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Hi. I'm currently a pre-nursing student who just recently came out of the Navy and I'm searching for a job. I'm applying for jobs at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for a nursing assistant job and there's two different positions open for this: Nursing Assistant and Psychiatric Nursing Assistant. I'm just wondering what the differences between these might be. The job descriptions were essentially identical. Would I be doing the same work? Would the setting be any different? Any information would be great. Thanks.

.. Which is why I've been very patient with them. I was in Iowa City back in '93.. never thought I'd see something like that again. I guess I was wrong. Anyways I hear the wait is at least a few semesters. I plan on a BSN though, so, I should be able to start college to work on the pre-reqs immediately, right? Anyone know how many semesters it takes to get through the pre-reqs?

The Compass test is a general college placement test, used mainly by community colleges, that's similar to the ACT or SAT. It has nothing to do with nursing. I don't think they can use this to deny you entry to a college, it's just a tool to evaluate what classes you may need to take before moving on to something more advanced. For example, if you do poorly on math you may end up taking a basic math class before moving on to more advanced classes. Personally, I wouldn't stress this too much. I honestly don't think this can affect whether or not you will be accepted into a program. It's just a tool to show where you're at and what classes you may need to attend.

You deserve a dancing stickman troop of happiness! . . woot woot!

I'm about to get out of the Navy this summer and move back to Iowa. My goal was to attend nursing school starting the fall semester at Kirkwood and then transfer to the University of Iowa in hope of obtaining a BSN. What I never realized was how hard it actually is to get into a nursing program. Anybody know what the wait time is to get into the nursing program at Kirkwood? Do I have any hope at all of getting in by this fall?

Currently I am in the U.S. Navy in a field not related to nursing at all (I'm in the navigation department of a fast-attack nuclear submarine). I get out of the Navy July 17th. I've known for years that after the Navy I want to go to college, and recently I've been thinking hard about what I want to do. Unfortunately it has not been until recently that I've really committed on a decision: I want to become a nurse. There's many reasons why I want to do this, which I won't go into here, but I need to know this: What do I do from here? Here's a few things I know for certain. I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. I want to return there. I know for certain that the University of Iowa has an excellent nursing program. My plan is, hopefully, that I can start attending classes during the fall semester. I want to begin at a local community college, Kirkwood (http://www.kirkwood.edu) and then transfer over to the University of Iowa (http://www.uiowa.edu/) in hopes of finishing a 4-year BSN degree. My eventual goal is to be a nurse in Iowa City. Between the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, the huge VA hospital and Iowa City, and the regular Mercy hospital in Iowa City, that should be no problem. Nursing is one of the major occupations in Iowa City, and they are always looking for more people. With the money I've saved up in the Navy, plus the Montgomery GI Bill, I should be okay financially to do this. But I know if I want to make this happen I need to act now. I've already applied to college at Kirkwood. But, before I can attend school, do I need to take the NET test? What do I do and where do I go to make this happen? I'm not at all worried about passing the test; I've always been exceptionally good at tests like these, but I just need to know if I have to take this before my first semester. Also, are there any other things I have to do before I start school? Do I even have a chance of making this happen in this short of a time-span? Or should I wait until the spring semester? Also, any helpful advice is greatly appreciate. I know this is short notice, but I really want to make this happen.