GretchRB

As an L&D RN I get this a lot! My favorite things people say always start with "well when I had my baby..." Which was 25 yrs ago. Or "I read on the Internet that she will get potassium to induce her labor"...oh lord it's gonna be a long night. When family members try to start telling me how to do my job I normally just start busting out the pathophysiology of fetal oxygenation, or utero/placental blood flow and it shuts them up. I am thankful to those high risk pts whose SO know a lot about their medical condition and are able to help out with their care...we would prefer not to deal with their trachs :)

NRP covers delee suctioning, it's scary at first not knowing when to stop, but your preceptor should be able to coach you through it. NRP will also cover newborn O2 sats, it's normal not to be sating 100% for a newborn. Things to call the NICU team about are signs of respiratory distress; grunting, flaring, retracting, central cyanosis. Again NRP will cover that too. Don't stress, it gets easier as you go along to know What is going on with your baby, follow your gut. :) good luck!

The precision course guarentee/option sheet is something you will sign before they submit your packet. Your recruiter should provide you with the details. It does say that you owe them a year after the course is complete, it does not add a year to your contract. You will be able to discuss details of your contract once you are selected. By the way, I'm also going into OB/GYN, and got the precision course :)

Hi everyone! I finally was able to make it to MEPS for my physical; which I passed! (I was worried about height/weight as its always been an issue with the Army) Now I'm just waiting on the board like everyone else. I was able to get the precision course guarantee for OB/GYN RN, so I'll be heading to Tripler (Hawii) for 4 months after BOLC. :) I can't wait to hear from the board!

*heart racing*, after first 2 ctx w/ lates do all the IURM listed as before, after not fixing them...OR time. She shoulda been cut @ 1030 if she wasn't complete and +4 and pushing. No way should it have gone on for that long...wonder what the cord gasses were. I hope the RN documented, she might be seeing the inside of a court room.

I was a PP RN out of nursing school for about a year too, loved the teaching part of the job but wanted more of a challenge. I took EFM classes, my ACLS, and any OB class I could get into so that my unit knew I was serious. I love doing L&D now. Its crazier, no doubt, and sometimes a little scary, but we really work as a team on my unit since we have so many high risk pts, which of course makes it easier. Every now and then I'll take a PP assignment to play with the babies, and to keep up my skills in breast feeding and pt teaching, but over all I'm glad I made the switch. You'll train for about (hopefully) 6-8 weeks in L&D, the first two you will wonder WTH was I thinking, maybe I'm not cut out for this...but I soon realized that all I had to do was trust my gut, my training, and time manage differently than I had before on PP and I soon figured it out. Were their days that I drove home in tears after a crazy STAT C/S? Absolutely...but I think everyone does that at some point...shoot I still have dreams/night mares about work, and replay a situation over in my head. So I guess the only thing you really need to decide is if you are ready to learn something new, and where you will see yourself in your RN career. Good luck! Let me know if you want any more info about switching. :)

Hi everyone! I'm also sending in my packet for the Oct/Nov board. I'm just waiting of my mgr's to return my evals. I'm shooting for OB/GYN nursing...I've been an L&D RN for approx 18 mo in a high risk OB unit. I'm prior service (5 yrs AD/Medic), and I'm looking forward to going back in! It took me a while to convince my hubby that it was the best move for us, and the fact that I missed the Army. :) My biggest hurdle right now is losing the weight...didn't realize how much I had packed on since I got out in 07. Do you know if we have to pass the height/weight prior to getting our orders cut for BOLC or just when we are graduating? Any ways...thought I would say hi! I hope to meet all of you sometime this winter!

