DLangston

Thank goodness I came across this thread!!!! I was beginning to feel I was the only new grad that felt like a complete idiot, a failure, like I didn't know anything. I love the floor I'm on and get along with my co-workers but sometimes my preceptor makes me feel like nothing I do is right. Most of her complaints have to do with multitasking, organization and time management. I know I'm not as quick and efficient as she is but she's been doing this for many years! I have good and bad days, come home crying once in a while. BeachyRNn08 summed it up very well, "I want to just skip this new unexperienced nurse part and fast forward to the experienced nurse part!" I feel better knowing I'm not alone!! Thank you for this thread :bowingpur Dixie

Hello Night Owl Welcome to the site. I think you will enjoy it a lot. This icon says it all: :[anb]:. I have joined to other nursing sites and they don't even compare. Here, members respond back to the post plus they have a much larger variety of forums. A much nicer atomsphere here. Where in NC are you located? Dixieleigh

Hello Nicole, I just wanted to say ..... :welcome: !!!!!!!!! And to wish you the best in nursing school. I am sure you will make some friends quickly and you will soon be helping one another out with learning ALL the things there is to know in nursing. I just graduated this May and took my NCLEX exam on July 16th. While in school I didn't think it would ever be over but then after I received my "Passed" notification on my NCLEX exam it was like, "Wow it's really over, I can start working and really begin my learning" lol. Hope you have a very positive experience in nursing school. Dixieleigh

I'll be working on the Neuro ICU at FMC and will start my orientation on August 11. Was going to start on the 28th but decided to take some extra time and take a nice long vacation lol. Will you be working days or nights? I took the day shift; I'm not a spring chicken so wasn't sure how my body would handle a 7pm to 7am shift. Tell your daughter Dixie said " hi!!!!" ps. do you still have the tshirts? lol

Welcome Karen!! :ancong!: I too have had my nursing liscense for two whole days! Took the NCLEX on Wednesday and got my results on Friday. I am taking a wild guess here, but I gather by your screen name that you are the Karen I went to WSSU with? Dixie Langston

Hello Nc Lad, Chances of finding a nursing school that doesn't require you to take the SAT or the ACT is probably slim. But these exams aren't really that bad and if you're getting your GED just study a bit harder and take the SAT or ACT soon afterwards. Are you getting your GED through a community college and if so does it have a nursing program? Talk with a counselor there and let them know what your goals are. Best of luck on ALL your endeavors. D. Langston

Wonderful links here!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I'm a new grad that will be starting in the Neuro ICU the end of July and have been searching web sites for helpful information; very excited about being in ICU but a bit scared as well. Dixie

So glad I came across this thread. I am a new grad that will be starting soon in the Neuro ICU (very excited and scared too!!) I have come across some great tips reading the enteries. Thanks so much!! DLangston:yeah:

LynseyEB, Thanks for the info. I'll check out Suzannes plan. Dixie

The program does have it's problems, (well not actually the program itself but the school) Not always as organized as I feel they should be. But there are some absolutly wonderful teachers. I chose WSSU because it was close to where I live and I didn't want to commute to Greensboro to go to UNCG (I have two teenage boys and the youngest I am homeschooling). My suggestion for anyone (regardless of what school they attend) is make yourself responsible for making SURE you have all the classes you are suppose to have, don't just assume your advisor will let you know you are missing something. I am surprised at how many students do that and end up the last semester and they need some other class in order to graduate. Also, keep copies (or the original) of everythign you ahve to turn in (immunizations, CPR varification, transcripts, etc). Things have a tendancy of getting lost. To answer your question about breaks. The traditional program has the usual breaks, spring break, summer before your senior year, Christmas and a break at Thanksgiving. Your clinicals and preceptorship can be any day or night of the week your senior year. Junior year clinicals are only during the day but can fall on a weekend. As for the accelerated program; I'm pretty sure they get very little breaks. It is a 13 month program that goes continously. Hence the reason it's so hard for those that have families to care for or children. As for the contract, since Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center pays for the accelerated program that is why there is the contract. So be absolutly sure you have another option. Otherwise if you don't fulfill the contract you have to pay them back. And yes, they will turn you over to a collection agency and it will go on your credit report. So "CYB" (cover your butt) Well, I hope that has answered some of your questions and didn't scare you off lol. Please feel free to ask if you have any further questions. Dixie

Has anyone used the Sylvia Rayfield NCLEX review program before? DLangston

WSSU is the school I'm attending so if you ahve any questions feel free to ask!! DLangston :typing

Don't be concerned about your age. I'm 48 and will be graduating this May with my BSN. For me this will be my third career (that is if you count being a stay at home mother and also caring for two sick parents). I'm attending a University in Winston Salem and I've not noticed any discrimination in age in either the traditional nursing program or the accelerated program. I feel being a bit older and having life experiences you have an advantage and will make a better nurse starting out. Also, as one of the other post stated, the accelerated program is tough and fast paced. Some of my friends that were in the accelerated program dropped it and went to the traditional program because it was to much with having a family to also care for. So give taht some thought. DLangston

AmyLiz, Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Many of my class mates say "Ohhh you'll get bored with the OR, you won't get to really interact with the patients" But, I feel much like you in that I'm good at floor nursing and always have a great rapport with the patients but I just don't enjoy it and it doesn't feel like a good fit. Anyway, thank you and everyone that has shared their input and made me feel better about wanting to immediately pursue my interest. Dixie

Thank you for your thoughts and input. Makes me feel better about wanting to start in a speciality area.