afoxyladync

Hi, Thanks again for your input. I feel better and better the more I talk to you all. I agree that any program is what you make it. I know that was the case for my CNAI class. I was very proactive in finding patient care situations from which I could learn. That is my personality type so that will be an advantage. I am a friendly, caring person, yet I know there are some real crankers out there. I had an encounter during my clinicals that educated me on the nasty personalities that exist no matter what you do. I feel good about my decision and look forward to starting the nursing program at DTCC this fall : ) Thanks again!

Hi, Thank you very much for your response. It is comforting to see that someone else has gone through the same exact thought process and came to the same conclusion(s) : ) It is very daunting to have those different paths in front of you and decide which one is going to be the most beneficial. Funny, you mention the bedpan scenario. One of the RN's where I volunteer does not hold BSN's is high regard. In her experience, she told me that they usually do not expect to do the "dirty work" so if they act that way, she makes them change every bedpan on the floor. I filed that tidbit of info away in my head for future reference..... as a new nurse, always gladly clean the bedpan : ) Yes, I do see that nursing has changed quite a bit. They even have started calling patients, "clients". As far as people behaving in certain ways, during my CNA clinical, I had a gentleman who was ambulatory, defecate while I was performing catheter care. He was perfectly capable of getting up and going to the bathroom, but I guess he felt like I could just take care of it. I could not imagine ever doing that myself, but it takes all kinds. One point my husband brought up is he wondered if there were three candidates up for a job and one went to a tech school, one went to Duke ABSN, and the other UNC BSN, would that play a role? I was told by my mom, who is a nurse, that it does not matter where you get your degree, all that matters is that you have one and you passed your boards. I hope that truly is the case. I think I will follow the plan of going to a tech school and getting my ADN and then converting it to a BSN online. That way I will get a good education at a fraction of the price. Plus, I truly am in no hurry as I have two kids. Thanks again for your post. I really enjoyed and appeciated it : )

Hi, Thanks so much for your input. I went into the nursing office at DTCC last week, and it looks like I will have a spot for the fall. When I first started doing my pre-reqs this past spring, I did hear in the past that there were long waitlists, but was told they were "making changes", whatever that means : ) Have you ever heard anything about DTCC's nursing program good or bad? I hear Wake Tech is good but their pre-reqs are a little different. That would put me off from getting started for another year. How are you enjoying your program? Do you feel like you are getting a really good "hands on technical experience"? Thanks again for your input. It is very much appreciated.

Carolinapooh....if you are still online : ) (your post was from Mar. 08), I found your post online regarding the UNC vs. Duke question and I was hoping you could answer some questions for me. Also, I welcome any comments/advice from anyone. I am a 35 yr old, married mother of two, who holds a BS in Zoology. I too graduated Cum Laude in 1994. I decided to go into nursing about four years ago and started the process last year. I have been volunteering at Wake Med for almost a year and attending Durham Tech fulfilling my pre-reqs. I have been having a hard time deciding to which programs to apply. My end goal at this point is to become a CRNA, yet I know that it is a possibility that may change. So, with that in mind, I had three game plans in front of me: 1) obtain my ADN from Durham Tech and if necessary, convert my RN to a BSN via online classes while working for two years, as required by the CRNA program 2) apply to UNC for either the BSN or ABSN programs 3) apply to the ABSN program at Duke Recently I eliminated applying to UNC as an option. I had been hearing different opinions regarding the program for a couple of years and a couple of weeks ago I had an oppportunity to talk with an ABSN student and she confirmed my concerns. Now that leaves me with Duke or Durham Tech. My biggest concerns are: 1) I want to go to a school where I obtain a really good hands on clinical experience, not just the theoretical side of things. What are your thoughts on Duke's clinical experience? 2) I do have two children: a ten year old boy and an almost nine year old girl. Would I still be able to exist in my chidren's lives and still do well if I went to Duke? 3) Has anyone attended Durham Tech's Nursing School? If anyone has, what is your opinion of the program overall? Do you feel that you are receiving a solid education, especially clinically? If no one has attended DTCC, but has or is attending a technical school, I would love to hear your answers on those questions as it pertains to your situation. Personally, I have struggled with deciding whether or not to pursue a BSN since I already have a BS in Zoology, or pursue an RN. I know that until you reach management or someother specialty that requires a BSN, the pay for a BSN or RN is the same. I have absolutely no interest in management. I do have the goal of becoming a CRNA, but not all programs require a BSN. It is so funny, but I wonder if we are married to the same man as my husband has really been pushing for me to apply to Duke. Even though I know that I want to go into nursing as I have done some pretty serious soul searching over the years, have been volunteering, and took the CNAI course as a self-test, nothing can prepare you for the real thing. If I go to Durham Tech and I find that I really just do not enjoy nursing, then I would not have lost much financially. If I go to Duke and that happens, OUCH! I know that it would not be the nursing itself that would bother me, as I love patient care/interaction, I just worry about the other well known cons to the field. Also, I have to admit, I am a bit intimidated by having to take the GRE : ) Even though I am in my second semester of pre-reqs, I am still brushing cobwebs out of my brain and trying to remember things that have long been pushed to the back of my mind, or completely out of my head. I really do appreciate any and all feedback as I need to make a decision on which way to go. If I apply to Duke, I need to take the GRE this fall. Thank you for your time!

