autumn_twilight

I would suggest, since you already have a bachelor's, that you go with an accelerated program. I'm not sure how old your science courses are, but if you go the ADN route I think they have to be less than 5 years old (or the schools out here are that way, at least). I do NOT know if that is a requirement if you go the accelerated BSN route (but I don't think you have to redo them if they are older). If it's not and your science courses are more than 5 years old, you could probably finish an accelerated BSN faster than an ADN program...and then going the ADN-BSN route would just cost more time and money. It sounds like the BSN is your goal anyway, so why take extra steps if you don't need to? Just my thoughts based on my understanding of what you've said. As for schools, I haven't really looked into either of the ones you mentioned and I'm not familiar with the area so.... good luck! (Definitely look into the accreditation bit though.)

No, not harsh: some of it I have heard before, some of it I've thought myself, some of it I didn't/don't want to admit. I've talked with my husband a few times since I originally posted, and I've walked away from it with the sense that he doesn't think anything is worth working on since I can't guarantee that it'll fix our marriage issues if he basically "becomes a man/father/husband." He's straightening up his act now, but in a few weeks I know/expect him to be the same as before, as he's never been able to keep his "promises" for more than a few weeks at a time. Mostly, I just didn't want to give up, but looking inside, I know this isn't the way I want to live my life, that I'm not happy, and relationships aren't perfect but there's got to be something better than this. I keep second-guessing myself, but I've made the decisions to leave after finals (i can't pack, do school full-time and work full-time) even though it's going to destroy my credit by breaking my lease, which is already pretty bad since I've focused more on paying his bills than my own. So much has happened in the past week or two alone that's made me really open my eyes to the whole situation. I've given my all to this relationship and he "doesn't want to waste the time and energy" on doing the same because I can't guarantee "results".(I've literally said "X and Y is a problem for me in the marriage. If you can do A and B, I think that'll help, but X and Y are the most prominent issues I can think of." And he says "Well, if you can't guarantee that me doing A and B will fix the marriage, why should I bother?") So thanks for listening and re-affirming that I'm not crazy and I do deserve better, and that it's okay to be a little bit selfish in wanting happiness for myself and my daughter.

Thank you for the information. I didn't even think about the EAP, and I'm not sure why I didn't think about the counselors at school. I was able to get off work early yesterday, unfortunately I had to replace my tires and take care of a few other things and didn't have enough time to call the hotline or visit a counselor before I had to go to class. I've been struggling with my unhappy marriage basically since my daughter was born (she's four), and lately i've just been seeing everything as a giant red flag and I'm not sure how much of it is me looking for red flags and "finding" them or me refusing to give my husband the benefit of the doubt like I have for years. The real kicker came the other day when I explained to him, for at least the fourth time, that I wanted to go to nursing school. That I would be applying for the class beginning fall of 2010, and that I would not be able to work at my current job when I start that (so it gives him over a years worth of notice.) After two years, I can make at least double what I'm making now. We just have to hang on through those two years, like we've been hanging on for the past four. I'm looking for hospital jobs so I can still work full time nights or something. And he is all for me being a nurse, the paycheck sounds awesome, the flexibility of hours are great...until I tell him I have to quit my current job (which I can't stand and he knows) because SCCC only does a fulltime day program for nursing(and I can pretty much go for free with grants and stuff). And he says, "I don't think we can do it if you're not working full time, or if you take a paycut." I even came back later and (half)jokingly said "You could always work full time for a couple years so I could go to school" (He no longer has a major, it was going to be education, but "teaching requires so much work") and he still tells me "I don't think it's possible." Not that he'd look, not that he'd try, but basically no.:stone That was pretty much when I decided that I was tired of giving up my friends, family, and happiness for a guy that just wants to play video games, disrespect my feelings and opinions, and have a woman take care of his physical needs without considering my emotional needs. There is way, way, WAY more than just this incident, although this really stood out as the latest self-centered, unsupportive moment of the relationship for me. Not sure if i still need/want to talk to a counselor about possible abuse, but I'm in the process of getting everything set up so I can put myself and my daughter in a healthier environment. Now I just need to figure out how to tell him....

