beautsbelle

Hello! I am looking to start an RN to BSN program online. I have 2 schools I am looking at. Chamberlain and Aurora University. Both are 100% online programs. If you have taken an online RN to BSN program, what made you choose the school you did? How long did it take you? Were you happy with the program? If you could go back and pick a different school, would you? I am in the process of having my transcripts evaluated to see what my individual needs are and I am excited to get started. I have got my 2 children through college and my husband will be completing his degree in the next 2 months (never say your too old for school!) and it is time for me to get back to the books and get my BSN. Maybe one day an MSN?? DNP?? They really mean it when they say we nurses are lifelong learners! I welcome your thoughts! Thanks!

Thanks! I will try that. I do usually wear skin colored bras, but you can see my pants at my waist through the white top, and I am a bit on the modest side, and you can see my belly button and I just wanted to cover it up a bit. I'd have rather had blue tops and white pants if you can believe that.

Hello everyone, The hospital where I work has chosen to have their nurses wear white scrub tops and Navy bottoms. I love the look, very crisp and easy to identify nurses vs CNA's or housekeeping. Patients seem to like it as well. I am having a problem with some of the white scrub tops out there, being too shear. I am a warm person by nature and being menopausal is not helping me either. But the thicker material is too hot for me, and the thinner material is really see through which I do not like. I am trying hard to find a Plus-Size Camisole that is not tight or form fitting. I just want something that is thin and loose that I can put under some of the thinner white scrubs. You would think that would be easy to find, but I can't come up with anything that does not have a bunch of bows on it, or is designed to make a plus sized woman "thinner". I need comfort. Does anyone layer their scrubs with a camisole? Is there a brand you use? Or a web site you can direct me to?

Do be careful with it. Mine is missing and I miss it SO much! I had my name engraved on it, so I hope it just was borrowed and will turn up soon. If not, I will have to get another one as the sound is SO nice.

I took Kaplan, and my score from the diagnostic to the readiness test did not change. I got EXACTLY the same on the two tests. I was a bit upset, and the instructor told us that the readiness test is actually harder than the diagnostic test, so improvement or staying the same was OK. I am not sure how this is an accurate measurement of how we did, but this is what I was told. This being said, I did already test and I passed with 75 questions. I did think that learning how to pick apart the questions was extremely helpful. Good Luck on your test!

I graduated from a Technical college in Wisconsin. We were taught how to give blood, as well as how to start an IV and how to draw blood. Most of our teaching was in the lab, but we did get practice during our clinical time at the hospitals. Hope this helps.

I passed with 75 and thought for sure I failed BIG TIME. I got a bunch of SATA, so I sort of thought maybe I was doing OK. I tried the 'trick' about an hour later, and I couldn't get to the credit card screen, so that made me feel better. Got my results on the 2nd of July (tested June 30th). Hope this makes you feel better. But if you haven't tried, try the 'trick'. It might rest your heart to at least have an answer that way.

Are you afraid you will miss the call? Do you have an answering machine or voice mail that you can check from work with a password? Just a thought. Then if they called, you could ask to take a break and return the call.

I can sit here and tell you "don't worry", but I was in your shoes a week ago.... so I won't even say that, because I know how I felt! I felt the same way when I walked out after 75 questions. I wanted to cry, and I am not big on crying, so for me to feel that way is HUGE. I think I had a good handle on maybe a handful of questions. I was so scared. I did try to re-register to take the test again, and according to the "trick", if you can not re-register, you passed the test. Well, it would not let me register, and I did find out that I passed. The wait is awful. What is worse is knowing that the computer KNOWS if you passed before you get the exit questions. Wouldn't it be nice if the computer could flash you a smile or something if you passed before it shut off? One thing I tried to remember... the test is over. Worrying will not change your results. Treat yourself to something nice and before you know it, you will have your results. (I suggest reading some fiction for fun and a nice ice cream cone or sundae......yummmm). I wish you all the best!

I just put in a blind call to a LTC facility this morning, and the nursing director called me back and I have an interview scheduled on Tuesday. Farther than I have gotten in DAYS of internet applications..... so there might be some hope! She sounded awesome and I can't wait to talk with her.

My personal favorite question Name 10 things you can do with a watermelon BESIDES eat it agghhhh!

I had hoped the same thing. I now have a license in hand, but no offers . But I just keep filing out apps and I am sure something will come up! Good Luck!

LOL, true, but RN's with jobs supervise MA's. Just talking out loud. I just need to work. I feel like I am loosing my mind filing out applications and in 30 minutes getting a 'no thanks' email. Agghhh.

i would just make sure you have a great resume, a few clinical anecdotes about your experience and a list of references. i think that is really all they are asking for. best if luck to you!

