odria

Thanks for the reponses! I think this pretty much validates what I thought. However, I do need to manage expections. I have good documentation on exactly what scrub experience I have as a part of my clinical and will be specific on what I have done or not done. I am pretty confident in my capabilities but I am worried that I will be rusty by the time I graduate from nursing school. It was so hard to get into nursing school and I could not afford to miss the chance. I got in a lot earlier than I had expected. After this quarter I can work as a nurse tech so possibly I can combine that with my CST and get more hands on experience in OR.

I am currently in a nursing program due to graduate in a year. I am very interested in OR nursing. While I was waiting to get into nursing school I completed a surgical tech program which I really enjoyed. During my surg tech internship I was able to log 600 hours of scrub experience, some of which was as 1st scrub. Once I graduate, how much will my surgical tech degree help in getting a job in OR, given the difficult job market for new grads?

I think Tacoma Community College will be very hard to get into. While there number of applications vary a lot, they have had as many as 400 or applications for 20 slots. I expect that the number of applications will increase because students who have a 3.0 will have the same chance as someone with a 4.0. In the past, I can't imagine a 3.0 student even bothering to apply when the application was competative. Moreover, the TCC application process is extremely easy. I did not think I had a chance but filled out one anyway because it was so easy. It turns out I just barely made the cut at 3.78. I worked really hard on my Pierce College app, spent lots of time and energy only to be cut after the interview stage. The surest route is to take the LPN route and then upgrade to RN. LPN programs are easier to get into and the RN bridge programs seem to be easier to get into as well. You also have the added benefit of having an interim step after completing the LPN.

I will be graduating from a nursing program in Washington State and I will be moving to California right afterwards. Is it possible to apply directly for the CA license or must I get a WA license and then endorse. Which would be the quickest route to CA licensure?

Just finished the first quarter at TCC. It was a very difficult quarter although it was not as bad as my first impression. The hardest part is figuring out what needs to be done when. Using an organizer is the key to solving that problem. There are lots of small clinical experiences with each clinical requiring an essay style writeup. The tests are moderately difficult. The study guides are very helpful in doing well on the tests. Each student is assigned a mentor who is a nursing student that has already finished the quarter you are in. Ask to see his or her clinical notebook so you can see what your notebook should look like. The teachers are very helpful and fair.

IMO this is not a good thing. It is a bad situation either way(lottery or competative). Now each applicant will have about a 1 in 10 or 1 in 20 chance to get in based on the number of applications they usually get. I would expect the number of applications to increase because many 3.0 students were not applying in the past. Now there are 2 ways to become an RN. Either you have a high GPA and are able to become an RN with the minimum amount of delay or you take the slow but reliable wait list path. If the competative programs go to a lottery, then the only path is the slow one unless you happen to get lucky. On the other hand, I understand the other point of view as well. I recently got into the TCC program with a GPA on the edge. I was getting ready to move to florida to get my RN when I was pleasantly surprised by making it into the program.

I have done a lot of research on this over the last few years. I am currently enrolled in Tacoma Community College's program but I have spent many hours trying to find a pathway to being a Nurse here in the PNW. My research was mostly focused in the South King County area because that is where I live (i.e. It is not comprehensive for all of the seattle area). This is what I found: Tacoma CC Competitive based on preq GPA. Bottom GPA varies from the 3.7?-3.9? some number of students below cutoff are sent to Bates to get LPN then come back to finish RN Pierce CC Competative based on number of factors including essay and other factors 36 are selected for interview, 20 accepted into program note: LPN-RN program is much easier to get in than straight RN Green River CC lpn program. i heard they are trying to set up an RN program. was lottery based last time I checked. they were getting about 60 applicants for 40 slots as I recall. Renton TC wait list. they have LPN and LPN-RN programs. you have to start with LPN then take the bridge. around a 1.5yr or so wait list. Clover Park TC LPN program/wait list. when I checked last time it was about a year or so wait. i think it is possible to get in if you are banging on the door at the right time. my impression is as they are going down the list to fill slots you can get in if they are having trouble reaching people on the list. South Seattle CC have only looked at this one a little. LPN and RN if I recall and I think it is competative. Pacific Luthern BSN. Typical university type entry. Their selection criteria is a bit more obscure. I think you can get in if you meet the prereqs and have reasonable grades. kinda expensive. Bates TC LPN program. I believe it has a wait list. Highline CC RN. Competative based on grades and a few other factors such as a proctored essay and work experience. summary If you have a 3.8-4.0 you have a pretty good shot at one of the competative programs. Less than that I would consider: 1) get your LPN then take a bridge program. LPN is easier to get into. for example, Pierce has a high acceptance rate into the bridge program. 2) apply to PLU Some of this info may be outdated so don't take it as gospel. Hope this helps

I have a question for anyone that just started this fall(or any current TCC nursing students). Based on what I saw in the fall schedle it looks like you have 2 open days. Did folks this fall really have any open days? The reason I am asking is that I am finishing up my Surgical Tech program and I am considering working part-time as a Surg Tech to keep my skills current while working on my RN. Any thoughts on the feasability of this from those that are in the program?