nvsmom

As far as jobs, the program I was referring to which had students from the previous graduating class...about 50% of the graduating class within 1 month after graduation and taking the NCLEX had full-time job with most beginning at $46 an hour. This school has a great rep with hospitals and is a BSN program.

The med-surg floor and the hospital I worked at...same as my colleagues had a max of 4 patients. There is a law in CA that prohibits someone from taking more than 4 patients during a shift.

There are houses in Cali that you can buy for 200k-300k. And there are places to rent starting at $600...and they aren't in the slums either. If you want to be able to afford living in Cali and working as a nurse...you can look for job in Northern California..where it is more affordable. And I'm talking about past the Bay area. Do you REALLY need a home that costs 750k? I mean, c'mon, really. Common sense...choose to live within your means.

I think the thing to take into consideration is yes, cost of living is high in California, but there are families who make $40k or even people who make 30k and are doing ok. You choose to live within your means or the glamorous life. My sister works and lives in the Bay Area and earns $46k (not nursing). She's single and shares a condo with 2 other roommates. Each pays $700-something for rent and they split utilities. She uses BART, saves, eats out and still manages to take several trips a year. I wish nurses in every state gets paid more! For the work that's done, they all deserve it! I can't believe some states pay less than $20 per hour.

It's very possible, but depends on where you are working. I know states that have an active union pay nurses very well. Here in California, a new graduate with an associate's degree or bachelor's can make $46 per hour..starting! Now imagine if you figure shift differential or holiday/overtime pay into that. Getting paid that amount and working full-time will earn you a little over 88k a year. Work some holidays or pick up 1 or 2 overtime a month and you will be well on your way making more than 100k a year. In the Bay area in Cali, I've known some nurses making almos $60 an hour starting. Some people may say the cost of living in California is high so that explains why they pay a lot, but really, living in California is not bad at all. So in Cali, a new graduate with no experience can make 100k a year.

I may be applying...I think the personal essay/goals will play a very important factor.

wow, several nursing grads shared with a nursing program I was in that they are starting out at $46 per hour plus shift differential, etc. This is in Cali. A lot of RNs with ADNs are making almost 100k a year! Many in their first year!

There seems to be no difference in the Math subject when it comes to TEAS IV or V. English and Reading are the subjects that are different from each version. It would be nice if the test included several basic and simple algebra problems and have the rest be conversions and dosage calculations, how to read a medicine bottle label, etc. But like I stated earlier, there is a big difference when it comes to the English and Reading section, TEAS IV vs TEAS V. I scored in the 90s and 100 when it came to the TEAS IV in this area, but in the low to mid-70s when it came to the TEAS V. Scored pretty much the same when it came to math and science. I used to the TEAS IV score for applying to a nursing school, and I'm glad to say I've been accepted into a BSN program. I begin this January!

Yes, look on page 10 or 11 from this thread. BTW, congratulations!

Are you taking the class with SMU? When I asked about my prerequisites that I still had left to take, which were Patho and Pharm, L. told me they must be completed by August 31. When I spoke with someone at the Oakland campus they told me if I plan to apply closer to an application deadline but have 1-2 classes I still have to take which can't be completed before the certain prereq guideline, that it's ok as long as those classes are taken with SMU. I looked at the past academic calendars and it looks like the spring classes typically begin a couple of days after January 1! I always thought it was mid-January.

what prerequisite are you missing or is it still in progress?

I think there are 40.

Just looked at this older post...I agree. Just because you have a high GPA or high test scores doesn't mean you will definitely get in and if you have a lower GPA or TEAS score doesn't mean you won't get in. I have a higher GPA in my last 60 than my science prerequisite GPA. I believe my letters of recommendation helped...a former professor that I took a 6 week anatomy and a 6 week physiology class with over summer 2010 submitted one and so did a former co-worker of mine...I worked for a community college. I was looking back at the essays I submitted and believe that helped me out a lot.

That's great! I'm glad everything is working out for me...so thankful I'm going to Sacramento!

