3kidmama

Congratulations, you guys. I've been an RN since 1983 (although currently disabled/bedridden due to a bad heart) and my hubby is currently in the U program. We live 4 hrs north of the Twin Cities and have 3 daughters (2 in college) so it has been quite the yr! Just wanted to say that yes, you are considered a grad student and can get grad school loans. Also wanted to add that there is an application for financial aid when hubby filled out - and he was granted a scholarship for about $2000 which helps. He later attended a luncheon for recipients of nursing scholarships and there was only 1 other person there from his program. It made us think that they don't have much in terms of non-loan assistance for this program, but we were very grateful for whatever he got! It's a tough, demanding academic load, and hubby still has to work on wknds to keep supporting our family, but he is quite happy with the education he is getting in the program and will be VERY thankful when December 2010 comes around! :-)

Well, RN and LPN are two different kinds of nurses - with the RN being more advanced. It takes about 12-18months of college to become an LPN, and you can get your associates degree in nursing (2yr RN - although it generally takes a bit longer than 2 yrs to get all your courses in.) You can also get a 4 yr college degree in Nursing known as the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) and that also allows you to take the test to become an RN. 2yr RNs are do all kinds of nursing, but if you think you'd like to eventually get into administrative, public health, hospice,etc - many of those areas prefer RNs with a 4 yr degree as opposed to RNs with their 2yr associate degree. There are also programs for LPNs that want to move on and become RNs. You find those a techincal and community colleges, although if you think you want to become an RN, you might as well just go for that instead of doing the LPN and then RN route - it will take longer. Many of the community colleges in the Twin Cities area have LPN and RN programs - you just need to check them out more in detail. Hths a little bit. I know it all can be somewhat confusing! :-)

My hubby is currently back in school in a Masters in Nursing program for people who have degrees in other areas. We have two daughters currently on premed tracks in college. Frankly, Hubby's Master's program was harder to get into statistically than med school. :-) If you want to go to med school, why wait? Do it. If you want to be an RN, then I would suggest moving in that direction. It's my understanding that med schools want to see you having shown an interest in the health care field - which you have already done with your LPN work. I don't see having an RN in addition being an advantage in that.

I began preterm contractions at 12 wks and ended up on bedrest for the next 6 months with preg. number 2. We lived in Costa Rica at the time and already had a 12 month old baby. I also took medication to keep the contrations down. It was difficult and we fully expected to deliver a preterm baby. Had a great High Risk OB who made house calls. We had an emergency plan in place- and there was a great childrens hospital avai lable there should the baby come early. I made it till 38 wks! Were living in Honduras when we got pregnant with number 3. Preterm labor began at 8 wks. It was very tough, and I began having trouble with low BP as well and living in a very hot and humid climate in a country with serious nation-wide electrical shortages. My high risk OB told us that if we had the means to go to the USA, he would advise that, because infants born prior to 37wks had a VERY high mortality rate in Honduras. We left for care in the USA when I got to 24wks, because at that time, that was the age in the US when they were able to keep premies alive. I made it to 37wks, and our dd is fine. I kept hydrated, on bedrest, and took the meds (terbutaline) they perscribed. We made our decision based on the care available to me in terms of high risk OB care, and what the country offers in terms of NICU and premie specialists. Good luck!

Can you have night shift tape record the main portion of report on the patient, so the night nurses can help answer lights while you listen to report on your patients, then follow up with a quick face-to-face "hand-off" with the night RN to ask/answer questions and get last minute updates? Figure out a way to limit the time where you are pulling ALL the RNs from both shifts off the floor. Change the times for vital signs. I'm a heart patient myself and in and out of ICU a lot - and while I detest the 2am vital signs, I have already been awakened for early lab draws so a 6am vital check fits there nicely in terms of patient comfort. Several of my meds NEED to be given on time (within the correct hour) so med passes being that behind wouldn't be good.

Hang in there you guys! My hubby is currently in the program, and we clearly remember the pins and needles of waiting for those interviews last Spring - and then after he did his interview, waiting to see if he got in or not. He said to tell you, as hard as the wait is, the program is a good one, and he is happy with what is is learning (currently in his second semester.) Hoping you all get good news today! Lois (BSN)