kjsquared

PS... I applied at the New Grad mass interview in Feb and was denied a position... A month later, they called me with an offer. Don't get discouraged

Hey there - I work at Renown on Tele and just started in June. I am pretty dang sure they are still hiring for Tele and/or ICU unless they are not hiring at this exact moment... They have new grads start almost every month! And trust me, they are definitely still in need or RNs on ALL units! haha I would keep trying. Who was it in HR that you talked to? Don't be afraid to go straight to the nurse managers and hand in your resume. It makes a world of difference to show up in person with a smile and your resume.. That way they have a better idea of who is applying! I highly doubt they would be "mad" at you for that. Good luck!

Gabby27 - The Redfield campus is located in South Reno and is not the main campus. The main campus is Dandini.

I am a TMCC nursing student, graduating in May...Yes the "rumor" is true. They did cut the fast track program and the Redfield campus will be closing.

I haven't read through this entire post.. So, sorry if this is repetitive, but I just have one quick question. I graduate in May, and I have been talking to many of my classmates... Some of them say to put down your skills (ie: IV, Meds, etc.) while others are saying don't bother... Currently, I do not have that one my resume and it adds up to an entire page's length. Does anyone have advice on that? I was thinking more along the lines of... If you are applying for a RN job, you should have those skills without saying them? Thanks for any response.

Hi Guys - I always go months without checking this site! Ooops! I just got on break from school.. Unfortunately with the horrible economy, the nurse apprentice positions are not being offered.. at least not while I have been in school. I graduate in May and I'm getting sooo nervous about finding a job.. It is SO hard right now! I would have absolutely LOVED to get the experience and work as a nurse apprentice.. Bummer. Leilani1983 - I suggest you keep looking throughout nursing school... Usually you can get a nurse apprentice position after your 1st full year of nursing school, at least that's what I was told. Since there were no positions offered, I took the CNA exam instead, but still never got a job doing that either! It's really hard right now..

Hi Shar81, I would definitely recommend TMCC to anyone! They have an incredible passing rate for NCLEX but also it's just an all around great program. I believe it has and will prepare me really well to be a RN! You can take the CNA by exam after you successfully complete your 2nd semester of nursing school. You qualify to take the exam by written and skill - you just have to pay for it & schedule a date. Hope that helps.

Hi there, I don't know if you have already taken the CNA course but I would recommend it if not, especially while you have the time. I took my CNA my exam this summer in Aug (was supposed to test in July and look for a job, but got wait listed) and if I had more time I would have looked for a job and thought it was worth it. I'm not sure how much it will help your resume when you graduate with RN, but if you are unfimiliar with hospital settings, it would benefit you to get some experience in that area. I am interested in critical care, so I would have loved to get a job as a CNA doing something in that area, but unfortunately don't have any time to spare at the moment + another part time job. Let me know how it goes!

Hi there - There is such a position as a nurse tech or nurse apprentice.. However, I am beginning my 3rd semester in Fall (you can apply for nurse tech after your 2nd semester), and all the hospitals in Reno didn't have a single position available and/or were not in need of a nurse tech. Bummer... I really wanted to do it. A lot of people from my class are doing the CNA thing instead. Good luck.

