zephyr79

Definitely do a nurse extern program at your local hospital (externships are usally the summer before your last year in nursing school). Also if any of the hospitals offer scholarships apply to them, because they will most likely require that you fulfill at least a year at the hospital to "work off" the scholarship you received from them. It is a guaranteed job at graduation. I signed a 2 year contract with the hospital that I am externing at this summer. I am so glad that I did because now when I graduate next year all I have to worry about is passing boards and which department I want to work in. Good Luck on your journey.

I am graduating from an associates degree nursing program in Spring 2012. I have been offered a summer extern position for this current summer, however, the hospital that I am doing it with wants me to sign a 2 year work commitment contract. Before I decide to sign and commit to it I want to get an idea of what an acceptable starting salary is for new grads in the Tulsa/OKC areas. I use to work at a major hospital in Tulsa as a nurse aid back in 2008, and they started their new grads at $20/hr. Has this changed much? Thanks in advance to all that reply! I appreciate the info! Also is it a new thing that hospitals are having their externs sign contracts now? Thanks again!

ProudArmy, I sent you a private message let me know if let's you respond or not.

ProudArmyWife, I got accepted to OSU Okmulgee too! I can't wait to start in August!

AshDoll - Your welcome! It really does help to get information from the people then the schools sometimes. (obviously the schools are biased!) I am so fortunate that I found this site! I have gotten a lot of info off here about specialties, programs ect.. Yes, my friend did like the program she said totally intense but it really was worth it! If I had my bachelors in something else that is the route I would had taken! I will let you know how OSU is going! I am so excited to have been accepted to a program, and I feel very blessed to have been chosen out of the all the qualified applicants. We accepted 30 and I was told well over 100 apps! I wish you well on your education! Good Luck on whatever school you to choose to go to!

Try looking at American College Student Association. You have to become a member and then you can purchase insurance through them. It is through United Health Care Insurance and for me being over 30 It is roughly $1300 per year and the coverage is pretty good! pays up to 90% on most things!

I like OSU! Teachers seem to really care about their students classes are small and everyone gets to know everyone! I like a lot of people that are starting with me in the program! So it helps! Since you are getting your Bachelors in Health Care admin you may want to seek out OU Tulsa. They have an 18 month accelerated program for people that have a bachelors in another field. I knew a girl who did that and she said it is very intense, but if you commit can do it! OU Tulsa website has info about it and all the classes you need to get accepted!

Currently I drive 4 days a week, when I start the RN program in August I imagine it will be about the same. They also have dorms on campus (family and single) that you can live in if needed. OU Tulsa is a really good program from what I hear ( I have also worked with nurses that graduated from there) it is a BSN program and I am applying to finish My RN-BSN after I graduate from OSU. Not sure how hard it is to get into though. I do know that grades are really important and most people who get in have a science GPA of 3.5 or higher and overall GPA of 3.5 as well. Are you moving or just moved to Tulsa? Good luck!

Associate degree programs in Tulsa area are TCC, RSU - in Claremore, Connors in Muskogee ( they have an awesome pass rate), OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee ( not a bad drive, that is where I am going and drive from Tulsa) I think that is about it for associate programs. BSN programs in Tulsa are OU-Tulsa, TU, ORU, and Langston University.

I use to work there a few years ago and went through their program. Unless it has changed it is basically an in-house training program for their hospital specifically. you don't get certified to be a cna or pct. Again this is when I worked there back in 2008. In the interview you tell them your top 3 areas you want to work in like mother baby, med-surg, ICU ect... and they try to get you in there, but they also staff on the needs of the hospital. It is a good thing to do especially if you think nursing is what you want to do. you will know if you want to do it or not! I was paid while in training as well. I say go for it! St. Fran also has scholarships for RN programs that requires 6 month commitment for every semester funded. You don't have to be currently employed to apply for it either.

I am waiting to hear back from OSU Okmulgee, I was too late to apply to other schools for the fall so If I don't get in then I have to try for spring programs. I was told that OSU-IT may have a spring program as well and they had well over 100 apps and they are only accepting 30! The waiting is killing me too! May 1st is when they said we should hear something!

I am hopefully starting a program this fall of 2010. I have worked as a tech in peds oncology and med/surg. I really want to get into the ER first choice! I want: ER, PACU, PICU, PEDS, Oncology (adult or peds), NICU maybe: OR, any adult ICU, I don't want: Med/surg, geri, psych, L/d, mother baby, or anything that deals with child birth.

I started Micro this week! I really like my teacher! My book is microbiology and introduction by tortora, funke and case. I can't wait to really start learning this stuff!

Angel I think having had another career and being more mature makes us better than the younger ones! I get what you mean about wishing you had discovered this first, bc there are days I feel that! I wish I knew back when I was 22 what I know now! However, I feel that bc we had worked in different fields you really know what is you want and really do appreciate our jobs more than the younger ones who has no other experience. I also feel that having prior skills and education is a plus. In some fashion down the line it will become usefull. Such as dealing with different situations with co-workers, patients and the potential opps. I am considering doing travel nursing down the road and I think that my negotiating skills will insure that I get the best contract ect.. No education and experience is ever a waste!

I am 30 and in my last semester of prerequ's for the nursing program this fall. Before I changed careers I had worked as a retail manager for 6 years, insurance sales and Business to business sales. I have always loved science and never went on to finish my degree bc I never felt like anything was my calling. I always thought nursing was different then what it actually is and to be honest never though of myself as a "nurturing person"! So when the owner of the companny I was working for decided to close my branch I decided that I didn't want to go back into another job that I disliked! Took a cna job (huge pay cut) and had initially decided to go for radiology tech. But as I discovered the true meaning and feeling of it I knew this is what I wanted to do! So here I am changing careers to get my RN and I know that there is so many opp's at there for me know and I feel Like I can actually enjoy the rest of my life! So I do not regret leaving my field of work. I absolutely love working 3 12's it gives me time to pursue hobby's, travel and be with my family while feeling like a made a difference in someone's life instead of feeling stressed bc I didn't make my sales quota or pressure someone into buying stuff they don't need! I feel so blessed to have discovered this career!