choclablover

I have tried every kind of tennis shoe and crocs. I do like crocs and will sometimes wear them on a night shift when I know I am not going to be running around as much. For a regular day when I know I am going to be on my feet constantly, I have to wear my Dansko's. My feet will sometimes still ache at the end of the shift, but not as bad as with tennis shoes. Also, with the Dansko shoes, my back and legs never ever hurt me.

I too live in a small rural town. I was able to get a job in the community hospital, 3 miles from home, but I hated it and after a year just couldn't do it anymore. I now drive 72 miles each way to work and LOVE it. Most of my shifts are night shifts and I run errands on my way home in the morning. Nothing is crowded and I get things done quickly. I couldn't be happier with my decision. Good luck!!

Our hospital wears whatever color they want. However, for some reason, radiology wears maroon.

The highest level of points you have ever needed for SWIC is 17, they have never had to go higher than that, so far. As for SIUE, I would pass, they are on and off of probation on a regular basis and have a really low pass rate on boards. McKendree is an excellent option if you are interested in an accelerated program. If you want to wait for SWIC, they do have an excellent program and have a 100% pass rate on boards for the last few years in a row. It is a very cost effective program and I am sure you will be able to get in even with a C. I had a C in chem and still got in on first try.

The nursing instructors do it at our school.

I am 42 and just finished my first year of a 2 year program. I was in commercial banking prior to this so it is quite a career change. Trust me, you are NOT too old, the oldest person in our class is over 50 and she is fantastic. There is no age limit when it comes to changing careers as long as your heart is in it. Good luck!

41 when started and will be 43 when graduate. Second career, here I come.

I always keep a couple of masks in my pocket. I don't like Vick's and Altoid's work wonders and help your breath. If a patient asks me about the mask (which has never happened) I plan on saying that it is because I have a cold and I leave it on through the entire bath. My instructor is fine with this. Hope this helps. By the way, I think your partner was very immature and should not have blabbed to everyone else. You know what they say about karma.

I am currently in nursing school and managing to work 32 hours per week as a medical assistant in doctor's office. I work 3 days a week so that I can keep my insurance. I support myself and my husband and pay cash for school as I go. My pay is $10.50/hour. It is not easy, but we manage to make it and it will all be worth it in the end. Also, it took some doing to learn to live with B's instead of A's. I would rather have the time to devote to study but feel fortunate that I have been able to keep things going with only one year left. The biggest sacrifice has been absolutely no life at all - work, school, home - and nothing in between. It can be done. Good luck!!!

I took the TEAS test. I purchased the study guide from their website and spent about two weeks going through the book in the evening hours and took all of the practice tests. I did surprisingly well. I ended up deciding not to go to that school and took the NET test at a different school which was much different - just critical reading and algebra. The TEAS test that I took had reading comprehension, science (more general science than A&P), and algebra. There were very few questions related to chemistry. I found the study guide to be very helpful. Good Luck!!!!

I don't think this is a silly thing to be nervous about. I have been a medical assistant for quite a long time so I have drawn blood. My nursing school has a check off on blood draws but it is not something we will do during clinicals. My suggestion if it is a required check off for you is to practice on fellow classmates. That is what we all did until we all had it down without question. After the first stick, it is not that big a deal. The first stick was very nerve racking for me - after I completed it the entire process got a lot easier. Good Luck!