Jillybean1988

Yes! If you have a D in your credentials whether it be an MD, PHD, PHARMD, DPT or DNAP, you put in the hours and deserve the title of DOCTOR! I think that the idea that some MD's have that "nurses can't hold the title of Doctor" is ridiculous! If a teacher earns a PHD you respect them with the title of Dr. So-and-so. Nurses are the same way. And let me tell you, when I finish my 1,000th hour of clinical? My KIDS are going to be calling me Doctor.

The problem I have is the fact that misinformation from the staff has caused WAY too many problems and the fact that they do change the program once you have applied and they dont bother to make sure anyone is informed, and then when you tell them hey, you guys messed up and screwed up my admissions, they tell you in no uncertain terms that you are "one of 500 students" and they just don't give a crap about your problem (and the fact that they caused it) because there's a hundred other kids that will take your spot if you don't like it. And to me, that isn't a system I really want to be a part of. Nursing school is intense and you rely on your instructors to help you through it. No one can get through a program without help from knowledgeable and reliable instructors. If the nursing director herself tells me I am "one in 500" and there's more where I came from, why in the name of jebus would I want to sign up for a program where they tell you right off the bat they don't give a damn? That to me, just seems crazy.

Yeah, I have heard terrible things. I agree that they protect their pass rate. Another thing I look at when I choose a school is their graduation rate. Because if 60% is all they have left of their class, then it shows that they aren't worried about your personal success. Losing more than 20% is extremely unreasonable for a diploma program like this. I am sorry that this happened. They also change their program rules every year. Which is very confusing for students who came into the program one way, and how they expect you to just know that they changed the rules. This is ridiculous.

Oh, I thought my reply answered your question! Ha. No, I have not considered STLCC. Only because I have all of my prereqs done, even the ones for my bachelors degree. I plan to get a Masters in the field. Going on a wait list for STLCC would set me back another year or more, whereas if I apply to a 4yr transfer I will be finished with a bachelors by 2012. If I were to apply at STLCC I would almost certainly not get in for 2010 and have to wait til 2011 to start and by then I could be half way through a BSN at an (more expensive no doubt) other school. So for me, that is not practical, considering I would be going on to a Bachelors program anyway. This is faster, and I hear the tutition reimbursements at hospitals are pretty decent. I want to get this done asap. I agree with you about the level of complication at SCCC. They should have a program like STLCC. Thats definately no hassle. I should have applied around after the first "mistake" they made but I figured there was no way I'd get in sooner at STLCC, so why pay the application fee and take their placement tests and what not for nothing. Obviously next time it will be a "better safe than sorry" story to remember.

SCCC is definately NOT a lottery! Lol. You get a number on the wait list and according to that number they assign you a dosage calculation sign up time. The higher on the list you are, the earlier your time to sign up, the earlier you take the dosage test, the more times you can take it if you dont pass (up to 3 times), and the better chance you get in that top 80. They take the first 120 to sign up and assign times according to who signed up first. Anyone after that 120 has to wait until the next year. Anyone who doesnt make the top 80, pass or fail, is on the top of the list next year. This is SCCC's system. They seem to have a habit of misinforming students on a regular basis, but the above info comes straight from the nursing director. I didn't get in last year just by dumb luck. I signed up late because like you, I was misinformed of the system and thought not matter when I took the test, if I passed, I was in. I found out after I missed sign up day that this wasnt the case, so I didn't bother to study for the test (why bother if I am just going to have to take it next year? They'll just change the book!) However, I found out that they started a "rule" in 2008 that if you applied, regardless of pass or fail on the dosage test, regardless of being on the wait list, you have to REAPPLY EVERY academic year. (So they know who is still interested and who is not?) I applied in 2007 and had no idea of any of this. They said I "should" have been informed by letter. Clearly, I wasn't. And of course they don't make any exceptions even if they make the mistake! So if I want to go to SCCC (which is ridiculous considering their sketchy policies and ethics) I have to wait until 2011 to MAYBE get in! I already did my bachelor prereqs while waiting the first "set-back" year. So I am probably just going to (grudgingly) cough up the extra 30k and go to a real school and get the bachelors degree in one shot instead of ASN at SCCC and BSN somewhere else. I think maybe this was just God's way of telling me SCCC wasn't for me! At least I got to the bottom of it, and maybe this forum can help someone else have more success in SCCC's program. I am not belittling their school. They have an excellent reputation. I think, however, that they should work on having more informed faculty so that they aren't passing out gross misinformation all the time. This can seriously affect peoples lives! This didn't derail my plans, because I planned on a BSN being my bottom line. But for someone who only wanted an ASN that would have to apply at other schools and be delayed two whole years because the faculty is incompetent? That would be outrageous.

