PSUStudent

Some of the pros to being a CNA before an RN is that as a new grad you are comfortable cleaning a pt, getting them on and off bed pans, changing linens quickly rather then putting all of that on the CNA when you have a moment to complete it. It can be hard to delegate even though you know all of the tasks you can delegate you feel like you should be able to complete it all and be superRN. I stayed on the same floor so at first it can be a little tough to delegate to the CNA's when before they were your equals they can feel a little left behind or like "now she is better then us since she is an RN". Take the good with the bad and the bad with the good. Be modest and explain everything you are doing or delegating to your CNA's and they will be more willing to do it for you. Also try the phrase "would you be willing to help Mrs. Jones" and make it about helping the pt instead of helping you. Good luck!

I just started neuro as a new grad about 6 months ago. I am in a large teaching facility so it may also depend what type of hospital you are at. It is an intense field to work in however you will know your cranial nerves like the back of your hand, as well as s/s of stroke, seizures, and many other neuro diseases/complications. If it is a neuro surg unit you will probably be more marketable in my opinion because some pt's that have certain spinal procedures end up with a chest tube and my floor has at least 1 trach pt a week and you deal with a lot of bladder and bowel retraining. As a neuro nurse you tend to become a little "neurotic" about the slightest changes in a pt's LOC or any other changes where as when I did an internship on a cardiac floor I felt like it was more gradual changes (minus chest pain). All in all it depends on what fits you best and I think that after your interviews you will ave a better idea of where you want to go. Best of luck to you. :)

Congrats on being a year away from school and its great that you are so excited and passionate about nursing!! Your past experience as a CNA will definitely help you when you are finding a job. Also if you can have a part time job or summer externships as a CNA while you are in school that will really help, especially if you have that experience at a place you want to work. Don't give up hope! A lot of my classmates didn't land their jobs until the last couple weeks of school up until about 2 months post graduation. And many of the people in my class didn't move out of the area, but if you are willing to move you will have an even better chance of landing a job. Good luck to you!!

The 4 hospitals that I have either done clinicals or worked at were 7-7 shifts. There is always something to do, yes many times night shift can be slower through the hours of midnight and 4 am, but other times like people above said, there are admissions, pt's declining, or other issues that need attention. Good luck to you guys and I am sure, like all change, it will take time to adjust.

Hi, I just graduated and got a job. Most applications these days are online. You can just go to the hospital websites and look for the entry level positions and apply. I would highly suggest going to career fairs and speaking with the recruiters, they can be your best friend. It shows that you're interested and that you are willing to travel to a career fair, if you can go to a couple where the same recruiter will be at thats even better. After the career fair if you are really interested in that hospital I would email the recruiter and thank them for talking with them and indicate if you have applied to any positions on there web site. The more face time and enthusiasm you show the more likely they will remember you and be there to help you. Good luck :)

Definitely work as a pct or an aid or do an externship during your breaks or part time. Some new grad orientation programs look for that when they are accepting you at the facility. Also being an aid/pct/extern will get you contacts within the facility, because as we all know it is about who you know sometimes!. Good luck :)

Hi. I am in a 2nd degree program and we only had 28 ppl in our class. It is very fast paced and challenging and for that reason I would probably suggest that you pursue getting your associates degree in nursing. Good Luck :)

Hi, I don't go to UPMC but I am in a 2nd degree BSN program right now and my days are Monday & Friday I am in class from 8am to 4:30pm and then I have 2 days of clinical from 630am to 4:30 pm and 1 day off...some of my other semesters i've had 3 days that started at 630am and 2 that started at 8 or 9am. With my 2nd degree program I cannot work due to the heavy workload and any second I can get to sleep I take :).... Hope this helps you and good luck this year :)

Hi, Thats a tough situation...I'm in a 2nd degree program at Penn State and you literally cannot work while your in this program...I would probably develop narcolepsy if I had to work, let alone finding a job with hours that I could work...I am not aware of any night/weekend/online 2nd degree programs and even if they were an online 2nd degree program, with clinical's and study/reading time it would probably be hard...It sounds like the option that you have come up with would be the best for you. Best of luck :)

Hi, I am in the first class of the 2nd degree program at PSU altoona. We have a group on facebook with all of us from the 2009 class and there is 3 or 4 people from your Fall2010 class. Incompatible Browser | Facebook If you join the group there is a discussion where the Fall 2010 class has a discussion going and if you would like to contact me I am the one who started the discussion in the group. Please feel free to ask me any questions. My email is [email protected]. Hope your enjoying your summer while it lasts and 1 tip would be to save up as much money as you can now :).

One other thought I have is that I think it needs to be a previous Bachalor's degree before you get into the accelerated BSN (I could be wrong though). I also agree with "Finally My Time" in that your best bet is to go into a pre-nursing degree program and go from there.

I am a student right now and I just had 7 weeks at a LTC facility and all their residents were on weekly BP's that I had seen. I am sure that if the resident had unstable BP's that they were probably doing them daily or q shift. Hope that helps you out :)

Hey...hope that the ones that applied for the fall 2010 program either got in here or got into the program that they desired!!...Im in the current 2nd degree class and as you will soon find out its going to be very intense and fast paced but one of the nice things is that with the small group size you will become very close with your other classmates and hopefully at some point our class will be able to meet with your entire class! Don't be afraid to ask questions to any of us already in program :) Hope that you all have a wonderful spring and summer and one piece of advice is to SAVE UP because there isn't much (if really any) time to make money while in the program. One last thing...for anyone that has gotten into the 2010 2nd degree program...there is a facebook group http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?v=wall&gid=135978434451 that we encourage you to join and im sure that if any of you would like information on where to find housing or other information that we could start a discussion group to help you all out on your journey into this program. Also please be aware that this group is for professional purposes regarding the 2nd degree nursing students of penn state and that many of the staff members of the nursing program are members of this group as well...so what you say publically on this facebook page will be seen by the PSU altoona nursing staff that you will be dealing wtih in the fall.