KSRN2b

Wonderful thread--hysterically funny! I'm 2nd semester NS trying not to be too much of a doofus at clinical. So much to remember and perform correctly and I'm not even in the hardest part of NS yet! This thread was as instructive as any lecture and very therapeutic to boot. :w00t: THANKS!

P.S. I get that some of the posts were serious. Just love the hysterically funny reactions.

I'm a 1st semester nursing student. Everyone who posted in this thread--thank you so much for the huge belly laugh :lol2::lol2: Have you thought about taking your show on the road? :yeah:BTW, I'm certain everything you posted here is true. Who could possibly make this stuff up?

Hannahjean5, I'm in the Midwest and started in my program last August. Can't believe how much has happened in just 2 months. Phew! Agree with Ilovetorun--hope you have time and energy for a vlog. If you do, all the power to you. Let us know and will check it out. Anyway, mostly I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance! :balloons:

ruby, xtxrn started a thread today just like that. is titled what have your co-workers done to make a shift go more smoothly? is good! see it at https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/what-have-your-631985.html

Xtxrn, your comments make sense. It's a complex business we're in and with lives at stake. I figure my best bet on the "nurses eat their young" thing is to make sure I've got my thick skin suit on each day, focus on becoming a competent nurse (requires assertiveness, and a willingness to ask for help, accept and apply feedback), know my own skills and limitations, pull my own weight as much as possible, and appreciate whatever assistance/mentoring comes my way.

All I can think as I read the horror stories described in this thread is (and I believe them), WHY do nurses eat their young? What is the point of it? I'm a nursing student and would love to understand WHY, seriously.

OP, I agree with other posters and summed up well by JenniferSews. If you start with an unreasonable expectation BEFORE you've started working for them, what's next? Right now the expectation is just unreasonable and unprofessional. Hate to think of the possibilities around the corner. Unsafe? Be careful not to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. JMO

This is posted under Kansas Nursing Program Discussions but I think belongs elsewhere? Not sure we're talking about Kansas, maybe Kentucky?

Hi Gal 2:20, no. didn't work out for me to do after all. Have to take a couple of courses this summer in prep for nursing school in the fall--ADN program at KCKCC. Kansas College of Nursing is definitely where I would have gone if I'd had the time. Good luck!

INFP and INFJ are abbreviations for two of 16 personality types associated with the Myers-Briggs personality profile. More info on this at http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/. FYI--not to be confused with personality disorders! Just saw that others have answered this question. Would delete but don't know how.

Good to hear! So far all thumbs up on this program. :)

Congratulations jillianbeans!

OlatheJessica, great to get your feedback! Helpful info for me and I hope others. JCCC classes are the least expensive (from what I can tell) but very difficult to get into. They seem to fill up in the first minute after enrollment begins. Helpful to know of a viable alternative in Johnson County.

I know it's my second time posting on this thread, but have to say I just keep loving it! I'm a social worker now and start nursing school in the fall (can't wait!). I've worked in nursing homes in various ancillary capacities (kitchen help when I in my early 20s, geripsychiatric services as a social worker) and loved the environment. Also, my father was in a nursing home for the last 4 years of his life (brain tumor). Is hard to see the stigma associated with living in a nursing home and working in one. The people who cared for my father were the absolute best. It eases the sadness when compassionate and skilled carers are involved if your loved one is not able to be cared for at home. These days one can't stay in a hospital for any length of time, even after surgery. Aren't more people recovering short-term in nursing homes? I still don't know all the step-downs but do believe nursing homes are the place you go if you aren't ready to go home safely even with home health. Would love to hear others' thoughts on this and to hear any expected trends with nursing home usage related to health care reform.

OP and all who have responded, thanks so much for a delightful "other" view of LTC besides the negatives. Enjoyed reading this.

Edewalt, I am not very familiar with NAU. I understand it is really expensive, so I opted not to pursue for plan A or B. It may work well for you and your circumstances. The best of luck to you!

IMO, it depends on how much time you have. I had to work FT while taking pre-reqs (just finished up and getting ready to enter nursing school in the fall). I did 5 hr chem course last summer. Was very intense to work 8 hours, commute 2-1/2 hours a day (my work is 1 hour away and class was at comm college's most remote location in another direction), attend class and lab from 6-9:30pm 4 nights a week and find time to do readings, assignments, and prepare for weekly tests. Oh and I'm a single mom with 2 teens at home. I worked my rear off for that A and my family sacrificed too. It helped that instructor didn't keep us the entire time every day. Micro will be as demanding with lecture and lab, and Algebra will likely have lots of homework too. You might be able to do if you are a self-starter, an independent student, pick things up quickly, and can devote all the time you need to succeed. I suggest weighing out carefully your ability to make the grades you need for GPA since it is such a big consideration with your nursing school application. Best of luck to you!