Has anyone heard that in order to get into SCC's RN program you must reapply each year? I took my dosage test last year and failed it (not that I was high enough on the list that I would have gotten in) but I just read online that if you took the dosage test in the previous year and passed, you would be first in line to take it this year, and if not you would need to reapply by AUG 15th. Obviously I didn't know this until today, and there is NEVER a nursing advisor available to speak to, and if you go in there you'll wait three hours. So has anyone heard this? I would think if you failed it you would just take it again the following year. Reapplication seems ridiculous, and if reapplication is necessary, you'd think they would tell you that at some point.

I also am an extreme forthinker like you. :thnkg:I don't have a family at home, but I do think I can loan you some perspective. Especially in the money field. It will be very hard to support children and pay for a CRNA. I would suggest working a year or two longer than your req. 2 years. Pocket that money and save it for school. You will still need loans but the last thing your family needs during CRNA is to be worried about money. I also think miss nurse has a point. If you start working as an RN and 60-70hrs a week is too much to be away from the kids, then it might not be a good idea to do CRNA until the kids are older (read: school aged). My parents both were workaholics, and once I was in school it was much better for me. I went to school all day, came home to a babysitter then around 7 my parents were home and they made a point to give me at least 2 hours of attention before bed. The summers were tougher, but I dont regret their career choices. I wasn't "raised by the babysitter", which I think is a parents foremost concern. Plus, once your kids re in school, they will have regimented bedtimes that will allow you some quality time with your husband too. I think one last important thing to note here is that this is your dream. Just because you have children doesnt mean you should give up on the things you want. That doesn't make you selfish, it makes you human. Also, one of the side affects of the goal-satisfying CRNA profession is the money. You will double your salary. I know money doesnt buy happiness, but it sure makes life easier. You can afford to send your kids to college, live in a nice house, drive a reliable car. Financial security is a precious commodity and your family will be much better off in the long run. It will be 3 tough years, but when you feel selfish, just think about how much your being a CRNA will help your family! You will be a happy, fulfilled parent, you won't have to worry about whether you can really afford new sneakers for school, and once your a CRNA your hours will be lighter and you will have time for them!

The benefits of a front loaded program compared to an intergrated program basically boils down to a few things. A front loaded program gives you a year off from nursing rotation/clinicals. 1. This can be a good thing because you will have more time to study and be more able to focus on the classes. 2. It is a downside if you are a newer nurse, where a year off from CCRN is going to hurt you or set you behind you classmates/make you "rusty" etc. 3. If you choose an intergrated program, which (I may be incorrect but I think) are usually the shorter 26-28 mo programs you will have continuous experience which IMO helps you get into the feel of anesthesia and keeps you from having to "relearn" CC skills. But if you have been an ICU nurse for years, I am sure that wouldn't be a problem. 4. The intergrated programs for me, are the way to go. However as one crna pointed out, some places have off cite and multiple cite clinicals and that could really harm you if your traveling is cutting into your study time. On a different note, I chose my program because it is the shortest, one of the least expensive in my area, the living expenses here are very reasonable, and the clincals are all in two hospitals. I also liked that the class size is very small, they dont even fill all the slots some years and so you get prime one-on-one time with your CRNA clinical instructors. I have read that my school is a weed-out school instead of a support school, so I hope that isnt a pitfall down the road.

I know they were RN's. Lol. Although some go through straight to school with only the experience they need for grad school and some people are RN's for years before they go back to school. That is where I was going with that. I am fairly familiar with what a CRNA does, however I haven't had a whole lot of time in clinicals to stop and chat with one. So I figured I would ask my questions about paying for school, job satisfaction, and job market here! I signed up for a shadow program at the hospital near my home this summer. I hope to be accepted, but from the little I have seen in life and read on these forums, I think CRNA is for me. I think the most luring thing of me is the one-on-one with the patient. I like the idea of seeing the patient completely through, monitoring and intervening when necessary. I know for several fellow RN's, they love the fast paced action on the floor, and I do to, but I think the one-on one bedside manor suffers when you have 20+ patients a night. Not to mention I find anesthesia fascinating! In high school I wanted to go into pharmacology just to learn about the effects that medications have on the body. I think anesthesia is something I would enjoy learning about, and I think it is hard to go through school if you don't have a fundamental intrest in what you are doing. At least for me. Thanks for your answers!

