Jayhawk4Life

My school has a special night where parents/family come to the school for a tour and to meet the faculty. Everything else is students only.

I am only starting my BSN in August, but I plan to keep working as a phlebotomist. I have done it for 2 years during my first degree. My hospital lab trains our phelbotomists without any course, so I guess I am lucky. Also I don't know about the hospital you would do your externship at, but we have ~18 sticks(patients) every morning from 0600-0730. So your 100 would go pretty quick. My hospital is really flexiable in scheduling so I will only work for 3 hours in the morning, three times a week, and full days every two weekends. I would highly suggest being a "vampire", twhich hat doesn't get old after you hear it for the 5th time every morning.

I took Dev. Psych online this past semester through a local community college. It was very easy. Mine was broken down into 4 blocks. A block included ~9 quizzes(10 questions) and a test. The tests were also broken into 3 parts, based on chapters. The quizzes could be repeated 3 times each, and I usually did all 3 even if I got 10/10 the first time. The quiz and test questions are pulled from the same pool, so it was advantageous to see as many questions as you can. The course also included two discussion board topics you had to complete, only a paragraph, during each block. I was taking this class on top of 16 credit hours at a state university, finishing my BS degree. I would knock out a block in only an afternoon. I would finish my normal classes by noon, and would go home and do a block. I would finish by 7 or 8 o'clock. We also had a 3-4 paper assigned, but I didn't do it because it was only worth 8% of our grade and I could get an A without doing it. Hopefully this helps, but also each school is different.

Ditto. I would be more than willing to help since I am graduating Sunday with my BS in Microbiology, but this seems fishy.

I'm 22 and will be starting my BSN program next Fall. This will be my second Bachelor's degree, only 17 days till graduation though .

I am not scared at all, you just have to be very alert and cautious. I am a phlebotomist(only 2 yrs, but still have seen alot of things). Most near sticks or sticks that I have seen/heard about are the result of lack-luster techniques. People are not paying attention or are using improper technique. One example I can think of off the top of my head involved a coworker being stuck. He stuck himself while using a butterfly needle. He said his fingers slipped, due to the "sweaty" patient, and he stuck himself. But we all know he didn't follow the protocol of activating the safety while the needle was in the vein. I know as sure as I am typing this, he pulled the needle out without activating the safety and accidentally stuck himself. He would have had to put the needle through 3 2x2s also if he was following our procedures.

Phlebotomy has been awesome for me. I think it was one of the deciding factors for me getting in to my nursing school. I have been a phelbotomist, part-time, for 2 years while doing my undergrad degree. I start my BSN in the Fall. I plan on working during NS also. I only work every other weekend, 18 hrs/pp. At my hospital I think we make equivalent to CNAs, and I didn't even have to take classes, the hospital trained me. It is enough $ for just little things that I need. I do plan on switching to being a Student Nurse Technician in the ICU, once I finish my first semester of NS though so I can make it easier getting a job in the ICU after I graduate.

I am in the same boat as you. I start my BSN program next Fall, and I am graduating with my BS this May. So I am going to lose basically all my grants, since they are based on being an undergrad. I am going to a private college, so it is pretty pricey as in ~$26,000 for tuition for the entire program. This is pretty expensive for where I am from. I have signed a 2 yr contract with a hospital, the same one I have worked at for 2 years as a phlebotomist, and they have agreed to pay $7000. You may look into hospitals in your area, I know my hospital had the application on their website. I also went to my municipal Workforce Center and applied for education assistance. It is called the Heartland Works Tuition Assistance. I felt kind of awkward at first because the center is mostly used by people in need of help looking for jobs of job training(as in technical skill, HVAC, etc), but I got over it. This is totally FREE $$$. I will be getting $6000 over my two years. All I have to do is check in with my advisor once a month, and that is even just an email. You can always do a Google search, for scholarships in your area.

I haven't even started my BSN program yet, Fall 2009. But I plan to explore the options of CRNA or PA. I am finishing up my Bachelors degree this May and had planned throughout my undergrad at going to PA school, but they don't accept many students straight from school(with just science degrees). Most want direct patient care experience, which is why I started working as a phlebotomist at a local hospital my sophomore year of college. Through my work I really saw how awesome it would be to work in the ICU as an RN. So that is what I am planning to do, until I decide on which graduate program I would like to follow. And if I don't want to go on to more school, I will enjoy working as an RN with all the various career opportunites and pathways.

