h0n3ybee

PrettyinPink57, My new grad experience is going great. I was accepted by the Sharp New Grad program. I honestly do not know what set me out within the 1200 applicants. But here are my guesses: GPA, certifications(I got BLS, ACLS, NRP, Behavior management class,) previous degrees, and most important being honest when answering supplemental questions. other than that i think it was also luck since only 30 people were hired out of the the 1200 applicants. I would definately recommend a new grad program since you get a combination of classes and a preceptorship program. The staff and educators are supportive through the transition period and you learn so much. I have been onmy own as a nurse for about a month and am doing great and learning something new everyday.

Prettyinpink, There are no clinicals during community health. But there are alot of projects both individual and group. You do have to come with a community teaching that you have to teach somehow. hope that helps.

Congrats Carlyfry!!!!

prettyinpink57, i applied for the january sharp new grad program. if you go to website it will tell you when the new grad programs are available. i think the they offer it twice a year (january and july). i think i was lucky to get picked and interviewed.

Hello everyone!! Just interviewed for a position at Sharp Chula Vista and was offered a job. I feel blessed for this opportunity. Good luck to every who has interviews this week.

Hello all, Wanted to keep you guys updated. After years of hard work and months of looking. I finally got a job at Sharp and I will be a telemetry nurse. Do not give up on your dream.

hello all, The job market out there is extremely brutal. I still do not have a job and have applied to every hospital in san diego and have gotten as many certifications as i can. I do hope the economy gets better. most of the hospitals in san diego are on a hiring freeze. UCSD cancelled their october new grad program. scripps had 6 new grad positions open and over 1000 applicants for july. most of the people from my cohort who did get jobs were lvn's who were able to switch into a RN position and had externships from a hospital and got hired. some moved to other parts of california. I am hoping to get an interview from Sharp for the january/ february program. here's my advise to future students: try your best to get an externship if you don't already have a job in the hospital.while you are on the floor during clinicals talk to staff and possibly the nurse manager. the only difficult thing is national does not have a externship program and they do not help you get one either. so you have to do everything yourself on top of going to school. good luck all and dont ever give up:) i am still hopeful that i will get a job after all this hard work.

Binavarg, I believe that NU does not accept online micro and A/P classes since they require a a lab class. But things may have changed since I graduated. Contact your advisor or the nursing dept. before taking the class because it may not count.

Hello All, Keeping you guys updated... I am a RN. Good Luck all!!!

Just wanted to THANK everyone on this board for all the help and advice to get through nursing school... finished my last day and graduating from NU with honors(magna cum laude). I can't celebrate yet because now I have to pass the boards. WORK HARD, STUDY HARD, and GOOD LUCK.

hello all, the littman classic se is a good stethescope. and works fine in the hospital. as for the on line classes they are not bad at all. you do have clinical hours during community health but they are not typical clinical hours since you are learning about public health nursing.

crocs, are okay to have just not the ones with holes

danni314, littmann stethoscopes are pretty good. and not too bad in price $80-100.

gnomik 79, i think you will do great at NU. you seem on top of things. good luck.

hello all, as I read all your posts... i would like to remind you all that not to stress that much especially before the class starts. here is some advice about your current issues of discussion: financial aid: the money one gets from financial aid varies from person to person. for some people you have enough to scrape by. for some you need to take private loans to cover classes, books, rent. the nursing fees are what screw nursing students because they charge a nursing fee for theory and clinicals. if you think you need private loans you have to apply on your own so do it early. PDA: not a stressor... in my cohort and personally.. i think i used the PDA once.. and know some students who just used it to play games. when you are at clinicals the pda is useless. if you don't the theory looking it up on your pda will not help. some clinical instructors will expect you to know your stuff and be prepared and if you have to look it up on a PDA get ready to get yelled at. Safe nursing means being able to critically think. So for those who don't have a PDA don't worry it may be a good thing. you also have access to resources at the hospital(computer and books on the floor). online classes: some are hard(nursing research). community health does have clinicals but you only do 96 hours over three months and most of the hours are covered by the community health project. so nothing to worry about. as a graduating student, i suggest to take the program one class at a time. you will see that the national program changes and one must be flexible. you may be told you have clinicals from 7:00 am to 3:00pm then when your class starts they tell you that you have 12 hours shifts from 10-10. or they say you have clinicals monday and wednesday and then change the days. clinical hours depend on the hospital and when they want to fit you in so don't be surprised if things change... I suggest for your last four weeks enjoy your life... spend time with kids, spouse, family, even take a mini vacation.. because once you start its hard to have spare time. remember nu does not have a traditional summer and winter break you get one week for summer, two weeks for winter, and one week for spring. so enjoy the month you have.