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It's a FACT that some minorities, in particular American blacks, do receive less care in SOME situations than whites. There has been a lot of research done on this lately: Blacks Less Likely Than Whites, Hispanics to Get Evidence-Based Stroke Care: Blacks less likely than whites, Hispanics to get evidence-based stroke care Blacks, Hispanics and other groups less likely to get strong pain medications in hospital Emergency Departments: Blacks, Hispanics and other groups less likely to get strong pain medications in hospital Emergency Departments That's just a couple of articles I picked up in a 30-second google search. So sometimes when people "play the race card" there is a REASON behind it. That said, we all know people who see racism where there isn't any. People are people, some are racist and some aren't. That includes patients, nurses AND nursing students. The best we can all do is try to be objective and not let our own biases get in the way of giving good care.

Why did you identify the race of the black woman but not the pastor?

Okay, here is my issue. I have very bad insomnia, I go to sleep fine but about 3-4 hours later I wake up, then I am awake for 4 more hours in the middle of the night, then I go back to bed around 6am and sleep for a couple more hours, if I'm lucky. Total sleep is about 4-6 hours, which is usually not adequate but I have learned to deal with it. I have had this sleeping pattern for about 15 years and nothing -- not meds, not holistic methods, not sleep hygiene techniques -- has been effective in dealing with it. And I have tried them all. Okay, so I'm entering a 2-year nursing program in the fall. I'm very excited about it, and I can handle (I hope) getting up early for classes since it will only be 3 days a week. What I'm afraid of though is after I graduate, not being able to find a hospital job except for 3rd shift. I have heard that new grads have to take what they can get to get a foot in the door, but I'm really afraid that I absolutely won't be able to handle working from midnight to 8am. I know it would absolutely wreck my health as I have had experience with this in the past. My body just will not cooperate. What can I do while I'm in school to maximize my chances of getting either a 1st or 2nd shift hospital job when I graduate. 2nd shift would be ideal as that would fit in with my natural, terrible sleep patterns.

Hi, I'm also a BOCES student. It's a tough program but the instructors are great and you will learn A LOT. Study hard and good luck.

I have been following this thread with interest because in my LPN program I had the same problem. Rude, cliquey young women who make a lot of noise in class and generally act like they are still in high school despite being in their 20s. Well, two months into the program 3/4 of those girls have flunked out. They would skip class, come late, spend all their time texting their friends, not turn in their assignments on time, talk during class, etc. Now here it is almost November and most of those girls are out. The ones who are left have completely adjusted their attitudes and are now very attentive and working hard.

I just started the full-time day program at Ulster Boces. There are about 40 people in my class. Apparently there is a 60% attrition rate so there will only be a few of us left come graduation in June. I hope I'm one of the survivors! I think the teachers are good but the work load is overwhelming, extremely demanding. I hardly have a minute to myself to even do laundry and stuff like that. Be ready to work VERY HARD if you choose to attend here. You have to keep up. However, the staff and teachers seem very fair and are willing to work with you to succeed if they see that you are serious. The entrance exam is not that hard. Basic math (up to percents) and easy English, grammar, reading comprehension stuff. The science section is not counted towards your grade.

Another A&P-er checking in here. I had my first lab today, and thank goodness there were plenty of other adults in the room. In my other classes (math, chem) it's just me and a bunch of 20-year-olds. Both my teachers (lecture, lab) seem good so far. So far I'm feeling okay with the material. I am lucky in that I have 2 solid hours to study every morning. I'll be checking in here everyday. It's nice to have others to talk to.

Thanks for your responses. What makes the program at Dutchess so much harder than Ulster?

Thank you everybody for your suggestions and responses. I am bumping this bc I'd still like to hear about others' experiences with back problems (or no back problems.)

Hi all, I've been accepted to an ADN program at my nearby community college. I am 41, and when I finish I will be 44. I've volunteered in hospitals, and feel that nursing will be a good fit for me at this stage in my life. However, I'm concerned about back problems. How does one avoid getting injured? I am generally fit, healthy and know how to life things -- using my leg muscles rather than my back -- but how realistic is this when you are moving/lifting a real person and may have to lean over, thus engaging the lower back? Are there certain specialities that have a lower rate of back injuries (I'm thinking maybe the NICU). Has anybody here NOT been injured on the job? If so, how do you protect yourself? Can you be fired for refusing to lift under dangerous or sub-optimal conditions? Please add how long you have been nursing. If you have been injured, how did it happen, could it have been avoided, and have you recovered? Are you still in the same job? Thank you for all your responses. I'm very concerned about this.

Is anyone familiar with their program? Heard anything?

I have gotten similar responses from people. Not just bc I'm at a CC, but also bc I want to be a nurse. It's gotten so I've stopped telling people unless it comes up naturally in conversation. Not bc I'm ashamed but bc I don't need the negativity. I have doctors and lawyers and Wall St. people in my family. When I told my dad I was going to school for nursing he said "well, I can't see you changing bedpans for a living." When I told my ex-husband -- who's now married to a doctor, he said "why? You could be anything you want with your background!" Meaning, why should I settle for being a lowly nurse. Etc. My first degree was from an ivy league school. I was an English major and went on to become a journalist. I've been SAHM for seven years and honestly have no desire to go back into that field. I've done a lot of volunteering in hospitals since then and feel that nursing is what I'll be happy doing. I also speak a couple of other languages and want to work with underserved populations, as well as do volunteer nursing for humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. I also see myself doing healthcare writing on a freelance basis in the future. I have had great teachers at the CC college where I attend, unlike where I went for undergrad which was very prestigious, but the superstar professors there were often inaccesible and had TA's do all their work for them. I get so much more attention and assistance from my teachers at my CC. They are smart and know their stuff. So hold your head high, everybody.