NCphoenix

Hi PacificaRN, Congratulations on being accepted and finishing your first semester. By now, I’m guessing you’ve finished the first year. Have you started clinicals yet? Do they help you with clinical placement? Thanks!

Great! Good luck!!!

Hi Bumblebee, how's it going? have you had any luck? I ran into the same problem. I ended up going to the HR department directly (a couple of times) but didn't feel that was much help. After the third time, I was told that most managers are probably wanting to have someone with experience so they wouldn't really consider me. I got the feeling my resume wasn't being forwarded to any managers. So I decided to go straight to the hiring managers myself. My first choice was the ER so I went over and asked for the manager. I was dressed up and had resumes in hand. I told her that I had applied for a job but felt the process was a bit impersonal so thought I would come and introduce myself. Her words to me: "You are very smart". She asked me what my plans were and I told her I was in nursing school but have the summer off. She asked if I wanted something for summer only and I said no. She asked if I had any experience in the ER. I said no but I'm a quick learner, hard worker and willing to learn. She asked if I wanted a tour of the ER. I said yes. After about an hour, we said goodbye and she gave me her direct line to call her if I didn't hear from the hiring manager. I sat down right there to write her a thank you note, handwritten. That was on a Friday afternoon. I called her back on Wednesday around 4 p.m. and left her a VM saying I hadn't heard anything yet. She called me the next morning and left me a VM saying she had forwarded my resume with her recommendation to the hiring manager and that they were contacting Nurse Recruitment. By the following Wednesday, I received an email from their HR department requesting an interview. I meet with them all next week for my interview. They asked me for a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. I think that's a good sign. I guess I'll find out next week. My recommendation to you: put a face to the resume. I had been submitting resumes online to 3 different hospitals for the past 8 months and this is the one and only in-person submission I've made, which resulted in an interview. Good luck! Keep me posted.

Hi All, I posted this on the Pre-nursing forum but no responses to date. First of all, congratulations to all who have been accepted in to the nursing program of choice and to any new grads out there! I was finally accepted into the nursing program of my choice (YEY!! ). I'm finishing the last few things before orientation and already selected my Fall schedule. As I wait patiently for classes to start, I was wondering if there are any current Durham Tech students or recent graduates who could share something about your experiences with the program. Do any of you have any advice? Anything I should keep in mind over the next two years? Anything I should get started on? Can you tell me more of what I should expect? Anything would help, such as technical requirements or tools that helped you - did you have a PDA? did you use a laptop in class? I'm waiting until August to pick a new phone/PDA and laptop. Are iPhones allowed? How hard or easy was it to get a job upon graduation? I'm assuming most of you are local to the Raleigh/Durham area. Did you go with the hospital where you were doing your clinicals? Thanks in advance for all responses! NCphoenix

No one has attended Durham Tech on this forum? I'll try posting on the North Carolina threads as well.

Hi All, Congratulations to all who have been accepted in to the nursing program of choice and to any new grads out there! I was finally accepted into the nursing program of my choice (YEY!! ) and I have the next several years semi-planned out until I achieve my ultimate goal of an MSN. I have completed most of my additional pre-requirements to start the program - background check, getting on the CNA registry, immunizations, health insurance (OK for now) and will take my CPR for healthcare providers class tonight. The next big thing is the nursing orientation. I have already selected my Fall schedule and it's been approved. For now, I will continue with my current employer on a PT basis, assuming they approve it. Otherwise, I think I will try to work as a CNA at the closest hospital or at the hospital where we do our clinicals. I hope we find out at orientation in 2 weeks which hospital we are assigned to. So as I wait for orientation and classes to start, I was wondering if there are any current Durham Tech students or recent graduates who could share something about your experiences with the program. Do any of you have any advice? Anything I should keep in mind over the next two years? Anything I should get started on? Can you tell me more of what I should expect? Anything would help, such as technical requirements or tools that helped you - did you have a PDA? did you use a laptop in class? I'm waiting until August to pick a new phone/PDA and laptop. Are iPhones allowed? How hard or easy was it to get a job upon graduation? I'm assuming most of you are local to the Raleigh/Durham area. Did you go with the hospital where you were doing your clinicals? Thanks in advance for all responses! NCphoenix

Hi amberleigh, I know you posted a while ago but was wondering if you received a response to your questions. As you may know by now, the admissions application to Durham Tech changed to a competitive (points) process starting for the fall 2011 class. What pre-reqs were you taking? Are you all done? I know several nurses working in different hospitals in the area and all have told me good things about Durham Tech. You can also check out their pass rate for the NCLEX on the BON site. I'm starting the ADN program in August and am very excited. Our orientation is in a few weeks and I already have my schedule. For now I plan on continuing to work PT with my current employer (if they allow it). I'm also changing careers and will be giving up a well-paid job to pursue this dream. At first, I expect to be making less than my current salary but hope to gain much more in return from this new career. In the long-term I think it will be a good career change and much more fulfilling. Please let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer. You can also PM me. NCphoenix

