NatashaFromOregon

I'm attending a community college PTA program. It is a new program to the college this year. It is also merit-based admittance, but my pre-req GPA is a 4.0, and the competition isn't as stiff as nursing(yet), so I feel pretty confident. The PTA degree is an AAS. I will eventually go on to get my B.S. in Human Physiology and apply to a PT program after that. Not sure where, yet!

OMG, the best I've ever found is a product called Corn Husker's Lotion. I used it when I worked in preschool (and washed my hands about a thousand times a day!). My hands would get so chapped and dry they would bleed. It's a clear, jelly-like lotion. Non-greasy. Absorbs COMPLETELY. I :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe it!

It really depends on the school, but a 3.47 would be too low to get into the nursing program at my community college. The minimum required GPA is only a 2.5, BUT since admittance is based on a merit/point system, no one even has a chance unless they have at least a 3.85. I am a pre-nursing student, but have recently decided to apply my pre-requisites to a physical therapy assistant program, and will eventually go on to become a PT. I mention this to you because you mention that you have a baby on the way and need a "flexible schedule." Anyone can jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that is VERY difficult to have a baby while going to nursing school, unless you have endless support from husband/baby's father/partner, family, and friends. Nursing school is ANYTHING but flexible, and frankly, neither is hospital shift work, which is what most new grads do to acquire skills and experience. I, too, have a family with young children to consider, and found that PT offered better hours and a less stressful work environment, which is a better match for me. I don't want to discourage you; if your heart is in nursing GO FOR IT! Take/re-take pre-requisites to improve you GPA, find a support system, and prepare to work your butt off. Good Luck, and congratulations on your baby!

I had to take Cell Biology and Chemistry before being allowed to register for A & P. IMO, you really ought to have that foundation to be really successful in A & P. I know, it sure does take a lot of time, doesn't it? I always laugh when people think an ADN/ASN is a "2 year degree". Good Luck!

Is your friend in an RN program or a LPN program?

LOL! Over my dead body. My child is partially vaccinated and I simply signed a waiver form before enrolling her in school. In public school, a child cannot be "turned away" for not being vaxed. However, private institutions (schools, companies, hospitals, etc.) can set their own rules concerning immunization.

Really? In my area CMA's are paid a starting wage of about $12-$13/hr and will cap off at about $17/hr. LPNs in an office start at about $20-$22. RN positions in clinics around here are rare but I saw one job posting for a clinic RN that was offering $28/hr to start.

I absolutely agree. My school's ASN program requires a cuktural diversity class for enrollment into the program.

nursefirst: "realize, too, that most medication aides are probably not knowledgeable enough to get into nursing school, so you are definitely a cut above." wow, that's pretty insulting. i don't really have what one would consider a valid opinion on the existence of med-aides, but to imply that one isn't smart enough to get into nursing school is just a biased or stereotyped opinion on your part. i can only speak for my area, but in order to be a cma (certified medication aide), you have to have held an unencumbered cna certification for a certain amount of time (i think a year) and then take a 120 hour course. many cnas/med-aides are pre-nursing or nursing students. i realize that there are non-student ("career") cnas, but to insinuate that they couldn't get into nursing school is rude. unless, or course, i completely misunderstood what you said. if that is the case, then please accept my apologies. that being said, since we do not have med-aides that are not cnas, many cnas i know become med-aides as well because it gives them an extra $0.50/hr and is decent resume padding.....but as i have seen on this thread it is a slippery slope when there seems to be no standardized educational requirements nor clinical experience.

Oh, I see. By your use of the word "even" I thought that you believed CMA's were not trained to or allowed to give injections. Medical assistants can be certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). It is a nationally recognized credential. I have never heard of a "school" certifying a medical assistant.....that sounds shady. I do know, however, that medical assistants are under no standardized regulation and am aware that they do not need to be certified. Obviously there needs to be standardized educational requirements and a governing certifying/licensing board in order to ensure patient safety. Oh, and I thought that CNAs were certified, not licensed.

Not true!! At least in my area. My community college ASN nursing program has only 80 spots open for 400+ applicants a year. Many students with 4.0 GPAs are turned away or designated to an "alternate list." Most of the applicants are excellent and dedicated students who can't get a spot in the program because there is both a lack of instructors and clinical space.