Hi everyone! I'm getting ready to submit my packet for 66G (OB/GYN). I've been looking for other Army RN's in the OB field, but have not been able to find any info in either thread. A little background: I've been in OB for 18mo, will be submitting my packet in Oct. I am prior service: 5 yrs AD enlisted (medic). I'm looking for Army L&D RNs so that I can pick your brains about the process, your units, and experiences there vs civilian. I know that I will be going in, but I like to know as much as I possibly can before I relocate/change career paths. Questions: Whats the pt ratio? I do 2:1 right now. Do you work 3 12's, 4 10's, or "needs of the unit"? Do you pull >40 hrs/wk? Are you pretty autonomous? Do you handle the acute pts or send them to a diff facility? (I'm in a high acuity setting) Do you do LDRPs? Well thats all I have for right now. Even if you're not an L&D RN, maybe you might know someone who is?? :) Thanks everyone!

I spent 5 years active duty as an Army Medic/healthcare specialist...and now I'm a civilian RN...hope I can shed some light. :) First: How was life like enlisted in the military? Its like any other job, you start out on the bottom and work your way up. You earn respect as you prove yourself, and gain rank. Its grueling sometimes, but its prob the easiest job in the world. They tell you where to be, when to be there, what to wear, and what to do when you get there (for the most part). Don't get me wrong, its challenging and sometimes very hard, but you have NO bills, except for your fun stuff, free medical care, 3 hots and a cot. I loved it, and miss it every day. I learned honor, discipliline, and what it means to respect yourself and others...its hard working in the civilian world after experiencing Army life. Second: After enlisting in the medical field in the military, did your experience help towards you becoming a nurse and being a nurse? It helped a lot! I had a 3.5 GPA going into one of the toughest programs (according to nat'l stats) for BSN that is in TX, and they took me b/c of my experience...people see military people as reliable, disciplined, and hard working. The actual experiences helped me with the clinical aspect the most, and critical thinking. It helps me day to day b/c I interacted with so many different cultures while in that its no big deal now if I run into patients that most RNs don't understand b/c of their culture. Third: I was a below average student in college just made it by to pass. However, will my college degree have any effect on how long I can complete a nursing degree? I would start off small, with a couple classes a semester...which the military will pay for 100% while you're in (not the GI Bill...thats after discharge). My first college experience right out of highschool I had a 2.5...not the greatest...so I started over with ALL my classes and ended up with a 3.5...so you never know, things change as you get older and can visualize your goals. I hope this helps!!

thanks everyone! And yeah, I would never go to the mall recruiters for this...def AMEDD...not that green. :) Good luck all!

Hey everyone! I've enjoyed getting info from this thread. I am currently a Post Partum/L&D RN. I spent 5 yrs AD as a medic before getting out and going to school (BSN). I miss the Army...I know its crazy. :) So question: I've been out since Dec 07...do I have to do the entire OBC or can I only do the "new" stuff? I also heard that I might have to repeat basic, but I think thats for AD. Also...do you think it will be a problem that I'm not in the ER/ICU/CCU? Are there any prior service people reading this that want to help me out? Thanks!

Thank you so much everyone for your help!!

Hello everyone! I graduate Dec 16th from UTHSC-SON (BSN). I have a few questions...1)When do I start looking for a job? 2) How soon after graduating do you sit for the NCLEX? 3) How long after graduating how long until you started working? I have already sent in my application to take the test, and I get my fingerprints done tomorrow. I'm really hoping to get a better understanding of what the next 6 months are going to be like. My husband and I are both in school so I need to have a job ASAP so we can eat. :)

