flowjoe64

Okay, I just had the STRANGEST phone interview with one of the well known plasma donor centers regional recruiters. SHE scheduled the phone interview after I sent her a questionnaire with my salary requirements...etc. So, she calls LATE, and then proceeds to tell me why I would not want the job of physician substitute. She said that they will not pay me anything near what my last job has been. And that I know I SAID salary was negotiable...but they will not pay the top end for an RN coming in. She says it sounds like I have a better and more stable schedule right now and at this company I would have to do weekends and evening shifts, and that they dont schedule more than two weeks ahead. She thought I was over qualified, and I would not be challenged enough... I told her I was willing to take a cut in pay to work closer to home and that I was looking forsomething less stressful. I also told her that I normally discuss salary with the hiring manager...and that it seemed more appropriate once we agree that I am THE RIGH PERSON.She even said that my working on my BSN concerned her as, most of those type of nurses don't stay. So she goes on and on about every negative....so I said this... "Okay, I have to say that this is the first interview I have ever had, where my pursuing an advanced degree was some kind of "red flag" or indicative of a problem. To most people, it shows initiative. "I asked her what was it about my resume, then that made her want to contact me in the first place?" She said she liked my background and job stability. (??!!!) This woman is mental. Basically what I got from this huge waste of 30 minutes of my time is this. Do not apply to this company if.... *** You are a cogent and thinking person with goals and aspirations as We REALLY want people who have nowhere else to go preferably former "shift nurses" who look at this as a step up." *** Our ad says LVN/EMT/RN's wanted...but we really want the cheapest person we can get that has a pulse and will show up whenever we want to work a really boring and uninteresting job. ***If you are making a good bit of money...why would you want to take a huge pay cut to work for us....oh, and yes....we don't care how much experience you, in particular may bring to the company...we are looking for the cheapest person we can find. Quality is not a factor in this decision. We can teach a monkey how to do this job. AND I quote "...We really dont have to have all nurses working here, but we always like to have a couple." (TRANSLATION..you R.N.s ain't that special at our company..and we aint payin like you are neither.) So after she trashed her own company to me and told me I would not like the job after what I have been doing...I said... "You know what? You are right. I dont think this is the right place for me." then she seemed confused and said this... "Well. dont you want me to at least tell the manager we spoke?" (???!!!) I SAID, SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just finished 3rd class. Its not hard, just time consuming. everything is turning in research papers. There are no group projects, and each 3 credit class ends up being a little over a 1000.00. It is the cheapeset, accredited school I have found. AND, you dont actually have to take statistics to get your BSN. Only if you want the MSN. Each class is 3 months. there are only 8 core nursing classes for the BSN degree.

Thanks..but I was actually hoping for irrelevently easy. :) Actually, I am taking my first class there now. Teacher is vague about instructions...so I get to learn by getting back corrections on my papers...go figure.

FYI: There are some suspicious blog replies on the internet about them...some folks say they are ok, others say to avoid TESC all together. I also saw some really negative postings about WGU. Primarily centering around not being able to schedule clinicals, and it takes so long that you end up in for more money...due to that pay by the 1/2 year thing. I cannot do WGU, employer will not pay for that "type" of learning format that is competency based with no grades.

Yeah I saw them, but I am leary as they have an unusual learning format...do you understand it??? Also, it looks like the slower you learn, the more you pay...could mean alot of money for me. haha!!! I do not like a nebulous fee system, it generally means you get unpleasant surprises at the end!! FYI: Thomas Edison College will cost approx. 13,000 if you complete in 2 years, as they charge you for transferring in credits from other colleges. I see that the other university I WAS looking at (American Sentinel University) charges EVEN MORE...and it will cost 30,000 dollars!!! to get 120 credit degree...as they also charge you if they transfer credits you have already earned elsewhere. I hate people that soak students for as much money as possible. RIDICULOUS!!!!

I know right??!! They make sure you are going to have to take additional "B.S." classes through them, no matter what you have under your belt already. So far, every other school seems to either have too many upper level nursing courses, OR too many prereqs, OR both! To be sure, I will attempt to CLEP out of everything I can....although I will have to study just to do that!! I just cannot take 14 subjects just to get a BSN...I mean I am functioning at practically a BSN level anyway!!!

wow, we are on pretty much the same page.... FYI: I am waiting on University of Texas at El paso to respond...and Univ. of North Alabama...BUT I think they are both going to require a plethora of math or history. One thing about UO of El Paso is they only seem to have 5 core upper level nursing classess, and their Research course says "no math"!!! Just not sure if the school or their instructors will be any good. Hey, send me e-mail of your top choices other than Edison?? Sounds like your research has been even more exhaustive than mine. I mean, seriously, I only need the BSN at this point to get more job opportunities...I am currently in a specialty that is way beyond by degree, and I am doing well...but, I will be hard pressed to find this same position elsewhere...due to lack of the additional letters behind my name. Okay, later for work...see you on the boards. Flowjoe

I wish they would accept a 75.00 application fee alone, and just give me a prelim. review of my transcripts so I would know if they will accept everything or not....300.00 to find out that I lack many courses...would be money wasted. So, I never asked you, are you enrolled yet?? I have the application, but am waiting to send it until I can find out if all my credits will transfer. I did go to a comm. college....and have my ADN/ASN.

