Cupcake89121

That is so great dbabklyn! You are right on with everything you said. Oh, and my husband is trilingual too! You guys are too cool and I am super jealous of your awesome language skills!

To the original poster -- that guy is probably just jealous that you have the opportunity to enter a BSN program. Maybe he couldn't make the cut, maybe he can't afford it, maybe it's too much of a time commitment because he has two kids and two jobs. Who knows. Either way, he is still immature and a jerk so why waste your time caring about what a jerk thinks? It is never a bad thing to have more education. As nurses-to-be, we will be learning every single day for the rest of our lives, be it on the job or in the class room. Honestly if someone suggests that there is something wrong with earning a higher degree then, frankly, they are just stupid. Stupid for making such a ridiculous suggestion and stupid for taking time to think so much about what you are doing. I'm doing an RN-BSN program after I graduate in December because I have all my gen eds now. I have more credits than my ADN degree requires! Hopefully it will also fill the months until someone (hopefully) decides to hire my newbie butt! You are so right though about obtaining a job after school -- whether there is an initial difference in pay or not, being able to put BSN on your resume will make you look more attractive in a pile of 100000 other new grad RN resumes. It can't hurt!

I worked in customer service for many years, most recently for the largest online retailer of shoes. I got sick of listening to people call to complain about minutiae. I wanted to do something that actually helped those who have real problems and are in need. I didn't want to die as someone that worked my whole life apologizing because they got their shoe order a day after expected. Billions of people on this planet don't even have shoes...or clean water, or food in their bellies every day. So, honestly, who cares about your damn shoes? Ultimately, my reasons are very selfish. One day when I'm lying on my death bed I want to know that in my life I did something that really mattered. Then, I'll go with a smile on my face!

Stop stressing yourself out and learn how to accept that an 80% is GREAT! (good job!) and a perfectly acceptable score. It's your first test in nursing school! Don't be so hard on yourself. When you become an RN nobody is going to care that you got an 80 on your nursing fundamentals test. I understand that you're disappointed because you put a lot of effort into it, but if you know that you did your best well, then that's all you can be expected to do. Obviously your best is enough to meet the higher testing standards set for us nursing students. Go to your teacher, ask him/her for any tips for the next time, learn from the mistakes you made, and move on. As long as you learn what you did wrong and then apply that knowledge in the future, you have been successful. That's not just for tests -- that's in life. If you want to grab an extra book to study from I highly recommend the Prentice Hall Reviews & Rationales series. They are a great way to focus your studying and test review.

I think it just depends on the schools in your area. All of the private schools where I live (Las Vegas) are about $50k for 18 months and super shady. The public institutions, however; are home to the most established nursing programs in the area. Even after I complete my RN-BSN and get my MSN (hopefully), I still will not have spent $50k on tuition! I think it's ludicrous. That being said, if there is no way you can get into one of the public schools in the foreseeable future then you may have to take the plunge. Plenty of people graduate from private nursing programs and go on to be successful, competent, and caring RNs. Additionally, the private schools in your town may be better than the public ones. I don't think a blanket statement could be made either way. I will say though that my father graduated from Pace (many many moons ago) and he is a pretty smart guy! :)

Thank you both for the helpful advice!

Nursing school is tough. Not only are you learning new material, but you are learning a new way to *think* 100 and 200 level gen Ed classes are so easy. I had a 3.8 before I started nursing classes and now, let's just say, that I don't! Hehe Anywhoo, I graduate in December and have learned so much. Not getting an A does not mean you are a failure or that you aren't learning. I know that grad programs post a minimum GPA requirement, but they also indicate that if you don't meet that requirement they will evaluate program acceptance on a case by case basis. And really, that makes a lot more sense to do. Once you enter an MSN program you have obviously managed to pass the NCLEX and have been working as a nurse already. The fact that you didn't get any A's in nursing school is totally irrelevant at that point. Stay strong, don't give up, and do your best! It's the best you can do! :)

My husband might accept a job he was offered in a different city so we might be moving soon. I still have to finish my last semester in the fall, however. Would it just be easier to take the NCLEX in my current state, get licensed here, and then just transfer it to the new city once I join my husband there?

I took 124 at CSN so I can't comment but I did take the req'd Stat course at NSC and it was very easy. I don't know if it was my teacher or what but I didn't open the book once. I got an A and I am NOT a math person. Anyway, good luck!

I like NSC and will enter their RN-BSN program after I graduate and get my license (end of this year...hopefully!) but I think you're reading those NCLEX pass rates incorrectly. NSC year-to-date NCLEX pass rate for 2011 was 81.43% of 70 candidates that took the test. Just look at the total percentage for the entire year. UNLV was 98.99% of 99 candidates CSN was 92.86% of 182 candidates Both very impressive I think. NSC is also continually improving and I like what they've done so far considering the newness of the school. I have taken several gen eds there and I really do enjoy the smaller class sizes and relaxed atmosphere. Anywhoo, it will always be beneficial to advance your education; however, the ratio of ADN to BSN prepared nurses is pretty uneven right now so I think an ADN is fine at first. I'm going for my BSN right after graduation because I already have enough credits for junior standing AND I figure as a new grad I will be without employment and bored for awhile :)

Hello Shayna! I graduate from my ADN program in December and will enroll in the local RN-BSN program after I pass NCLEX. I have seen some hospitals in my area that offer tuition reimbursement, but I'm not counting on it. I would recommend starting BSN courses while you are applying for jobs. You can put it on your resume and this will make you stand out ahead of other ADN new grads. In regards to ADN vs BSN hiring -- it is entirely regional. I live in Las Vegas and the hospitals do not pay much attention to this yet. ADN nurses far outnumber BSN nurses right now so if the hospitals didn't hire ADNs then they wouldn't have enough staff! Also, the oldest and one of the most well regarded programs in Vegas is at the community college. Their ADN 2011 NCLEX pass rate was 93% for 182 candidates. I will say that it is very difficult for new grads to get a job out here, regardless of degree type. Anyway, if you can afford it it is always better to get the most education possible!

I was failing MedSurg for most of the previous semester (75% avg. required). I had to get an 80% on my final to pass. I got an 88%. It was a very scary moment for me, but I was determined. Don't give up and work hard!

Instinctively for me: 1. d If your patient can't breathe then they might die and then you won't have a patient anymore. Make sure the patient is breathing comfortably and THEN teaching would be appropriate. A person who is having difficulty breathing isn't going to listen to your spiel about proper use of an inhaler. 2. d This is a spiritual/psycho-social question and the other three options seem like borderline HIPPA violations to me. 3. d This is another spiritual/psycho-social/cultural sensitivity type question that also includes safety. The last answer mentions safety and you are also providing culturally competent care at the same time. 4. b Don't administer a medication you are not familiar. Period. End of story. Never do this. It will always be wrong. It will always be an error, and it will always be your ass! The nursing manager might go down too but you will definitely be held responsible. Your priorities as a nurse will follow Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (ABCs, Safety, etc), but not every question is going to address the patient's physiologic state.

gerwrtrew

I was referring to the RN program, not Bio 189. The poster before me mentioned that her sister had to apply to the program multiple times before being accepted.