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I have to reply to this post, since I do feel strongly. I guess I am one of the "paranoid" ones, but I feel like it is my duty to protect myself. I work in a Level I trauma center at a county hospital in a very large city that has very high crime rates that are only rising. We get psychs, custody patients from the prison and jail, and just down right crazies, including family members. When putting people in 4-point leather restraints and spit masks, and having to call security for people running around our campus with a knife becomes a daily basis thing, i feel I have the right to protect myself. And if that means my last name is covered up, and my badge is flipped around, then so be it. When I enter a patient's room, I will always introduce myself, and always state my purpose for being in the room. But as a human being, I too have worries about the people around me, and whats lurking in the parking lot when I return to my car after my shift has ended in the dark. I am also not the only one that feels this way in our department. The majority of employees will agree with me, especially the ones that have been threatened with death threats to themselves, or their family members. Yes, not all patients are capable of actually following through on these threats, but it only takes one. Call me crazy, but I think being "paranoid" is a good thing in my setting!

First I have to point out:"nursing is a simple career" Please please don't ever get that idea, that is the furthest from the truth. I am still a nursing student so I still don't know half of what RNs go through on a daily basis in their jobs, but I do know "simple" will cause an uproar. Just my opinion...anyways... I am currently in my final year of an ADN program, which will have taken me 6 years to complete. I want to make sure you understand that an ADN is NOT a 2 year deal. You have to take many prerequisites before you can even apply to an nursing program. In my case, my school takes 2-3 years for just the prereqs alone. I took 3 years because on top of the prereqs, I took transfer classes because I know eventually I am going to need my BSN. Then if you get into the nursing program right away, that takes another 2-3 years, depending on the school you are at. My program is a 3 year program...you are eligible to sit fr your NCLEX-PN boards after two, and the NCLEX-RN after the last year. So that is 6 years MINIMUM, that does not include being wait listed or denied from the program. Although I LOVE my schooling, and have had the greatest experience, I sometimes wish I would have gone the BSN route. The reason I went to my local community college is because my parents could not afford to send me to a university, but they make just above the cut-off amount for financial aid. You want my honest opinion? Research universities around you that have a BSN program, and find out all prereqs they require. DO THEM ALL at your local community college. This way, you save a ton of money on basic classes such as english, math, sciences (lots of sciences). Then when you have all your ducks in a row, you can apply as a transfer BSN student. You say you dont want to go into management. Think of it this way: You get your ADN, you work for a few years, then BAM! You hurt your back. You can no longer work bedside care. Yes, there are many ADN positions that you dont need to do hands-on care for patients, but if you have that BSN, your doors are open more than if you just have an ADN. I know not all hospitals are going this way, but a lot are starting to require at least a BSN. WHen I graduate in May with my ADN, there are many hospitals around my area (bay area in CA) that I can't apply to their new grad program because I won't have my BSN. Ex: Stanford, Lucille Packard, which I have dreamed of working at. I have applied to the RN-BSN program at a state universiy by me for Fall 2012, and if I go full time, it will take another year and a half. That is 7 1/2 years to get a BSN! And that is me working my butt off with over full-time units in school every semester for 15 semesters. Do you understand where I am going with this? Nursing school is hard, VERY VERY hard. You will have no time for family, friends, let alone your future bf/hubby. It takes pure dedication and commitment. If you're saying you don't like school, you might want to reconsider not going to nursing school, because it is school full speed ahead. Although your Mom sounds like she is trying to help you, there are NO JOBS right now for new grads. Maybe by the time you are finished, the economy will turn around, but people need to get off the idea that hospitals are screaming for nurses and pounding down new grad doors because that is NOT reality. Please don't let this deter you from your dreams. If nursing is truly your passion, I wish nothing but the best for you!

Hi all I will be starting my preceptorship for my last semester in April. When asked what unit I am interested in, I feel conflicted. I want to get the most experience out of it and learn as much as I can, I just don't know where exactly that is. Any advice? I am assuming answers will be ER or ICU, but can you tell me why? For you seasoned nurses: if you could do it all over again, what route would you go?

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Maybe I have my degree confused...I received an A.S. of Licensed Vocational Nursing. I just assumed an associate's was an associate's was an associate's. It was definitely not a certificate, as it is 3 years of pre-reqs. Its a 3 year "ladder-program" where the first 2 years is the LVN program, and a third year RN program. When I graduate next May from the third year RN program, I will then have the holy ADN? Not to play the ADN vs BSN game, but when I have been in clinicals at a few local hospitals, IN MY AREA, hiring managers have said they "prefer our school's ADN grads over our local BSN school's grads" because we have our hands on patients earlier and longer than them. I think its a matter of preference of the hiring managers, not that ADNs or BSNs are better than the other. At the end of the day, an RN is an RN.

