texcat

Hi y'all, I am a newly graduated nurse with a BSN. I have worked in research and research administration for the past 10 years. I just completed the accelerated BSN program and attempted to find some sort of ER or OR nursing position but the market is really tough. I never really intended to go into bedside nursing when I went back for my nursing degree. I am a research girl, can't shake it. I guess I got wrapped up with some of the old school nursing instructors who say that you have to do bedside nursing after graduating before you can do anything else. It's just not the case nowadays. Then, a clinical research coordinator position with a private dermatology group fell into my lap. How could I say no? The interview alone with this group was so much more pleasant than any of the bedside nursing interviews that I had. I felt like I was coming home when I interviewed for the research spot. I am really excited about this new job! I cover the research studies, and I will also be seeing the patients on the private derm side. I start work on Aug. 2nd. Birdiegirl31, you totally summed up the position as a reasearch nurse perfectly! It sounds like you are a great fit in your job.

gg - congrats on getting in. if you don't have your shot records, you can have a serum antibody titer to show that you have been immunized for the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. That is what I will probably have to do because I cannot even remember who I got those shots from!

Congrats Aggiehorn! I knew you would get in. Love Texas good luck!!!

Awesome! I just sent a request to join the group!! yippeee! I totally agree that a happy hour is in order! SO EXCITING!

I interviewed on January 19th as well.

Thanks y'all for responding and giving me your input. I have scheduled a time to go in and talk to the university staff about this issue to make sure that I am making the right choice. THANKS!

Congrats to all who have been accepted so far!!!! Here are my stats: Overall: 2.94 Science: 3.5 Nurse Prereq: 3.351 NET: 82 reading 97 math - 90 composite I thought with my horrendous overall gpa would be my demise...

Mya2bRN - thanks for being blunt and picking up on that comment. It's not that I do not like people, I think it is that people can affect me so tremendously at times. They intimidate me and can cut through me with their words, especially when they are very blunt. :) I totally see your point though. You should be a nurse because you truly love working with and caring for people and if you don't then you shouldn't do it. For some reason, I keep thinking that it is an option that I should really consider but how do I rationally consider it when I feel this way? I believe that I am better on the amdin side of things. Thank you for your comments. This is how people that should not be nurses end up in the profession...we look good on paper. :) I did enjoy working with the breast cancer patients though. I felt for them. My patients were indigent, and did not speak English. They really really NEEDED someone to care for them. I was able to speak to them in Spanish and provide the education they needed and the care. However, not being a nurse, I could only go so far. I just felt that as a research coordinator, just taking data and not caring for them went against what I felt. I wanted to help them, not see them as data. I guess you are more confused now than you were when you read my first post! I know I am. Geez...

I dream - I am sure you will make it! I believe that people will be finding out if they are in for the next few weeks. From reading past threads, I saw that it was like a trickle of people finding out on different days. PLUS, they have to go in and enter this info into the system one by one I would think so it probably will take a while to update everyone's status. It's hard to say because there is NO WAY I would have relaxed. I say call 'em! It definitely won't hurt and if they are on the fence about you, it would show that you really want it! I don't know what number to try though... Look on their website.

Stadley, check your UTLINK status. It's under admissions.

I am at a crossroads. I have just been accepted to an accelerated one year BSN program at a great University and I just learned from my boss that I am most likely to be promoted to a higher position in my current career. I don't know which way to take. I am scared that I will not enjoy nursing even though I love blood and guts and all things medical. I just don't love people all that much. I always say that I would rather be a nurse to animals. However, I am really interested in possibly becoming a hospice nurse, a forensic nurse, oncology nurse...woman's health. I think I am just afraid of the unknown as I always am, even though every move I have made career wise has been a good one. I should trust myself by now. I am afraid of not having an income for a whole year and starting over in a new career. My reasons for wanting to go are my love of medicine and a need to help people, to feel fulfilled at the end of the day that I am helping someone. I am tired of the monotony of my current desk job. The same cycle every month. I work in Research Protection for three different research committees (animal care and use, biosafety and hazardous substances). It is very interesting work from the outside looking in and when I describe it to someone, I feel very important, but the day to day minutia of it drains me. I feel my mind turning to mush. There is the possibility of moving up to a management position but not a sure bet. Even if I move up to that, will I enjoy it? Or is it just the feeling important and wearing cute outfits that I enjoy? Sad but true...Oh, and the paycheck is not bad either. But that is no reason to stay where you are. I want something that is different every day that is hands on - not sitting on your rear all day behind a computer. I am just scared. I have worked in the medical center for 10 year, half of that time as a research coordinator in clinical research studies where I had patient contact daily. I loved working with breast cancer patients. I have a great background in research administration. I am so scared to take a chance on nursing. I feel like I am not confident enough to handle some of the cockier doctors and some of the intensity of the job. I have to make a decision soon so that I can offer up my spot to someone else that wants to attend school if I decide that is not what I want to do. HELP!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL! I am still in shock! Totally didn't expect to hear anything yet!