Of course you can wear regular clothes...shoot some of us even wear pjs. Its cold in there so I always have a hoodie with me, and I have a blanket in my locker...yes it gets that cold! Scrubs you can find at most uniform stores. Mine are Landau, but I hear the Grey's anatomy scrubs are super comfy but they are expensive. I go to the discount scrub store right by Major's books on Fannin and they have great prices on stuff, especially steths...I got my litmin there for like $60. When you buy one, make sure it has a bell on it! You will need it for listening to heart sounds, and also in Peds. So don't just buy a diaphram one, cause then you will have to buy another one for peds. I suggest getting your lab coat somewhere other than the school bookstore...they are normally out of the size you will need. Just remember that your lab coat needs to be within the stadards of nursing...no long ones, those are for Dr./PhDs (yes there is a hierarchy of lab coats). We get to wear the hip length. Shoes is whatever is comfy. They need to be mostly white, and leather. I wear New Balance, other people wear Dr. Schols..its all on how your feet are. You're feet aren't going to hurt too bad after an 8hr day. Key: get decent shoes, you're feet will thank you later in life. :) Also they don't have to be cute, you won't wear them anywhere else cause they have lots of germs on them, i.e. urine, MRSA, fecal matter...stuff like that.

So sorry! I should have clarified...I hope I didn't freak you out! The 20 people are retaking the classes this semester. They have to move down to part time, and graduate a semester later. You have to fail 2 classes to get removed from the program. The two years is Fall, spring, summer, fall. About 2 weeks off between semesters except for Christmas is 3.5 weeks. All your classes are the same as everyone else in your class. There are only like 110 of you and you will all be in the same room. You still register for classes, but they are not like where you can pick times and days or profs. Its all the same time and same day as the other students in your class. Example: Here is my scedule for the first semester (via UTLINK) For health assessment the class was from 0800-1000, the other times are the lab times and you will be assigned to as well and will find out which one you are in during the first week or so of school. The entire class is on the same schedule. Care clinicals were on Tues, Fri, or Sat. All classes are held in RM 120 (the auditorium on the 1st floor) I hope this helps clarify! 100HEALTH ASSESSMENT3.00M - 3:00P- 5:00P M -10:00A-12:00P M - 8:00A-10:00A M - 1:00P- 3:00PSON 120 NURS 3515 100ADULT HEALTH CARE I 6.00 W - 9:00A-12:00P NURS 3517 100PATHOPHYSIOLOGY3.00 R - 1:00P- 4:00P NURS 3540 100PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS3.00 R - 9:00A-12:00PSON 120 Here is my schedule for this semster..Psych clinicals are on T or TH, Care II clinical are on Tues, Friday Day, Friday Night, or Saturday. NURS 3521 100 GERONTOLOGIC NURSING2.00 W - 1:00P- 5:00 NURS 3523 100ADULT HLTH CARE II & GERO7.00 W - 8:00A-12:00P NURS 3526 100PSYCH/MENTAL HEALTH CARE6.00 M - 1:00P- 4:00P NURS 4512 100RESRCH CRITIQUE & UTILIZA2.00 M - 10:00A-12:00P

Yeah A's are possible, but no offense Kimmy, but we never had open note/book tests either, neither did we ever get a curve on a test. Ya'll are the first. We lost 20 people last semester to Care and Pharm, only 10 people made A's in care, and some of those were repeats. I don't think they are just trying to let you know that if you make a C all is good. They are letting you know that if you're normally an A student you will get ****** when you don't get one...so they are trying to prepare you for a different type of school. I know lots of people our first semester that had emotional breakdowns at least once during the semester over that 75%...myself included. So its not easy, and staying on top of the reading is not easy, especially if you have a family/husband/wife/kids/want to have a night off to relax. Math book you can hold up on buying..and I still havn't used my nutrition book. I look at the study guides though...well the one for Med surg cause thats a lot of the NCLEX style questions and thats how the tests are worded in Care I,II, and Health Assessment. I say the Patho (porth), med surg books, pharm, and Fundamentals of nursing book are key, maybe the Bates books too (at least the little one). Plus for clinical you will need your drug book, nurses pocket guide, and manual for lab diagnositic. Mosby's dictionary is awesome too. The pharm study guide is a waste of money though since he doesn't teach that way. Kimmy is right though, use 1/2 price books online and save big! For clinical equipment...I would shy away from the school package (you will see it in your packet), the stethoscope sucks and the scrubs don't hold up, and are itchy. I hear the shoes are comfy though.

