maxxineo

Uh, I just went FROM a pharmacy tech in a hospital to being a RN, DO NOT GO BACKWARDS!!! I would just change departments or hospitals or find something else as a nurse. You spent too much time in nursing school to backtrack to being a CPhT

My opinion is that since the post bac program is for students who already have their bachelors degree and are pursuing a degree in nursing, the big deal is that getting a masters degree requires really the same amount of work given to get the BSN in the post-bac program adding maybe one or two classes. Granted, I haven't researched much into the MSN world, I only just finished passing my NCLEX, but had I had the choice...I would have picked getting the MSN....it simply LOOKS better and will give you more money...are new grad MSN nurses any better than the BSN nurses in skills....heck no, i agree with that...but for convenience, money, and hassle sake, do the MSN program if able. I can't tell you how loud the groan was in my class when we found out that our program may get changed to a Masters program or that a new bridging program may get started....we have to apply again when we could have just taken one or two classes...

wow seriously? That's a lot! There's no way that would fit a post-bac program...would be nice, but honestly, it's not necessarily needed. It's great to get the experience before deciding what areas to go into and so you are "prepared" before starting work.....definitely, but with many hospitals in the metro offering 3 month preceptorships, the clinicals and school work done while in school is sufficient. You can always be a student nurse and "get experience" of course, but you don't get a real feel for it until you really start working as a nurse with a colleague and not just a clinical instructor. Also, this brings to light the importance of students to get jobs as hucks or nursing assistants so that students can be immersed in the nursing culture....if they're not doing clinicals, they are at least experiencing some form of nursing and getting real points of view.

1. Heck yes....there was a baby factory in my class..MANY people had families and/or part-time and full time jobs. 2. Sometimes yes....lots of studying, it was a lot of work, definitely, especially when you have clinicals and such to do. 3. When I was accepted....the class size was 24 and 150 or so people applied. I had a degree in bio... Your GPA is great :-) 4. Yeah, st kates isn't cheap...depends on how many pre-req's you need...with 2 years of nursing, and 3 pre-req classed, I'd say I added at least 20K. I'd also recommend looking into the master's bridging program....makes a lot of sense...as far as the clinicals...no one outside my program has a right to say how it is because they weren't in class.....SO....Yes, we don't do as many clinicals as 2 year RN's or traditional students...we did a good amount of med-surg, couple OB, couple mental health, good amounts of public health stuff. Also we mentored in an area of interest...hopefully they will take that apart and give more time to other areas of the hospital like surgery, ICU, etc. You can definitely get enough clinical time in....they don't let us go out unprepared! Holla

57K is the salary = 57,000 starting for a new grad BSN

57K at the VA for a new grad BSN, 5 weeks of vacay!!!

oh yes...and our pass rate for post-bac was 100 last year, and so far it's 100 as well....

I just graduated from St Kates post-bacc program....Great program, but check into some school's bridge to Master's program first.... Post-bacc is two nights a week, every other weekend....very managable, can be done while working full time (I did it!). I just finished school in December and am working full time at the VA. My only complaint with the program is that there isn't as much clinical time as there maybe should be...it's hard when everyone in class works!