Pre-RN

Hi all! I realize that unless you just happen to be in the Charlotte, NC area that this won't be a local community resource, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask just to get some angle I hadn't thought of yet. Here's the scenario: You are working in the ED as the Triage Nurse when a 13 yr. old, Hispanic female, comes in seeking assistance. She appears to be pregnant and speaks very limited English. After calling for a translator, you find out that the young female was dropped off by her 17 yr. old boyfriend. They had an argument and she was told that he would not be back to pick her up. She has no source of income, her closest relatives are in Mexico and she is homeless. She is unsure of her last menstrual cycle or if she is pregnant. I must write a paper including 10 community resources and 5 applicable nursing diagnoses. My current working list includes: Charlotte Emergency Housing Crisis Assistance Ministry Salvation Army Mecklenburg Council on Adolescent Pregnancy (county resource) Crisis Pregnancy Center Planned Parenthood of Greater Charlotte Mecklenburg Health Dept. Adoption Services... Mecklenburg County DSS AGAPE of NC Bethany Christian Services Catholic Christian Services Christian Adoption Ethnic and Minority Group Affairs... Catholic Social Refugee Office?? Like I said, just a working list and I know it's more than 10, but I don't want to overlook anything. I'm concerned about the limited English and lack of family and income areas. Of course I'm contacting each resource to see exactly what they offer. They must be local with address and ph. # included--just thought someone could let me know if I'm on track or point me in a new direction. Thanks! Pre-RN

Hi Mo! Thanks for your response, but as you can see this post is pretty old. After completing (at CP) a few pre-reqs I lacked, I left my teaching career of 9 yrs. and began my ADN at Presby. SON at Queens U. of Charlotte. That name is just too long! Anyway, I'm in my 2nd semester (Maternity) and I'm also a CNA on a tele unit at CMC-Pineville. I love nursing school! Good luck to you and let me know if I can answer any questions. BTW we moved from MS to Cornelius 6 yrs. ago. We now live in South Charlotte which is growing like the Birkdale area. The Birkdale was just an empty dirt lot when we arrived and became overcrowed by the time we moved again. I also taught at Bradley. Really miss my students and friends from "back home" in Huntersville. Of course all my students have moved on to North Meck. and graduated by now! Man, that always makes me feel old...and tomorrow's my B-Day....

Hi Melissa! Welcome and congrats on Presby. I'm looking forward to more advice from someone who's local and little ahead of me in all this. :) Sandy- Just wanted to see how the new job is working out and give an update on my situation... I was able to complete my BLS for healthcare providers at CPCC a couple of weeks ago and my med. term. class today. The only thing is that the med. term. was non-credit because it was too late to register for the regular courses when I started all of this. I hope that won't prevent me from getting the UC position since I plan to take the CCHS online course this fall (more indepth and the credit shouldn't hurt). Did I understand that you did have a full semester credit med. term. course at SPCC? I have applied to CHS and have heard back 2-3 times, but still nothing definite. They seemed very interested in my Spanish skills, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too soon. Would you mind telling me how long the process took from the time you first applied? I did the online application. Ok, your turn. Please let us know how you like working as a CNA. Lots of details please! (I forgot to mention that I'm registered to take CPCC's CNA course this summer, which is geared toward people entering medical professions.) Did you feel prepared for the job? Did they offer any additional training/orientation? I hope you and the family are doing well. We're catching up with everything while I'm off for spring break. Really needed the R&R, but I'll just be glad to get everything done before school starts back! Melissa- Let me know what pre-reqs you plan to take since I'm looking to do the same. I'm planning on CPCC due to the cost. Happy Easter to you both! Kathy