Holy cow, I am really bad at this replying thing. I go months without remembering to reply...Once again, sorry I blame it on school. lol...So I will reply to both of your previous questions! Anyway, Congrats on getting into traditional! That's very exciting. The only advice I can give you is study, study, study...and study some more. I can't even tell you how many hours I study, especially for exams...endless! It's extremely difficult but it will be worth it..and at least TRY to enjoy it It's hard to sometimes because it gets overwhelming and stressful but you have to remember why you love nursing and want to be a nurse! Make sure you review anything you didn't quite get from A&P because everything will build on each other. I have been told many times that over breaks you should always review anything you didn't quite understand from the previous semester... And maybe practice a little math. About pathophysiology.... I am just finishing the class and I'm not going to lie.........It has definitely been the hardest, most stressful, want to pull all of my hair out.. class. haha.... It's so hard because it is SO much information in a very short amount of time and it's a LOT to learn. I did hear a little rumor but I'm not sure if it's true or not... They are thinking of spliting patho into 2 semesters (during the 1st and 2nd) instead of putting it all into one semester. Like I said, not sure if it will happen, but I can only hope for you guys that it would...because that would ease the pain!! It's also been so difficult because it's paired up with another hard nursing class. 1st semester for me was all about "normals" and 2nd semester was a step up into diseases and the care for those diseases PLUS pathophys. ANYWAYS... DON'T even worry about 2nd semester yet! Focus on 1st semester and don't get ahead of yourself :) Good luck guys!!! Let me know if you have any questions... I can do my best to answer.

Congrats on passing! My advice is do NOT take any additional classes unless you absolutely have to (ie: english 101, etc..). The 3 nursing classes required in the first semester is definitely enough to keep you busy and stressed

Yeah, we only had about 1.5 weeks also.. would be nice if they gave everyone more notice, especially for uniforms. The only advice I really have for you is to study HARD and effectively, stay ahead of the game as much as you possibly can, it is very easy to get behind, and you'll be fine. Find a study group ASAP, as this is what saved me! I never used study groups before nursing school and it has been a life saver if you study with the right people...Make sure you have compatable study habits :) It's hard and overwhelming at first, but once you're organized and have a routine down, you'll be fine. Good luck...let me know if i can help you with anything else!.....and Congrats!!

Wow, I'm so sorry I didn't reply sooner.. I was extremely busy, to say the least! I didn't even realize you had posted a reply to me., probably because I haven't checked the site in a few months..sorry about it! Anyway, I'm sure you have found out by now... Did you get accepted for fast track? I am in the traditional program and starting my 2nd semester Jan 25th. I did get in the first time I applied, but I also know that last year not nearly as many people applied. I have heard that a lot more applied for 2010! The program thus far has been challenging, time consuming, stressful......but still fun! haha.. It's really hard to describe it to anyone unless you are or have been in the same situation. No matter what people told me to prepare, I don't think much can prepare you for what is about to come if you got in... It's a rollercoaster and I'm sure it will be even harder in the coming semesters, but I'm still trying to enjoy the ride.. :) Good luck to you!

Congrats!! :) I'm starting my 2nd semester at TMCC..it's definitely challenging and hard, but really fun. Good luck to you!

Hi there, How did your HESI go? I took mine in Fall 2008, and there was no chemistry or physics. Everything else wasn't too bad, but I definately studied before the exam with the study guide for atleast a month AND I took it twice. Good luck to you!

hi again! i'm in an rn program. anywho.. i can't believe we are starting our 7th week on monday...time is flying by! i just hope it keeps going and 2 years ends soon. haha.. i am definitely exhausted and stressed. i forget what my friends look like (and my husband sometimes) and, as someone else said, what beer tastes like! i am actually enjoying a beer tonight for the first time in 7 weeks haha! i just wanted to say that we had a little presentation at our school today where about 6 or 7 nurses from the community came in and talked to us. it wasn't mandatory that we attend but i thought it would be helpful, so i went. they all held different positions and talked to us about what that entailed, how to keep going in school and told us that the end result definitely will out weigh the stress/exhaustion/ridiculous amount of studying, etc. it was really motivating and inspirational. it gave me a little boost of excitement again. if any of you have this opportunity, i would definitely take it if you do not know any nurses/don't work in a nursing environment/have absolutely no experience! or maybe you can suggest it to your school...i really liked it. :)

Holy crap! I almost forgot about this thread... I feel live I've just come up air after 5 weeks. haha.. Wow, but it seems like everyone is chugging along. We had an exam this past Thursday for Professional Behaviors and another exam today for Fundamentals. Both went pretty well. A lot of people didn't do so well on the Fundamentals exam, it was definitely hard and put into a style we are not used to! Better get used to it though... I seemed to do fine. I got a 90 on the Professional Behaviors exam, which in my school is a B! 92-100 is an A.. ouch. Anyway, keep chuggin'... and good luck :) It might be another 5 weeks before I remember to breathe again... lol