I feel odd asking this, but here goes. I need to talk to a counselor, specifically one experienced with the emotional/psychological abuse aspect of domestic violence in the st. louis/st. charles area. I've been in a marriage for four years that has drained my soul to the point where I don't recognize the person I've become, and I never wanted to be who I am now, and I'm still trying to figure out how I let myself get here. I've tried talking to my husband about ways to improve our marriage, but nothing is ever resolved. I started looking at countless websites on divorce advice, and many bring up the topic of domestic violence, and I read and read and it sounds like what I'm dealing with, but I want to talk to a professional (since they should be more non-biased than the few friends/family I have left.) I'm not sure exactly what it'd do for me other than justify (even moreso) the reasons for me leaving, but I kind of need to know for myself. I just can't believe that this is a normal relationship (I would rather die single and alone if that's the case.) I know every relationship has it's issues, nothing is perfect, but this just CANNOT be the norm. I don't have a lot of money to spend on it (or any really, he doesn't work and I can't even afford to pay the bills we do have) and I can't predict ahead of time when I'll have the ability to do something without him knowing to set up an appointment. So basically, does anyone know anyplace where I could talk to a counselor on a walk in basis? I know that we can't use this site for legal/medical advice, so I'm just looking for a direction to go in. Thank you in advance.

LOL, yeah my eyes hurt. But, St Charles has an LPN program. Not sure how far out you're looking to travel for it. I personally am not going for my LPN and have no experience with the program. They also have an LPN-RN bridge if you choose to continue. http://www.stchas.edu/divisions/msh/lpnindex.shtml

About how long did it take for them to respond once you had applied? I applied (it was only a couple weeks ago though) and I was wondering what their response time was. I had applied to Barnes as well over 2 months ago and still haven't heard anything, so I decided to expand my search. Also did you apply online or in person? I'm worried the online application didn't won't go through, there was no confirmation number/code/anything, just a "thanks for applying, someone will contact you" blah blah blah. Also, how often do they have their PCA training classes? Thanks :)

I think you might be able to appeal it, my husband was able to appeal his before, but it was due to being on academic probation/suspension, etc. He succeeded in appealing, but if he slacks off again, no more PELL for him. Besides, it sounds as if you've already been recieving financial aid already, so if they were going to deny you, they should have done so BEFORE you started all your pre-reqs. I understand you may not be eligible for some scholarships if you already have a bachelor's but you should still be able to acquire loans, if not from the school, then maybe privately (but I'm not sure where, other than maybe your bank/CU?), and I have no idea with how grants work with that. I would definitely make an appointment with the fin. aid office and discuss with them. It could also possibly be an oversight (they did that with my PELL this year..had $600 taken out of my check right before rent was due. That was fun.) For the record, I go to SCCC though, not STLCC. Whatever happens, you'll make it through!

To the OP: I believe St. Charles Comm College also has an LPN-RN bridge, since you mentioned Sanford Brown in St. Peters specifically. Check out www.stchas.edu. It'll probably cost you less than two grand total. And in regards to Sanford Brown...I just dont understand why someone would want to pay $50,000 (i believe that's the quoted price, I may be wrong) for an ADN when I can get it for less than $10,000 at the community college. And even through SB may transfer to some universities, even if you get the full amount of credits, the two mentioned are private schools and much more expensive than if I went to get my BSN at, say, UMSL. $50,000 over 2 years would be my entire salary if I worked full time for those two years and THEN some. THAT is why I don't think SB is worthwhile, although their limited accreditation doesn't help them.