Wow! Your timing is so funny....our school is out tomorrow for President's day and I had already decided to check in with you and see how the new job was going. I just know you LOVE it! Life got very busy around here with grades due, parent conferences till late and family stuff too. Can't complain though, it's all good. Except my sweetie is sick this weekend. So I've been practicing my "nursing" skills...I'm most excellent at dosage calculations according to the Nyquil directions. Current careplan: Lots o rest, fluids, footrubs (doesn't help his headcold, he just likes it :) ) and keep him laughing so he forgets how bad he feels. So far, so good. As to other news, I finally found an online med. term. course that starts Feb. 23rd. Oh and I called about the test and they said it just meant you needed to have passed the final exam for the course. This one is supposed to include some Spanish which I thought was very cool. It's one of those Ed2go courses offered through many schools around here. Have you ever done this? Kinda confused, since I found out that Southern Piedmont offers it for $60 and CPCC for $80. I mean, am I paying $20 for the school name? They both send you to the exact same website. Only thing I can see is that CPCC is older and more stable. Maybe less conflicts with obtaining grades, etc. but who knows? Plan to register tomorrow so I'll check into both. Which reminds me. You've been so kind to answer my questions and share your exp. that honestly, I have SO many more it just seems rude to ask them. But, here it goes...just quit reading when you get tired... The current plan is the med. term., already studying for entrance exams, and want to do CNA, CPR, and possibly phlebotemy ASAP (figure the phleb. can't hurt and might pay for school, also great skill for a nurse, right?). Hopefully CNA & CPR over the summer (wish it were earlier), but next phleb. course seems to be in Aug. All of this depends on waiting lists, etc. of course. This is the dilemma---Do I have or can I gain enough skills to secure a job making "close" to what I am now, so that I can change jobs? (BTW, totally retorical question, not expecting you to solve that one!) The way all the courses are scheduled, it seems like I'll end up teaching another year just to be safe. I mean I don't want to take a chance on causing a financial strain just as we are getting OUT of debt (Whoo-Hoo!) Sorry, have to do a cartwheel everytime I say that. It's ugly and things get broke, but it happens. This is the upside: I could stop commuting an hour each way (I actually teach in SC) and most importantly would be working IN healthcare. The exp. alone seems worth it. If I have to sign another contract I'll have the security of the same paycheck, but I also can't make any real commitment to moving forward for a year. I can see working FT in the summer and maybe PT during school (tough w/the commute and the extra hrs. teaching requires), but man I hate that drive! The deal is that I have to sort this all out and have a job lined up by late March/early April (when contracts come out) that I can't even start FT until the end of May. Just seems very unlikely someone will go for that. So way too much thinking outloud....my current questions are: Why did you choose Presbyterian? Where did you take your prereqs? Did you have to take any entrance exams for CNA, nursing school? How were they? Do you know if the UC or the CNA job offer any benefits (esp. educational reinbursement) if your FT? Ok, way too much babble, but I guess I don't post much, so when I do, it's a doosie! To anyone who took the time to read the whole thing----Thanks for listening! Sandy, like I said, I feel guilty for abusing your kindness, but you're the only local person that responded and I just don't think the HR/recruiters would give me the time of day at this point. I like hearing about stuff from the folks livin' on the mtn., but where did all the local folks go? Feel free to ignore all this, but I insist on hearing how the new job is going and how you and your family are doing as well. Are the kids praying for snow tonight? How's school for you? Best wishes in ICU! Not so confused....more perplexed... Kathy

Where are all the CPCC folks??? I hear it's a great program and would like to find out more... Sandy, do you LOVE your program? Please share.... Working it all out... Kathy

I really appreciate the response. I'm still teaching (Spanish for 8 yrs. now) and need to make some decisions before the new contracts come out. I hope to find something where I can gain some experience while in school. However, since I haven't even started my pre-reqs., I realize that will be very difficult. I'm looking to take some med. term., CNA, and anything else I can this summer in order to increase my chances. I did spend the summer working as an admit. clerk in the ER of a small county hospital many years ago... (Loved the job, but doubt it counts for much now) and I do have a BA (in F.L.--useful maybe but doubt it will seal the deal). I would like to take the next phlebotemy course (Aug.) and use that to the pay the bills through school. However, I need something to make it the eight or so weeks of the course and longer if I get stuck on a waiting list. Of course, if the first thing works out (like UC) than I'll stick with that instead. I read a UC job description which only asked for "med. term." and must have passed the "test." Could you explain what "test" they mean? Is this some state cert. or something? Also, were you already taking nursing courses to be considered for this? Any details for how prepared you were, job description, etc. would also be appreciated. For instance, did they give you any training? This is much longer than I intended, but I guess I'm looking for some "words of wisdom" from someone who has been there. I noticed in a previous post that you also changed careers. I'll be 34 in Feb. and my MOST supportive husband says now is the time if I really want to do it. We've been married for 11 yrs. and are VERY stable. Sadly, we are unable to have any children, but it does mean that I have more time and don't have to make those hard choices. In other words, I feel really good about my decision, it's just the particulars of making it happen that keeps me confused...

Does anyone know of the pay rate for a unit secretary in the Charlotte area? Looking to work my way through ADN and gain some job related exp. Would prefer to do CNA, but it just doesn't pay the bills. Still plan to take the course and maybe do some weekend work just for the learning exp. I understand it will make a big difference for clinicals. I'm guessing the pay is about the same, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask... If you have any other info.... job details, other ideas, etc. I would really appreciate it. Trying to figure out this whole changing careers thing has kinda got me going in circles.

Hi! I'm just wondering if anyone knows what entrance exam CPCC is using? Is it the NET I keep reading about? If not, any advice on how to prepare? I would also like to know about the testing for CNA and phlebotomy. I noticed the test #'s were different. I just joined and haven't seen any specific info. for CPCC....yet! There's so much helpful information here! Looking forward to all the reading. Thanks in advance!