BayArea2010

I have been working for 1 year in a very very busy medical floor. Your preceptor is right to tell you to hurry up if you are going slow ad if she IS watching what you do (making sure pt is safe). When you are on your own you will have to hurry up, prioritize, keep pt safe and hopefully get out on time. If she is overdoing it tell her GENTLY, you will work with her and her friends, YOU will need her help. I have noticed it is best to remain calm (appear less nervous) even if h... is breaking loose. You need to make a concious effort to be less nervous, this will help you in assessment, rapid decision making and acting (calling for a rapid response, calling for help, calling the doc, suctioning, mantaining airway...etc). Experienced nurses appear calm under fire. Take her advise! She wants you to be successful.

I don't think that was meant for you...but for "puggleperson"....

I always read and never write...I couldn't resist this time...I too did great on my preceptorship (at Stanford) but had a very hard time as a new grad....now practicing on my own. Question for you OP, are you sure she was referring to Tylenol? Any chances that she called a different drug to be administered Tylenol? Any chances this pt has an NG or Gtube? And she meant the liquid tylenol and not IV but through the tube...? Just a thought. I recommend you request her to have a different preceptor. I went through a 12 week new grad program and it was very difficult to learn form my preceptor. She has been practicing for 10+ years at the hospital. She knows everyone, very assertive and often charge. She was very though and I was very nervous.....I am doing well now...at some point a realized I was too anxious and went from 2 cups of coffee to 1/2...I also started walking slower and thinking before talking or doing....it worked.... If you request for her to have a different preceptor and give reasons to management you are giving her the chance to learn from someone else and getting ride of "the problem"....

I am also a new grad in the Bay area. I work in a cinic in Oakland. It is an on call position. We have a triage. I take calls as well as walk ins. The pay is close to $36. I was told they would pay me slighty less if it was a full time position as they would give me benefits.

Mike do you work for UCSF Medical Center? Thanks

Sigh, sigh, thank you for your answer. It seems that in the US we are going form Associates degree to Bachelors to Masters...I am in Livermore CA which is in the Bay Area US and about 1 hr from San Francisco. I am a new graduate...and have been blessed to be accepted in a Masters program at UCSF and in the specialty I wanted....my gol is to continue to the PhD and conduct research/teach at the University. I am going into the electrophysiological field and need experience (and money although not starving yet). The crime is getting higher, the economy is hossible and there are NO jobs for new graduates. Just in this area we have about 8 colleges pumpng students out, about 5 universities, and another 3 universities offering MAsters programs....some have classes coming out twice a year...as the economy got worse the nurses that were working decided to stay (don't take me wrong good for them), some lost their money in the stock market, some their husbands are not working, and yet some others came back to the field (for the same reasons). The bottom line is that class of 2009 and now class of 2010 don't have jobs...and the newly learned skills are fading...and new grads are soon been called "old new grads". No one wants to give a chance, be hospital, clinic, long term, sniff, nursing home, traveling, or home care, or schools, or prisons, or anything....and the skills are fading. This is even worse becasue we are really really pounded (made work really hard in our studies) and you get out trying to make a difference and nobody wants you...I know it will turn around and are glad to be going back to school, maybe in between or after I get out it will be better....I am glad to hear you are doing better in Australia...and I read you have awesome beaches...!

I am in the US, in California. A graduate nursing program is any degree after you Bachelors. It can be a MAsters degree or a PhD in Nursing. A Masters degree can result in a Nurse Practitioner license or a Clinical Nurse Specialist or the new Clinical Nurse Leader....designation. Some schools have even brancehd into specific Nurse Practitioner and CNS programs. I am starting the Critical Care/Trauma CNS Masters at UCSF this Fall 2010...I hope my answer helped. Do you have Masters programs in AUstralia? How is life there? Crime is getting higher in the US...especially in California...and our economy is terrible nowdays!

Hello Lina RN and Morgan 13. I don't know much about the Waiting ist but if I find anything out I will post it. Youknowwho, I got oyour message. This is my message number 15, I believe I should be able to respond to your message soon.

