JJRN09

I was one of the older students in class when I was in school. I graduated in 09 at the age of 36. I found that once I got into clinical I meshed very well with my group and we purposely tried to schedule ourselves together for the rest of school. I still talk with many of my friends from school, I am still very close to one in particular who I spend a lot of time with. I think you will find that nursing school will be a bonding experience and never under estimate the younger or the older crowd. :)

The hospital I work in is colored coded, but we are allowed to wear printed tops as long as they have at least 50 percent of our color in them. RNs wear royal blue so finding prints is not too difficult. The patients still refer to the CNAs in burgundy as nurse right along with the lab techs in purple, so I don't think color coding makes much difference even with the signs hanging everywhere telling them what color everyone wears.

I graduated just this past October. There are no clinically at all just a lot of writing papers.

I have been working the night shift since I started nursing 2 years ago. It can be a bit confusing to the body at times but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I think that the night shift family is amazing we work so well together and often work with limited support but get the job done without complaint or whining. I think I will stick with the night shift as long as I can.

To answer some of your questions: - yes I keep in touch with many of the people I went to school with and we are all working. - I work in women's services, I started out on the postpartum floor then moved to the nursery, in a couple of weeks I will be starting my NICU internship. - Transitioning from school to actual employment was not as scary as I thought it would be, but know that school and real life are two different animals. You will learn what to do in the ideal hospital in school but in real life you have to learn to use the resources you actually have available. -I luckily got a job in one of the areas I was interested in, I do know that some of my classmatesntook jobs just because they had gotten to the point of needing anything. My advice is keep an open mind and not limit yourself. If the first job you get isn't your dream job you at least get experience and can try for your dream job again. I hope you all do well and feel free to ask me anything.

I am currently attending Chamberlain College of Nursing online completing my BSN. I researched it throughly before deciding on a school. I will be done with the program in October and have nothing but good things to say about this school. Yes it is expensive but it has allowed me to work while making the transition from RN to BSN.

Hello everyone. I just wanted to say congrats on getting in to SAC. I am a SAC grad from Dec 2009 and I remember being in your shoes. I hope that the experience turns out to be everything you want it to be and more.:)

I graduated in Dec of 2009 and intend to start school again in Jan. 2011. I felt I needed to take time to get used to actually being a nurse before I went back to school. I have been at my job for 6 months now and I feel like I will be ok to start school again in Jan. I think you should consider how much you personally handle and then make a decision based on that,

1. when did you graduate? dec 2009 2. do you have a bsn or adn? adn 3. are you still looking for work? no 4. if not, how long did it take you to find a job? i sat for my nclex feb 18,2010, got my results on feb 20,2010. i started my job on march 29, 2010 2weeks after my interview. 5. if you don't mind my asking, those who are working, what type of job or floor do you work on. postpartum

I graduated back in Dec 2009 and had some hang ups with my school getting my paperwork to the BON. I finally got my ATT in on Feb 8,2010 and scheduled my NCLEX immediately. I took my test on Feb 18, 2009 and passed. I have been applying for jobs everywhere. I had my first interview on Wednesday and they called and offered me the position yesterday. I have officially accepted my first job as an RN. I start on March 29th. :nurse::nurse:

I failed the HESI the first time but passed the second. I had studied so hard for the first test and could not believe that I failed. So for the second time around I did the HESI case studies and went in and passed the test even with the computer shutting me out and having to reboot a couple of times.

I loved that the friends I haave made have become family to me. The support system you create in nursing school can get you through anything.

My least favorite and the one I struggled with most was Mental Health.

I took my final today. I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Pinning is Thursday the 10th of Dec. I can't believe that it is finally here!!!!! And I have an interview for a GN position next week too on the floor I have been Externing on. I am so happy it is all coming together!!!!!!

I don't work in an ED but do live in San Antonio. As far as your question about unions Texas is not a union state. Methodist is a popular hospital system here but not the only one. University has a great ED if you enjoy busy trauma centers. Good luck on your search.

Congratulations!!!!! I am about to graduate from SAC. Pinning is Dec 10th and let me tell you it is a journey but well worth it. Good luck to you!!!!:yeah:

I have some powerpoints if you PM me I can get them to you.

When setting your priority remember your ABCs Airway, Brething, Circulation.

I have already received the seasonal flu shot at the hospital I work at. Though we are not being mandated to have the H1N1 shot they will be offering it when it becomes available. I will go ahead and get it. I think that it is important to do whatever it takes to keep the kids I care for safe and also my 4 kids at home. If there is a chance that getting this vaccine can prevent me from contracting something that is possibly dangerous then why wouldn't I get it. I have work with a patient who contracted H1N1 and it progressed into acute respiratory failure and he died at only 25 years old. I realize that most cases are not that severe but some of my patients are immunocompramised and I don't even want to risk it. Just my .

Absolute nuetrophils and absolute lymphocytes

How about moebius syndrome.

I really enjoyed your post. You are spot on about it all. I am in my final semester and there are still days I feel stupid. And about picking your friends wisely I have made some of the best friends I have ever had in nursing school. We have supported each other through it all and when you have that support you can go a long way. Again thanks for a great post.

I am 35 and will graduate in December. I have 4 children also but only one on the spectrum. I understand how difficult it can be to coordinate everything. I am sure that it will all work out for you in the end and remember with us here you are never alone.

I too start my final semester on the 24th. I am looking forward to getting it done. I am so ready to be a RN instead of just a student. I am excited and already overwhelmed with what I have to get through over the next 16 weeks.