Great info, Thanks! I see you are right. I have also applied at 3 other schools, to see what the prereq situation is. Where I came up with the tuition charged for transferring credits, is from their site, using their tuition calculator...and it seems to add up the same anyway. You know I must have seen a really old post that posted incorrect $$ per credit hour..and did not recheck. Anyway, my problem is I wanted to choose my school, after they told me what prereqs, if any are required. I mean my sciences are over 15 years old, AND I would hate to pay 375.00, and then be told I have a whole lotta other courses to do. I am trying to find a program that I only have to take about 8 courses total...including prereqs...FYI: I have sent app. off to Univ. of Wyoming, Univ. of texas El Paso and Univ. of North Alabama....due to price and fewer upper level nursing courses. I am also trying to dodge the math and stats bullet. Good luck, and it was so nice of you to cut and paste the info from the site to this board.

I replied to another thread about TESC.....basically I was looking to apply to this one, but am put off by the exhorbitant application fee 75 dollar plus 300. "credential review fee", AND they charge you for transferring in credit to their institution...so the tuition is more like 300.00 per credit hour, as opposed to 165.00, as they advertise. Its a little bit back handed I think. I mean , just say your tuition is 300.00, instead of chargin me tuition for transferring in credits. How can you charge me AGAIN for classes I tool somewhere else. that should be illegal.

I have their application packet...it is confusing, but looks like they require a 75.00 application fee PLUS a 300.00 fee (NON-REFUNDABLE) in order to do a full "credential review" They also appear to charge you tuition for the credits you already received somewhere else....if they are transferred in to TESC. Makes the $$ per credit hour double to about 300.00 per credit hour. approx. 13k for about 40 credit hours, if done in two years. This is leaving a bad taste in my mouth, and I may pass them by.

Curious if you started with TESC> I am in the same mode, but am put off by the 300.00 "credential review" fee. what the heck is that??! I mean you can verify my license online for free...it takes like a second. PLUS, not sure if I want to go with them or not...I have applied at 3 colleges, and will decide based on several factors, including...how many transfer credits they accept. Any insight on this place...and how to handle such a fee, and non-refundable at that. Thanks;)

I know you are getting alot of advice, but take it from a former LVN...be careful the jobs you accept. Just because someone is willing to hire you to do something, doesnt mean you should accept the position. I did not know much of anything when i graduated from nursing school....except the basics. You learn more your first year or two out of school then you do in school. Bottom line: The first year or so out, you really need to ground yourself in an acute care environment..NOT LTC. LTC is riddled with abuse of staff, and they love to abuse new nurses, fresh out of school. You need to think about doing a year or so on a general medicine, internal medicine unit at a good teaching hospital..where you will be precepted by someone for awhile. After that, think about what you are really good at, and then move into that arena to specialize. (I work for an IV pharmacy/company and specialize in one disease process.) Perhaps see if your facility allows cross training to other units..etc. I would not move into MD office jobs or anything outside of the hospital until you are better grounded in the hospital setting. (Also MD's tend to try to pay as little as possible and require you to work like a slave..doctors are cheap!) I am sorry you got fired...I am sure you have wonderful potential as a nurse, but I think you need a good mentor who will teach you how to survive and thrive, so that you can easily move into any field, and do well. DO NOT GIVE UP. Look inward, find the appropriate place to ground yourself and learn good time mgmt, find a nurse mentor. it will be okay girl!!!! We all have gone through this! You will laugh about this one day :)

Thanks for your response. WOW, how did you afford their program at 528 a credit hour...that is over 30 grand. The thing that is misleading...is that they say there are no pre-reqs. Well actually there are quite a few...they just dont call them prereqs. You take 14 courses regardless (give or take a couple that that may take off). Economics, Advanced composition, History, Humanities and 2 algebras etc...WOW I call those pre-reqs. I guess technically they are not prereqs, but co-reqs...as you take them as a part of the nursing program. They also say they do not accept everyone..which I find hard to believe...how could they turn down over 30 grand...anyway, I have scratched off of my list...as I have heard too many bad things, and it is unbelievably cost prohibitive. The sales person was on the phone with me for over an hour!!! hard sell.

wow. That is sad....but that is why I asked, I need to know what I am getting into. I asked the "advisor" about the litigation that I heard about, and he denies that there is anything other than the fact that they have the best school around. I can tell its good, because of how expensive it is....528.00 a credit hour. They win for most expensive I have found yet. Okay, thanks for the intel....this is what I need. Oh, and for RN to BSN there are no onsite or local clinicals required at Chamberlain, I am told.