oops it is for spring...but hey that can help you out too!!!

oops it might be for spring 2010..let me double check that!

i found the fb group for you guys in another thread for ut class of fall 2010!

since you guys already have a fb for the class of fall 2010 please let the others in the other thread know! i'm going to post the fb link you posted but just so you know there are others out there! :) ut houston fall 2010 (university of texas at houston)by mjbayuda

You guys are more proactive than we were! We just waited for our packet to come in and then did everything in the months to follow. Key for the books though...it will cost you around 1200-1300 bucks...but there are a couple you don't need to buy. Let us know what the list says and we can probably trim that down a few hundred dollars. I think over all getting ready for school with clinical supplies and everything I spent like 2 grand..yeah its a lot, but you can do it in incrimints since labs don't start for the first month of class. In regards to the holds...its takes a while for the drug screening and background check to come off. I did my stuff for it in April and didn't have it removed until like mid june..so don't freak out! Working...well some people do, but they don't sleep very much. I tried only working 24 hrs a week on the weekends in an office job and found that getting up at 0530 for 6 days straight made my life hell. Other people I know have quit their jobs too, some don't have an option though and they have to work. I would say that if you don't absolutely have to I wouldn't work. Nursing school is unlike anything you will ever do. Its not like you can simply go to class read the chapters and ace the tests. B's are the new A's and C=RN. On avg the first semester I probably studied 6hrs a day outside of the classroom and more on the weekends. My GPA going into RN school was a 3.9, now its a 3.0 and I'm thrilled. Just to get you prepared, not to scare you. We got the same lecture as I'm sure the J1s got before they started and I'm sure they will tell you the same thing. I'm not going to be on here for a bit since we have a crap load of tests this next week, plus presentations but like I said feel free to FB me! PS did ya'll who got in start a FB page yet?

Clinicals are helpful. Don't be scared...though you're first patient interaction can be interesting. You just have to be confident and you'll get plenty of practice. Labs help and your clinical instructor will too. Don't worry, they aren't going to let you kill a pt or anything like that. :) The Charge RNs on the floor will help you pick pts that you can handle and that are challenging. Care plans suck, but just jump through the hoops and take the constructive criticism...cause once you get to Care II they are graded pretty hard, and it Pedi and OB they are nazis about them.

Dr. ****** is awesome. Patho was my favorite, and my best class. It all depends on if you are a concept person or a memorize and regurgitate person.

Oh yeah...quick tip! Once you all know who got in, start a FB page for your class that way you can follow each other this summer with all the stuff you will have to do. Plus its helpful once school starts cause then you will already know each other. Then you can post questions during the semester that others can help you out with. I know for our class we all relied on that page a lot. :)

Hey ya'll. I'm a UTHSC-SON 2nd semester student. I saw this thread and thought I would help ya'll out a little bit. #1 stop calling the school...they won't tell you anything, they're not supposed to. Check your UTlink, it should be there instead of "pending" status. Mine showed up on UTlink a week before I got my letter. #2 Visible tatoos are no problems #3 top 10% of your class means a lot, but it is not definative. No one knows how they pick people from those they interviewed. #4 to Clemence, it is a tough school. On average you spend 3 days on campus for school, unless you have lab then its 4. You will also have 1 day of clinical your fist semester. How many hours a day do you need to study? Every waking hour possible, unless you have a photographic memory and are a speed reader. Its not easy, by any means, but its not impossible. If you work hard and study hard you will be ok. On average the first semester I probably had about 200 pgs per class per week. You have to remember that this school has a reputation of being the best, which means they are crazy...but hey it works. Last semester grads had a 100% 1st time pass rate on the NCLEX, the only school in TX to do so. I will follow this thread for a little longer and be here to answer any questions ya'll have. Also if you wanna email me feel free to once you know you're in so I can give you some pointers on getting ready for school and what to expect. You can also contact me on face book. Good luck ya'll! [email protected]