TurtleLittle

Hey guys, I will be going to MWU for Class of 2018. I did not know I had to apply for housing early, so my chances to get on campus housing is not looking good. Where did you guys find places for your first year? Any good advise for me?

Hi there, I recently have accepted into CRNA school. So obviously my school is happy and thinks that my past ICU exp suffice. But I am wondering when I get out of school, would potential employers care more about my past experience as an RN anymore? The reason I am asking because I am miserable at my current FT job. My background: - GPA/BSN stats: Academically speaking, I look very good on paper so far. -2013: 11 months of outpt Derm RN then ICU. - 2014: 1 year of ICU in a super busy/ large teaching hospital for Coronary Care and Neuro ICU in big city. Then had to move back home to different state to support family in need. - 2015 until now: 11 months in a general ICU. Magnet Status. But I hate it so much. This is the one I would like to quit ASAP. - At the same time, I am doing per diem at a busy OpenHeart ICU to boost up my resume to school. And even though it's per diem, I got threw to all kind of pts because it's very high acuity. Impella, IABP, LVAD, Swans/Alines, CRRT are very common. I want to keep my per diem job in the OpenHeart ICU and start doing travel nursing now for about 3-6 months before school. So I am still working in ICU regardless. My main concern is: Does it look bad that I never stay in a place for more than a year? Regardless I have legitimate reasons to leave?

Hi there, They emailed and also called you for setting up interviews. About 2 or 3 weeks after I turned in my application. They should call you soon because the second round interview dates are mid Feb though. I did not get called back for the first round, but for others they also called right the next following week for couple selected ones. I am waiting for the final decisions, which will be by the end of Feb after the second round of interview. I already got accepted to another school, ^^ so I don't have to hold my breath for Pitts either way. Best of lucks to ya.

I think they said as little as 2 and as many as 10. And yeah sometimes by the end of Dec. I wouldn't think they make decisions that fast. If so though, I didn't get to be first picks then. No one called me today. ^^

I am interview first round on Weds, I am trying to look up some information about the interview questions. Do you guys know if there is a heavy load of clinical questions? I have no idea what they would ask and am super nervous. I can do very well with behavioral questions, but if they ask me to compare all Swan's numbers or mechanism of pressors.... I got some reviewing to do!

Hello guys, I will be interviewing next week. I am hoping you guys could help me. What should I expect for interview questions? I can handle behavioral questions, but I am quite worried about clinical questions. I took my CCRN a while back then, and I could do well with testing questions on paper. Also I am good to recognize things and perform well under stressed during codes, but I am not sure how I would do the same when asked in front of a group of people. Could anyone give me some general topics I should review before I get to my interview on Weds? Thanks!

Heard anything yet guys?

I have a mixed feeling about how I did. But it was good that they were nice. Guess we all will find out on Monday. A couple people seemed already got a spot somewhere else and this was not their first choice. I hope they would tell the board soon, for the rest of us who really wanted SMU. I love the senior students. They were very informative to talk with.

Did you guys get interviewed yet? How was it?

Ochsner has been having some shady stuffs with their staffing lately and many of us nurses are not quite happy with them. The Big O really needs to get their you-know-what together. However, ditto to other feedbacks, it's a good hospital to learn and gain experiences. The staff are friendly and willing to teach and help you at work (Again I am talking about nursing staff, not so much about hops administration here). After a year with Ochsner or so, you can move on to other facilities without any problem. Good luck with you all.

Hey idichupa, the coordinator lady told me over the phone when I asked her. It may have been more than 70 but she said definitely it's selective from a bigger pool of application already. I am prepping very hard for this because this is the only school I got an interview so I put all eggs in one basket here. Also it's gonna be a panel interview in front of 8 committee members. I heard mostly it will be behavior questions and they don't really ask any clinical questions. Unless you heard anything otherwise. Good luck to us both. But I read some of your previous posts, it seems like you got accepted to some other programs already huh? ^^

I will have an interview with El Camino Hospital in Mountain View CA. This is my dream hospital to work at. So I am very excited. My background: A year of outpt ambulatory. A year of ICU exp in a very busy teaching hospital in the South. Combined Neuro/Medical/CCU pt population. I am pretty strong with my Neuro ICU pts, then Medical, then Cardiac. However, we don't take care of Open heart or Surgical ICU pts on my unit that much. On the posting says preferred exp on Open Heart surgery. I'm not so sure how high acuity is for El Camino's ICU. Not sure what they are looking for in a candidate. Cannot find a lot of info on their ICU either. Any feedbacks anyone? Thanks. And do you know anything about their panel interview process?

I got invited for an interview with Samuel Merritt. It will be a panel interview in front of 8 people. Any tips?! I am very excited!

I got invited for an interview!!! OMG. I am so excited! They said they will be interviews about 70 candidates. I wonder they just interview all applicants??! Anyone else got the invitation? Any suggestions on pulling off the the interview? Thanks!

Congrats prospect. Would you mind sharing your Stat?!

Hi guys, Just to start a thread to see if any of ya'll applying for next year? Anyone heard anything yet? I think my chance is pretty slim but still want to try to see how it is for the competition. :)

Can any of you who already had the interview please share some insights? What kind of questions they ask you? How many people are there for the panel interview? I did not get any call yet. I guess that means it already for me huh?

You all are right. I still apply. And if I don't get in, it's not meant to be yet. And I will try again next year or so.

