Ozzybear

I start the RN to MSN Leadership and Management program January 1st. I have joined a few WGU Facebook groups and there is a lot of good info and tips.

I drive 60 miles each way but the amount of time depends on the traffic. With absolutely no traffic and driving a little faster than the speed limit I could make the commute in about 1hr and 5 min. Usually my commute is around 90 minutes each way. Sometimes less and sometimes more. Fortunately I absolutely love my job otherwise I would never commute that far. I live in the suburbs and work in a specialty that is only in the big city. I am sure I could eventually get a job closer to home but I know I would hate it. I had a job that I absolutely hated before nursing and the 45 min commute was completely horrible. I work 12 hr shifts so I only have to commute 3 days a week. 3 in a row is hard and try not to do that if possible. Ideally I would like to live closer to my job but the housing market is not going to allow me to sell my house anytime soon.

Yes and also infection risk.

I work on a peds hem/onc floor and we get little ones that won't or can't take PO tylenol so we give the IV form sometimes. We do not give anything rectal to onc pts so it is a great option sometimes.

Narcan in low doses via IV drip along with a PCA will not diminish the opioid effects of the drug but the side effects such as pruritis and N/V

I should have probably clarified that I am not on a postpartum unit.

The patients on my unit that have PCAs also usually have a narcan drip ordered to help with itching. Benadryl doesn't always relieve the itching and you have to wait several hours between doses. Some patients do still like their benadryl. The slower you run it the less of that "high" they feel but yeah that is why a lot of patients want it.

Internal candidates--SNAs (student nurse assistants) get a letter/email informing them when the new grad positions will be posted on the website. I believe it was 3 days before the public could view the positions if I remember correctly. CMH will not hire new grads unless you have CNA/SNA experience. It asks you that online and I believe it will not let you continue if you say that you have no experience. They usually start the hiring process for SNAs in the spring time and hire in June. CNA positions are posted as the floors need to hire. You have to check the site often because the jobs go up and come down very fast. They pull them as soon as they get enough applications or whatever they consider enough.

It is an RN job with pay. It is a new grad program that has classes/training for 1 year.

Thanks! I have my Bachelor's in another field so eventually I will do a program that is RN to MSN. I want to get through my first year & then see what I want to do. There is no way I could do school right now as a new grad.

I graduated in May. Best of luck to you!

When I was trying to get in I found out on Christmas Eve that I did not get in for the Spring Semester. I reapplied & got in for the fall which I found out in May. Most people don't get in on the first application from what I know. They have to wait for grades to be posted I think?? Don't worry about registering. There is only enough room for the amount of people they allow in at a time. Good luck!

I also took the WCC teacher for APII. I wish I had known about her for API. You have to try REALLY hard to not do well in one of her classes.

Waubonsee Community College has it available online. I would guess it would cost more if you are not a local resident. Great teacher too.

I was thinking the same thing! Yikes!

The start date is August 9th for new employees. Internals start the 10th. The start date for October will be on the 11th for new hires and 12th for internals. As far as the rotation you work 6 weeks days then 6 weeks nights and so on. I can only speak for my unit but we are completely hired for August & October. I don't think they will hire any more unless someone backs out or someone quits. I know they have been looking for experienced RNs for a awhile. Hope this helps.

2 of us were hired for August & the other 2 start in October.

I am not sure about all of the units, but my unit has already interviewed and made offers. I work there as a SNA and was offered a position for the fall. My unit hired 3 internal candidates and 1 external candidate. I feel very fortunate to have been hired because I know how hard it is to find new grad jobs now. I would try calling HR again. They are REALLY slow. Best of luck to you!

Jay is great. I had her for AP2 & loved her. She really wants you to succeed & really prepares you for the nursing program. I am in my last semester of the nursing program & looking forward to being done in May. Pretty much everyone I know in the program had to apply twice before getting in, so keep that in mind when applying. The semester I was waiting to get into the program I took the CNA class with Judy Reardanz. Excellent class & teacher. It really prepared me for the nursing clinicals. Good luck!

There is so much reading & a lot of info to absorb in such a small time. It can be very overwhelming, but definitely not impossible. It can be very stressful, but you need to make time for yourself too. I am so lucky because I met some of the best friends in nursing school. I know I will be friends with these people forever. They are my support & I would not have survived without them. There is a lot of "critical thinking" involved in nursing. I recommend reading books or checking out online tips for test taking. Nursing tests are not all about memorizing or knowing info. You have to apply your knowledge & think critically to answer the questions. Some questions have more than one answer, you have to choose the BEST one. There are some really great instructors...some are just ok, but I never had any problems with anyone of them. You will hear SO many rumors about this instructor or that class, etc. Don't believe everything you hear. I have found most the time the stories are greatly exaggerated! You will also have work to do for clinical. The first clinical is not too bad, but after that you have to research & know ALL for your patient. There is also a lot of paperwork involved with clinical research. It can be overwhelming at first, but I think they do a better job preparing you than when I first started. Also I think they are letting the 105 (first class) have a hospital day during their clinical. I would have loved to do this. Going from the nursing home in the first class to the hospital in the second class was a huge shock to most of us who did not have any medical experience. Well I hope I answered your questions. Don't worry about asking too many questions. I know what it is like not to know anything about the program. Good luck!

Hi! I am in my last semester at WCC. You will have lecture 2 days a week & clinical 2 days a week. Each class is a little different on the days of lecture & clinical. Every class will have morning clinical, but once you get into it a little bit there will also be evening clinical, which I love. Nursing classes are a lot different than any other classes. They usually tell you if you are an A student don't plan on getting A's in nursing. It's not impossible as many students can do it, but it will take a lot of hard work. I got A's in my prereqs, but have only gotten two A's in nursing. I am happy to have achieved B's in the rest. There is A LOT of reading especially the first week of every class. Time mgmt skills are a must. I have worked the whole time I have been in the program so it is possible. I am able to make my own work schedule so that makes it easier. I know some people who work full time & do very well while some don't work at all & still struggle. You have to find the right balance for you. If you can get by without working it is probably better for you. I have always had to work while attending school so I am used to constantly being busy. Nursing school will pretty much be your life for the next two years. It is hard work, but it will be worth it in the end. I can hardly believe I will finally be done in May. Hope this answers some of your questions. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.

The instructor only has access to them so there is no way to download them.

It won't let me PM you. Thanks for the offer.

Does anyone have the powerpoint slides that go along with Olds' Maternal-Newborn Nursing & Women's Health Across the Lifespan (8th Edition)? Our instructor won't let us download them like we normally are allowed to do. She wants people to come to class to get the info. I always come to class, but it is so much easier to take notes when I already have the slides in front of me. If anyone could help me out I would greatly appreciate it. :loveya: Thanks!

B & N is not worth it unless you spend A LOT of money on books. I had the membership a few years ago, but I did not renew it when it expired. I have been a member at Borders for a couple of years now for FREE. There is always at least one coupon per week and I earn $5.00 Border Bucks all the time. Me and my husband love to read and spend quite a bit on books. I like Borders better for the selection as well.