find it good, because all the info is right there on my sheet.

It might depend on what you are asking, also. I have a student who sits by me who does not do assignments, and the day it is due always asks everyone the answers. Sometimes she says she wants to compare our answers to hers, then we see her copying our answers. I have no problem helping others or discussing assignments, but it gets old when it is one-sided. We all work very hard to complete things on time, and then to just give her the answers??? I don't think so. Of course, there are times when I have forgotten to do an assignment or something, and I ask friends for help, but it goes both ways. They help me, and I help them. But, if you are not willing to help others, they will probably not help you. Now, I am not sure what you are asking your classmates, this may not apply to you. If this person who sits by me is clarifying an assignment or something, thats fine. I will help, but not if she just wants answers because she is too lazy to do it herself.

It really depends on the hospital. Hospitals in the Atlanta area, from what I have found, will help pay anywhere from 10k to 15k. There may be hospitals here that will pay more, and some that pay less, but the average I have found is 10-15k. This is paid off over a few years, not all at once, and most of them it is either the "sign on bonus" or the loan repayment, not both. There is also service cancellable loans, that for every year you work in a "needy area", a certain amount of that loan is forgiven. I do believe hospitals qualify as "needy areas". I have had to take out loans above the cost of tuition, to help with household expences, child care, etc., but I believe it is worth it. When I graduate (in 78 days!!!!) I should be making enough to pay them off fairly quickly.

I took my TEAS test a few years ago, but these are my results. Adj Individual Total Score= 83.5% Mean-National= 68.4% Mean-Program= 74.5% Percentile Rank- National= 94 Percentile Rank- Program = 85 I believe this is what the scores mean, but I am not positive, so someone please correct me if I am wrong. Adj Individual Score- This is your total score on the test, just like a regular test score. Mean-National- This is the average of all the scores of people in the Nation who took the test. Mean- Program- This is the average of all the scores of the people who are in your program, or who are trying to get into your program. Percentile Rank- National- This is where your individual score ranks you in the Nation. So, with your score of 44, that means you did better than 44% of the of the people in the Nation. Percentile Rank- Program- This is where your score ranks with people in your program/trying to get into your program. With your score of 40, this means that you did better than 40% of people in your program. Like the other poster said, it really depends on what your school looks at. Some schools go just by TEAS score, some factor in the TEAS score, some just look at them. There is definatly room for improvement with your scores, but again, it depends on what your school looks for. I had good grades, but not great. I am lucky I am a good test taker, and my TEAS scores helped me get accepted on my first try. If you have really great grades, that may help bring up your acceptance chances, if that is how they figure it. I am not sure how often they give the test, but re-taking may be an option. If so, buy the study guide and really concentrate on that. Good luck!!

Hello! I am a senior nursing student (graduating in December 08). My clinical rotation this summer will be working with hospice. I start clinicals in two weeks, but I was wondering if anyone could share some information. I am wondering what a hospice nurse deals with on a daily basis. I will be working with an RN who does home visits, nursing home visits and Hospital coordinating. Obviously, you cannot tell me what I will be doing, but what types of things do you do on a daily basis? Any response will be appreciated. Thank You!!!

I, too, went to college late 80's/early 90's and could have cared less. I failed classes, stopped going, did not withdrawl. My GPA was in the gutter. In 2001, after my 1st son was born, I decided I needed to go back to school and set a good example for him. I had to take the remedial math classes, but started plugging away. After 2 years of pre-reqs, with mostly A's and a few B's, I was accepted into the community college's Associates Degree Nursing Program. But guess what! I was pregnant with twins and I knew there was no way I could do full time nursing school AND have newborn twins. SOOOO.... I decided to start taking pre-reqs for the BSN program. I transferred to a different college that offered more online classes and I continued taking a few classes a semester and some online classes. I continued to keep my grades at A's and a few B's. I finally completed all the pre-reqs and applied to a University that had just started a part-time BSN program in the town I live in! Until this, I had been driving a minimum of one hour each way to class. Now, it would only be 7 minutes to class if I got in! My GPA was slightly above the minimum to apply (2.75). I was very worried about that! BUT, I had completed ALL my pre-reqs and did awesome on my TEAS test. To make a long story short, I got in on my first try, have been loving the part-time program, AND I WILL BE GRADUATING WITH MY BSN IN DECEMBER 2008!!!! :yeah: It can be done! It was not and is not easy, but it is dooable. I am not on the Dean's list, but my GPA when I graduate will be up to a 3.2.

By blaming your failing on instructors who, you say, hate you.....And calling your clinical errors "three small incidents"(when the HIPPA alone was HUGE), you are proving you have not claimed responsibility for your lack of judgment. Everyone makes mistakes, and I cannot say I have checked patient ID EVERYTIME, but I am not going to blame someone else when I have to face the consequences. I would try to re-take the class at the same school. If you transfer, most likely the new school will not accept all the same credits, and I think it would be difficult to enter a new school half way through the program. But no matter where you go, you need to take responsibility for your actions! Nobody (school or employer) will tolerate a student/nurse who blames everyone else for their own actions/mistakes.