While nursing is a primarily science degree, I am not a fan of science. In high school, I slept through BIO, almost failed CHEM, and stopped just short of dancing around the counselor's office when I was told I wouldn't have to take another science course to graduate (I went to 3 different high schools, and the first 2 I had to take 3 science courses). The only part of science I've ever really liked was genetics, and they hardly focus on that in school. Nursing being such a science-focused major is a prime reason I didn't go into it as soon as I got out of high school. I'm going in to nursing though because I like helping people and making a difference. The potential paycheck is also something I could definitely use. I already try to help people as much as I can...why not get paid a decent wage at the same time? I forgot all about dissecting.....I'm definitely not looking forward to that.

I was hoping that by getting a position at the hospital, I could have time to do the CNA class and still go to work. My current employer won't let me work anything other than 8-4:30, M-F. (We used to be open 7-7, but they wouldn't allow me to do 4 10's.) That makes sense though for them to not want to hire until you have taken your first semester. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for the more "clerical" or pharmacy tech positions (as I am currently one of those.) But basically I really wanted to get a feel for the length of time between applying and receiving a response so I could determine whether or not I was still actually being considered. Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone works at BJC in St. Peters. I applied through their website for about seven or so positions, the earliest application being put in about 3 weeks back. I called HR today and she told me that if I "matched their skill set" then they would have a recruiter call me. I was just wondering about how long it takes for the recruiter to call back? Most of the applications have a status of "under consideration, no longer accepting applications" and have been for some time. I just REALLY want a to move on from my current employment because I have no drive sitting in front of a computer calling Drs offices for prescriptions, and an overnight position would be ideal so I could be home during the day, seeing as my babysitter is my husband's grandmother and it's pretty stressful for her to keep up with my 3 year old. I would need a new one by the time I start nursing school anyway, as SCCC only does day classes, and I have to work. The position I'm really wanting is a "clerical/secretarial" type position, althought I've applied for a few PCT spots as well.

From my understanding, they take the first 80 people who meet all the requirements for entry into the nursing program and THOSE people are selected to take the dosage calc. test. (They have a few more, maybe 10-20, other people take it as well to cover anyone who decides not to follow through with the program or fails the dos.calc. test, etc.) When I spoke to a counselor at SCCC, she said they literally number the applications as they come in. The first 80 people get the slot and if they fail the test or decide not to do the program, they get replaced with #81, #82, and so on. Taking the dosage test earlier doesnt necessarily mean you get in earlier, it means that if you fail it, you have more chances to make it up. I would think you would hear back shortly after you pass the dosage test. I would double check with a counselor though.

I would love to not have to. Unfortunately, my husband's self-esteem is so down from being laid off over a year ago and the few full-time job offers he's received isn't anything close to what he'd like to do (it's all commision work, which is what he did before), so my check is the one that pays the bills (he works part time now, and he loves it) We're both going to school full time, and we've got a 4 year old. I have no idea what we'll do when I have to start nursing classes because they're only offered during the day so I'll have to find another job (or he will). Trying to get one as a PCT but haven't heard anything back yet.

I would follow up with the pharmacy manager at that store, so they can directly address it with that specific employee. Or maybe they'll call a dept meeting and address it with everyone. Sometimes things are skipped in training. Sometimes mgmt assumes people know how to do certain things, because mgmt knows how to do it. But thats not enough. Unless this is one of a long list of "mistakes" and carelessness on the employee's part, they're not going to lose their job over it. Mgmt is just going to say "Hey, need you to be more careful...we had an incident and this is what happened. This is what SHOULD happen, please make sure you do this next time" and explain it. And they WILL address it, because they don't want to get sued by someone who dies from the wrong medication the next time it happens.

I am not a nurse, (pre-nursing student) but my understanding from some other posts is that most places want to see that you made it through at least a year with your first employer as a nurse? You already know there's some miscommunication issues with the first hospital. There's no guarantee you're going to be able to work 36hr/wk if you stay. May is less than half a year away, and you have plans to move closer to there anyway. I would say, hands down, go with your dream job. Life isn't handed to us in a pretty little box with a bow on top, sometimes we have to make sacrifices. I can think of worse sacrifices to make for one's dream job than a long commute for the first few months. Pursue your dream job NOW before someone else takes that slot. It may not be there in 5 months.