dsmithkazk

I used to love being in medicine. But, with the latest entitlement attitude and the lack of people taking responsibility for themselves it has become a nightmare. Unfortunately for me I have too much time and money invested into the career. I have doctors tell me everyday they would chose another career after the involvement of Government, politicians and special interest groups. Almost all the nurses I work with are in counseling or taking antidepressants and Xanax.

They were hiring at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, fl. They hired me as a new grad in the ER last April. I did have experience as a Paramedic, Navy Corpsman and such. But, they hire new hire for many of the other floors. You could come here, get some experience and make yourself competitive in Georgia. I spend 14 months in the ER and now Work in PACU. Just a thought

While I was attending Excelsior they came to the school where I worked and were speaking to the Paramedic instructor trying to get her to sign up. I listened to the pitch and asked some questions like I was interested. The guy actually told me they were affiliated with Excelsior. Then I told him that I was attending Excelsior and was almost finished with the program. He got up and left. They are just a publishing company selling study guides. You will have to pay them and still pay excelsior for admission to the college and the exams. This company has misrepresented themselves for years. Stay away is my advice.

I took mine in fall 2010 at Grady. The best thing I did to prepare was to take a workshop. I took one in North Carolina and if most likely prevented me from falling. The stress is incredible, as you can imagine. I was fortunate to pass on the first try. Was done on Saturday by lunch and by 9am on sunday. In the workshop we were shown what had to be documented and when. Utilize a highlighter on your grid and in your PCS booklet. Before I entered the patient room I checked my grid. I rechecked it after introducing myself to the patient. I rechecked it before touching the patient and doing any areas of care. The CE understands you are under a lot of pressure. They will not help you, but will answer any question you ask that they are allowed to answer. My CE helped me move the patient if needed or get equipment. There was a thirty year LPN there that failed her first patient and just left. I am telling you that it is doable, but you have to be prepared. attend a workshop if you can and haven't. I was scared to have Grady as a Site, but after taking the CPNE there, I would recommend it to anyone doing this. Good luck.

I am waiting for an CPNE date right now. This past year I have gone back and forth about what to do about finishing and trying to license in Georgia. My previous history is that I was a Hospital Corpsman for 4 active years and spent another ten in the reserves. I am also a Paramedic and Registered Medical Assistant and have spent about 20 years working with patients both inpatient and outpatient. I have been told I will have to do 700 precepted hours in Georgia before getting an unencumbered license. This would require me to quit my current job in order to meet those requirments in six months. I am aware I could get a six month extension, but it is not a sure thing you will get the extension. So, what are my options. Quit my state job with benefits or move out of the state. I am looking at the option of moving to either South Carolina, Mississippi or Tennessee. So, I leave my family and all my support system behind and move to a state I have never lived in with no support system in place. All my ties are here in Georgia. So, that is how these rules affect me personally. I know everyone has their own issues with this. But, I think for the most part it has brought hardship on all that have attempted it.

Maybe this explains the miserable pass rate, and other issues, at Manatee Community College School of Nursing. If this is their theory of statistics then can you imagine how they teach drug calc.

I was under the impression that if we graduated by next june, then we could get endorsed in by December of next year. But, if this new bill gets signed into law by the Governor it appears that we will fall under it and have to complete the preceptorship. It appears that the boards intention under the clause they posted in December was to allow them to reject paramedics, military corpsman and RT's by their authority all along. By using the case by case basis with the waiver they can choose only LPN's to license by endorsement.

From what I understand you are on your own to set up a preceptorship. Thanks for the encouragment. I got to find some peace of mind to complete this.

I am starting to rethink my reasons for getting my RN. It is something I always wanted to do. But, I did not realize how polictical and cut throat it is. I have worked in medicine for 20 plus years and for the first time I guess I see just how brutal we are in this profession. I think compassion and understanding are just words we throw around now to make us as indivduals feel better about how we treat each other. I have NC 7 let and the CPNE and I am ready to just say to hell with it and walk away from it. It is not worth all the worry and stress we have put ourselves under to complete this program and then have to deal with the GABON and the politics of this state. Just my rant for the day, sorry.

If the new law has not gone into effect then shouldn't paramedics and RT's fall under the grandfather clause waiver that was published due to the Governors actions?

Good Luck getting Preceptorships. Our ADN program where I work and most of other ADN programs are having problems securing clinical sites. So, I am not sure what we are going to do for those of us falling under the preceptor requirement. Guess, I will just plan on moving to another state. At least that option is open to me, unlike many others stuck in Georgia.

Go back in and read the bill. They substituted a new bill for this. This bill now deals with Pharmacist if I am correct. They pulled a fast one in the house it appears.

I chose Excelsior College after doing alot of research and finding a college that considered my years of experience in the Military and in the civilian field as a care giver. It worked for me, I checked with the state board of nursing and it was listed as an approved school for endorsement. So, If you did not do your research then it is your fault, not mine. Don't come knocking the route I chose if you haven't walked in my shoes. I chose the route that worked for me. I have to work my way through college and put my daughter through college at the same time. I still have one exam left and the CPNE to finish. But, the interesting fact is that I have already got offers from hospitals that know of me through physicians and other nurses I have worked with and yes I live in Georgia. We have no control over the GABON and I have to roll with the punches. I will make the deadline or I don't deserve to be licensed in Georgia. I know many do not have the option to move, but I do and I will if needed. So, don't come on here and start cutting down my College. If it does not work for you, then cut your losses and move on. There are many satisfied graduates, employers and patients who are happy Excelsior College is available to those qualified individuals who accept the challenge of the Excelsior Educational system.

I have used Studygroup 101 and Lisa Arends. They are both worth the money. I like Studygroup because I Can print out all the pages to take with me for studying. Lisa Arends has great material as well, but I could not print out certain parts of it. Like the final review sessions which I desperately needed to print out and take to work on the ambulance with me. That way I could review and study while on shift. By the time I got to NC 5 I was exclusively using Mystudygroup101, EC practice exams and the content guides. I have NC7 left and hope to knock it out friday.

I just emailed them last week and the lady at the SPAC said they were still in business and the wait was 7 - 9 months. They also said if you were a Georgia student they would be working with you to get you tested before they GBON nursing deadlines.