I am lucky enough to already do those things! Haha. I was raised that way. Hard work, helping out and always being pleasant have gotten me pretty far already. I also was raised that theres always something you can do. If not helping out on the floor, then in finding a job as a new (even two years late) grad. I am pretty persistant, am willing to back up my all my applications with hard work, and will avoid taking no for an answer at all costs. With that being said, I hope that my future in nursing will be bright. We got a little off track with this post. But as I said, there is always something you can do. I know that some hospitals still offer internships for nusres to be. I know that you have graduated, but I am sure when you apply if you explain how you've found the job market slim, and you are willing to work your hiney off, they will appreciate and reward your hard work with a position. Not to mention internships are a great way to network. They don't pay, but you can waitress or work at target for the 6 or so months you do the internship. It might feel like backpedaling, but internships frequently equal jobs. It can't hurt to try. Good Luck!

I agree with WDW. You seem to be venting about your life instead of actually giving helpful advice to the poster. I am sorry you have had trouble with finding a position that suits you, but when you say things like "if you dont get into acute care quick you never will" you freak people out with things that are untrue. If you feel that way, I am sorry, but it does the poster no good for you to discourage her with misinformation. I think she will find something soon. She has to just put herself out there and hope for the best. I know you can do it, Expo!

Hello all, I am a nursing student about to graduate with my RN. I plan to do an accelerated RN-BSN option specifically for the purpose of having one year of ICU experience (and I have some CNA experience currently) so that I can pass on to CRNA school unpreturbed. However, I had some concerns, and you all seem to be very knowledgeable professionals, so here goes... First question. How the heck do you pay for it?! The only school available to me is 50k for the 75cr/hrs I need. I know I can get fin.aid, but with my salary... I know I wont have it in advance. I will however have my earnings from my one year in ICU as a jumping off point. Probably 30k-ish. How hard a time did you all have getting/paying off loans. Some people have advised me to take another year to save up the rest of the money, but for a host of reasons, including being advised against it by my instructors/advisors, I would prefer not to. Do you think I should wait a year anyway? How did YOU do it? How old are your collegues? I found that in my school I was way young compared to my classmates and often the underdog. i wasn't always taken very seriously because I was "a kid". I know it only gets harder as you go and you need your classmates to help you through it. Is this the case with grad school, or were you mostly on your own? Did anyone have a hard time making friends in CRNA school like I did for my RN? I don't want to feel or be treated like because I don't have kids and a mortgage I am not serious about my career. How open is the job market? I know new grads in my area (STL, MO) have very little trouble getting jobs. With specialization though, I would worry that I would get this degree and find out it is not in demand. I am willing to relocate pretty much anywhere but I dont want to uproot myself if I dont have to. How do you like your job? Are you treated well? Do you get hands on patient time or is it mostly bureacractic office nonsense you deal with. For those of you who were RN's first, do you miss it? What are the pros and cons of your profession? And last but certainly not least, is it worth it? Is all the school and frustration and hardwork worth the trouble. I know people who get PhD's and hate their job and thats not for me. I have only made it to my RN and I wont say that it was easy, but I know people say it is terrible. I didn't think so, and so I want to move on until I just can't do it anymore or I hit the roof and have nowhere to go. :wink2: And I want to hear from someone who does it everyday tell me that they love it (and why). I know why I went into nursing, and I know why I want to be a CRNA. What parts of the job are most gratifying/satisfying to you? Thank you in advance for your time and expertise!

This may seem like a crazy question, but does that mean if say I graduate in 2015, that I will need my DNAP down the road? A lot of programs and hospitals require ongoing education. Does this mean we will need to get it, or that we will be "grandfathered" in? Also, how often do you have to recertify? And when you do so, what does that entail? I may point out that there simply ISNT a school within 3 states of me (MO) that offers a DNAP. You can get your CRNA and then get a DSNP or DSNR, but I dont think I've ever even SEEN a school that offers a DNAP. Does anyone know of such a facility? I had a hard enough time finding a CRNA grad school that was widely accredited much less finding one that offers a doctorate in it.