Well I was accepted for my BSN program for Fall 2009. My GPA is a 3.22 for my undergraduate degree. I graduate this May with a BS in Microbiology. My nursing school only looks at pre-req grades though, but I think my calculated GPA for the pre-reqs was in the 3.8s range.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I just wanted to see if it was possible to have a dog and work as a nurse. I have visited different dog forums and they almost make you feel like a horrible person if you have to work outside the home. It's like they think it is impossible to give the attention and love needed unless you are a stay at home parent or own a personal business. PS. This thread is the reason I love this website. You can get information on almost any subject.

I can attest because I grew up with Brittany's, we hunted them and they were fabulous dogs. I want a dog that will play/jog with me, maybe train to hunt, but I don't want a couch potato. That's why I like Labs and Brittany's, and I like Boxers because I have never met a Boxer that was mean/I didn't like.

I didn't mean to offend, or pass judgement. I know the dogs in stores deserve fantastic homes also, this is a reason I can't go into pet stores. I may come home with one.

I have a fenced in yard. I live in the suburbs, definitely not city. The dog will be an inside dog, but will have the option to be outside for playtime. I really love Labs, Boxers, and Brittanys.

Athena, I have a few breeds in mind, but they all are pretty high energy. I love Boxers, Labs, and Brittanys, but am open to any dog. But I am looking for a medium to large size breed.

I am definately NOT going to buy from a pet store, I will not support puppy mills. I want to adopt from my local humane shelter. I guess where I get the "I will have time", is that I have plenty of time now right now. I work part-time and go to school full-time, I am finishing up my bachelors degre this May. So I am used to being busy.

Thanks for all the quick replies. I was wanting to get a puppy, I guess I mis-typed. I want to get through the puppy-years while in school. While in school, I will be living at home with my parents. When I start working, I could probably have my mother or father let the dog out after they get off work, which would be at around 3:30-4:00. I want to do whats best for the dog and I know my home would be great. I have been worrying more about this situation, than any of my school or admissions process,:chuckle. I have been reading training books, breed profiles, etc like crazy for like 8 months straight.

I was wondering if how many of you on here have dogs? I start nursing school in the Fall, and I am going to get a dog in May. I have wanted a dog since I was young, but could never have one because my family was too busy with sports, and other activities. So now I am getting myself a dog for completing my first BS degree. Also I want to get through the early puppy stage(1-2 yrs) while in school, since I have plenty of time. For those of you who have dogs, how do they do while you are at work. I was wondering how they do with 12 hour shifts. I am single, right now, you never know what will be in 2 years. But I was just wanting any input on dog-owners.

I would go with Stormont-Vail. It has numerous clinics throughout northeastern KS. It is always expanding. Right now the new ER/trauma/ICU is being built and is due to be completed in July. Also, I am just not a big fan of St. Francis because of how some the treatment members of my extended family have recieved from there. I may be a little biased though because I work there, as do my dad, stepmom, and cousin. Good luck

Where you from? I ask because I am from Kansas and you don't have to have any courses to do phlebotomy. I have been working as a phelbotomist part-time for 2 years while I am completing my bachelor's degree, and I had no medical experience prior. The laboratory/hospital trained me.

Hello, I just received my letter informing me that I will get an interview at my 1st choice school. So now I am freaking out a little bit, because I don't want to screw it up. So, I chose to have my interview next Friday, Feb. 6, so I could just get it over with. To get to the point, I was just wondering if any of you had some advice for me from your interviews? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks

I am in Kansas and you don't have to be certified or licensed to be a phlebotomist. But our hospital does pay more if you are certified. But certification is relatively easy to obtain. The hospital even pays for you to take the test. I haven't done it since I am going to hopefully start nursing school next fall and it won't be worth it me to do.

I work as a phlebotomist part-time, only every other weekend. I go to school full-time finishing up my BS in microbiology, so it was the perfect job for me. The hospital trained me and I make the same amount of money that a PCT does. I also love the challenge, there is no better feeling than getting a hard stick that somebody else couldn't get. You may want to check into it hospitals in your areas.

I am a phlebotomist. I had no experience, and my hospital trained me. I love my job and they are very flexible with my schedule. You may look at that.