mld1980

I applied!

wide-eyed- Take what a lot of posters say on here with a grain of salt. If it is something you are interested in, I would recommend talking to nurses in person or volunteering at a hospital. I used this site when applying for schools, but a lot of the time people are greeted at this site with condescension and bitterness. Like you I was a little nervous about some of the bodily fluids that come along with nursing, but the quickest way to get through that is with exposure, no pun intended :) Research different specialties of nursing and you might find one with a gross-out factor that you find more tolerable. Regarding your questions about caring, I think that is a major aspect of nursing. I mean, it is called health CARE. Again, maybe try volunteering. You may surprise yourself just how much you do care for people. I find it ironic when the OP asked a question regarding nursing and the aspect of caring, some of the responses were anything BUT caring (yet you all claimed it was necessary for nursing). I understand many of you have frustrations, but you are doing no one who is in nursing, or thinking about coming into nursing any favors by responses like that. It has become apparent to me that this site has become partly a place where nursing take out their own shortcomings and unhappiness with their jobs/life on others, and that is just plain sad. If you have a problem with nurses not caring for their jobs then attack THEM, not some anonymous poster on the internet. And for the last time, there is a nursing shortage, there is just not one NOW. Many of the schools are churning out new grads in preparation of that impending date of 2020 or whatever it is. What would be catastrophic to our health care is if nursing programs lessened their admission rates because some people can't find jobs right now only to find there are no nurses to help care for an aging population. There ARE jobs, you just have to be more diligent and flexible about finding them (like with ANY field right now). All that being said, I'm pretty sure I'm done with this site. All this negativity is disheartening.

Hello- I am attending an accelerated BSN program starting in the fall. Right now I have been waiting tables part time for some cash, but I will be quitting in the next couple of weeks. Ideally, I'd like to work part-time as a lab tech to get my foot in the door, but I have not started nursing school nor do I have my CNA. I've contacted the VA about their tech positions and if a CNA is really needed, but other than that I have no idea if any hospitals are still hiring externs. Any hospital employees know of any programs in their hospitals that hire student nurses? I am also thinking about ACR Homes and just volunteering. Anything that might get my foot in the door. What do you guys think?

I had a 2.9 undergrad GPA, however I took 37 credits before applying to all my schools (total of 11 classes) and received straight A's in all of them--bringing up my GPA to around a 3.2 cumulative. I had approximately 125 volunteer hours at a hospital, a reference from my volunteer coordinator, and a reference from each my biology and microbiology professors. I got into 3 ABSN programs, waitlisted for 2, and denied for 3 (the 2 I were denied to were all state schools, and probably what I originally considered the "easiest" to get in to. The 3 schools I did get into all offered interviews). I don't think the B would hurt you, but the C might. I would retake it, if possible.

Looks like I'm going to accept my spot at the U. Not very happy about living another winter here, but I recalculated costs and turns out I'll be saving close to $30K, possibly more from all the interest I would accumulate with larger loans. Just not worth it for the same education. Does anyone know anything about financial aid? I saw there were some scholarships offered. Are we considered grad students? I'm hoping yes so we can get grad student financial aid (less private loans!)

I hear you on both points!

Molly- it's nice to hear someone in the same boat as me. I've spoken with several of my friends, some who are RN's/NP's and some who are just in the health industry...EVERYONE said go get my RN where it is cheapest as I'm going to be taking tons of loans out to get my DNP or CRNA. I don't think I'm going to get any lesser an education at the U vs. Duke so I guess I'm back in the Minnesota boat (which is the boat I was in about 6 months ago). It's a huge relief knowing I don't have to pick up and move in a few months across the country AGAIN. However, I'm jonesin' to leave Minnesota as soon as I graduate (hopefully the west coast!)

My email was addressed to me personally. I received it at 8:45 am, and the email was from the admissions coordinator. You're way more patient than I am! Good luck to you.

Maybe call?

So I already found out I got into an awesome ABSN program at a very reputable private institution. Tuition looks like it's going to run me around $60K. However, there is the possibility that if I work at the hospital associated with the university after graduation that I would be reimbursed for a very large portion of my tuition. I just found out today that I got into the really competitive masters program in the state where I reside. It's an identical program to the ABSN program at the private school, only the state school terms it a "masters" program--note:it's not an direct entry masters program. They both provide me with 15 hours or so of masters level credits and if I choose, can go on to puruse my DNP, yet the state school tuition is less than half the cost of the private school tuition Now I've read many many posts about people with ASN's saying that you should go wherever is cheapest to get your RN. However, I plan on going on to get my NP or CRNA after I work for a couple years. Would a brand name school offer me ANY advantage during the application process and/or trying to find a job? I'm willing to look out of state upon graduation for an RN job, so I'm wondering if the brand name will help me in that respect as well. Thanks in advance!

Honestly I have no idea. I have a few decisions to make. Duke is more expensive, but they provide tuition reimbursement if you work at the hospital after graduation. It's pretty much the same program-both provide me with masters level credits and are the same length. There is just the initial $20K difference in cost. Also, I wouldn't have to move across the country to go to the U, which is nice as money is mildly tight right now as I am trying to save as much as I can. It just seems a lot easier to go to the U, but I don't want to make a decision just because something is easier....sigh. Also, while I just moved back to MN and don't really have a lot of friends here anymore, the rest of my family is here, which is nice. I know this sounds horrible, but I was mildly hoping to get denied so the decision would be made for me. I know, tough spot to be in, right?

Did anyone else hear? I received an email this am saying I was accepted!

I think it's a good sign too :) Actually my interviewer has me reconsidering this program again! I'm tired of MN weather, but it's about $20K cheaper than Duke!

Had my interview this morning. I think it went well, but who knows really? Everyone else had their interview?

I got an interview too!