mom25

I agree, I always say thank you after the end of my shift. I also make sure that I thank the CNA's for all their wisdom during the day. It is important to remember that respect is important and really makes people feel better!

I got in with a score in the mid fifties. When the topic came up our first semester the lowest score was 52 but take that with a grain of salt. Good luck and apply, you never know what will happen.

Thank you so very much! As you can tell I am suffering from a huge lack of sleep by reading my first post. I am in my first month of clinicals and I am feeling so out of sorts. I will check a med surg book that I got at a yard sale and see if it is in there, if not I will get the Mosby book you recommended. Thanks so much! Daytonite thank you for the web sites, they will come in super handy. You guys are the BEST!!

I was trying (ie struggling) with my Functional Health Patterns and I wanted a book or quick reference that allowed me to get an idea of what a high CBC values or BUN or Creatinine would mean in the long run to the patient. I can figure out what the lab result is within range but that doesn't really tell me what exactly that tests for and what the number might mean for the patient. I guess in a round about way I need Lab tests for dummies or something along that line.

I started this clinicals and need help with the lab results. I was wondering if anyone had a book that might tell me not only what the norms are but what it might mean if the results were elevated or low. I am really struggling on what each out of range lab value might equate. Thanks so much for any advice!

Your welcome. I graduated for Arizona State back in 1994 so I had to retake all the classes. It took me about eighteen months. It wasn't too bad but I was a little miffed about taking some of them. I am done with all my pre reqs so I only have to take the nursing classes. I am happy to finally get going! Sounds like you have everything going for you to get into nursing program in 2010. I hope it works well for you and yes, lets stay in touch. It sounds like you will have to juggle quite a bit but as Mom's we are good at juggling! Good luck and lets stay in touch!

I am starting the program in January and I got the same run around. I have five kids so for me it was essential to know when I would be going to class and doing clinicals, so I asked around campus (yes, I am sure I looked crazy) until I found someone who actually attended the program. She said that once she had to be there before 5pm for a class and one semester over the summer she had to do clinicals from 4-8pm. She said some got clinicals that were early like that each time. I don't know if that helps you but I thought what the heck, I am going to go for it. The first semester will be a class that starts at 5pm one day a week. I will update when I get my scheudal. Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

I couldn't agree more!! I felt the same way!

I thought that A&P was difficult only because of all of the memorization. My teacher also marked any answer wrong if it was mis-spelled and I am a terrible speller so it made it so very hard. I got an A and I took it over the summer but I spent hours and hours studying. Good luck and I hope you do well.

This was a tough one for me too! My local accelerated BSN program was 3 semesters at 7800.00 per semester. My local community college is 580.00 for 5 semesters. I have five kids and don't work(so no loss of income) and I couldn't decide what to do. I finally decided that the local cc would be a better fit and because I have great grades I got in the first semester. It would of taken me at least two semesters to get in at the BSN program because it is much more competitive and I would get extra points if I have taken the last 24 credits at the BSN school. I really wanted to get a BSN because I thought it would be a better fit but I just couldn't do it because of the cost and the extra time. I am assuming (maybe incorrectly) that it would be much more intense because of the time difference. Good luck with your choice!!! I know it was a really hard one for me!

I live outside of Greensboro NC. I really want to work nights weekends in a hospital, I don't want to work at a LTC facility. I also thought doing an externship would be the best bet for me. Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement. I have a five sememster program and it includes the summers. Do your include going to school in the summer?

Thanks very much for your replies! I honestly didn't think of the money issue because I am a stay at home and don't make money now, but I certainly will be paying for more now than I have in the past. I know fitting in the physical and such is hard enough. They gave us less than a month and I had to beg borrow and steal to get into my Dr in that time frame. They didn't have any openings for almost two months. I also had to get CPR trained and that was tough as far as schedule wise. Zar, I hope that their are jobs in my area. I never really thought that it would be hard to find a job until I came here and found out that there are many people struggling to find a job when they first graduate. I don't want that!! I think I will have to research it more and make sure that I can find a job when I am done. I haven't had a job in FOREVER, well over ten years, because I have been home with the kids and that is going to be what I really need at the end of this. We are broke and I want to help!! Thanks for taking the time to respond!

I was wondering if you guys thought there were any negatives in being accepted into the Spring start over the Fall start? I was thinking that by the time we graduate some of the new grad programs are already full at the hospital or the externships are already taken. Any advice? I got accepted into the Spring start and I think I am going to go but the Fall start may work better. Thanks so much in advance!!

Congratulations Laura!! I just got into GTCC in Jamestown to start this January. I am so excited! Good luck!!

That is so very kind. Thank you very, very much. I will take your advice to heart and if I have any questions I will be sure to PM you. Thanks again!!!!