Hi, I don't mean to thread snatch, but I am hoping to be a CRNA someday (probably 2 years) down the road. I am starting to look into how to pay for it. My school (the only one in MO) is about 40k before fees. I am probably looking at 45k after everything is said and done, judging by their fee list. I am wondering how you would suggest paying for such an endeavor, and what I should expect to make when I graduate. If I make what they say I'll make (100k+) I would think I would be able to pay off my school in the first year, no problem. I only make about 20k now, and I dont even live as frugally as I once had. Is thinking I can pay it off in a year naive? Or has someone else done what I hope to. I can't hope to save up enough money to pay for it outright, like some people do, so loans will be my only choice. I am only an RN now, I have another year for my BSN and then one year in acute/critical care to fulfill my req for CRNA school. Am I worrying prematurely? I have heard that taking these offers from hospitals is often a bad idea, one person going so far as to call it "indentured slavery". I know people who did similar things for their BSN and say that it worked out fine. I would appreciate any help.

i am a nursing student at sccc in my 3rd year (2yrs prereq, starting nursing) and i hope to get my bsn soon after my asn. i originally wanted to be a nurse after i was nearly fatally wounded (crushed, to be precise) in an atv accident when i was 15. i was helicoptered to childrens and recieved nothing but terrible nursing care. the doctors were rude, the nurses were rude, and they all treated me very poorly. i was 15, bleeding internally, had tubes running out of every part of my body, cracked ribs, my leg was completely smashed, my skull was cracked, and these women ranged from bored to snooty to down right nasty. i had three surgeries and discovered that i had reached my insurance cap. i was told i would never walk again. that most likely my poor crushed leg would be amputated and then the nurse asked me if i thought i'd need juice or "if i could live with water" to take my (7,000th) pill. i cried for a whole day. you're probably thinking i am insane for wanting to be a nurse. my parents were broke and the insurance was kaput. i still would need 2 surgeries and major therapy before i could walk, if i could ever walk. that was when my parents were contacted by a social worker and i was sent to shriners hospital for children. i had my two surgeries and all my physical therapy there. the first night i was there, one of the nurses came in, her name was debbie, and she asked me if i needed anything at all or if i wanted to talk. i broke down crying. i had never been hurt before in my life and all the other nurses had been so crass and mean to me. and here was this woman, just seeing if i needed someone to talk to. i decided when i left there that i needed to be a nurse to help people feel like debbie made me feel, like someone on the staff cared what happened to me and how i felt. that was just the start of the terrific nursing care i would recieve while i was there. not to mention the physical therapists! wonderful. the reason i posted this (longwinded i know) is to perhaps find debbie and i know thats a long shot. or even better, find out if anyone works for shriners and if it would possible for me to work there when i graduate. do they hire new grads? is employment competitive? i haven't heard anything about shriners on here, but i have to assume that someone must work there, or know something that could help me. i have another whole year to look into it, but everyone seems pretty knowledgable here, so i figured it couldn't hurt to try.

This is alarming to me! I am in school to be an RN. How do they get nurses if they do not hire graduates?! That doesn't make a lick of sense. I can't see how they could expect you to have any experience in acute care if you are a new grad. What part of Missouri are all of you in? I am in St. Charles County. I am starting my last year of nursing, (the home stretch) and I was wondering when I should start applying to places. I hope I have not doomed myself to be jobless! However, there are always jobs. Hang in there. Times are tough all around but theres always waiting tables or flipping burgers. I mean, money is money. Apply everywhere. Think on the bright side, if you are nearly homeless, it is easier to relocate. Apply in KC and in Illinois and in IOWA for heavens sake. You have to make money somehow. I know you can find something. I would also talk to your boss, and then to her boss. Explain you didn't understand the "re"application process. Even if you have to stay working as a tech till you can get an opening. Most employers don't just dump competant employees. Beg if you have to. If it puts food in your tummy and a roof over your head, who needs pride.

SCCC's class is for credit. At least if you attend SCCC. It is a 1 cr/hr class and it is $80 in district. The book is another $80 or so I think. It counts as credit for those of use who go there, but it may not transfer. If it doesn't I agree that you should probably ask them where to go, if none of these schools are acceptable.