Thank you LLG! Congratulations Calinp!!! So much to plan!!! There will be a an event for students on May 22nd...they will provide funding information etc. You will receive the e-mail soon asking you if you want to sign up (maybe you did already). Just giving you heads up! Hope to see you in school! Yeyyyy! I asked the professor I want to study under if I could work in any of her current studies...I start this Monday!!!

Yeyyyy! Congratulation NPtoPhD! That is great! School is only a few months away! Let us know how it goes. What kind of classes they offer (SPSS for statistics or not), and the cognates, as well as the campus life. How exciting! I plan to go through the Masters program and continue on to the PhD....having a PhD opens up so many opportunities to help others, to research, to be a change agent, to impact policy making and to teach! Yeyyyyy! Good luck! Calinp, I hope you are doing good and that things work out to facilitate your decision.

I got an email on Friday. The email said a decision was available but that I had to follow an attached link to log in to my account at UCSF (for security purposes). I did! and my status read "admitted". I was given until April 14th to respond. I applied to the Critical Care/Trauma CNS specialty. Good luck everyone.

Hi everyone! I have a BSN (so I am not a MENP applicant). I applied to the Critical Care/Trauma CNS and received an e-mail on Friday morning. The email said to check ont he website as a decision had been made but for security reasons I had to log in to view it. And I was admitted!!!!! The instructions said to respond by April 14th (there was a link). Good luck everyone

Calinp, I was accepted in the UCSF CCT Masters program. If you decide to go there I would like to meet you! I plan to continue with a PhD. I hope you also have a great weekend! All I am doing is Kaplan......

Hi Calinp, I am very sad, somewhat relieved too. I declined my offer to University of Minnesota a few days ago. And declined my UMICH offer of admission yesterday. I am not feeling well, I think I am very burn out. Please consider that I have not stopped (even during the 1 week spring break for the past 3 years). And before that I was a full time worker at the Clorox company, a mom, a wife, and a part time student. I don't think I would be able to pass the NCLEX, sell my home, pack, move my children, start a new place, etc. by June (Research Institute starts) or even September... I cried yesterday (and I NEVER do). Both schools were great, they both responded so well and were so kind. I felt so embarrased, as if cheating them. I had to let them know to, because I know there are other people who deserve to know as soon as possible that they have been accepted. UMICH may be able to give me a deferral but no guarantees on my Merit Fellowship....and I am sooooo smart, I sent the e-mail declining but also went online and decline the offer formally (so maybe a deferral will not be granted afterall) dumb! I need a year to rest/study/mabe work? but also to sell my home and save money. Jobs in MI are scarce and my husband would have to drop and pick up the kids every day (for our sanity). I read that the bus system for children in Ann Arbor during the winter takes up to an hour each way and I don't want my kids to sit in there. So, my husband can only work during their school hrs..... I didn't hear from UCSF yet, maybe this week (they say end of March beginning of April). I made my choice on faith, what I believe to be right, and on keeping my mental sanity. I am sorry to hear you will possibly be deciding today, it is grueling. After I was done I was sad, but I also felt at peace and more able to focus. Bright side!!! When deciding pay close attention to economics, where will your husband work, how about you, family location, easiness to travel back and forth, support system, and where is your heart. What do YOU want? Cheers for you!!! YOU are going to grad school!!!! And that is WONDERFUL news!!!

Hi Wall-e I am using KAPLAN online. I am doing questions now. I am also using two Saunders books with questions (5000+). I need to take it the first week of April as my KAPLAN online will be terminated on April 6th...or else I can pay them another $200 or so to extend the program a month. But if I do...I won't have enough time to pack and move...How are you doing?