That's great news! Is this for the BSN or for DTCC? When do you know for sure? I'm an older student with a family so I'm very happy that I got into a good, small school where I can excel and that I can afford while still paying my mortgage. More importantly, they have a great NCLEX pass rate. Once I have my RN, I will work on getting my BSN and my MSN. One step at a time. :)

Hi studentmom, Well, I did very well on the NET, finished and enjoyed my CNA class. I'm taking the state exam next week and my teachers say I should do well but I'm still a little nervous. AND, I got my acceptance letter to Durham Tech today!!! I'm really happy but a bit nervous, not sure how we're going to pull it off financially. My husband's contract was cut short and as of last Friday he is unemployed. Not only that but I'm encouraging him to go to school. I would have to quit my job to go to school since it's a day program so that means 2 college students with 2 kids BUT, I have faith that we will somehow figure this out I am finally on my way to become a nurse. How are things with you? Any updates? NCphoenix

Hi Hagaman1, Unfortunately, chances are slim for this fall. You have to have all your pre-requisites complete and take the NET before you can apply. The deadline was March 31. You also need to be on the CNA registry by June 15. However, I think it's always worth trying. You can stop by the admissions office with your transcript in hand (unofficial copy is fine) and see what they say. Since many people apply to several schools, there may be some who have applied to Durham Tech but will not attend. I don't know how many people applied or are on the list. The second round of letters went out already. I don't know if there are any spots left. Good luck.

Hi Jenniferkristin, The deadline for spring admission is July 1. By then you need to have all your pre-reqs done, be on the CNA registry and have taken the TEAS. You also have to attend a mandatory information session before then. I'm still waiting to hear from Durham Tech. I would have to take some classes over (over 5 years) to go to Wake Tech and by the time I do that I would have to apply for Fall 2011. If I don't get into to Durham Tech now, I'd also have to wait for Fall 2011 but DT is much closer to me. We'll see - there's still hope. Good luck!

I don't have any recent stats but I didn't ask. I'm trying to be patient. :uhoh21: Unfortunately it's been a really stressful week. My husband lost his job yesterday so I may not be able to go at all even if I'm accepted. But I'm still going to move forward and hope that I find a way to pull this off. I suggest you do the same. You never know - I'm not letting go of my spot until the last minute and if I can't go, you may get my spot.

:yeah:I just spoke to the admissions person, she just came back in to the office today. She is very nice and I think as long as you are respectful and considerate, she does not mind too much if she's asked about student status. Just imagine how many people are trying to reach her. She understands that we're all stressed and anxiously waiting for a response. I know I'd be avoiding the phone... I asked her again about the process. She said admission is determined by application date so now I'm higher than I thought. (App in Dec, NET in Feb). She hopes to send second round letters out by mid next week so we should get something by Friday or early the following week. I also asked her about Financial Aid and she said it's probably a good idea to work on that now. So that's what I'll be focusing on now.... I knew that but have been tied up with a million things, like finishing my CNA class. I have a couple of other options but unfortunately they would take longer and are further away so don't really want them. If I don't get in now, I would just have to be patient and stay in my job longer. I would use the time to take classes for my BSN. I realized that no matter where I go, I would still need to take a few more classes for a BSN, regardless of the number of credits that I already have. I just need specific classes. Good luck to you. Relax, keep the hope and wait for something good to happen. BUT I would also work on a plan B and C. Let us know where you end up going.

The first round of acceptance letters went out and I know a couple of people who are definitely in for the Fall. The second round of letters was supposed to go out by early last week but did not go out. The admissions person had a family emergency and has been out of the office. If all your pre-requisites were done and you're on the CNA registry, your admission is determined by the date that you took the NET. Cut-off for the first round was December 2009. The cut-off for round 2 has not been determined. Even if round 2 receives an admission letter, they still have to fulfill the post-admission requirements, including being on the CNA registry. I don't have an acceptance letter yet because I took the NET later than when I could have taken it if I had known the importance of that date. However, I still have hope. I'll keep you posted.

Hi All, Congratulations to everyone starting in June and Jan. I have applied to Durham Tech for Fall admission and am waiting for a response. I would love to go to Watts and have heard that it is the best program in the area. However, my big concern is the expense. I would have to quit my job, which I would be doing for DT anyway but in addition to figuring out how to pay the mortgage and daycare, I would have a significantly higher tuition. I also fall under the category of people affected by the economy and we are still trying to do a short sale after two years that looks like it will end in foreclosure. I know there is the tuition reimbursement in exchange for work at Duke for 3 years. However, I would like to get an MSN from Duke in the future. Anyone else planning on going for an MSN? If so, how are you paying for it? How does this work if I do the 3-year contract - can I also get them to simultaneously cover an MSN? This is the main obstacle to me going to Watts. If I go to Durham Tech, I can then go to work at Duke and get the tuition reimbursement for the MSN. Anyone else thinking about this? I'll be going to the next info session in April and also plan to test on the first week of April. I need to study but feel confident that I will do well. I had a high score on the NET... I also have to keep telling myself that nothing will stop me from achieving my goal of becoming a nurse. I just don't want to do so at the expense of my family. I need financial aid and need to plan it well. I am still paying off the loans from my first attempt at a B.S. Thank you for any information you can provide.