I am a little concerned about my GRE score. Mostly due to my incapability to study for a very boring standardized test as a working adult..... Another "excuse" (I'm trying to make for myself) is I lucked out in college as I did not have to take any Math class (I tested all out out) except Statistic. Which proves to be a disaster now because I don't remember anything after 7yrs. I am also ESL. Most of my former Math classes were taught in non-English language. I have trouble both Verbal and Quantitive due to running out of time. I processed the information slower than native speakers and time is not my best friend. Anyways, here it is: GRE: V 146. Q 152. A: pending. Cum GPA 3.79 Science GPA 4.0 Nursing GPA 3.7 Exp: Before the program starts, 1.5 exp in Neurosurgical ICU from a Magnet Status, regional stroke designated, and teaching hospital BLS, ACLS, Sigma Theta Tau member, AACN member, etc. (all the extra stuff) Recommendations from a MD supervisor from my last job, Charge nurse, and my preceptor. All are really fond and supportive of me. Will take CCRN by Jan. Still working on my essay right now. But most people love it. Would these Stat bring me at least an interview (application deadline will be in NOV, so before I take CCRN)? Should I apply not or not wasting money and wait another year for more exp? I am quite confident with my interpersonal communication skills, I just need to convince the school to see me in person first! lol I only want to apply for school in Northern CA which is only Samuel Merrit and schools in NYC or in PA.

I am quite soft spoken by nature and a guy. English is also my second language so sometimes I am not that quick to respond back to people verbally or it would sound quite hard to understand with my accent. I also always try to be polite and avoid any confrontation. Fellow nurses love me and enjoy working with me, but I am not sure I stand as reliable to them because of this. I have ran into situations that because of my reluctance and communication style I have had to take it for the team yet people think of me as ineptitude. For example, the other day I had to take my pt to MRI at the change of shift and stayed super late. Charge nurse thought I did not know how to manage my time. But the reality was I got dumbed on by the ER nurse. The MRI STAT was put in just a minute after she gave me report. I noticed it on the computer and called her back and tried to give hint by saying "Is there any order for MRI and CT?". I was hoping she would see it and do MRI before transferring the pt to me. Apparently she told the MRI techs when they called that the ICU nurse would do it (I confirmed with the MRI tech later for this). She pulled an attitude and pretended that she was not aware of the order and made it like I was incompetent to not able to confirm c the docs by myself. Then, 15min later, she transferred the pt and left at 1800. MRI closed early on that day at 1930 and I had to do it because I did not want to dumb the same thing to my relieve or delayed care to my pt. Some of the headstrong nurses on the floor told me I should have just confronted her and made the ER nurse to do it because it was really her duty, or told the MD that I could not get the MRI in on time and let them decide. It's just an instance, there are several more cases that I feel like I got push-overed. And I am annoyed. At the same time, I don't want to become that nurse who just barks at any one that gets in his or her way. Due to my "style", I feel like charge nurses on the floor don't trust me as much anymore and tend not to give me crashing patients. They are afraid I can't handle it. Obviously this is an opportunity for me to learn and improve here. But at the same time, I wonder if those "nice & soft" nurses would survive ICU in the long run, or eventually they have to change. Because a lot of the "assertive" nurses on my floor to be frank are quite ....."witchy" and I am not at their levels. ^^

Updates: It is definitely getting better and better with time. I don't know whether because I am used to it now or it just comes as you gain more experiences..... But everything is falling into place. All of your feedbacks are awesome. And somebody said it before and it is right: it can totally depend on the nurses too. Some really just want a focus priority type of report and they can figure the rest out on the chart. Some need to get as many details as possible. Either way, I am somewhat up to speed now. Thanks that repetition is the mother of efficiency. After a while, I start doing it out of memory, rather than just write everything down.

It is getting better. I just need to know the background story a little bit more. I simply don't have time for doing that at the moment. LOL. But it's ok I feel like I am getting faster with time though so when I am handy with other stuffs I will pay more attentions on giving a throughout report.

Hey there, I've been working at the ICU for Ochsner for a month now. It's a lot to learn but I don't really think it's that bad. It is certainly overwhelming because of the demands of the environment. The hops and staff are really supportive toward me though. Or maybe I am working in the ICU so it's totally different. I don't know. ^^

Hi everyone, I am from the Bay area CA and I just got accepted into FNP program of Samuel Merritt. Anyone here has been to transitional FNP Master program (Not the Entry Level)? Can someone give me some feedbacks about the school and the program in particular (Both in Oakland and Sac campuses)? How is the program's reputation regionally and nationally for the matter? Should I get started now or wait another year for bigger game name like UCSF or UCDavis? And if they are equivalent in term of reputation and supports and really it's all about how hard you put yourself through your education, then I rather start with SMU now and become a FNP by the end of next year or so! Thanks

It's interesting that people keep talking about making good profit of Cosmetic Derm, doing injections and fillers. I worked as a RN at a Derm clinic for a year and did not see how it could be a reality. The high profile clients who often don't mind spending a lot of money to erase their wrinkles would more likely prefer to have a MD. And also if you are a guy, you would find a little harder time to relate to your patients and get them like you (which is the whole marketing key of Cosmetic). On the other hand, if clients refer more affordable price, they would then be willing to let a RN to do the injections rather than a mid-level for the matter. At some point I feel like doing purely Medical Derm would be more profitable (although no way it can be compared to Psych NP or Acute NP). However, the clinic I worked at was small and like one doc running the whole show kind of deal. So I wonder if anyone working in other Derm facility could correct me and give me more insights. Esp because the doctor wants me back there and is willing to train me to become his Derm NP now that he knows I am FNP school. However, I could not really see him being able to pay me up to 6 figures working there. Or maybe he really lowballs the salary to have me cheap? Should I go back for the exp or rather just venture out?