jmh02s

Just wanted to update in case it helps anyone in the future. Received an offer from a well respected Magnet hospital and started last week. Sell yourself and your experience and don't feel pressured to spend money on a refresher course unless you feel you need to personally update your skills.

I specifically remember feeling things "click into place" 9 months into working as a new grad telemetry nurse. I still obviously had a lot to learn & never lost sight of that, but that time period was when I first felt truly comfortable and no longer like a silly noob. Always be willing to take advice, listen to any senior nurses/NPs/MDs/ancillary staff that are willing to teach, and take the time on your off days to look up information or conditions you are unfamiliar with. It takes time to build up that knowledge base & feel comfortable but we all can get there!

Have I ever had doubts about working in healthcare? Basically every single day. I got more respect as a waitress serving people buffalo wings than I do as an RN (i.e. waitress in scrubs) serving buffalo wings to hypertensive, diabetic patients because hey, gotta get those patient satisfaction scores ?

Does anyone have advice for returning to the hospital setting after a 4 year break to focus on raising family/finish Master's degree? I've been getting pushback that my experience isn't 'recent' enough (5 years of prior acute care hospital experience here). RN refresher courses seem like a pointless money grab so not too keen on that idea as it doesn't guarantee anything except a maxed out credit card. Any advice or feedback is appreciated! ?

So tired of these annoying clickbait articles about "nursing shortages." It makes me wonder what type of agenda they are trying to push when they publish these articles that are clearly not true?

Happy Holidays to everyone! Hope everyone had a great New Years, and best of luck to everyone for a successful and rewarding start to the school year and our careers :)

Just got my acceptance letter!!! So stoked about it! But ... as much as I'd love to attend, I don't know if it's just absolutely foolish to pay this much for my nursing degree! I would have to pay for EVERYTHING with private loans, ayyy. How do you guys plan to pay for this?! And does anybody know if they offer scholarships for the Accelerated program? I'm going to call on Monday and see if I can get any information. I've been accepted into a local community college, which obviously has much lower tuition, but I wonder if it really is "less expensive" in the long-run since I'd be taking a step-down to get an Associate's degree (my goal is to get my Master's), and it would then take me several years to work my way up to getting my Master's ... so confused about all of this!

MDCupcake- I'm turning my acceptance letter in for Accelerated this afternoon ... weirrrd that in a little over a year I'll be a legitimate nurse!! I know the program will be intense, but I know I can handle it ... I took 17 credit hours this summer and am taking 21 now while still working, so I know I'm prepared to give up my life for a year! I'm going to get the background check done in a week at North Campus ... did you need to bring anything besides an ID? Do they need past employer information, previous addresses, anything like that? (Just wondering because I'll have to search to find that info...) Have you gotten the TB vaccine yet? CPR certification? I'm so stressed with all these things I need to do, it seems near impossible to fit them in between work and school!

MDCupcake- I take it you're decided 100% to go Generic?? I'm still torn ... I'd kill for the Baptist Scholarship, not even for the tuition money, because I figure it'd be a wash since that money I'd save on tuition would go towards living expenses, but the guaranteed employment is clutch ... so still in limbo. As far as the financial aid: do you even need your parent's information? Are you classified as a dependent to them? I've been living on my own for the past few years, and whenever I filled out the FAFSA, I didn't need any of their information (I think it did ask for their names/phone numbers, but that's not "top secret" for us since you could find it in the White Pages, ha), but nothing further as far as income, SS#'s, etc. I agree with the mixed messages statement, but I think they really urge filling out the fin aid form because many people simply don't because they don't believe they will qualify. Let us know what you wind up doing!

MDCupcake - I'm really torn between Generic & Accelerated, too ... I can't decide if my 2 friends that are in the AO now are just being overly dramatic, or if it really is that intense/unbearable. I'm going to call to make an appt. to speak with a nursing advisor. Which program are you thinking about?? I love the idea of finishing sooner with AO, but don't want to risk losing my sanity & not passing the program. I have to think about finances, too ... I don't have family down here to live with, so every month I'm in school I'm still racking up bills (rent, car payment, cell phone, etc) & not having any income coming in. The way I figure it, if I do Generic, it'll cost me an extra $10k in expenses (I did a realistic budget in my head ... not fun.) in addition to the extra semesters tuition ... so many decisions!!! Side note - I think I was sitting in front of you at the meeting Tuesday! I just checked this site today, or I would have said hi. I was wearing a purple shirt, black 3/4 blazer, jeans & blonde hair :)

Yay, I got acceptance letters for both Generic & Accelerated today :) I was so pumped when I saw the big manilla envelopes in the mail today!

I just got acceptance letters for both Generic & Accelerated I'm not sure which one I'm going to do, so that'll be an open spot for somebody ... good luck all!

Congrats Navita!!! That is awesome ... and good to know the letters have at least gone out, so at least the waiting-anxiety will be over ...