I am actually considering applying to other positions. Sad to say, but this is not a good time to find a job in any market. Heath care is not excluded. I wonder, can I apply for an MA position? (Medical Assistant).

I don't think they will wonder. A license is a license. I would just say that you took some time to study and such. I don't think there is any way they can find out how many times you took the test. Plus, it is a difficult market right now. I don't think anyone would bat an eye about the length of time from graduation to now. Maybe others have different advice??

I'm in the same leaky boat. Applying since January EVERYWHERE, and nothing. I do have a license number now, and that is not even helping me. I live super close to the Illinois line, but I am only licensed in WI. I am going to send in the paperwork to get an IL license as well, because I am not getting anywhere up here. I do say that my biggest regret is not working during school. I know most of our class had jobs before finishing school, and those jobs turned into RN positions for them. But I keep plugging along. Something has to turn up. Might not be what I want, but I will take it, learn from it and make it what I need it to be! Much luck to everyone searching!

Grrr. I just typed a reply and POOF! It was gone! Okay, here it is again. I have been looking for a job since the first of the year. I have had one interview and that was for a position that had well over 50 people apply, and many in house grads apply also. I believe it was for 5 positions, so I did not get that job. I have been filling out apps on line, and not even getting a phone call back. I am not sure if others are doing better going in to HR or not. I am curious to see other replies on that. As for telling them you tested twice, why would you tell them that? You have your license now, why would that matter? We had a funny saying when we got depressed about not getting a good grade on a test in nursing school. C = RN Meaning: Yes, we might not have done well on that test, but even if we got all the way through nursing school with a C average, we still could pass, and we could still sit for the NCLEX and we could still be a NURSE. I'd not mention it, but that is just my 's worth.

Funny you mentioned a job fair. I went to a nursing conference, and there were SCADS of hospital recruiters there, and they all said the same thing... here is our info, but we are not hiring right now. So I am left to think, you killed how many trees to make these pretty folders and packets of info to pass out to prospective applicants and you have NO jobs? Agghhhhh

I have to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful posters! I have spent the last little bit reading these, and I was not even worried that I was not 'job hunting' for a few minutes. Thanks for the diversion! I do hope that you come up with more! This was a great thread!!

Thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and called one of the places, and person is on vacation (so that is why I have not gotten the "no thanks" email!), and then as I sat down and read this thread, I received an email "thanks, but no thanks" to another position I applied for. sigh. I guess I will keep looking!

Hello All, I posted a question under the 'career' listing, but did not get any replies, so I thought I'd post a note here and hope to get some thoughts. For those who have positions, what kind of follow up did you do after completing an on-line application? Did you call them? Email them? I am having a hard time, as many of the positions I have applied for have a thank you screen that comes up after you hit 'submit' and it basically says, 'don't call us, we will call you if we are interested'. So what do I do? Do I call anyhow, and if I do, will that look like I can't read or follow simple directions? Or do I call and make sure they know I am interested? And another question, when you call and follow up, what exactly do you say?? I am new to this whole job search thing, and I am not sure what to say or do. Thanks so much in advance!

In nursing school, our nails had to be fingertip length ONLY, and we could wear clear or natural colored polish. With that being said, there were several students that had acrylic nails. YICK. We also had a couple of students that would sit during lecture and bite their nails.... another YICK. Can you imagine the germs?? That is the one thing that truly grosses me OUT. You know what you touch, and if you touch it, someone else has had their hands on it..... Can you trust that they washed their hands recently? Or after using the restroom before they touched your desk? ACK. No thanks!

I have a question and could use some help. Now that just about everyone uses the computer for applications in my area, I am confused. Is there an appropriate way to 'follow up'? Do you send an email? Do you call? The vast majority of the places I have applied have a disclaimer that comes up and says, to the effect of : We thank you for your application and rest assured, you will be contacted if we want to follow up with you. Basically they are saying, don't call us, we will call you. I can't seem to find a job, and now I am wondering, SHOULD I just go ahead and give them a follow up call anyhow? Or will that make me look like I can't read? (for those who's site said not to call). I realize there is a high volume of applicants for nursing jobs in my area, so they have their pick, and that is great for them. I just don't want to miss out on an opportunity because I did not call and have it look like I am not interested in the position. Thanks for your ideas and thoughts!

If you are a nervous test taker like I am, be careful with the "big breakfast" :grn:I'd try something light! Good Luck!