OMG! Thank you all so much for giving me a break and making me laugh SOOOO hard!!! I'm crying I'm laughing so hard... hahahah. Wow! These are hilarious!

haha...I love this, it's so true! I've only been in NS a few weeks and I already know what ALL of this feels like! I can just imagine what's coming for us in the next few years...a rollercoaster of all of the above mentioned! It's true... no matter how many times anyone tells you how much work and reading and assignements are involved in NS, you won't have ANY idea until you get there! It's already more then I thought, also. Make sure you make time for yourself and for your family/friends/spouse/kids/whatever... It won't only be hard on you but hard on them as well - I know my hubby is already feeling it. Good luck to everyone! :heartbeat

Yep! I'm right there with you...I just finished my first week of nursing school and am overwhelmed by how much reading needs to be done. But.....this too shall pass!!! Just like everyone else has said, I've been told to just read the key highlights out of the chapters instead of the ENTIRE chapter. Some people need to read every word, and that's fine, but for me...it's way too much information. My instructors do power point lectures for the chapters, which gives me a better idea of what really needs to be read. Do you have something like this from your instructors? Like objectives for the chapter? Just take a big, deep breath and relax! You'll be fine! :heartbeat

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it can be. I have hyperhydrosis, also. It's extremely embaressing and hard to deal with. I have been to doctors and dermatologist with NO help, also! I still can't find any relief from this and I seriously question myself and my ability to do nursing! HOWEVER - I regularly tell myself that it's mostly self conciousness and not many people notice. Obviously, people do notice sweating but I often think that it's much worse than it really is. Most people don't notice and no one comments about it, but just like you, the more I think about it or worry about it, the worse it gets and I can't seem to control it. Everyone sweats and every nurse will sweat! Feel free to send me a message if you need any emotional support and don't let it hold you back from becoming an amazing NURSE! :heartbeat :heartbeat

How was everyone else's first day of class??!! Mine went well, but I'm already exhausted, lol...I just had Fundamentals today, but all we did was go over the syllabus and jump right into the first few chapters! I looked up what I needed to know for today last night, so I had already started studying and reading last night...Then after class I must have read for at least 4 hours+!!! I actually don't have class again until Wednesday's lab...So tomorrow will be more reading and studying. But I know there will be harder things and I'm grateful and ready for the challenge! I'm still SO excited!!!! Can't wait to hear about everyone else! GOOD LUCK!!

This is so cool! I have orientation tomorrow and Friday from 8:30-4:30... Then classes start on the 24th. YAY, CAN'T WAIT!

Just wanted to make a quick comment.. I am not going to work while in nursing school (at least for the first year), which starts Aug 24th for me. If I had the option to work as a CNA, I probably would keep my job while in nursing school, at least for 1 or 2 days a week, just to have more experience. Unfortunately, my current work schedule won't allow for me to keep working and going to school, so I am not going to work at all. I'm hoping after my first year that I might be able to work as a CNA or apprentice nurse... We'll see! I don't understand how anyone can work 5 days a week and doing nursing school full time! I'd probably lose it! But I definitely applaud those working that hard! It sounds really difficult. Also, about the "pestering those who work" comment...I've actually had it the other way around. I've been asked "Why can't you work while you're in nursing school?" and "How are you going to afford not working?".. It gets old, but I just tell people I have it figured out! haha

I feel ya. I honestly thought waiting for my acceptance letter would be the worst part...but the worst part for me has been trying to get financial aid to cover not only my tuition/books but also my living expenses! I STILL don't know what I am going to do to come up with enough money..and I start school Aug 24th!!!!! Yikes. Good luck to you....Let's keep chugging along, we'll figure it out!!!!!! :heartbeat