Hope.A

Thanks! Unfortunately I only had ONE DAY in the ED during my clinicals last semester. I loved it but I wasn't oriented, not enough time -- did get to start two IVs though =). This semester we're in the ICU and Pediatrics, so I'm not sure if I'll get to step foot back in the ED. But, over the summer during my little mini-internship before graduation, I'm going to try to get assigned to the ED to see if it's right for me. I guess I still have some time to think... what I don't want to do is go for it just for the "prestige" of being able to say I'm an ER nurse. It puts too much emphasis on what other people think and not what I will love.

Or am I just trying to prove to myself I could do it? I've got 6 months til graduation, getting my BSN from TCU. I decided to go to nursing school after already getting a bachelor's from UVA because I'd been working for a nonprofit medical society for Emergency Docs (administrative stuff). I guess on some level --and because the docs are the ones that inspired me to go to nursing school--I was hoping I would be cut out for the ED. I always want to be the best at what I do. And from what I can tell (or have been told), ER nurses really are the best. You have to get your skills down and be efficient at them. There isn't time to waste. When I share this with anyone "well, I'm thinking I might want to work in the emergency department"-- they say: oh, are you an adrenaline junkie? But if I'm being honest, the answer is NO. But, just because I don't love stress and thrive on pressure doesn't mean I couldn't be good at it, right? I have learned things about myself in school that I didn't realize before, namely that I have the ability to stay calm under pressure. I don't "freak out." I hate drama and am quick to offer my help. I want to be part of a team, not "the nurses versus the docs" as it seems on the floor. I also have no illusions that I'm a genius or have it all figured out. I'm humble and I will learn from others whether they're the head of the department or the tech. That's probably my main reason for wanting to be in the ER in the first place -- I want to learn as much as possible and make the most difference I possibly can. Still, I can't help but linger on what my clinical instructor said to me when I told her I was thinking about emergency nursing. She said "oh, I don't think I see you there." But just because I'm not the stereotypical hardass (no offense intended!) emergency nurse doesn't mean I couldn't be great at it, right? I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Will I love it and thrive, or hate it? All opinions welcome.

There's also a free iPhone app that uses this, in case anyone is interested. It's called "MedLab Tutor" and it's from Georgia Health Sciences University (and no, I don't work for them or anything, I just use this app as a nursing student and it's been helpful to me!). Hope this helps somebody else!

Everyone's should be VERY similar to this, except the Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will all be switched around depending on your group. Tuesdays and thursdays, everyone has Pharm, except some will have both lec. and lab on Tuesday, while some people will have lecture tuesday, lab thursday. Here's my schedule: Monday - clinical (they said approx 6:30am - 2:30pm) Tues - Pharmacotherapeutics: 8am - 4pm Wednesday - Discipline & Practice I: 8am - 6pm (ten hours!!!) Thursday - off Friday - Reflective Practice 8:30am - 4pm Hope this helps. I know I was relieved to finally know what is going on. By thursday I'm going to be exhausted but am glad to have one day per week without the long drive. PS this is our 10-week schedule which starts on Tuesday, May 31st, and ends on August 5th.

Oh! good call, maybe they are being sent in alphabetical order -- my last name starts with A, (I was that first person on the list who got dropped off at the orientation), lol. I got my permission codes late yesterday afternoon, so I'm sure she's still working on sending them now. I live in Euless @ hwy 183 & 360 and would totally host study groups at my house if there are people nearby!

@dedAKAted : I am so slow to respond! I guess I should follow this thread and keep up. Thanks! Anybody else get super stressed out by that orientation last monday?? I am so relieved that they finally sent the permission codes for the summer. Anybody in the blue group from orientation -- I guess I'll see ya on Monday!

Wow I am really slow to join this thread but I'm also going to be starting the TCU Accel. BSN program this year! Just a few more weeks to go, eek! I am kinda curious to see how many of us have kiddos -- I just had a baby (my first) in February, so I'm diving into nursing school and motherhood all at once! I thinkkkk the financial aid stuff is going to all come through (some of the loans are still awaiting confirmation or approval or whatever)... are you guys sitting on the edge of your seats just praying that it all comes together?

