sandiegoaaron

Hey guys - I'm in the New Grad program, too! Very excited! Glad to meet you ... my soon to be fellow RN employees. :) I talked with -------------- and she said the Onc email was indeed just a generic application for all of us to fill out, so that they have our past 10 years employment, etc. In other words, no, that app is NOT for an Onc position. She didn't say anything about us all being in med/surge, but then again she didn't NOT say anything about med/surge, either. Med/surge would make sense though, of course. Do you guys have any idea about costs we might be facing ... for uniforms, books, supplies, whatever? Also, not trying to jump the gun, but any idea when and how often we'll be paid? Beginning 2 weeks after Sept 10th? Just trying to figure out finances on my current tight budget. :) Hope all are well. Thanks.

Hey guys - sorry if I missed this from previous posts, but does anyone know what to expect from the panel interview? What type of questions? Was their focus mainly on your resume and clinical rotations? Etc. Thanks for any help! I just got the call today and scheduled for a panel interview!

Hi folks, I'm a new grad, too. Appreciate the comments, Navyman (and others), but I think your 100k salary thought is off the mark. I'm thinking of applying to the Balboa Naval Hospital, too, and I met with the Nurse Recruiter (though she said that wasn't an official title) who was very nice and helpful. She said I'd likely be placed as a GS7 (I had no idea what this meant before google) based on my having a BSN and a GPA over 3.0. When I got home, the best I could determine (after an applied percentage, which is different for each state), I'd be paid around 50k. Not so great, but not so bad, either, I guess, depending on the added benefits. I don't know much about the benefits, but I've been told (vaguely) they're very good. But I'm also wondering about other "benefits". For example, is the training good and will I be put in good shape to eventually work at a civilian hospital? (I will not be one to have the corpman do all my work for me, for example, because I'd like to learn and also do my part/job). And what about other aspects ... I've thought of possibly becoming a Flight Nurse ... could I be put on some sort of fast-track to Flight Nurse training if I'm working at a military hospital instead of a civilian hospital? What about Nurse Anesthetist? Does the naval hospital have such a program, and available to civilian RNs? I'm not sure what I'd be elegible to enroll in or what "benefits" apply, since I'm a civilian and not actually in the navy. I'm confused about where the lines are drawn. Thanks very much for any input, the comments so far have been very helpful.

Wow, dfullen, I see this post is a couple years old, but have you found what you wanted? I'm in an accelerated BSN program now, but also thinking of firefighting. I've also very much wanted to look into being a flight nurse. So please, let me know what you've found out ... anything? And exgrider, I'd like to get my pilots license as soon as possible too! Weird how much commonality there is in this link! Thanks for any info!

Hey, I forgot to say, the pricing I was comparing was half.com books versus the USED books of SM. I'm not sure if you can get brand spankin' new books online or not. Aaron

Hey guys - What does everyone think about the course schedule? It's good for me, since I'll still be able to work. Hey, I went to Half.com to try and find out about book prices. I was pretty excited to see all these cheap prices, but then got wise and looked at the San Marcos bookstore website. The books on Half.com are only a little cheaper than the SM books, and after shipping costs the total looks to me to be about the same as SM prices. Thing is, buying from the SM bookstore also ensures we're buying the exact books we need (correct publishing date, etc.). I'm all open for ideas if anybody else has thoughts about where to get cheaper books. Remember the nursing student who spoke to us at orientation? I'm guessing, but I'm thinking she was telling us to buy books online (half.com, etc.) when we get into our nursing core classes, and not necessarily these prilim classes that we have to take the first semester. Anyway, hope this saves you guys some time. Go to the SM bookstore would be my advise. Oh, and I'm taking the Soc 303 class online at SD City College, so you're on your own with that book. :) Hope all are well. See you in about two weeks! Aaron

Hey All - Geez, looks like I've been missing out! Sorry for slacking a bit. Been up in Seattle with family for turkey day and whatnot. Hope all had great times and full bellies. :) I've read the past few pages of postings and I'm up ... or down (whatever the kids are saying these days), for lunch after orientation, but I'll have to skip out on the apartment hunting. One, I have to get back to work, but two, I think I'm going to continue living here in SD for the first semester and make the 3 day a week drive up there. I've got lease obligations that I could possibly get out of, but for now, I'll just see if I can deal with the drive and try to use the hour and change commute by listening to the lectures on the road. I'd definitely like to know where people are living, though, so that when I do move up there in a few months I can hopefully find a place somewhat close to others ... for late night study sessions, pot luck dinners, Easter egg hunts, or what have you. Ha, sorry, just being a dork. But for reals, looking forward to meeting everyone. :)

