StarryNyte713

I would FIRST find out if they ARE actually LPNs or RNs... I am an RN and I work at a physicians office... Many specialty practices will only hire RNs. And many of us were willing to take the big pay cut to work regular hours! I wouldn't so quickly assume that they aren't licensed JUST because they work at a doctors office, IMO.

Good morning! If nursing is something you've always wanted to do, you should do it. I've been a nurse for a little over a year now... some of my previous classmates love their jobs, some hate it and have already left the profession. You won't know where you'll fall until you try. For me, most of the time, I love being a nurse... it's the politics, etc that get in the way of giving the best care that I can. I'll be starting my third job as a nurse in a couple weeks... I am hoping that my new job will be a more professional environment where I am able to care for my patients and BE a nurse. I haven't given up on nursing as a career yet. I've learned a lot over the past year and am optimistic to find my niche. Follow your heart :heartbeat

Wow, you sound just like me! I'm graduating with my ADN in May 2010 and have a BA in Psych! Last time I checked, Virginia Commonwealth University had an accelerated program for RNs with Bachelor's degrees to get their BSN... I also think there's a fast track for us to get our MSNs. Might wanna check their website: www.vcu.edu Good luck!

Perhaps I got lucky... I have a previous degree but was awarded a scholarship at a community college. It was given by my county's community health foundation, but through my school. Whichever school you get into will have a list of scholarships.... I applied to all of the nursing ones that weren't "needs" based. Shadowing a nurse is a wonderful idea!I did that through Riverside. I've heard that Henrico Doctor's Hospital facilities are nice, not sure if they have shadowing though. There's always volunteering as well. Good luck again!

Hi there, I would honestly suggest going the ADN/AAS route. It's much much cheaper and you could still work part-time while in the program. You will not get any financial assistance since you have previous degrees. You're in Richmond? The VCCS commonwealth nursing program has courses online and you do your clinicals in various facilities in Richmond. I have my Bachelor's in Psych and did Social Work for a couple years - not for me. I am now in a community college in Hampton, VA. A lot of the nursing students have previous degrees, jobs, and families. So far, scholarships have paid for my tuition. It's not true that places will not hire you if you don't have a BSN, unless it's a magnet facility (like MCV). A BSN is needed if you plan to climb the career ladder... but then again, you need experience as an RN to climb that ladder as well. If I'm going to continue my education in nursing, I will work as an RN while going back to school and hopefully get assistance through my employer. Good luck with your decision. I know how hard it is to make a life change such as this.

I had the surgery exactly one year ago! I am SO HAPPY that I got it done. If my eyesight kept worsening, it was very likely that I'd be considered "legally blind" in a number of years (I'm only 26). Now I see 20/15 and better than I ever did with contacts/glasses! I researched different doctors for several years and spoke with their patients before making my decision. I opted to go for the more expensive but customized Intralase surgery (laser to cut the cornea.... no blades). Sure, my eyes are drier than they were before, but cheap eye drops take care of that. I know that one day I'll have to at least wear reading glasses, but I'm fine with that. I can see the time on my clock and see where I'm going at the beach/pool.... just basic things that I haven't been able to do since I was around 5 years old :redpinkhe Go get a consult, they're free.... and try to get info. from patients on finding a reputable doctor. Good luck!

Hello! My background: B.A. in Psych in 2005, 3.4 GPA. Pre-req GPA: 4.0. I applied to VCU, ODU, and TNCC last Spring. I was accepted/wait-listed at VCU and ODU, but was never called to start. I got into TNCC on my first try and am 12 weeks into the nursing program now. I don't really have any info. about VCU, except that it's obviously extremely competitive. Good luck to you!

Well, I have a degree in Psych and worked for Social Services. I couldn't deal with the continual drama and mental illnesses; I was also very frustrated with the lack of resources available and wanted something more direct/hands on. As an LCSW, you'd have much better job opportunities than I did. If you are set on doing case management, I'd honestly go the Social Work route. In nursing, you'll have to do the "hands on" stuff before you can work your way up to case management. Try to volunteer or shadow in a hospital to see if nursing appeals to you. Good luck to you!