I think there a several people who didn't receive calls, but emails. I was reading over some older posts in different threads and I'm under the impression that the email is the official notification and includes the letter of intent. I'm so glad I got in. My son told me he's so proud of me...what a great feeling! To anyone that received an email, did it state what campus you're accepted into in the email? This definitely was a long process. My journey started in 2009. Either campus is fine with me..but if I have to go to San Mateo, I'm driving. Yes it will be rough, but I have to make sure my kids are alright and that my son is doing well in school. If I need to crash somewhere for a night, I can at my sister's place. She lives in Oakland and works in SF. But I pray it's Sacramento...weird it didn't say in my email. But my email was from ------. I'm sending my deposit and letter of intent as soon as I find out. (Monday, I hope.)

Well...I was bummed the past few days because I didn't get in this one school I applied for and I didn't get a call from SM. I was waiting for a rejecting letter..but then checked my email 5 minutes ago and found out I was ACCEPTED!!! :-D Funny thing though, in the email it didn't state WHERE I am accepted (either San Mateo or Sacramento) but ------, who's over in Sac, emailed me the letter. So since she emailed me, does that mean I'm accepted into Sac?! That would be a great arrangement for me since I live 45 mnutes away and my parents are here to help me with my 2 young children. But If I'm going to the San Mateo campus, that still is not bad since my sister lives in Oakland. I'm just glad I got in!! My hard work and perseverance paid off. I've been through so much in the past 4 years, going through a divorce, raising 2 kids on my own, and wondering how would I provide a good life for them. All I can say is thanks to the Man above for His favor!!

I think you can get a good deal if you buy it on the ATI website with the practice tests as a packaged deal. If you look online at places like Amazon, Half or Alibris..even eBay, you will find people are selling it for more than what it cost on the ATI website.

I don't believe this is true. I've always done well in English and Literature. I didn't study for the TEAS IV at all and received nineties and one-hundreds on the English and Reading sections. When I took the TEAS V, I scored in the seventies. The tests are very different..with the exception of math and science. For the math part, I'd suggest studying from the manual and online tests. For science part, I'd suggest studying the manual, too. But learn the concepts and processes, not just definitions. Just because you don't do well on the TEAS doesn't mean you won't make a great nurse. There are nurses who ace their exams and classes when it came to their prerequisites, but cannot apply what they've learned on the floor. I've even seen nurses that don't know how to deal with people well. And quite frankly, if how you react online to the opinions of people who are trying to encourage other people is how you react in real life, I think you should contemplate if you have the understanding, patience, and tolerance to be a nurse.

just took it today. I believe if you study the science in the study guide and purchase the practice tests, you should do alright. I was surprised at how LOW my English and Reading scores were. I didn't even study the TEAS IV, and received 90 or better on the English and Reading sections. On the TEAS V, I was getting low 70s.

Wow, thanks so much for your replies everyone! I will definitely continue to think about Pharmacy school and probably even law (have been interested in a while). I think the possibilities are endless! Dream_Nurse2B, I would like more information about how your friend established a home health agency. But for now, I will try to Google some information. Thanks for the insight. Any more information will be appreciated.

so one couldn't work both as a nurse and a pharmacist?

Can you become a nurse and pharmacist AND work both jobs? Different times, of course!

I've spoken to my advisor several times, but the best way I am able to reach her is through email. She always responds to my email within 72 hours, but mainly within 24 hours.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/28/japan.tsunami.hospital/index.html?iref=obinsite what would you do in this situation?

I've applied to many schools since 2008 (for other degrees besides nursing) and to being my nursing prerequisites. I have a Bachelor's and each time I've applied for financial aid, they told me I do not qualify for a Pell Grant because I have a Bachelors. On the official ed.gov website, it states: "Pell Grants are awarded usually only to students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree." Source: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html And there's only one exemption I've heard about, if you're enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification or licensing program. Your friend might want to check with your financial aid office, because if the gov finds out, they will make her pay all of it back! I was also told by a financial aid officer who almost gave me a Pell Grant even though I wasn't eligible. I told him I already have a Bachelors. He then stated he's glad he told me because if my application was to be requested for verification or they found out, I would have to pay all of it back.