I know they're different, I just meant I've heard people say those 2 departments are what people should precept in because there is so much to learn. I've had many rotations in both the ER and the ICU, enjoyed both, but how do I pick just one department for my preceptorship if I love it all? Lol! I just want to get, I guess you can say, the "most bang for my buck" type of thing, where I will learn the most, and even possibly have a higher chance of getting a job after graduation.

I live in the Bay area of California, and I actually just received my ADN from an LVN program...when I started my CC back in fall of 2006 after I graduated high school, my CC offered an Associates in Liscensed Vocational Nursing. I just graduated from my program in May and received my ADN. My school doesn't offer it anymore, only if you declared your major lvn before 2007.

I attend school in California, and just finished the LVN portion of my school's 3 year ladder program... you have to apply for the first 2 years, which is the LVN portion, then apply for the 3rd year which is the RN portion. There are 20 spots available for the 3rd year, and over 50 applicants, including myself, and my 6 other classmates. Long story short, I received a letter beginning of July saying I didn't get in for this Fall 2011 semester, but I have a spot for the Fall 2012 year. I was disappointed, I had a "feeling" I was going to get in the first time around. I eventually got over it, and embraced that this was how it was going to be. I would have a year to mentally prepare myself, take a few classes, work, and just relax. So, last week I went on vacation with my bf, and his family. While there, my phone started vibrating, and my bf said "Your school is calling". This meant one of two things: either I messed up my paperwork for accepting a fall 2012 spot, or I got a spot in the program. IT WAS THE LATTER! I was so excited! Someone apparently gave up their spot for this fall, and I was first on the list. But then it hit me. I wasn't going to get a year off to relax, its now full force ahead, I'll have to hold my breath for a year. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited, but my stomach turns thinking about it. So what I'm on here looking for...Advice? Words of wisdom maybe? Idk. I will have my preceptorship in the spring. I want to get the most out of that, so does that mean precepting in either ER or ICU? I know I should do what my heart is in, but I also want to do what will really hone my nursing skills and critical thinking. I loved L&D, and I loved the NICU, but I don't want to corner myself. Can someone tell me how I should be looking at this? Any advice is welcome

I just finished my program-tips from me? man oh man... *study hard, in groups if possible, but only if the group is productive. I had two groups i would study with. One moved too slow for me, but i felt like i actually learned. The other was more of a gossip sesh, moved at my pace, but i didn't retain. *do your reading-something i never did, and my grades suffered. *make friends in your program-i cannot stress this enough. The people in your class are going to be the ONLY people that truly understand what you are going through. You can vent as much as you want to your husband/family/friends, and they may say they understand, but trust me, they never will. You're going to make relationships with the people in your class that will be life long, and in my opinion, very very close. *if you can knock out readings before your program starts, do it! Its only going to benefit you. A lot of what you read wont make sense to you until you actually learn the world of nursing, but you will have that one-up. *be prepared for clinicals-have a med book, lab book, utilize txts books if you have a chance to look up pathos of diseases. *organization is key-use binders, colored tabs, anything to help you stay organized. *most importantly-take time for yourself. It is OK to take a break from studying and homework to enjoy your own time. A lot of the women in my class never did, and they went stir crazy because their only focus was nursing school. Your health needs breaks. Enjoy the last time you have until school starts, really enjoy it, because once school starts, your world is flipped and there is no looking back. Nursing school is challenging, but if its what you want, you'll love and hate every minute of it.

a b00b job lol;)

I am sure everyone has been in the same deal as me when you were in nursing school. My friends have seemed to "drift" away. Ive noticed less and less requests to hang out, and when I get an offer and have to turn it down, they're mad. I know school is my priority right now, but at the end of this, I'm hoping to not have severed all of my friendships. How do you really explain how demanding nursing school is? People that are not in nursing just don't seem to "get it". Should I just deal with it now, and find out who are my true friends by the end of this road? I hate feeling like I am being a bad friend, but I know I have my priorities straight.

I have been searching many scholarships offered to nursing students, and I have noticed that many require you to commit services to work for them if you are chosen as the winner. For example, there is a scholarship for nursing students wanting to work Peds, and in return to them giving you money, you are required to work as a RN for Children's for 18 months. Has anyone ever done this? would this work out in my benefit job wise, since nursing jobs are hard to come by these days? Are these paid services? Any help/suggestions would be awesome!!

I live in the bay area of california, and starting pay for a LVN is usually around $35/hr...RN starting pay is usually around $50/hr...its so crazy to hear wages being around 15/hr...that seems so low, but then I remember the cost of living is extremely high were I live.

I am currently in the 3 yr RN ladder program at gavilan, and the teachers are absolutely wonderful. They are helpful, but firm. They are all about quality, there is no cutting corners. The program is the toughest and challenging thing I have ever done in my life, but you learn a tremendous amount of information. Its great, hard...but totally worth it.