I applied to Barry, but their Accelerated program that starts in January is already full, and I am NOT waiting around a year to go there (and take out a fortune in loans). I applied to a bunch of schools out of state.... I've been accepted to Drexel University in Philadelphia's accelerated BSN program which I'm really pumped about, but would have to take out probably about $60k in private loans by the time it's over. Eep. Obviously, I'd love to get into MDC since it's so inexpensive, but I have to be realistic here ...

I hate this waiting game!!! I applied for both Accelerated & Generic, and got the Scholarship letter. This really sucks waiting though! I've already been accepted to a nursing program (accelerated BSN), but it's at a private school so super expensive, and need to let them know pronto or I risk losing my spot ... grrr! I wish MDC would just send out the stupid letters & put us out of our agony!

Aww, I feel for you guys. I got the scholarship email, but who really knows if it means anything...?? I feel like I'm going to be one of the people that waits and waits and waits for weeks just to get a letter ... so frustrating! All I can tell you is that if there's a will, there's a way. There are so many other programs and options, don't sell yourself short. I understand MDC may be the most cost efficient & convenient program for you (myself as well), but sometimes you have to make sacrifices & work a little harder & adapt your plans. Have you looked into BCC? What about online schools, like Excelsior, Keiser, etc? I understand these schools are costly, but you have to look at any loans you take out as an investment that'll pay for itself over time - don't get scared by the initial sticker shock! You won't be the first person to take out student loans, and you won't be the last. Just take the time to look into other options... if you really want it, you have to make moves & go after it! Good luck :)

I got the email too ... I think they sent it to most, if not all, applicants, I know of a good handful of other people that got it, too...

3.6 for the 15.0 hours of science/ math classes for the accelerated option. I have overall 4.0 at Miami Dade (i'm taking pre-reqs to get BSN & applying to other schools as well). I had 3.2 for my undergrad BS degree.

I got that email today too, but I really don't think it means a heck of a lot. I have a 3.6 as far as the nursing program is concerned (for the 5 science classes), but a 4.0 overall at MDC. I'm applying for both Accelerated & Generic

Hey ... I got that email too ... I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but are you sure that means anything? I don't want to get my hopes up too high just to wait and wait and wait around until November to get the rejection letter. I think they might just send this email out to all the applicants... but please correct me if I'm wrong.

XLFord - thanks for the helpful answers! I know you mentioned you lived at home, but do you know where most of your classmates lived? What areas would you recommend? I see Stiles Hall mentioned a lot on here, but I cannot justify spending that much money on an unfurnished dorm room (but please correct me if I'm completely wrong!) Please excuse any stereotypes about Philly that may follow, or any misinformation, ignorance, and so on - I have only been to the city once when I was really young (but absolutely loved it)! I've heard Manayunk is a good area & fairly convenient to the school, and heard that Center City is hit or miss. Right now I'm living in Downtown Miami in the Financial District, so I'm certainly familiar with high cost of living to be in a big city, but want to know what I can reasonably expect ... In my area, you can find a good sized studio apt in a high-rise condo with gym, pool, parking spot in garage, doorman, very safe neighborhood, etc that you can negotiate down to about $1000-1100/month ... does this sound plausible? It's so hard to tell what is what just by looking at Craigslist without being familiar with the city! Also, just how bad is parking in the city? I hate the idea of parallel parking on the street (not very good at it...) - am I just going to have to deal with it?? I know in Miami to rent a spot it's approximately $150/month to get a spot in a garage; does that sound about right for Philadelphia? Thanks to anybody that has any insight on this and is familiar with the city!

Cocobelly - thanks so much for the reply! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow ... I really have my heart set on Drexel. I take it (from what I've gathered from your posts) you're starting in Spring '10? Have you figured out your living situation yet? I know it's months off, but I want to get everything squared away well before the program!

I have a quick question: I got my Transfer Credit Evaluation today, and everything seems to have transferred over, but I'm having a freak-out about my science classes. My A&P courses are only 4 credits, not 5 as Drexel says it requires (mine are 3 credits for each lecture & 1 credit for each lab) ... the letter has a line explicitly stating each must be the 4 hour class + lab ... has anyone else had this issue?!? I just got this letter & sent an email & will call tomorrow, but would love to hear if anybody else has had this issue ... I don't want to stop sending out my apps to other schools if this won't transfer ... and every local school down here in Florida only has the 3 + 1 credit hour A&P classes, so I'm pretty much out of luck if this is the case. I appreciate any comments/ help with this - thanks!!

LOL, well, I guess that's $25 down the drain ... do you know if that was the cut-off for both Generic & Accelerated?

Hey all, I applied with a 3.6 gpa in my science classes ... I know I probably won't make it in with those grades, but I'd be kicking myself if I didn't apply & found out that the GPA cutoff was lower this time around. The advisors told me the same thing, that the GPA cutoff is typically lower during the Spring, so gonna keep the faith! Let's keep each other posted if we hear anything!