I agree. It's none of your business. There are LOTS of things people do to their children that I do not agree with: spanking, smoking around them, feeding them garbage from fast food places, letting them stay up as late as they want (I know a mom who lets her 3 year old habitually stay up till midnight). I choose NOT to expose my child to those things and lead by example. You can't tell other parents how to raise their kids.

:chuckle Yeah, I was thinking it was kinda cute.....if you had a 24 inch waist.

Really? Could you elaborate on that? I volunteer on the floors at our regional hospital and have the opportunity to meet a lot of staff nurses. It seems that the hours are not flexible and they seem to be on rotating shifts. Is that the norm, or are there hospitals that offer more flexibility? Thanks.

LOL! :yeahthat:

Kinda looks like a scrub dress.....?

Just playing devil's advocate, but CMA's CAN give IM and sub-Q injections. At my community college, there is a 1 year MA program and they spend a whole term learning how to give injections. They should absolutely NOT be starting I.V.s though, unless they carry a separate I.V. certification. Scary.

I'm not a nurse, but I'll offer my anyway. I've been working my butt off to finish pre-req's for a nursing program, but have decided to use them to apply to a physical therapy program instead. My reasons are few, but very important. First and foremost, I have a young daughter to consider and, frankly, I just DON'T want to struggle to live the nurses' lifestyle and be a successful parent. I NEED to be there for my family. They come first. PT offers the hours I need; 8-5 M-F, no nights, holidays, or weekends. I know that there are clinic RN positions and such that offer better hours and more flexibility, but in my area they are very hard to come by and require a few years of experience. I just don't want to be stuck in a hospital job (something I know is NOT for me) while waiting for a job that suits me. I know that there are some DEDICATED nurses and mothers on this board who somehow make it all work; balancing a happy family life and successful career. I give them kudos for making it work, but it's definitely not for everyone. Anyway, besides hours, I really like the idea of therapist positions because it is one on one direct care and I like the prospect of having an ongoing relationship with patients. And, at least in my area OTs and PT get paid much more than RNs. I'm starting in a PTA program (hopefully) and they make about as much as an RN. As for the program being more difficult, not sure on that. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Again, interesting. The pre-req list for my ASN program is much more substantial than that. It goes to show that standardizing health care across all fields would be greatly beneficial.

Sorry. They were discussed in the same paragraph so I assumed you were lumping them in with techs. My bad.

I'm not a CNA (yet) but most around here work 8's. The only ones If seen who work 12's work in the hosptial on the cardiac unit. Part-time CNA's still work 8's, but have only a couple shifts per week. I don't really know how "flexible" shifts are, per se, as I have the same question. I would like to work PT while finishing school, but I don't think they (hospitals, LTC, etc.) will deviate from the standard shift schedule.

I just wanted to point out that RTs are not "techs." They are respiratory care practitioners, which means they diagnose and treat under the supervision of an MD.

Very interesting! In Oregon, they are only Master's level programs. It kind of amazed me that there are Associates Degree for PA because they actually do diagnostic and treatment....they must have one hell of a pre-req list!!

Yes, both the ASN and BSN programs are completely NLN approved and accredited. The university BSN program that works in conjunction with my CC in Oregon Health and Sciences University. Nursing education is being standardized throughout the Oregon university and community college system through OCNE (http://www.ocne.org), which is GREAT for the future on nursing education. The prereq's are the same for both programs (as long as you have a high enough math level to take statistics; most ASN students do) and it is just 3 more terms to go from ASN to BSN. The only real problem is that those extra 15-18 credit hours cost a LOT....at least to me; about $350/credit hour + books, fees (which are insanely expensive), etc. So, for now at least, I'm sticking with my "2 year degree," LOL! And yeah, it's funny that it's referred to as that since I've been working on pre-req's for the last 18 months (6 terms), full time (15+ credits/term)! Oh, and those 3 additional nursing courses ARE leadership/management, community health, and research, etc. they are not covered in the ASN program....at least I don't think they are; I am pretty sure that those are the BSN level nursing courses. I'm not applying until this fall, so I'm not 100% sure on the actual syllabus; and, as this is a new educational paradigm, it may be revised.

It's the same in OR, too. The only difference (besides $$$$$) between the ASN and the BSN is 3 additional nursing courses, epidemiology, statistics, and an upper division arts and letters requirement. The rest of the curriculum is the same, as are the clinical hours.