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong -- actually it sounds like you're doing the right thing by figuring out all of the application requirements in advance instead of waiting until the last second. Like you, I noticed that all the schools I wanted to apply to had different requirements, different tests, and even different prerequisites. Some have prereqs that you HAVE to take at their college, etc. etc. It gets a little ridiculous. Pick your first choice or two and really make sure you have everything set to go with those. Don't overdo, or you might end up with several mediocre apps. Also, I took the HESI and got a 94. I tried to do some studying and even bought the Barron's Guide to nursing entrance exams, but it was NOTHING like the HESI. Know your basic math, practice reading comprehension, and review your A&P, especially if it's been a little while since you've taken them. If you have a handle on your basic skills you should really be fine. There is also a personality part to this test which shows your school what kind of learner & worker you are.

So far this is the first post I can find about applying for the TCU Accelerated BSN track, 2011!! I'm excited to say I'm applying too! Taking Micro at the moment and it's my very last prerequisite. Would love to hear from anybody else who is applying and maybe we can cross our fingers together! Does anybody know anything about the schedule of dates for the program? I can't find anything on TCU's website, and from what I remember from the info session I went to (last fall), they said the date is contingent upon people finishing up their spring courses. For example, Tarrant County College won't finish spring finals until May 12th/13th, so the following monday the 16th would likely be the first possible date to begin the TCU courses. Do they usually start this early or has it typically started more toward the end of May? Anyone with more info on this would really be helping me out!! Thanks in advance.

Hi Everybody, I'm looking for some affirmation about the "environment" of being a nurse. I've always been a very low-drama, easy-going, easy to get along with person, and the more I read and hear about the nursing profession, I'm afraid there is just a huge amount of drama and catty-ness happening in the workplace. Don't get me wrong, I can handle a high-stress environment when needed, but I also feel like your coworkers should be there to support you and run the race alongside you. I have always thought of nurses as being the sweetest, kindest individuals, but from the stories I am hearing (mostly on this site!), I'm starting to wonder if they're not just as often the mean, dramatic, back-stabbing coworkers that ruin your day and make you hate your job. I hope I'm not overreacting here. Could somebody tell some good stories about your job? I'm only in my prerequisite nursing classes, applying this fall and winter for programs that begin next year. I don't want to continue down this path if I'm only going to realize that my preconceptions about nursing are all wrong and that I'm going to hate my future career. I want to help people and make a difference (however small) in their lives, not worry about what so-and-so is saying behind my back or whether whats-her-name is going to yell at me for something insignificant. So bring on the stories that will hopefully re-affirm my new career choice as a nurse! Do you love it or hate it? Are you glad you chose nursing? Be honest.

Hey Nia! I know how it can feel like there's no way you'll be able to finish (and sometimes it seems hard to even start!), but if nursing is what you want to do, you shouldn't let anything get in your way. When I decided I wanted to go back to school, I wondered if I should put it off (til there was more money, less to do, etc) and I just figured - life can only get crazier from here! Besides, You're about to have a wonderful husband to help support you, right? You'll be one giant leap ahead of the single moms out there who are trying to go back to school. So I guess I'm saying, don't focus on the obstacles, just focus on your goals and decide "I'm going to do what it takes to get there" - if you have to work part time, be a mom full time, and be a student part time, then you can make it happen, even though it sounds impossible. Something that helped me was thinking about a few years down the road... am I going to be proud of what I did, or am I going to be wishing I had jumped in and gone for it? I'd rather be looking back thinking - "wow that was hard but I'm so glad I went for it!"

Kyla, just wanted to reply to you really quick - I know what you mean - I think we were more freaked out by how MANY people in our classes are going into nursing. The first girl I was talking to, who said she was doing nursing - I thought, awesome! somebody in class who's doing what I am... and then I met another... and another... and another! Then they started talking about their reasons for going into nursing (one girl was like - "I'm just trying to get out of my current job!"), and bragging about their grades.... it was just too much. I too wish I could have a group of ladies (or guys!) in class to have something in common with when it comes to nursing, but when it comes down to it, a lot of people just aren't going to be that nice and supportive about it. I think that's what got me scared.

Aw, if you lived nearby you could have some of my stuff... I've been collecting a few things for yard sale myself... waffle iron... sports stuff... Do you have a church that you go to? many churches have "needs boards" where you can post immediate needs (like, free moving services to keep the cost of moving down, or straight up help for buying textbooks for school!). Lots of people would be happy to contribute to such a good cause.