I had this very same dilemma. I personally am in the same seat, I am on waiting lists for Barnes and accepted at SCCC. It will not take you 3 years to get your ASN. All the programs I have seen for ASN are 2 year programs including the one I am enrolled in at St. Charles community college. 1 year of prerequisties, and 1 year of nursing and clinicals. You may have to do a summer course or two, but there are online options of all the classes and they are very easy. That being said... If you choose to get your BSN after your ASN, I would advise you to do as I am (even if you are not decided on your BSN if you have the time, I would to the prereqs anyway) and get the other prerequistes done BEFORE you take your 1 year of actual nursing. That way, if you choose to go back for your BSN, you already have the prereq's done. They are essentially the same for every school, Barnes being the most "rigorous" in terms of "hard" classes. They have the requirement sheets outside any community college counselors office and on UMSL and Barnes websites. It is one more year of prereqs. If you are counting, that is 3 years, and you would graduate with an ASN. Then you can enter the RN to BSN option, complete 37 credits, and voila! You have your BSN in 4 years, possibly minus a few summers. The upside to this method? Lets do the math. STLCC and SCCC are (roughly and in district) $80 per credit hour. You need 67 prerequiste hours for a BSN.. $80x67 cr/hr = 5,360 plus, figure 2,200 in books (67 hours/ 3 hr course= approx 22 courses x $100 books per course) that comes out to $7,560. Thats without financial aid. For one more year (of nursing to complete your ASN) is another 41 credits, or $3,280 plus $1350 in books (9 courses x $150 per book) is $4,630 and a total of $12,190 for your community college degree PLUS your necessary prereqs for your BSN, totalling 108 cr/hrs. Plus your one year for your BSN at Barnes 37 hours x (an ASTONISHING) $500 per cr/hr is $18,500 plus the recommended $1,000 for books for BSN students per semester= 2,000 in books coming to a GRAND TOTAL OF... $32,690 (mind you this does not include any fees! This is just tuition!) Whereas for two years at Barnes, at $500 a credit hour :uhoh21:... You would pay the $80 for your 67 prereqs, and then you would take the other 66 nursing classes Your 67 prereqs at the CC level at $80 cr/hr = $5,360 plus $2,200 in books (see above for book factoring)= $7,560 Plus your 66 credit hours at Barnes in the "upper divison" courses x $500 cr/hr = $33,000 plus the recommended 1,000 per semester in books= $37,000 GRAND TOTAL OF...$44,560 (again this is without fees. Uniform, clinical, drug test, testing fees, parking, computer, etc) That means by getting your ASN at a community college and only doing a one year RN to BSN program you save yourself a whopping $11,870. I dont know about you, but thats about 3k short of what I make as a college student in a YEAR. So as far as financially sensible its community college ASN for the win. The other option is getting all your prereqs out of the way and then just taking your two years at Barnes. They call it the upper divison option. But this is full time, and I believe it is days. The nice thing about community colleges is that they have very flexible hours for all their regular courses. I know the RN completion program at Barnes has a nights and weekends option. But I think the upper divison 2yr BSN, as well as the community colleges' ASN require full time dedication. They told me that having a full time job would be "all but impossible". So as far as time sensible, I would think that either way takes you 4 years, maybe a summer or two longer on the community college side. As we saw before, the ASN route is about 12k less than straight BSN (at Barnes which is where I think you said you were going). I am also on the path to my Nurse Anesthetist liscense, which is a Masters-and-then-some program. I am doing the community ASN to Barnes because of the time and financial sensibility. One more thing, in closing... I would point out that both our masters programs require 2 YEARS of ICU/acute care experience. Which means you will have to work while doing your schooling if you want no gaps. I know the ASN route will allow you to definately have 1 year under your belt by the time you are finished and have your BSN, the 4yr BSN option WILL NOT! (as you obviously have to have an RN to work in an ICU) I may also point out that while many places will reimburse you for a percentage/portion of your tuition, some hospitals will pay 100% for you to go back for your BSN. That means you could be working in your 1 year in ICU while they pay for your (extremely expensive) BSN year at Barnes.

I've been doing some online practice tests and this all seems so easy it has me worried! Ive studied IV drop rate, reconstitution, tablet and fluid calculation, and metric conversion. This all seems sooo easy I wonder if I'm missing important information. My school offers a practice course but it is too late now for that. I know they have a book, (calculate with confidence) thats about an inch thick. I can't help but worry that I've missed comething, but cant really afford the 60 bucks. Any suggestions on things I haven't studied? Or am I over thinking what should just be simple math? Any good website suggestions for anything I have missed?