Hi Calinp, Don't wait! Ask politely. I asked. UMICH told me originally to wait for a letter in the mail (and they sent both an e-mail and a letter within 3 weeks). UM told me right away I had been nominated, but I had to wait about 3 weeks to know. OHSU called me last week to tell me I had received a scholarship and that I should receive a letter in the mail this week. The process is very nerve wracking...at least for me. I don't know where I am going yet. I won't be going to OHSU, mainly because they do not offer a Masters for BSN-PhD track (unless you want a Masters on Public Health and I don't). I have children and my husband has his own business. I am trying to weigh everything very carefully. I am a McNair sholar, one of the things they pounded on us, is to be first to ask about financial aid, usually the first ones to ask get more visibility and more chances to get aid. I would be surpised if UW didn't give you a fellowship, they are top rated in research. In any case you were accepted already, so I would expect it is ok to ask. Do you know which advisor and/or professor you want to work more closely with? when I asked about the aid, my questions were directed at the Grauate School Director of the program. Back to studying the NCLEX....another source of stress! Ask, ask ask! I would! Shows you are sure of yourself and you are assessing your choices...! Almost forgot! Fill out the FAFSA I think they expect you to do that, even if your EFC is high, they still need to see it. GOOD LUCK and let us know what you decide! I will too.

Calinp and NPtoPhD I am so happy for both of you! Congratulations!!!! I am very very excited for you. I haven't made a final decision myself. I went to University of Minnesota last week, just for a couple of days, it was great. I am planning to visit UMICH in 2 weeks. I haven't heard from the CCT CNS masters at UCSF... I want to tell you, UCSF has a great great reputation in the Bay area. I have 4 proffesors that graduated within the past 2 years from there, they say the teachers are very supportive and "bend over backwards" to help their students. They also are number 1 in NIH funding for research this year (particular to nursing research). I have been at the campus, it is beautiful, within walking distance of the arboretum, museums and the new Academy of Sciences. The UCSF hospital too is right there and it is top rated...and if you work over 20hrs they cover 2/3 of your tuition (may not be a concern for you however). They have partnerships with UCSF hospital, Stanford, and other hospital sint he area. Their faculty is very well regarded in other fields (medicine). If you can, visit the campus, there is nothing like feeling the place and talking one on one with professors....and other students, ohhh! try to attend a class too if you can (I did at University of Minnesota), it gives you a lot of insight. CONGRATULATIONSSSSSS! You deserve it!!!!!!!!!! I am Very HAPPY for you!!!!!!

Hello Calinp and Wall-e, Calinp I hope your day is better today. We all have those kind of days. Wha do you plan to do with your degree? More research or more teaching? Wall-e: I had two different interviews over the phone with University of Minnesota (the questions were very close to my essay questions). I also had a phone interview with University of Michigan (why do you want to come to this school, why now, what do you believe would be your worst deficiency while in the program?) Just be yourself, be honest, articulate your thoughts. Make sure you send thank you notes to anyone who has helped you along in the process. Good luck!!!!

I don't see flaws with any of the two programs and that is why it is so difficult to choose one over the other. The only thing is that UM wants a reply by March 1st while UMICH gave me until March 26th. I do not know anything about financial aid either. My McNair program just approved travling funds, I plan to visit each university in the next 2 weekends. The finals and NCLEX What is your research interest? did you contacted faculty before you applied? Are you excited about one program over another? Hope to hear from you again. I see that you applied to UCSF. It is a fantastic university. I have been there in the past few months. It is right next to the Young Museum and the New Academy of Sciences, beautiful scenery, dining etc. The UCSF medical center is also excellent.

Hi, I am graduating from a BSN program this Winter 2010 in the Bay area. I used to work in research and gave up my career to be a nurse. While in the BSN I was selected to be a McNair scholar, I applied to 3 PhD programs and 1 masters program (UCSF) in the past few weeks. I also believe the application process was very challenging (and got it done while precepting at Stanford), and also wrote my Statement of Purpose several times. I was also worried in regards to admittance. That worry has now been replaced by not knowing where I should go. I was admitted to two of the programs (haven't heard from the 3rd PhD) and the Masters will not reply until March/April. I am extremely excited but just as worried as both programs are great. I am also very grateful and understand this is an opportunity of a life time, the faculty at both universities has bene very supportive and both schools want a written reply by March. My research interest is in the cardiovascular area and the Hispanic population. Good luck. where did you apply? I applied to University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, and OHSU (haven't heard from them). Good luck you will make it!!!!

HI, I called the UCSF office and was told that they mail letters in late March or April. for the CCT CNS they do not interview. Good luck!

I haven't yet. I have a BSN and applied ot the CCT CNS. How about you?