akijitsu

Revolution, Let me mirror your (unspoken) frustration that our economy/scoiety does not allow one to move easily from one field to the other. I had an excellent job in the allied health field that was high in skill and most people would consider it "above" nursing (I wouldn't say that, but it did pay a lot more). Anyways, I worked during the day and got my ADN at night. I'm now working full time as an RN and part time in my old job. This part can be done. Here is your problem. When you come out of school, you will not really have the skills to work alone in a high acuity setting (Such as the ccrn type situations you would need to enter a CRNA progam). You will need at least a year of full time RN work just to be semi-autonomous (this is coming from someone with a LOT of high level experience). I don't think you could get someone to hire you part time as a new graduate into a critical care setting.

Do the instructions say to do it like that? (put in your essay on the analytical?). I'm sure it does not matter one way or the other, but I think this is actually a VERY old data entry for the GRE. There is a column to enter your % for that third category (analytical). This harkens back to 2001 and earlier when there were three scored sections and you could get a max score of 2400 (now its 1600). On each section you were scored 0-800 and got a percentile rank for each one. I know because at first I entered my old score, then tried to add my new one and it wouldn't let me. I had to delete the old one and replace it with the new one. I think we hear about interviews after the deadline...does anyone know if this is correct?

I am about to complete my application to Baylor. Did anyone notice the online Baylor app seems to be quite "old" The GRE portion asks you for a three part GRE score (GRE's haven't been scored on 3 parts since about 2001), and there is no room to put your written score (or whatever they call the essay). I can't recall what else seemed outdated but there were a few things... to those who applied to other schools, are all the online app's as lengthly as Baylors?

I would do as the earlier poster suggested, but, as soon as you are enrolled in nursing classes (anything that starts with your schools nursingprefix), even if it's just a required prereq, like nursing as a career, or pharmacology, I would look for a job as a student nurse. if you can afford to take the time to work while in school, student nurse would be great. you get practical experience, you are free to ask lots of questions, and if you are at a place that you like, more likely than not, they will hire you when you graduate.

Lilly, I couldn't agree more that an NCLEX first time pass rate of 60% is too low. In fact, I know someone who went from HCC to the school you speak of, and he said he didn't even have to crack a book to get a B. Meanwhile, he was doing all he could at HCC and wasn't even passing! From the statistics you mention, your school sounds like a good one. They don't loose very many people start to finish, AND they have an excellent first time pass rate! I'm sure you know what I mean when I say it that a school that accepts 100 qualified students (as an example), fails 90 of them, graduates ten, and then has a 90% first time nclex pass rate, is a really poor school! While not exact, there are lots of schools with the numbers similar to the ones mentioned above!

Lilly, Definetly be aware of the graduation rate, the nclex pass rate does not really tell you much. The BON standards are the same for all schools in Texas to retain accrediation, and that is an 80% first time pass rate for the NCLEX. This, unfourtunately, is the ONLY method the BON uses to evaulate schools and it is totally inadequate when used by itself. HCC, for the past 5 years, has been very close to 95% NCLEX first time pass, and they are graduating about 50% of their students. Some other schoools are graduating only 15% of their students and have about the same pass rate on the NCLEX, which to me indicates they are doing a poor job educating their students.

Midori, I am going to try and make the meeting. mike

Howdy all, Since my other forum didn't work, we can all meet up here to discuss our status. We are especially looking for info on how many didn't pass after the new test requirements were changed. Also, info you have on the next test day, etc, are welcomed. Get this thread going.

I'm graduating in a few days from a school here in Houston. I think the main reason they want HESI is to make sure you will pass NCLEX and they won't have wasted time on you. They may also use it as a scoring tool. If you are coming from out of state, you may want to take and pass the NCLEX, then apply for jobs.

Txgrl, I tried to pm you but your inbox is full.

The evening group, who has mostly full time workers, graduates about 1/3 of the group the first time through (if you fail a class, stay with it and repeat as needed! almost everyone who fails makes it through as long as they don't drop out). if you have a job that is inflexible, you will have a hard time, as many test and clinical sites start at 2pm. (yes that is the evening group). there are only limited weekend slots available. this semster, there were NO pediatric clinicals available in the evening, so you just had to do a day clinical. I'm sure it was hard for a lot of people who were working. many people leave their jobs and get jobs as student nurses at hospitals where they would like to get GN/RN jobs when they are done.

If you are thinking about applying until after you are done with pharm, you can go ahead and apply and they may take you for the fall after you pass pharm (if they have spots, they soemtimes still have openings at the end of the summer). go in to the office and talk to someone about the next hesi. there is a meeting you have to go to before they will talk to you, have you gone?

Yes, I'm sure you can get a job with no experience. Be sure to tell them you are either a nursing student or a pre-nursing student (depending on where you are at the time). If one or two places say no, keep looking. There are lots of openings, just convince them that you are good and you will stay there at least 2-3 years and then you hope to work there as an RN. mike

I was just wondering what everyone felt of their own study habits. What are they and do you think they help or hurt you? Unless I get up early to study, I can only go in spurts of 30-45 minutes, then I have to get up and do something else for 15-30 minutes (Water the plants, feed the dogs, etc). I'm not sure if this would be a detriment if I was in a harder program. In my classes now, a B is not too hard, but an A if awfully difficult. It takes about 5 hours of study time to get a B on each test. To get an A, I need to do about 20-25 hours per test AND get lucky (in that the test questions are well written, that they actually test over what was on the syllabus, etc). I've heard people say they study 8am-5pm straight in anesthesia school... who here studies that way?

another thing...if you think you are going to get in, go ahead and start the hep b series, they let you know you need to have it finished by a certain date, but they tell you too late since it takes 6 months or something like that.

oh, one more thing. if you don't pass the math test in pharm, don't worry, you will get another chance near finals. MOST people who meet the requirements get in, even if they submit AFTER the deadline. if you have all the requirements, i would submit all the way until about two weeks before class starts (though your chances go down the longer you wait), also tell them you can start any time if someone gets dropped due to a drug test or a background check.