tly74, you can do it! Hang in there and report back when you hear your news. Sending lots of kind thoughts your way. I remember how hard the wait was! :hgu:

tly74, I get your degree of nervousness. Was same for me. Your total points and scores look impressive to me, but I'm not familiar with the program you applied to. How competitive is it? Have you heard anything about points and scores for other applicants? How many slots are there? I was every bit as nervous as you while waiting between the time I submitted application (1/31/11) and received notice 3 days ago. (I was accepted! Time to celebrate! :balloons:) You'll find ways to cope and the time will pass. I kept visualizing myself as receiving the packet with a letter starting with "Congratulations!", me in nursing scrubs and stethoscope around my neck, me in clinicals, etc. It really helped. I also started making preparations that I could move forward on in the event I was accepted. What classes (if any) to take this summer? FAFSA application. Good luck! You'll find a way to get through the next couple of months and hopefully you will get the best news possible! :yelclap:

Thanks OP for starting this thread. Love hearing ideas about preparing for first semester of nursing school. I will take Health Assessment class to prepare for Fall (and lighten Fall load), clean house inside out, pay ahead on bills, set up time management plan, get finances/loans in order, arrange part-time employment with current employer, etc. I also hope to have at least a weekend of JUST ME WITH NO RESPONSIBILITIES OR CONTACTS WHATSOEVER (this means no kids, pets, ex-husband, extended family, friends). I will go to a hotel if necessary. Good luck to everyone!

Edewalt, sorry you didn't get the news you were hoping for. Am impressed with your graciousness toward your fellow posters after they were selected for interviews and you weren't. All I can say is WOW! Not everyone would be so generous with their well-wishes under the circumstances. I strongly encourage you to look around at other programs in the metro KC area (if you haven't already) and see which ones might work for you. If you want your RN (not BSN) and are trying to keep costs down to a minimum, consider other community colleges like KCKCC, Penn Valley, Neosho County Community College (they have classes in Ottawa and clinicals even closer), and Fort Scott Community College (they have classes in Paola). Many start two cohorts a year instead of just one (like JCCC). You can look at private technical schools in the area as well--pricier but an option. I have not heard good things about Brown Mackie. I met a nursing student from Concorde Career College about a year ago and she really liked that program. I am an MSW-level social worker living in JOCO and making a career change to nursing. Have been taking pre-reqs (have a BS but sciences way too old so had to re-take) at KCKCC. Did not have a good experience at JCCC for my first pre-req class, made the change to KCKCC, and have never looked back. KCKCC has been GREAT! I just received word this week that I was accepted into their Fall 2011 cohort. Is harder to get in there if you don't live in WYCO or Leavenworth County but is doable. My undergraduate GPA is 3.56 (they don't count graduate credits into GPA at the ADN program level) and my TEAS score overall was 88.7%. I can't speak for the other ADN programs I mentioned, but I know people who have attended Penn Valley and Neosho County. Both couldn't say enough good things about the programs. Keep your chin up! The very best of wishes to you!

My 2 cents worth for this situation-- I agree with other posters that the reported situation doesn't add up. Something is missing. That said, I'm a social worker turned pre-nursing student so can help with the CPS issues. I've never worked for CPS but have had to make calls, have worked with families involved with CPS and have some knowledge about how CPS works (at least in Kansas and Missouri). I have heard of calls that had no basis to them and went nowhere. I've also heard of cases (and I bet some of you readers have too) where no one made a call despite horrendous things happening to a child(ren) for a prolonged period, even though people had suspicions. In answer to some of the questions in this thread: #1: Most (if not all) states have laws that protect mandated reporters from retaliation because otherwise (as another poster pointed out) people would hesitate to make the call. #2: Mandated reporters can be criminally charged for not reporting suspected A/N. They can also lose their licenses to practice (if they are licensed). #3: The only way a child can be removed from his/her parents' care (e.g., kept in the hospital against the parents' will) is either if the child is placed in police protective custody or with a court order from a judge. CPS workers don't have the authority themselves. Does a physician or hospital? I've never heard of it and I've worked as a social worker in a children's hospital. #4: CPS calls are supposed to be anonymous but there is still no guarantee that you as a caller will be able to remain so. There is always the possibility that the person you call about will figure out or learn that it was you who made the call. It happens more than you think. I am also a parent of 3 and have had to deal with the other end of this once (and that was enough!) When my son was 9, he was hit in the jaw with a softball accidentally while he and his dad were practicing throwing the ball in the backyard. My son's jaw hurt a great deal so we went to the ER to get checked out (the right thing to do). The nurse and doctor said they needed to talk to my son, myself, and his dad separately to ask each of us what had happened. I knew exactly what was going on. I knew they were doing their jobs and it was a good thing because kids need to be protected. I also knew no one had done anything wrong in my family's case. No call was made in our case--I guess nurse and doctor were satisfied with our reports (which they should have been) and medical exam didn't reveal anything of concern. I felt vulnerable nonetheless. It's just unpleasant when it happens. Period.

Awesome article full of straightforward advice! I am a pre-nursing student, awaiting news of acceptance into ADN program for Fall 2011. Timing of this article is perfect. OP, thanks for taking the time to share! I will pass along to all my pre-nursing friends. Would also be interested in an article about surviving as a new grad. Any thoughts on writing one? :yeah: