ChasingRain

:redbeathe:redbeathe My heart goes out to you...... I can't offer any "real" advice b/c I'm only a student( and that's not until next week), but I can imagine posting this same thing after I graduate and get my first job. I think it's natural to feel a little overwhelmed with any new job, but esp. with a job that deals with taking care of people. You've only been there 3 weeks so maybe you should give it a little more time before quitting. But, you could always try a diff area of nursing if this one isn't working out. Whatever the case I would be sure to give plenty of notice rather than just quitting so it will look better on your job history...Good luck :redbeathe

Congratulations:w00t: It's very encouraging everytime I read someone has MADE IT. I'm just starting my journey, but can't wait to post that I too have MADE IT. Good luck with your future as a nurse

Congratulations!!:dancgrp: I start my summer program next Monday(May 3rd) I'm a mixture of crazy emotions right now, but mostly excited. I also made sure I had everything in order: Childcare, a car checkup to make sure my trasportation is reliable, sat down with my family and came up with a good schedule for ALONE study time where they are only to disturb me in case of an emergency and praticed enforcing it...Just random little things that needed to be done As far as preparing,I studied up on med terminology, A&P, and brushed over my math skills, and have also watched videos on Utube. Mostly, I have just relaxed, spent time with my kids, and tried to enjoy my last little bit of sitting around all day in my pj's and surfing the web

I've worked so hard to get accepted and if I were to fail out I would have a melt down . However, I wouldn't take it out on anyone b/c it wouldn't be their fault I failed. The student who failed out could have possibly gotten into another school if she hadn't thrown a chair at the instructor. Now I don't think she stands a chance :nuke:

I agree with the above posts. Go to the interview b/c phone interviews are usually very frustrating and you can't give the same impression over the phone as you can in person...Good Luck :redbeathe

Good for you for bringing this up! This is something I have been very worried about also. We have to wear white uniforms in our clinicals and they are practically see-through . Just one tiny leak and the whole class will know my business; it's frustrating. The spankies are a good idea; I think I'll give that a try. I just hope that everyone can't see the spankies through the uniform

Usually(or at least in my area) it doesn't matter where you take the prereqs, just as long as you have a good GPA and all the required courses. More than likely if you haven't taken your prereqs yet then the acceptance letter from your school isn't for the nursing program yet. Where I live you have to have all of the prereqs done before they will put you into the nursing program...I would check with the school and ask them if it matters where you get your prereqs done. I would also ask what the GPA has to be to get into their nursing program b/c a lot of programs won't accept you if your GPA isn't at least a 3.5... If I've misunderstood your question and you've already done all your prereqs then just forget everything I have said...LoL...But either way I would call the school that sent you your letter and confirm everything with them. Good Luck :redbeathe

I was like, "Woo Hoo, I made it, I made it! Oh, wait I actually made it?? Crap now I can't sleep in until 10 and set around all day long in my pj's anymore What was I thinking???? I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get all my physicals, shots, and fafsa papers turned in before the dead-line. So, I haven't really had time to think about what I'm REALLY getting myself into. I'm still pretty excited though, just to get started, but I give myself a good week of classes before I have a good meltdown... I should take a picture of the look on everyone's faces the first day of class, and then take another a month later and compare the differences...lol... (Just a thought) Honestly, I am excited but I tend to be pessimistic. I Just wanted you to know that you're not alone in your feelings

:yeah:Glad all is going well, and I hope you enjoy your break. I'm just now beginning my summer classes next week So I'm in the exact opposite position as you all, but I'm still really excited to be starting out...I'm sure I'll be eating those words in few weeks from now, and I'll be praying for our breaks to begin. I hope you have an awesome, relaxing, and fun summer :redbeathe

We are required to bring our books to class So I'll be needing a good rolling backpack myself. The only problem is I can't find one around here and don't have enough time to order one online(or money for that matter)... My first class is this Monday so I guess I may end up going with the suitcase on wheels idea. Beats the heck out of carrying all those books on my back:D and I can get one at Wal-Mart for less than twenty bucks...Ah, the life of a nursing student

There shouldn't be any reason why you are treated differently for wearing a skirt. Of course, everyone has their opinion on why you should or shouldn't wear them, but I think that even those who posted negatively about skirts probably wouldn't treat you "bad" or any different if you do wear them. PPl are going to judge others regardless. Even things as simple as, should you wear makeup to work or shouldn't you, and if you do wear makeup as a nurse what kind of attention are you seeking by wearing it etc, etc...The list goes on and on. Bottom line: if you want to wear a skirt, or if you feel the need to wear a skirt(religious reasons or other) then wear it regardless of what ppl may/maynot say. If there is someone who talks about you for wearing them then they probably would have talked about you anyway(along with everyone else for every reason under the sun). Personally, I could care less what a nurse is wearing as long as he/she does their job well

Yay!! So glad there is a happy ending to this. I was reading this post and was like, "Oh, that poor girl," and even though everyone meant well it was making me nervous for you... Good for you for standing up for something and actually getting good results from it I would have def been anonymous (and probably will be in the future after reading this post), but I'm still happy that your story had a good ending...

The only advice I can give you is to try looking at your situation in the "long-term" rather than right now. Sometimes we are often quick to do what will make things better at the "moment", but forget to look at how it will be five years from now. Is selling insurance going to be a steady career for you? Is there plenty of room to advance? Will you be happy doing it? Will you make enough to support your family if you husband doesn't find a job? etc, etc, These are the type of questions that you have to ask yourself... Unfortunately, only YOU can decide what's going to be best for yourself...I know, I know, exactly what you didn't want to hear, but no one can tell you what will be best for your future... However, you are on a nursing website so the opinions may be biased Good luck, I hope everything works out well for ya :redbeathe keep us posted

The thing that works best for me(and calms me down) is to pretend that I'm explaining to a friend everthing that I have studied(yes, that means talking to myself ). Rather than just repeating facts over and over I try to explain it so that I know I have a good understanding of everything I have just learned. You'll realize that if you can give a "mock" lecture of everything that you've read that all the little details come into place. Always eat a good breakfast(multivitamin helps too) the morning of the test. Try a few good breathing exercises to calm your nerves, and tell yourself that you did all you could do to prepare and that if it's not perfect then it's okay b/c there wasn't much more you could have done. Oh, and if you're religious it never hurts to pray Good luck with future tests:redbeathe

Well other than the obvious( I want to pass so I can get my license and become a nurse), I want to pass b/c: I will work my butt off in school to make good grades and if I don't pass my NCLEX then all of that hard work will be for nothing. I want to prove that I can apply what I will learn in school on a critical thinking test. I want to get a job asap after I graduate and pass. I want to say "I did it, I'm a licensed nurse!" Those are the reasons I want to pass my NCLEX... And to the OP, I'm sure you'll pass the next time. I hear a lot of nurses don't pass on their first/first few tries so keep your head held high and I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya :redbeathe

Well, I've never been to an open house so I have no idea what you should wear, but if in doubt I would def email and ask. Or, maybe you could get in touch with someone else who is going or has been to one in your area and find out what they are wearing/wore. I would hate to show up in a suit if everyone else is wearing scrubs...lol...that would be awkward. Sorry I wasn't much help, but I figured at the least responding would get your post back up to the top and you can get some helpful anwsers;), Good Luck..

IF IT WERE ME,I would also schedule a meeting and explain to them what you just explained to us. You truely thought you would be able to handle it, and now see that you can't. I think they would understand that more than you just telling them it's not working out; that might give them a bad impression. I would think that by you explaining your situation they would try to work something out with you if it's possible. If not, then at least they would understand why you are quitting. However, your life is your business and if YOU don't feel comfortable telling them about it then it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for you to just tell them it isn't working out, and give a two-week notice. After all, you have to do what's best for YOU and your family...Best wishes :redbeathe

Surely you're not serious?!?! She took the duck to make the old lady happy not because she was just "dying" to have it What a sweet story; thanks for sharing it with us. You sound like a wonderful nurse:nurse:

I'll keep your sister in my thoughts and prayers :redbeathe I'm glad to hear that the doc doesn't think it's RA, but I know how frustrating it is not to have anwsers. My daughter has a lot of pain and swelling in her knees and they haven't been able to give us any anwsers either. She is only eight years old and this has been going on since she was three; so I completely understand where you're coming from. I just thank God that they haven't found anything serious and pray that it's something that will get better and not worse. I'll pray the same for your sister....

