Jessica710

CSUDH is going well. Personally, between working full time at night and taking 13 units this semester it's been a bit much, but I just want to be done! You do get your public health certificate which requires 3 different clinical courses (management, public health & home health). Honestly I think if I could do it over, I may have chosen a different path. University of Phoenix & Grand Canyon University (while a bit pricier) get you done in about 15-18 months with no clinical hours. For me the worst part has been working in groups online. I don't enjoy working in groups even in a class setting, so it's been particularly challenging doing it with people you never even formally meet. (You can definitely tell those who aren't working yet, and those who aren't taking as many units...) But that's purely personal preference, and I'm sure I'd have to deal with in any primarily online program. Overall, the content isn't difficult, but you definitely need to stay on top of due dates as it's easy for things to get away from you! Good luck!!

Hi Everyone! I'm going to be starting this program in the fall, and was just curious if anyone has any input, tips or pointers to give me? A little bit nervous about doing everything online... but with only working 3 days a week, it shouldn't be a huge problem. (Crossing fingers I stay on top of things!) I'm very motivated to get it done, and hope to do so within a couple of years! Thanks so much for any input you may have!

My best advice to you is get that CNA job, be a unit secretary, ANYTHING that gets you in the door. I just graduated from an ADN program in Dec 2010, and was one of the very few lucky ones to get a job as an RN right away... more than 75% of my classmates have yet to find RN positions. The big key is already working at a hospital... everyone in my new grad class was an internal candidate. They didn't even look at the external candidates! Good luck!

Hi guys! I'm planning on moving to the Austin area in about 1.5 years. (Decided to complete my BSN in CA before moving as your requirements are very different in TX!) I'm an RN(ADN) currently working on an ortho/med/surg floor, and I love it... but my heart is definitely in peds. There weren't really any current posts about Dell Children's, so I'm just curious if anyone works there, or have heard what it's like to work there? Salary? Any info would be greatly appreciated! I realize my dream job may not be what I land at first - so I've also been researching other Seton hospitals & St Davids so again any input on salary for about 2 years experience, or just anything in general would be amazing!

Just wanted to say best of luck to all of you!!!! :) I'm actually going to be at work tomorrow, but there will be some people there from CNSA to answer questions more on the student level! :) Like I told Meggie... if any of you need anything, just ask! I know how scary those first few months can be -- message me and I'll even give you my email! :)

They will let you know what to do at orientation. If they don't bring it up - then make sure you ask!

It's just what I heard - there were several different ANP's there who've been sitting on comittees shaping these new policies in CA. And it wasn't that they would be rescinding a license, it would be taking away certain privileges, and they used prescriptive authority as an example. But they almost made it seem like a lot of this is still up in the air - and changes like this won't be happening for CRNA's until 2025. Seems to be a lot of wiggle room within it all for now!

At the recent California Nursing Students Association conference there was lots of talk about about this. And like a lot of you have stated, it's merely a suggestion at this point, and in all reality won't be fully implented in 2015. Something else that was mentioned was the fact that they will also be urging current APN's to get DNP's - with such things as no prescriptive authority if you don't have your DNP. So even despite trying to crunch, you may ultimately be forced into getting a DNP anyway.

If you check out the transfer center page it has the different check sheets which list the courses you need to certify your GE. Those along with your nursing classes are probably all you need in general. Some programs, such as CSUF require Chemistry. (Each one is just a little different on what they require.) After researching a ton of different programs in So Cal, as well as some out of state - I decided on Cal State Dominguez Hills, the program is primarily online, just a physical assessment class & public health hours you must do in person. I want to work full time while doing it, so it seems doable! I also really liked the program Vanguard has set up, you focus on one class at a time in 4-6 week intervals, but I really can't justify paying $27,000 for their program when Cal States are only around $3,000 a semester, making it less than half the cost! Basically you'll just need to research things out and see what fits best for you!

You don't actually get anything back from the company if you pass. You get a pass/no pass certificate like thing emailed to you. I would guess if you had issues you would get to see... Darlene Fishman would help clear things up. She told us she actually calls hospitals to see if they would hire someone with such and such a problem on their record to see how to proceed! I did have a friend who had something funky show up that she thought had been taken care of in another state - but she was able to get things worked out and continued on with barely a bump in the road!

I believe the background checks take around a week to get back to you. (That's IF you have nothing on your record!) Unfortunately the background checks are only valid for the term in which you are applying. And will last if you go right through the program. I have heard of people needing to re-do background checks if they step out a semester. However, if you are an alternate they do give you a bit of slack when it comes to all the paper work you need to turn in. You don't go to clinical right away, you'll be solely in the classroom 4-5 days a week for the first 3 weeks, so I'm sure even if you ordered it first day of school you'd be ok. (But do it as soon as you know!) The main reason they do is because they do a much more extensive background check when you apply to take your boards - so if you can't pass the first round background check, you definitely wouldn't pass the one for boards & what would be the point of even doing the program if you can get your license! Also make sure you're on best behavior once you get into program - something like a DUI can ruin your professional career!

Just contact Darlene Fishman (nursing director) and she will let you know exactly how it works! She's great & very supportive, so don't worry about giving her a call!

Well I'll tell you now, the trick to this is that you *must* make time for it. The floor I work on normally has lunch relief, so they take over your patients & phone for 30 minutes. But other than that you just have to make sure you have excellent time management skills, prioritize what needs to be done, and you can get in a few breaks! I am always constantly reminding myself to drink water, I always try to drink a full glass or 2 before I get there in the morning, and whenever I'm close to the pantry grab some more! It's too bad that you can't have any drinks (or food) on the floor due to health department regulations. You'll figure out how to make it work! As a student you won't really have to worry about this as much as you basically always get your 15 minute morning break and 30 minutes for lunch! You're never on your own - and really aren't as critical to the care of the patient as the RN you are working with.

NCamp - if you really want to work at St Jude I highly highly suggest you try & get in as a CNA/PCT or a Unit Secretary. It's sooo hard to get in if you aren't an internal candidate, PLUS it will be awesome experience! Unfortunately St Jude has an itty bitty peds unit (who would go there when there's CHOC!), so I'm just concentrating more on getting experience until I'm through my BSN! And to the rest of you stressing about experience, don't! Cypress is amazing at stepping you up, you literally start at the bottom with the basics, hygiene, vitals, etc... and they gently pull you up! Honestly, it's probably easier going in with no knowledge of the field because you have no bad habits to break, or prior knowledge to try and rely on! I will warn you the first few months of school I was wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into, but if you can get through that 1st semester you'll start feeling more like a nurse during 2nd and REALLY like a nurse in 3rd! =D

Yep! I started in January of this year, I'm just 1 semester behind him!