I just checked UTLINK and I have been granted provisional acceptance! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

Yeah, I think that they let you know if you are accepted before they send out the admissions packets. This is what I gather from reading past threads as well, Lovetexas. So I still am holding out for March 15th for when they start letting us know if we were accepted or not. Fingers crossed!

bach09 - volunteering as a medical assistant I would think would be GREAT experience for this. I would say that you definitely have that going for you. By the way, where were you able to volunteer as a med assistant? I work at Methodist and I tried to shadow some nurses through volunteer services, but they would not allow the shadowing. Also, I have taken several online courses, I wish I had mentioned that! Serene - I have no volunteer experience except for what I did in college which was years ago. So I am a little worried about that, although I do have experience working with patients from working in clinical research. sooo... All there is to do is stalk UTlink, allnurses, and the mail box. Maybe I could somehow rig a month long vacation to a tropical island until mid March?? I don't think my current job would go for that (not to mention my husband). Oh well...

I am so nervous that I will not be accepted. My overall GPA is horrible: 2.943. What in the holy monkey was I thinking when I was in college?? My science gpa is 3.5 and my nurse prereq gpa is 3.35. I got a 90 composite score on my NET though and I felt that I did well on my interview. It looks like the rest of you will for sure make it in! How will I ever make it until mid-March to find out???

nevermind...just talked to one of the staff and the HESI is not required for us. I am just panicking a little!! :)

hey y'all, were we supposed to take the HESI as well? this was not one of the requirements at the time that I applied...

This wait is killing me!!! Even though I know that we will not hear anything until late March, I still check my UTLink every day. How pathetic! I feel like I should be calling and emailing the UTHSC SON staff every day about how badly I want into this program. UGH! I am going insane! Good luck to you all!!!

Well I called several times and finally spoke to someone about the transcript evaluation so they should FINALLY send me one within the week. I am taking Philosophy, Art Appreciation, and Govt II since I didn't do so well in the second Govt in college... I am freaking going insane and we have like a month and a half to wait to find out if we are in! aaaaaahhhhh! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL! Too much caffeine this morning. :)

Hey y'all, I have a couple of questions for you. I have been trying and trying to talk to someone about my prerequisites for at least a month now. I finally got someone to help me. So...my question to you is, what visual/performing arts elective did you all take? I just signed up for Arts Appreciation and I hope that this one works, as I cannot find anywhere on the UTHSC site what visual/performing arts electives will be accepted. In the past, my speech communication elective counted but it no longer does. Also, did you all receive your transcript evaluation that let you know what prereqs you still needed? Thanks!

Yup! That was you Aggiehorn. Blonde hair in a pony tail. It is good to have a face to put with a name. GOOD LUCK! I am obsessively reading everything I can. Did you say you were still completing some prereqs this semester? I had totally forgotten about all that. I enrolled for a Philosophy class. That makes me nervous to not have it all done, but I figure if it is not one of the main science prereqs, we will be okay. I am totally INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE right now! :)

Yes, she asked me the same about my A&P's. Those were hands down my favorite classes. I took mine at A&M and she said that all of the Community Health Ed majors from A&M did very well in the program. I hope that is a good sign because that was my major. Aggiehorn, I had on a black pinstriped suit with a lavender button up shirt. I have short (about jaw length) blonde hair. I am guessing who you are because I saw your aggie ring. Did you have on a black suit as well, with long blonde hair? I was sitting on the side where the handouts were.

Aggiehorn, I was there yesterday too and like you, I felt that the interview went well. Today, I am going absolutely insane and this is only day one of waiting! I have to admit that I have already obsessively checked my UTLink to see if there was a status change. ha! Wishful thinking huh? Good luck to you! I realized in the last minute that I did not have my Philosophy prereq completed, so I signed up and am taking it now. How did I miss that? Glad i figured it out though.

Hello everyone! I have been scouring this site for information on the interview process, reading all about past interviewees' experiences from 2009, and just found this thread. I don't know how I missed it. I have my interview tomorrow for the 2010 summer accelerated BSN. I am soooo nervous!!! I made it this far before, about five years ago, but I was not totally committed and it must have shown during the interview. I am so ready for this opportunity now and I am so nervous that I will not be able to sleep tonight! I am going conservative and wearing a suit. Good luck to everyone!!!