Amy, I feel your pain and that is a pickle. I've been in your boat, for sure. For me it's been a matter of being distracted (like you are now) or just so tired of studying that I have trouble taking it anymore. But, you sound like a smarty-pants, so I'm sure you won't have a problem in taking care of business. So check this out, y'all! Yesterday (Friday) was orientation for National U. As of late Wednesday I was still on the fence as to choosing SM or National. The reason for National was mostly for proximity and not having to go through the hassle of a likely move on down the road. Anyway, Wednesday I called about seven hospitals and left messages with their nursing recruiters and asked, which do you prefer, National or SM students? ... have you heard anything about the teaching methods? ... etc. A couple called back with little news, but then late in the day, Doug, from a children's hospital (Rady's, I think) was very cool and asked me if he could read me a few numbers. Yes, of course! He read me the NCLEX results of National students for the past three years. Something like ... 74%, 71%, and 75%. He then said that SM only has one year listed since they're a newer school, but their students passed the NCLEX at a 95% rate. That's when I knew for sure what my choice would be. The next day on Thursday I wrote a "thanks, but no thanks" email to National. I drove in to work, parked, and my phone rang. It was ... shoot, I'm forgetting her name ... from UCSD Hospital saying she was calling me back about my questions. I told her, thanks, but I just made my final decision that morning. Her response ... "What did you do!!" "I picked SM.", I told her. "Phew!" She told me they hire National students because they have BSN's, but they're not trained in ... sorry, forgetting that too ... and inevitably "we have to let most of them go within a year." She said I made the right choice ... whew. I feel bad for any National students, but thought you guys might want to know about this confirmation about your decision too :) Though as Snwbdr alluded to, I'm not sure if the 95% is from a generic nursing class or from our ABSN. Doesn't matter. I'm very comfortable with the SM decision and looking forward to having a good chance at success. Hey, db44, not sure where you live here in San Diego, but are you planning on staying, or were you thinking of moving a little closer to Temecula? I'll probably stick around here in SD for the first semester, but perhaps move up closer after. Maybe we could carpool if you're sticking around. Where do you live? I live in OB. I'm sure there will be others too from SD we'll meet at orientation. OK, all, hope you're having a nice Saturday. Peace. Aaron

Thanks very much, prettyinpink - I like the name. :) OK, so I think I get you, there is a lot of outside the class teaching yourself and reading. That's OK, you're right, 5 hours per week in lecture doesn't sound like much, so that's understandable. But what I'm a bit worried about - well more than a bit - is, what if you have questions about the material? Are the instructors accessible? Or is this where you sort of turn to your classmates for help? In other words, do they help you if you're in need? Also, I thought it was 16 hours for clinicals, no? I thought it was one day of lecture (5 hours) and two days of clinicals (8 hours each). Lot's of papers to write? What is the material like, or a typical week and month ... besides difficult, I'm sure! Are there any breaks along the way? Any chances to go visit family? And a big one, I haven't taken Anatomy or Physiology for a couple years now. I've forgotten a lot of that stuff! Can I go back and review the basics or is this something where National expects you to know that material well in order to sufficiently do this and that assignment? Do the classes in the beginning of the cohort do a good job of reviewing anything we might need to know along those lines? Thanks for the input. Aaron

Hey folks - I'll be in Cohort 21 at National, but I'm worried about a question I'm not seeing here on all these postings. Has anyone heard first hand about the faculty? Are the instructors helpful? I've heard National teachers are like drill sergeants and that you shouldn't "rock the boat". Really not trying to scare anyone, I'm in this too, but one person - sorry, I'm forgetting your name - said he was in his second semester and that "teaching yourself" has been his experience thus far. I don't like just being given a bunch of assignments and told, this is what's due, see you next week ... or whatever. I'd like there to be more guidance seeing as this is new for all of us ... well at least me. Anyway, any word on the teaching methods and the instructors themselves? Thanks, Aaron

Amy, this link - http://www.temecula.org/relocation.html - is from the "Congratulations, you've been accepted!" email we all received from SM. The Relocation Links is under the Community setting. I was thinking maybe you could call one or two ... or ten :) ... of the Rental numbers and hopefully talk with some helpful people who could direct you to a hotel for a quick stay. They should know the area and maybe you'll even get a lead on who and where to rent an apartment from for the longer stay. Just an idea. Talk soon. Aaron

Ha, I like it. Positive thinking indeed. Thanks for the support, ladies. I'm feeling better and better about this. Sarah, I can tell you some things about the field ... other than the field ... for sure. I have a degree in Poli Sci, but sort of got it because I didn't know what else to head for. I never even considered nursing but then a friend said a friend was into it, so I checked it out. It met what I was trying to get out of life - freedom (3 day work weeks to pursue other hobbies and aspects of life, traveling nurse, employment freedom); the finances to afford that stuff, family, house, etc.; and feeling like I've done something worthwhile at the end of the day. In any case, you probably know all of this stuff, but I hear you, the fringe stuff is pretty cool to go along with righteous work. ... Am I sounding too dudish? :) Amy, did I read earlier you're coming in from San Fran? I'm jealous, I love San Fran! But sorry, to your question - unfortunately I can't help on the hotel scene in Temecula, I really don't know the area myself. Shoot, I don't know San Diego that well and I've been here for 10 years - ha. And Steph, thanks to you too. I think we're gonna be just fine. Nite all.

Ha! I like the name EggsMom! You'll see why in a sec. :) I just switched to San Marcos and they've accepted me to their Temecula campus. Here's the thing, I was going to go to National U, who accepted me also. Orientation for National is on Friday, and I believe the cost of orientation alone is $1,850, the cost of one class. After searching here on AllNurses and asking whoever I could ... sorry, whom ... and you'd be surprised by how hard it is to find someone who went through the National BSN program ... I've been scared away from them. I heard their teachers are like drill sergeants and heard specific stories of horror that I'll be glad to share with my Temecula brethren when we meet. :) But, I'm writing because, does anyone think I'm nuts? I turned down SM (SM location) to go to National, now I'm turning down National to go back to SM, though I'm stuck now with being sent to Temecula. Stupid, there is no doubt. SM accepted me to their SM campus and I turned them down in favor of National ... but then found out all this bad stuff and now I'm back with SM. I live in San Diego, so the Temecula drive will not be a pleasant one, seeing as we'll have to be on campus at least 4 times a week during the first semester alone. I haven't yet told National I'm not going to go there, since I just made this decision today with SM. Nervous? Yes. Wishy-washy on my part? Absolutely. But what it came down to for me was that why would I go to National if I don't feel I could hack the program? National, I was told by a Nurse Practitioner who's daughter went there, is a place where you don't want to rock the boat. She told me to "keep your head down"!! They push people out ... again I'll share later. So, boneheaded as I am for passing up SM in the first place, I'm back on track to join you guys and gals in Temecula. Does anyone think I'm nuts for passing up National? More cost, harder to transfer if you so choose, instructors are cut-throat (was told SM is much better at holding our hands if need be ... we are after all new to this field), etc. Any words of advise? Feel free to be brutal. I hold no grudges, and quite frankly, I probably deserve it. ... And oh yes, when you see me, I'll be the one with egg on my face. See how this all comes around? :) Hope all are well. Thanks, Aaron

Hi, I have a degree in Political Science and am looking to go into nursing through an accelerated program. My grades weren't so hot early on and this has dragged my over-all GPA down ... my later grades (when I became more serious) were much better. So, here is my issue: I'm living in San Diego and have been told (thankfully) by Cal St. San Marcos that I will be accepted into their Accelerated BSN program, because my GPA within my last 60 earned credit hours is over a 3.0. (Their requirements, I believe, are to be over a 2.75 GPA within the past 60, but I meet that, so great). But, I'm wondering if anyone out there knows of any other programs around the country who offer the same sort of leniency, knowing that some students (like me) take longer to mature than others. It's been difficult to google for such programs, because how do I guess ... 60 hours, 50 hours, 72 hours, etc.? Anyway, does anyone know of any of these types of accelerated programs, or a site which may direct me to a whole list of them? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Aaron