From55

That's what I was thinking...Experience makes a big difference in a NP, and you do learn a bunch in the first year of nursing in a bedside setting! But I was a bit rattled by what he stated! Thanks for your opinions :)

How important is it to get the first year of experience in bedside nursing for your career? If you do not have experience in an acute care setting, is it difficult to become a NP? I am asking because I am currently trying to choose between being a case manager (CM) and a nurse in an acute care setting (Stepdown unit). I unfortunately cannot do both, and my manager at the CM maintains that you do not need bedside nursing experience to become a NP. He stated that being a CM is the much better choice for experience and will help me to be admitted in NP programs. Any opinions in this?

Sorry to hear about today! Wishing you good luck for plan B!! :)

I applied to so many hospitals and havent heard anything back. But for sure im gonna apply all over CA once i get back from my much-needed vacation!! I was thinking to pass my boards first cuz the interviewing process stresses me out too much, and i cant focus on anything else...

Thanks so much for the help Neil!!! Hope to pass it when i take it next month!!

I would love some tips, PackersFan! I must admit im a bit discouraged after a few rejections and just decided to focus on passing my boards...

Congrats!!! Would love help if u dont mind! Email is [email protected] Thanks and congrats again :)

I wasn't chosen to advance to panel either...I think I'm just gonna focus on passing my boards for now. Good luck to everybody else!!! :)

I know Saddleback College in Mission Viejo offers a Perioperative Nursing class, but I'm not sure if it is exactly what you are looking for...Worth checking out though :) N 238 - Perioperative nursing theory and practice necessary for entry level into the operating room. Focuses on utilization of the nursing process to provide care for clients undergoing surgical intervention. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP60.

AAnderson, I did get your message but since I haven't posted more than 1 messages, I can't reply to you in a private message. I'm commuting from Santa Ana, taking the 405S to the 5S around 40 min. Do you have msn or aim? PM me if you wanna talk a bit more :)

Hey AAnderson, Did you attend the mini-orientation last Tuesday? What did you think ?? I thought that was a LOT of info as well as sounding like a HUGE workload awaiting us. Also, I tried pm-ing you but I can't find the link...

Hey AAnderson, You said you live in Costa Mesa, right? So how long does it take you to get to Saddleback? Do you take the 405? How is Pharmacology? I took it last semester at GWC and it was fairly challenging... Once I saw I got into Saddleback, I looked up some summer classes to get a head start but they were all full

I got my rejection letter today from GWC. Oh well, Saddleback here I come! Must study for the TEAS test though. Anybody else got news from GWC?

AAnderson: I accepted Saddleback because I don't want to wait for GWC and then find out I've been rejected. So I'm taking the TEAS test on June 2nd as well as the paperwork session. I guess I'll see you there! I am dreading the commute! But I'm happy that I finally get a start on this ! :nuke:

Thank you so much for replying guys! The deadline for accepting or declining Saddleback is in 2 days and I haven't received news from GWC...The end of June you say? That is so far! I am sincerely wondering which one to go to because Saddleback would mean a long commute for me (45 min each way) whereas GWC is 10 min away from me! AAnderson, what are you going to do? Accepting Saddleback? Are you prepared for the TEAS test?