I tried on 'Hip Flip' shirts from Dickies and found them to be fairly short - even on me, as I'm only 5 feet tall and puny I prefer having my butt covered. Not sure about the Cherokee ones...

I think most people are really stressed when they first start out in the hospital... it just takes a while to get used to the environment. I "got over it" by taking a job as an aide. How about Psych nursing or working in a rehabilitation center (not as "big" and crazy as a med-surg floor)? Those two could work for a new-grad.:wink2:

Hi! In Virginia, some places do hire home health aides/companions who are not certified. It would be the home health agency who is held accountable.... If her grandmother is being neglected by the caregivers at this agency, then it could be reported to social services as elderly neglect and they could handle the matter with the agency. Bedsores and not having her briefs changed is definitely neglectful. (I used to work for Child and Adult Protective Services in Virginia, and have seen cases like that). Anyway, hope it gets resolved soon... and that her grandmother receives proper care :redpinkhe

Maybe my experience can help you: When I chose nursing as my second career, I had a lot of nurses encouraging me to do it and others who said, "Why don't you just be a PT so you have have nights, weekends, and holidays off." Anyway, I spent time shadowing nurses, PTs, OTs, etc... Their jobs all overlap but the focuses are different. I work as a rehab aide in the hospital, and the PTs focus on evaluating the new PT orders, seeing the client, working with them to see how much they do can physically and have sessions to improve the patient's level of physical function. Really, it ended up being either bed exercises, walking with the patient as far as they can safely make it, transferring then into a bed or chair, etc. In the hospital environment, it's a pretty stable job although not always exciting. Many PTs work other PRN or FT jobs at outpatient clinics. One guy has his own practice. PTs do have a variety of areas they can move into. However, PT school is competitive, expensive and hard. If you can manage that, It definitely seems like a great career to get into. I'm choosing nursing as my second career because I want to be directly involved in the patient's medical care, not just one aspect of it. I believe PT would bore me after a short while. In nursing, there are just so many areas to switch into if you start getting burnt out. Not to mention that my nursing program at Community College is VERY CHEAP and lasts less than two years. After shadowing and working in the hospital with PTs, OTs, and RN's, my gut tells me that I was right for choosing nursing. See if your local hospital system has a way for you to volunteer or shadow PTs/nurses. Or you could even do like I did and find a job in the hospital as a nursing assistant, rehab aide, emergency dept. tech, unit secretary, etc. to give you exposure. Good luck!

Hi! I'm a second-degree student in Williamsburg who's starting Thomas Nelson CC's nursing program in August. It is five semesters long year-round. You should get started on your nursing pre-reqs asap while still working at your current job, then cut back to part-time while in nursing school. You could instead get a hospital job as a nursing assistant, etc., to make sure you want to be a nurse. The community colleges are significantly cheaper than career institutes or universities. Strongly recommend going that route. You might want to check out this Associate's program that has an online component and clinicals in Richmond: http://www.jtcc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=200&Itemid=268

Hello! I have a B.A. in Psych and worked in Social Services for a couple years. Did NOT like it at all... but it put me into a lot of contact with nurses. I found that I was in the wrong "helping" profession. I just finished my nursing pre-reqs and will be starting an A.A.S. program in nursing this August. I had applied to a couple accelerated BSN programs, but I was put on waiting lists. Even if I get in, I would have need to relocate and take out tons in loans. The community college is an inexpensive alternative, and I will get my BSN/MSN through a bridge program while I'm working as a nurse. Just look around at ALL of the programs, get information (tuition, pre-reqs, start dates), check out the NCLEX pass rates... see which is the best fit for you! Good luck!

Hey there! Yeah, I got that same e-mail and told them to keep me on the wait list. They wouldn't give me any other info, either. I got accepted to Thomas Nelson CC though, so I'd most likely go there. It seems crazy to have to register for classes, buy books, etc. at the last minute with VCU.:uhoh21: Will you be going there if you get accepted? Good luck!