MCNS2B

Before my program even started, we had a paper and 6 chapters worth of reading due. They like to "front load" the semester... meaning we get assigned readings and chapters and homework due on the first day... I heard they give us Winter Break "free" but its a 5 week break and apparently they only give you 1 weeks worth of work ;-) Free time in nursing school so far has shown to be a myth to me haha

meaning "I left it out of the original post b/c I do it as almost autopilot"

Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't include that... We do a FULL physical assessment before we can do ANYTHING else... asll vitals, ausculate anything and everything... check peripheral pulses, skin condition, wounds etc etc. I need B/P's and pulses and all that info, esp for meds such as dig and any BP meds... I guess I kind of have gotten into the routine that I left it out... I do that right after I get report.

Thank you all for your feedback... I really appreciate it. Some things to me seem simple (I don't bring my cell phone to the hospital and am too afraid of the nursing station so I go only to the computers that you can use standing up in the hallways though I do have classmates that disregard both so I guess its not that simple). I appreciate your encouragement to ask questions. I always ask questions but feel like I am hounding you. Its good to know that questions are appreciated and encouraged. Do students for you not bathe, feed or do changing? that to me seems ridiculous and I'm sorry you had students like that... I take it as part of my job, especially since my skill set is so limited and I know how helpful it can be. And on behalf of us students, we appreciate you teaching us. I hope that you have students that relay that information and appreciation. I know nursing is a tough job and with a new person, its like a whole other thing to take care of, but we very much appreciate your patience :-)

It is my first semester of my Alternate Entry Master's program. It is our first time in the hospital and me and my classmates have come across a variety of nurses who we have shadowed. I know each nurse does their own thing and has their own system, but many of my classmates have come in the line of fire for not following what a certain nurse wants us to be doing (I've only witnessed this and not been the subject of it). In defense of the nurses, some of my classmates deserved to be disciplined as they kind of stood back watching. I am in no means perfect and would like to get better so I can build good rapor with the nurses I work with and to help me become efficient, especially since next semester we have longer shifts and will be having 2 patients instead of one. So to my "overseeing nurses"...for my future as a student nurse, what are certain things that you would suggest I always do to help YOU out? This is how I go in for the day (Note: we're only at the hospital for 4 hours currently and assigned to 1 patient): - Information from client chart from day before. We go home and research pt's diagnosis and current plan of care - be there for report - as report ends, state what I will be doing and what we are and are not capable/allowed to do as our current status of nursing students - pass meds (only PO, subq and IM now... we'll be able to do IV next semester), do AM care (help with feeding, bed, sheet change)... we have to do a meds check off with our instructor. - if my patient wants to rest/refuses AM care, ask if you need anything from me... if not, go see if my classmates need help. Anything else you can suggest for me to do to make YOUR day go more smoothly?

Thanks for your advice. I think on my last day I'll give her a note. We'll be there for a few more weeks and when it's up, I'll give her one. Its really unfortunate that some nursing students aren't really nice to the CNA's... it makes me really angry and I don't really understand it. They are more knowledgeable than we are. So thanks to all you CNA's out there :-)

I'm a first semester Alternate Entry MSN student... today was my first day taking care of patients (EVER) and our first rotation is in a nursing home. Needless to say, I was nervous, excited and scared... but mostly nervous and scared :-) We each got paired up with a CNA, who basically run the place we were working at. She was BEYOND patient with me and let me perform things both with her and independantly. She was kind to all her patients, was a wealth of knowledge for me and made me EXCITED to be joining her profession. She knew her patients, was patient and kind with them... but also efficient like nothing I have ever seen. I spent the day running around after her in awe :-) So, there are 2 things I learned today. 1) CNA's work HARD... I had a lot of respect for them before... but after today, I bow down to you all 2) Nursing - It's hard and exhausting... but its rewarding... I never knew changing, bathing, feeding patients could be so rewarding... but I left walking on a cloud today... and more excited than i thought possible. Don't get me wrong... I'm still scared and nervous, but excited is ranking up there now more. So thank you CNA for teaching me today and being so understanding. Thank you to each of my patients for understanding that I was knew and working with my "new-ness" instead of against it and for teaching me how to help you. I realize it may not always be like this, but for a first day, it was everything I could ask for. That is all :-)

I took pharmacology online from Indiana University. Its Indiana University Independent Study Program - NURS B219 and is through the nursing department. Here is a link: http://scs.indiana.edu/univ/courseList_univ.php?deptCode=NURS& It is quite expensive, but you have up to 1 year to complete it. It is self paced but they give you a good outline. You do have to find a proctor at either a local library or a local Community College (I did that and would recommend it). I couldn't find a cheaper, easier option for my time schedule, but maybe others will have suggestions. Hope this helps!!