I am getting ready to graduate from HCC (providing I can pass the HESI exit, but I expect to). Here is some info... 1. the A&P is tough on the HESI entrance. If you don't pass it, try to remember the things you didn't know, and then try to look them up in a NURSING textbook. They are all nursing based questions, and so a regular A&P book won't have them. The English section is difficult if English is not your first language. 2. I didn't take Pharm from HCC (tested out), but if you take it from somewhere else, it is difficult because you have to take their math exam, which is very specific. They purposely set some conversions up to a certain number, and then test on those, so that most people wouldn't get the right answer. Very hard to pass if you don't take the class from them. They also test on some obscure abbreviations, ask for the list from the secretary. This class used to be horribly difficult online (like a 5% pass rate) but I don't know what it is like now. All nursing classes at HCC are team taught, including pharm, so it doesn't matter who you "take it from" Now that Ms. Rich is teaching/director, I'm not sure how hard it is. Mr. Kline used to be director and teach part of this class and he was very hard. 3. the person who is secretary during the day is new, don't know her. mary clark is the evening secretary. she is nice but is very busy. stay up to date on things and be ready at a moments notice. you may only get 24 hrs notice to take the math test, when the next hesi entrance is, etc. also follow up on registering on time, etc. HCC doesn't have a system set up to efficiently contact everyone, so it is easy to get lost. 4. Ms. Rich is very rude to everyone, even faculty. Not sure why, but it is a power trip. Be firm with her and do not be intimidated, and she will quickly soften up. She only has about 3-4 minutes of meanness saved up, so get through that and you will be ok. She never becomes nice, but you have to bear the brunt of the attack. Not sure how long she will be there, maybe a while, so get tough. 5. i don't know what has happened in the past, but HCC is currently in good standing with everyone as far as accredidation goes (sp?). overall, you get out of it what you put into it. some of my classmates will graduate and i don't know if they are really competent, but... 6. i say, beware of HBU! i have had some family members there, and i am very leery of their program. many years they only graduate 10% of their students, or less!

To all who are interested, Just got an email back from the program director. You must have the BSN, no other degrees matter.

Does anyone KNOW someone who went to UT Houston with an ADN and a BS, and did not have a BSN? Their web page states a BSN requirement for all MSN programs, but I have read other posts that state "all anesthesia programs in Texas accept ADN's with BS's in other fields" It is true TWU, TCU, and Baylor accept this, not sure on UT Houston, I have an email in to the program. Any help appreciated. Thanks,

I live in Houston and love it. Summers are hot but AC is good. Can anyone tell me if Baylor offers their students health insurance? I'm sure you have to pay but just wondering if it's offered.

This was a question I had as well. I'm hoping to attend a 30 month program. Tuition will be around 50K, and i think living will cost me around 2.5k per month for my family. I'll have some cash saved up, but has anyone looked at financing OTHER than student loans? What about tapping IRA's, 401(k)'s, and home equity?

Actually, that last one is the easiest! AA school! Though not popular here!

Though this discussion may be interesting to those wanting to get into school, it really isn't applicable to them because they are not there yet, and thus couldn't answer the question(s)? The question basically being...do you think your school is fair? Do you think the grading is objective or subjective? While I have also read thread after thread of "which school(s) should I apply to" and "Is my GPA high enough" I'm not sure I have read the same threads you have on "how to get around the minimum academic requirements"

Hah, Great replies all! Well let me say that, though perhaps not totally homogeneous, I still hold the opinion that those who matriculate are faily homogeneous, meaning that, by the supposed predictors, they are going to do well in a CRNA program. These predictors include prior GPA, GRE score, and experience. My suspicion is that many/most schools would have very similar data regarding their first year student's application data. The previous statement about pass rates on the boards IS a valid question, however, in my mind I wonder..."If you have a 33% wash out rate, what percentage of those whom were unable to complete your program could have finished someone else's program, and then passed the boards?" My guess is that well over 75% of those who fail one program could graduate in another and pass the boards. If you have a 45% wash out rate, and a 99% board passing rate, and another school has a 5% wash out rate and a 99% board passing rate, what does that say about you/your programs ability to select those who will succeed? This raises another question...how subjective/objective is your grading/evaluation? The real end point is trying to fish out schools that have systemic problems with them. Having gone through a lot of education, and frequently speaking with those who have, as well as those in education, I, like others posted above, feel confident in my ability to succeed in a program, provided it is fair. I wonder if schools with high wash out rates are fair. Are their evaluation methods totally subjective? Can you wash out if you get onto someones "bad side"?

I'm glad that both of you have done research and have knowledge in that area. Although I am not yet a SRNA, I think a wash out rate of over 25% would be extreme, and 15% would be pushing it. I have looked into two schools, one has a washout rate of 0-10% on any given year. Another has a wash out rate of 33%. The one with the higher wash out rate actually appears to pride themselves on it. I am of the opinion that, generally, those who are accepted (matriculate) to CRNA school are almost homogeneous, thus, as I stated earlier, that (a high wash out rate) indicates a problem with the program, not the student(s). If you were intereviewing/looking at schools, what wash out rate number would alarm you?