Hi all, I am new to this forum as of today and already realized I made a potential blunder. I replied to a post with some questions but may have not done it properly so that it will be seen. I do have some other questions though. As per my other post (hopefully you will will see it at the end of the UNC vs. Duke thread), one of my potential course plans is to attend Durham Technical College. I am currently fulfilling pre-reqs that my BS in Zoology from 1994 did not contain. Personally, I have struggled with deciding whether or not to pursue a BSN since I already have a BS in Zoology, or pursue an RN. I know that until you reach management or someother specialty that requires a BSN, the pay for a BSN or RN is the same. I have absolutely no interest in management. I do have the goal of becoming a CRNA, but not all programs require a BSN. My other post contained questions about Duke, but I forgot to inquire as to whether anyone had attended Durham Tech's Nursing School. If anyone has, what is your opinion of the program overall? Do you feel that you are receiving a solid education, especially clinically? If no one has atteneded DTCC, but has or is attending a technical school, I would love to hear your answers on those questions as it pertains to your situation. Thanks!

Carolinapooh, I found your post online regarding the UNC vs. Duke question and I was hoping you could answer some questions for me. Also, I welcome any comments/advice from anyone. I am a 35 yr old, married mother of two, who holds a BS in Zoology. I too graduated Cum Laude. I decided to go into nursing about four years ago and started the process last year. I have been volunteering at Wake Med for almost a year and attending Durham Tech fulfilling my pre-reqs. I have been having a hard time deciding to which programs to apply. My end goal at this point is to become a CRNA, yet I know that it is a possibility that may change. So, with that in mind, I had three gameplans in front of me: 1) obtain my ADN from Durham Tech and if necessary, convert my RN to a BSN via online classes while working for two years, as required by the CRNA program 2) apply to UNC for either the BSN or ABSN programs 3) apply to the ABSN program at Duke Recently I eliminated applying to UNC as an option. I had been hearing different opinions regarding the program for a couple of years and a couple of weeks ago I had an oppportunity to talk with an ABSN student and she confirmed my concerns. Now that leaves me with Duke or Durham Tech. My biggest concerns are: 1) I want to go to a school where I obtain a really good hands on clinical experience, not just the theoretical side of things. What are your thoughts on Duke's clinical experience? 2) I do have two children: a ten year old boy and an almost nine year old girl. Would I still be able to exist in my chidren's lives and still do well if I went to Duke? 3) You mention the reimbursement program. Yes, I know I can probably look this up online somewhere, but I thought I would ask anyway : )......did I understand you correctly that Duke provides $11,000 reimbursement for every year worked for them? If that is true, then that would be about five years to pay down that roughly $52k. WOW! It is so funny, but I wonder if we are married to the same man as my husband has really been pushing for me to apply to Duke. Even though I know that I want to go into nursing as I have done some pretty serious soul searching over the years, have been volunteering, and took the CNAI course as a self-test, nothing can prepare you for the real thing. If I go to Durham Tech and I find that I really just do not enjoy nursing, then I would not have lost much financially. If I go to Duke and that happens, OUCH! I know that it would not be the nursing itself that would bother me, as I love patient care/interaction, I just worry about the other well known cons to the field. Also, I have to admit, I am a bit intimidated by having to take the GRE : ) Even though I am in my second semester of pre-reqs, I am still brushing cobwebs out of my brain and trying to remember things that have long been pushed to the back of my mind, or completely out of my head. I really do appreciate any and all feedback as I need to make a decision on which way to go. If I apply to Duke, I need to take the GRE this fall. Thank you for your time!