Thank goodness! I was so worried. I did make an appointment with a counselor though you know how hard it is to get in and see her! I knew the sign ups for D.C went in order of your place in line, but I didnt know if you lost your place if you had a later sign up date than someone whose number was after yours. If it is really the case that they sign up for D.C. because youre in if you pass, I will just about do a backflip!!! I will find out tomorrow at three and post the answer the counselor gives me! Wish me luck.

Unfortunately, I can't afford a BSN program. The only ones in our area are around 20 thousand for that extra year, which to me is unjustafiable. I also don't need/want a BSN. I applied today to other CC programs, but again, my question was, does anyone know about how long acceptance takes at scc? And does dosage calculation test time overrule your application date? So if someone who applied later and is taking the dosage calc earlier than I am, are they going to be accepted before me?

I applied in the summer of 08. I am really hoping to be accepted for fall of 09. I was wondering how long all of you waited. I dont have anything to do, and after this semester Im done with all my prereqs! I also signed up late for my dos calc because I lost my letter. Does anyone know if it goes by who has all their requirements first, or will I still have the spot from when I applied? Id hate to lose my spot because I signed up for the dos calc a week late! Ive worked really hard so far, and I am convinced that I CAN DO THIS. So it kills me that I may not get in or have to wait a long time!

I hear that starting pay for new grads in missouri is around 18.25 (with varying differentials and sign on bonuses) without experience. I know if you tech before you graduate they toss another quarter your way, but is there any way to negotiate for a higher salary? Is trying to get a little more an hour a bad idea? I know for any other job, salary is always negotiable and its almost unwise not to try to haggle it. What should I do when taking on interviews? If not try to negotiate, what would asking for pay matching do? If an another hospital offers .50 more, should I ask for the same pay at another hospital? Also does anyone know any hospitals that are known for treating their employees well? I've worked for a while in a place where everyone just talks about one another. I have always been uncomfortable being mean to others, and I am often excluded because I cant stand the negetivity every group has for another. Any one have any ideas for specialties of hospitals that arent so clique oriented or catty?

As a nursing student who did a whole lot of studying before deciding on which degree to pursue, I must first say that I am proud of you, and can't wait to be where you are now! I agree that while many people understand that whether you have a A or a B in front of your SN doesn't matter at all, there are BSN snobs, as well as ASN's who have chips on their shoulders because they are worried about being looked down on. In truth, the only thing a BSN will get you is the ability to be a charge and move on quicker to a masters. If you go for a BSN you only take one more year of school than a ASN, who graduates from a 3 year program and some of those classes are prereqs. BSN's learn to do more paperwork, theory and thats about it. In respect, that ASN RN has one year of practical experience that a BSN grad doesn't. They'll already be making more money by the time their fellow highschool graduates start! That can make many BSN grads unhappy to hear. Some states do offer differentials for having your BSN, but only a few and its chump change for what you paid for that extra year. I think many nursing students head off thinking that their BSN will earn them more pay or a higher status than ASN/LPN nurses. I have found that in many of my classes people look at me with disbelief when I say the pay rates are the same. I think some of the jealousy/superiority issues are simply aggravation that they didnt realize that in the end, we'll all be nurses and only your hard work will help advance your pay! I'm marrying into a family of so called "BSN snobs". It was even suggested that a cousin was more fit to help care for a sick relative because she was in for a BSN and I was only an ASN! Forget that I have three years of experience in a hospice setting! I know I will probably be looked down on because I shaved a year off my time in my family forever. We are all nurses. Some will post that BSN's should be required, but if you can do the NCLEX with one less year of school, then you should if thats what you want. The issue of respect for nurses comes down to simply being united instead of bickering over a year of school. People respect unity and effiency, not catty behavior and superiority/inferiority complexes. People look down on nurses because we don't show enough respect for one another.

Any new job is going to be hard on you, especially when peoples' well being depends on you. I would talk to your DON. Tell them you appreciate the other nurses confidence in you, but that you feel that you need more time to orientate yourself. I doubt they'll think less of you and may even appreciate that you want to do the best you can for them and your patients!