Yeah! Go Mimi and Krystin! It's like I want to say "good luck to everyone (but not if you're applying to the same schools I am!)"... which is a bad attitude to have... But yeah, it irritates me like none other when people say things about how they want to be a nurse so their job is "secure," or "pays well." I will be praying that the people we end up working with are nurses because they truly want to help and care for people... one can only hope.

I just signed into AllNurses JUST so I could post this exact same message! And you said it better than I would have! I just decided to go back to school for nursing a few months ago (after already getting a bachelor's in something else)... and the first FOUR people I met at my first class yesterday were there to do prereqs for nursing!! This one chick was all "Yeah, I already finished my A&P, Biology, and got A's in all of them..." And now, this is my first prerequisite, so I'm not there yet, and I'm already freaked! I've always been an A student, but I didn't think I'd be competing against so many other people, just for a spot in a nursing program! What do people do when they don't get into a program? I don't want to stay at the community college forever.... Surely some of these people aren't as serious about nursing as I am.... right:eek:? I feel like a lot of people are flooding the schools because they just want a good paying job. I already have a good job, but I feel called to the field of nursing, like it finally *clicked* in my brain and I know that's what I need to do. That's gotta count for something!

Not that anybody cares, but for anybody who is following this thread, I wanted to try to calm your fears about talking to your current boss about going back to school for Nursing. I tried to be very professional about it, set up a meeting with her in her office this morning, and started by telling her that I love my current job (true, so I didn't have to lie), but that I wanted to tell her that I've registered for my prerequisite courses to go back to school for nursing. Thankfully, I won't be leaving for about a year - I'll be taking a course or two at a time until I get into a nursing program - so it was good for me to be able to say that I just wanted to tell her in advance, keep her notified, and let her ask any questions she had. It couldn't have gone better - she said she was happy for me that I had decided to take this step (I am currently an administrative assistant), and that she thought I would make an excellent nurse. She said it's great I told her this far in advance, so that when it gets closer to the time when I would be leaving, she can find a replacement whom I can train, and there will be no surprises or hard feelings. Telling my boss has taken a huge weight off my shoulders and feels honest, professional, and reduces later awkwardness. So if you're contemplating this issue, my advice is... if you have any kind of rapport with your boss.. tell them!

Yeah, I keep reminding myself of when I was in college (for my first degree) and I was in my last semester, graduating early, so I was taking majors seminars and other tough courses, as well as coaching a highschool volleyball team and planning my own wedding! Oh, not to mention volunteering as a Young Life Leader. But I remember that as one of the coolest times in my life even though I barely had time to breathe. You MAKE time for the things you really want to do, and all the unimportant stuff gets squeezed out.

I have been feeling the same way - my current job is over 40 hours per week and I'm going to start classes in just a few weeks (one at a time for the summer, and I'm going to have to do two at a time in the fall and spring, all while keeping my current job. I have a feeling I'm going to completely lose my MIND. Anybody doing this have any advice? I don't have kids, so that's one huge stress that I don't have on my time, and my husband is a teacher so he gets home relatively early and might be able to handle making dinner, etc... but I'm so used to being able to come home, unwind, cook, exercise, play with my dogs, maybe even watch a movie with my hubby and then go to sleep. But I have a feeling the next two and a half years (1 in pre-nursing, 1.5 in nursing) are going to be high stress, no time, pull my hair out... but I know it's what I want, so even if I'm crazy, I'm going through with it!

AMEN! I feel like I have a new question every day, and I haven't even started classes yet! (Getting started on prereqs in a couple weeks in a summer session). The student forum is helpful, the News postings are educational, and the other stories are so intriguing!