Kudos to you for catching that!!! As a soon to be student it def reminds me to check, double check, and triple check EVERTHING...Thanks for sharing your story; it reminds me to be vigilant

I won't even start school until next week and I've already gotten everything!!!! From the time I started applying to school in Jan until now I have gotten: The Flu, strep throat, stomach virus, a UTI, and drumroll please....MONO. This all coming from someone who has rarely been sick my entire life. I told my husband it has to be some kind of Nursing School curse; that or something is trying to stop me from becoming a nurse lol.... Maybe by the time I actually become a nurse my immune system will be rock solid!?!?(probably not)...

Congratulations :redpinkhe You're going to be an awesome nurse ! Thanks for sharing your story and testimony

In TN it's not required. However, I do understand why it is required in some places. Like the previous posters have stated, it can serve to "weed" out those who do not understand the dynamics of nursing. Even though as a nurse you may or maynot be doing the same thing that a CNA does, I think it gives you a better understanding of being a "care giver". I am starting my program next week, and I have never worked as a CNA. However, I would love to have had that experience, and feel like those starting with me who were/are CNAs have an advantage over me as far as taking BP and all the basics go... There are plenty of ppl starting class with me that have kids and are planning to work full-time. I'm sure if you are determined enough then it can be done. But, in orientation they told us that working more than 20hours a week and attending the program will be very hard, esp. if your program is full-time(5 days a week, 7 hours a day) like mine. So it may be something you'll want to talk about with the directors of the program you are planning to attend. I'm sure there are a lot of ppl who have worked full-time and finished school; it just depends on how much you can handle and how determined you are :redbeathe Good luck

Hey, I'm not 100% sure about TTC Covington, but I just got in at the TTC Ripley/Alamo class. I was actually planning on going to covington if I didn't get accepted in Alamo. My aunt went to TTC at covington about 4 years ago and she did really well. The program is pretty much identical to the one in Ripley/Alamo so I can tell you what I know about it. First, it is an accredited program, so I would consider it good based on that fact. You will easily be able to bridge from LPN to RN in the future at DSCC after going to TTC. I was told at the Ripley orientation that close to two-hundred people applied and out of those around 24 to 26 students were picked for class. So when it came time to pick students for the Alamo class they did it a little differently. I'm not sure how many applied for my class, but they sent out notes telling us that out of everyone who took the COMPASS or NET exam they were only inviting the top 40 scorers to orientation. Then out of that 40 they picked 24-26 students after we did a ton of paperwork and an interview. They said that the ppl who would be picked would be based on experience, grades, refrences etc, but that 80% of weither or not you got in would depend on your Compass or Net score. I hope all of that came out right...LOL..I'm writing in a rush. I'm sure Covington won't do things exactly the same but it's probably very similar. IMO it's not that hard to get in; just make sure you do the best on your COMPASS or NET exam that you can( if you haven't taken it, study up on percents, fractions, decimals, ratio and simple equations). Make sure that you do really well in your interview(be prepared to answer why you want to be a nurse, and do you have adequate transportation, childcare etc) and def be sure to turn all of the paper-work they give you in on time...If I didn't cover anything then feel free to ask me and if it's something I'm not sure of I can call my aunt(who went to TTC Covington) and find out.. Good luck:redbeathe

I'm starting school in May, so really I'm a newbie too. While I can't offer you much advice, I wanted to congratulate you on going into nursing . I haven't been to school in 10 years myself so I brushed up on my math and reading skills since I know nursing school requires a lot of both. I also googled a lot of anatomy stuff just to brush over the basics. Basically, I recommend making sure you have your basics down and then relaxing until school starts because once it does it will be full force ahead and there won't be a lot of time for relaxing;) Good luck :redbeathe