Yeah, Hyde Park is pretty great. He owns the house so we'll probably be there all 3 years... we have a big backyard, so you can count on us having people over for BBQ's :-) We have friends that live right near you in a big apartment complex. I haven't done the reading yet, mostly b/c I shipped all my books to Texas (per a very small car) and haven't seen them yet... are the chapters long? Did you notice that they also snuck in there that they'll be giving us more than just that to read before school starts? "Additional reading assignments for the first week (Thursday, June 4) will be posted on the UTSON web page or emailed to you" -- sneaky... I guess they don't waste any time! My friend is going to Columbia and they have reading and HW assignments too for their summer session.

yeah, Tulane's bookstore was ridiculous so I assumed most other school's were as well. My boyfriend, who is at UT for his MBA, confirmed that for me by taking me on a tour of the co-op. Amazon and Half.com were pretty reasonable (in regards to textbooks and the fact that there were 12, not including the recommended ones). I can't believe orientation is so soon too! I don't think it will actually set in until we show up on the 2nd. I'm totally nervous, but trying to distract myself with moving. Our schedule looks intense... but doable (hopefully). I'm living in Hyde Park with my boyfriend. Its not super near campus but its across the street from. the RR bus stop, plus we have a huge backyard for our new puppy (I think I'm more excited about the new puppy than school right now haha) Are you living near school?

My fingerprints JUST got finalized on May 13th... pretty ridiculous if you ask me but whatever, its done. The text book list is kind of ridiculous. I got them all on Amazon and Half.com... My boyfriend said that by NO MEANS should we go to the co-op and that their prices are just ridiculous... It was still expensive on the 2 websites but much less than it would have been otherwise. I'm not sure if it would matter about older editions - it may since drugs and possibly procedures change with nursing each year... who knows though? I'm getting a bit nervous, but that's probably b/c I'm moving out of my apartment tomorrow (yikes!) and starting my drive to Texas... I should finally be there by Saturday which will give me about 10 days to settle in. Are you guys nervous?

I'm not really sure either... Once we get through the first year, I think I'll have a better idea of where I want to focus. For you all that are going this year, did you get your fingerprinting back? I think you are both in Texas so you may have done the electronic kind but I'm not sure. I sent mine in on April 3 and they cashed my check on the 7th... then the BON said they LOST my fingerprints 3 weeks later. I had to call and have them search and they JUST put it in processing on the 26th. I called to check on it yesterday and they said it will take another 2-3 weeks to finish because DPS is behind... UGH! Also, you see the schedule and text book list? Crazy!! I talked to someone in the program who said that they definitely recommend the Pathophysiology book by McCance. Said it was definitely helpful, even though its under the recommended list.

Hi Jensons1s! I didn't do any of the classes online, but like futurelonghorncns said, I don't think it matters, especially since they give a list of distance learning classes that they suggest for people to take. I would think what matters the most is the grades you receive in the class - not where you took it. I know they do look at volunteering... I asked on my phone interview... I volunteered at a local hospital, first on the maternity ward (doing more clerical work) then on the pediatrics floor as a child life services volunteer (basically playing with kids and ensuring mental comfort to both patients and family members)... I think the idea is to show you've been around a hospital and have a grasp of what actual nursing is, you know? I think if you started now, you'd be fine time wise. Just so you know, getting into hospitals can be tricky and take a while. You usually have orientation, then an interview then can start, but the whole process can take a few weeks. Hope this helps!! ~ Molly

I applied to 6.... I got into 5... I applied to 5 Accelerated MSN, and one ABSN (the one denial was from a AMSN)

Thanks so much for your responses! I think the Sprauge is what they are talking about, hopefully I'll know for sure... Maybe I'll have my mom hold off on getting me one until I want a fancy one if the Sprauge is only $15 :-)