Is anybody else out there concerned about their abilities in spanish (or another language common in your area)? Spanish is not a pre-requisite, or even a requirement of any nursing program that I've heard of, but once I start working (in Texas), I know it's going to be something I wish I had. I took one spanish course in college, but I had 5 years of French, so it was really hard for me to make the switch to spanish pronunciations, etc. Some of the vocab is easy to remember though, because the root words are often similar. So I guess my question is, should I squeeze in another spanish course, or maybe get some study materials to start teaching myself? Second, somewhat unrelated question (still having to do with prerequisites). I am excited about the possibility of taking some of my prerequisites online, but I am a little confused as to why some of the Lab courses are offered online. Isn't the purpose of a lab to have a hands-on portion of the class? Has anyone out there done a lab course online? If so, what does it entail and is it as useful as taking the class in person? I am mostly looking into these becuase of time constraints (as I'm working full time while taking my prereqs), but I do not want to sacrifice quality just for a better schedule. Thanks! Hope

What do you mean you don't want to be overqualified to work at a hospital? No matter how many degrees you already have, I'm pretty sure what they're going to care about is your nursing experience. I'm taking my pre-reqs right now and plan on applying to an accelerated BSN program (already have a BA), but depending on how much time you want to spend on becoming a nurse (and if you already know what specialty you're interested in), by all means go for the MSN. I'm pretty sure it will take a while (for me at least) to figure out what area(s) of nursing fit me best, and then I will probably look in to going back and getting other advanced degrees. Best wishes!

I'm going to be facing this soon too... except that I'm hoping my boss will be supportive of my decision to go to nursing school. I'm quite awhile from quitting my job, unlike you, so maybe I'm not the best person to offer advice. You say your boss is "nosy," and maybe you saying you'd rather not disclose the reason why you're requesting a schedule change would irritate her... but .... who cares? She'll be curious for a little while, and even if things get uncomfortable... you're leaving soon!!! I mean, obviously stay on good terms so you can have her recommendation, but when you finally do give your notice, be sure to tell her that you really wanted to tell her about your class but you didn't feel comfortable giving her notice that far in advance. That way, you never have to lie, and you never have to be unprofessional about it. As long as you are courteous and she respects you, she won't bug you too much about your change in schedule. She may be nosy, but unless she's obsessive, she should understand that sometimes people just need to change their schedule for whatever's going on in their lives. She should drop it after that, business as usual.

Oh I am so glad I found this post - Now that I've decided to get started in my pre-reqs and apply for nursing school... I keep thinking.. what about my job?? How do I take classes and keep working without my boss finding out? What if I have to schedule a class that starts at 5:30.... and my boss wants me to work late? I don't want to lie!!! I had to lie to my prevoius boss once when I knew I was going to be moving to a different state, several months before I gave my notice... and it was awful. I felt like I was bold-faced lying to her face every time she talked about something we'd be doing later on... and I just nodded along as if I was going to be there, even though I knew I'd be gone. Any advice on this would be great. On one level, I want to tell my boss because she's really sorta my friend... I enjoy my job but I'm just an administrative assistant... she must know I won't stay forever. Plus it will be about a year before I would leave, so I feel like she should know that I'm starting to take classes! I really believe she would support me, but then again it would most certainly cause some weirdness. I just don't want to be deceitful about it, and then all of a sudden drop that bomb like... Oh by the way I've been taking classes behind your back and now I'm going to Nursing school! PEACE! Anybody else in this situation?

Are you guys working while you take A&P This summer? I'm working full time and it was going to be nearly impossible to take A&P with the lab - Work all day, straight to class, and then bedtime Monday through Thursday?!?! I mean, I'm dedicated to becoming a nurse but I need to keep my sanity. I guess I'll sign up for a non-lab course, and then take A&P in the Fall & Spring?? Whew...

I work for an emergency medicine association, (on my way to going into nursing), so there are lots of issues related to the emergency department we hear about all the time. I don't have time to go into details, but here are a few things to get your research started. "EMTB2RN" had a good suggestion about discussing the uninsured. I would definitely discuss the backwards politics of "free healthcare in the Emergency room" as that just means the hospitals and physicians don't get paid at all. With everybody thinking they can just go to the ER and get whatever they need for free, pretty soon the hospitals themselves will go under. If you talk about that you will need to mention the un-funded mandate called "EMTALA." I would also discuss overcrowding, and especially Boarding in the emergency department. This causes major problems and increased mortality because the beds needed for emergency cases are being used by people who should be admitted (but can't, because there are no free beds!). Also of interest would be talking about the National Healthcare Report Card - the state of Emergency care in the nation, as well as Access to Emergency care. Look up government bills and acts, such as the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of '07. Hope that helps you get started!!