captncourageous98

Well, during my clinical I wore my hair short and combed down, except for the front I liked to spike it up a little. Of course it is only about an inch tall and I am a guy! If I were a girl I would wear it up in a bun if it is long enough. My friend Bruce is bald so he didn't have to worry. When he graduated though he made them pin his cap on just like the others in his group. (of course he had more hair then and that is what symbolized becoming a nurse) Just don't wear colored undergarments and I think you'll be alright!

Wow! You are totally lost! It is not about Christmas cards and being "liked". I to was a CNA, Tech, Nurse. It is about respect I agree, but it is also about leadership! If you have a code and you ask her to do something detrimental to the safety and survival of the patient and she complains and meanders around while the patient is in a crisis... what will you do? I myself do not understand this type of nursing. You went to school to take care of patients and you were taught to lead and not be ledd. Nursing is not a democracy, or a popularity contest. I think there needs to be mutual respect for one another and a pink slip for those who cannot work together as a team.

Well, I think that the damage is already done. It seems to me that although this approach may be somewhat counter productive at first, it would definitely put a new perspective on things for the CNA's. I would call a meeting of the CNA's before 15 minutes before the start of the shift and explain to them the importance on "TEAM WORK" when caring for patients. I would also explain to them respect for there supervisor and that further insubordination would result in a write up. The CNA needs to understand that the patients come first and that in an emergency situation you need to know she can be depended upon. Personally I do not think she has the compassion for caregiving and maybe she should be working at Mc Donalds. Wait a miniute, I don't think Mc Donald's would hire an impersonable, uncaring, mouthie, child like her! Take a deep breathe and assert your authority, after all you have earned it!

Hello my name is David and I am prior Navy. I am currently and LPN here in Indiana and am working towards my RN. I was a CNA before I joined the Navy and got suckered into the non designated seaman deal. "Boatswainsmate"... Decided to get back into nursing and have worked my way up the ladder from NA, CNA, Tech in hospital and now LPN. I have Med Surge experience and geriatrics. I am literally going nuts trying to finish this degree. I have had trouble with the TEAS test, particularly the math portion. I know that Navy Nurse Corps is my calling I am just getting frustrated. I have 127 credit hours of college and all my pre-requisites except Chemistry. I am reaching my 36th birthday and would not be able to go general enlisted after that. (with 2yr. waiver for prior service) My hopes are to finish my RN through Ivy Tech Community College here and the transfer to Indiana State University for my BSN. Hope to chat with you all soon!

I am having so much trouble with the math. I got an overall 70.6. I could not finish the math. I have taken the MAT 050 as a refresher and got an A on MAT 118. I did not have enough time to finish the Math portion and got a 53.3. I don't know what it is... maybe I am getting to old. I am trying to do the LPN to RN program. I need a private tutor I think!? Frustrated and loosing hope!!! Any suggestions?

I am taking my first online course through my local college here in Indiana. So far so good! I will then transfer to the ASN program at my local college while doing a dual enrollment with Indiana State University. They have an online program for ASN to BSN. They also have LPN to BSN and MSN programs. I was told by an adviser to steer clear of the publishing company College Network and just to the distance learning through ISU. So here I go again! Good luck to you all and I hope you find what it is you are looking for! Dave

Does the Philippines have a civil liberties union that you can go to in order to file a complaint or law suit? You should not be passing medications and doing the work of a nurse unless you have a paid contract to do so. Anything else could be construed as forced labor.

You have reached the Holy Grail of information for military nursing. I am sure that both you and your wife will find the information needed in the many posts. Keep asking questions and someone will get back with you. just_cause is a great person to ask information from. I believe he was prior Army however quite knowledable about things here on the military side. Good luck and God speed! Dave

With an ASN the only branch of service that will accept you as an officer is the Army Reserve. You would commision as a 2nd Lt. If you want to progress past Captain however you need your BSN. The Air Force offers a Health Professions Scholarship Program which pays all your tuition and fees and gives you $1,907 per month for living expenses. Your obligation is to serve 45 days active duty while on scholarship and for 4yrs. scholarship you owe 4 yrs. service. Three years scholarship, three years service owed. I believe it will pay up to 32K total. Check out the Air Force website by yahoo or googling it. You could be a flight nurse with the Air Force and I know they work out of Germany flying Iraq troops back. All other branches of service require a Bachelors degree and any bonuses as they are called are taxed at a 28% taxation. Good luck to you and make sure you talk to a "nursing recruiter" instead of a general enlisted recruiter. Dave:wink2:

I am an LPN looking to finish a BSN. I have applied at the VA and am still waiting for reply. I plan on going in and finding out where they are in the hiring process. What is the VANEEP program? Could you tell me does this pay for all of your schooling why you work and what type of hours do you have to work? Thank! David

Good luck cursed! I am also seeking admission into an LPN to ASN program here in Indiana. I am working on my pre-requisites for my BSN through Indiana State University's distance program. How do you like army life as an E-5? My wife wants me to get my ASN then enlist. I told her that I would be general enlisted if I go active duty. I am not sure what my rank would be. I really want to comission and not go active with ASN. I don't think that I would get the chance to finish schooling for BSN. Well, again best of luck to you! Dave

Congratulations! Have you decided what you are going to do afterward? Will you take a bonus or tuition reimbursment? I wish you the best of luck. I am also an LPN working for my RN then BSN. TNX, David

I am really at witts end here! I live in Indiana coincidentally and checked out the ISU program. I am an LPN working on my ASN and my goal is to get atleast BSN if not MSN. I was really not that impressed with the campus nor the program. Went for the tour and met with advisor. They were not at all prepared for my arrival after scheduling one month ahead of time. The program is only a year old. It is legitimate however, I would do the distance learning over going through the publishing company route (College Network). I am still trying to sort out what I am going to do. My thoughts: 1. Work for VA Hospital 10K per year loan reimbursment max 60K lifetime. (Hiring Process is long) 2. Join Army reserve as 2nd LT with ASN then either take the bonus of 15K plus HPLRP up to 50K 3. AR with much needed bonus 15K (car is crapping out) plus STRAP program for ASN to BSN. 4. Navy Nurse Canidate Program (Junior Year) 5. Navy practicing nurse after obtaining BSN 20K sign on + 38K loan repayment. If I can get on at VA Hospital I would let them pay for my ASN to BSN while working for them (1-3 yr. commitment). Ultimatley I want to retire early and not work until age 68. Am I alone in this matter??!!!! Uggghhhh!!! TNX, Dave

Thought this might help with regards to repaying your education. http://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/studentloan/ I am also interested in working for the government. Check out the section about loan repayment. You can get $10K per year for a max of up to $60k. I thought about doing the army reserve thing as ASN and letting the VA repay my student loans up to this point. I owe a little over 30K. Let me know what you think! Dave

This might be a bit off topic but I am wondering if you can delay possible deployment as a reserve nurse with ASN while obtaining BSN? TNX Dave

Does anyone know if you are an ASN nurse in the reserves and want to continue your eduacation toward BSN. Can you prevent from being deployed until you finish your schooling. I read somewhere in the post but forgot what it is called.TNX Dave

The hospital that I worked at the LPN could go get the blood from the pharmacy however two nurses had to check it and one of them had to be an RN. It took an RN to hang the blood and start it. I could chart that the blood was started by so and so, etc... There were a lot of medications that I could give that the RN's gave also. Most of the medications that I could not give were sedation med's and things you would only give in surgurey. Usually each hospital has there own list of medicines you can give. The jobs were basically the same except the RN has to chart on your patient atleast once per shift. I think that most hospitals are getting away from this with the advent of team nursing now. LPN's are pill pushers now. Atleast this is my experience. That is why I am returning for my RN. Good Luck! :0)

Well, usually after ten years a campus will require you to retake the couse. This is all dependent upon the college and program though. English 112 teaches the basics of sighting and the writting process is continued more indepth. I would have looked up MLA and APA on the internet and used that information to write my paper. I hope that this helps! APA format is used for science classes and sociology however MLA is the typical format for most college writting courses. Good Luck and Keep Plugging Away! Dave

Well, that is great news! I know you have worked hard at getting in. I wish you the best of luck. Your news is reassuring for those of us with health issues. Thanks again for your post! See you in the fleet! Dave :0)

Kalipsored, You need to stick to the forums. The answers are all here. It sounds like you are ready for a change. It is hard to make the decisions on what to do at the begining of your career. I know what it is like to be the new nurse with all the crap duty. You should continue to research the forums. In the Navy you will not be in one location. You will get to experience many different situations and become a well rounded nurse. Only you can make that decision! The government hospitals are very well structured and the nurse to patient ratio is a lot better than civilian hospitals. There are a lot of options and you have the hard part done! Congrats on your BSN! I hope you find what you are looking for here on this site! Good luck Dave

Of all things I scored low on the reading portion. I think that my eyes track slowly or somthing plus I get nervous and have to re-read. This is slowing me way down. I need to find a reading program or somthing.

That is great news! Have you already shipped off then? I was a bit worried about what I shoul or should not disclose at MEPS. Since I went to VA Hospital for my care I figured that it probably would not be that hard for them to look into my records. Well, thank you again for the vote of confidence. David

Hey I made some C's and passed the NCLEX on my first try. You will make mistakes no matter who you are! Grades do not mean a thing as long as you get into the program, pass, and work hard! You will learn a lot more on the unit when you start working! I got my LPN and had more than a few bumps along the way. I wish you all the best of luck and I hope you do not burn out by over stressing. I have friends with BSN and MSN who have gone on to do other things bc of the stress. You have your whole career to stress don't start now! Good luck!

There are a lot of different campuses and circumstances involved in each schools decision. I got into the LPN program with a C in ANP101 and a C in ANP 102 so I know it can be done! I am trying to get into the LPN to ASN program now and I have Math 118 A, ANP 101 C, ANP 102 C (taken during the "summer from hell' not advised), PSY 101 B, SOC 111 A, BIO 211 Micro B, COM 102 C, COM 101 C. I am taking Chemistry this next semester along with history for my BSN. I am going into the transition program LPN to ASN. I don't think that I will have a problem since I have been through this before! You don't have to be a straight A student to get into a program but it helps to shoot for an A and hope you get a B atleast. Take care of yourselfs first I had some health issues with my blood pressure and missed 4 classes that dropped my letter grade to a C in a few classes bc I did not get the attendance points. Sucks but oh well, move on! Hey, just do your best! Good luck to you all! David

I went to the VA hospital and was never formally diagnosed with depression but since it was VA I am sure that they would be able to find out about it. I also went to VA to have the kidney stone removed. I think that being in the health care profession that they could give me a waiver. I am not sure. Well thanks for all of your comments and posts. I wonder how sassysailor is doing with her medical? TNX Dave