2ndTime

I graduated from ASU over a year ago, but I'm guessing that they still do things similarly. You do not pick your schedule. Each semester is predetermined for you. They assign you to a 10 person group and they tell you which course numbers to register for. Some days you will be in clinical (or lab) all day, other days you may only have a class or two. First semester I remember being very time demanding, as in long lab or class days. Or maybe it was just the culture shock that made the days seem long.

Sprintin - I just want to tell you I feel exactly the same way except our tele floor only has 4 patients, and I just cannot keep up. I broke down in front of my preceptor last night. Felt like such an idiot. When I'm giving report at the end of the day I realize how much I missed. Why didn't I call the doc for that 7.7 hemoglobin? Why didn't I give that hydralazine for the 187 systolic blood pressure? The patients weren't symptomatic... but I should be making these things priority. These things get lost on me when I'm trying to keep all my patient's stories straight, and getting their 50 pages of meds on time. I had a nurse tell me yesterday that it took her until her second year to feel comfortable, and that she just wasn't "following doctor's orders". I hope one day that will come to me too. Just keep reevaluating your performance, talking with your preceptor, manager, see what you need to work on or focus on. We will get there.

Damask, I feel your pain. I feel like everything you've said has reflected my own feelings, time flying, forgetting things, interruptions, consults... etc. MANY meds I do not know, and takes me several encounters for it to really stick in my mind. Med passes take fooorrreveeer for me. One med error... never again. I am still on orientation, about 10 or 11 shifts now (plus I was an extern for a total of 6 shifts), and I'm feeling pressured to be off now because we are moving to EMR in less than 2 weeks. Totally not ready. I thought that I was progressing slowly despite what my preceptor says, but from reading other threads, other hospitals offer a lot more time for orientation. Yesterday was torture, felt like crying for the first time. I'm just lucky that my fellow nurses are super supportive. And I did keep my med-surg book from school too! I thought I might need it and I do! I just wish there was a tele book that I could get.

I would say go for it if you are having difficulty getting an interview. I did it right before I graduated. I don't think it helped my get a job, however. I feel like my BSN was the deciding factor in landing my first job. My new manager just gave me the advise to re-certify next year with the hospital even though my certification will not be expiring because "it would be more meaningful to me after getting experience". So take that as you will... Even though I don't think that for this particular hospital it helped me, I think getting your ACLS shows your commitment and willingness to go the extra mile. For some employers it means a lot. Especially if there 100s of applicants. Also I only paid $90.00 for the class plus the price of the book. So the cost for me wasn't too bad. I definitely wouldn't pay $300 or more for it.

Phoenix, AZ 26.70, plus $1.00 for BSN, $5.00 night, acute care

I am an ASU student, and its a GREAT nursing school. The faculty are wonderful. I know ASU does like to prepare their grads to look into nursing leadership roles, but that does not mean they don't teach the basic skills. I don't know what you mean by "lack of practical application", but that is not true at all. All BSN schools have pretty much the same amount of clinical hours, but you know that clinicals are only what you make of it anyway. You have to make your own opportunities I think whatever school you attend. Good luck with your choice!

Thanks for the replies. I am a new graduate, and I guess I just didn't know what the procedure was. I've had references ask me to whom to address the letter. I thought would be good since its personable, but it means that if I didn't get the job offer, then I would have to ask them again to address the letter to someone else. It just seemed like it would be better to make it to no one in particular.

I was just needing advice on how to go about giving employers refences. Do you think that they prefer a list of references or actual letters? I have an interview coming up, and I'm not sure how many is enough even. I got an automated response after I applied that said to have a list of five! I thought three was standard. Also, should the letters be addressed to specific people or is it satisfactory to just have the letter addressed "to whom it may concern" because I may need to use that letter for another employer potentially if I end up not getting the position. What do you think?

Wow that was a really thorough rundown. You hit the nail on the head. I just finished my capstone or my school calls it "immersion" in the CVICU. It was amazing. Just another thing. Don't be afraid to jump in situations such as skills or patient teaching. It shows initiative and I think as a student you have some immunity for making mistakes. Also, They make for great answers for those dreaded interview questions, "tell me a time when...." If it didn't go well, then you can always say how you learned from it and so on.

Hi I am a current ASU student. I'm not in the accelerated program, but the application process is just the same for both traditional and accelerated. ASU recently changed the way they select their students for admission into the upper division program. They now give more credit to those that have taken their prereqs at ASU rather than transfer credits from CC or somewhere else. I would talk to an adviser because it wasn't like that when I applied. The application process was kind of tedious with all the paperwork and the anxiousness about the TEAS exam. Everyone pretty much had straight As in order to get in. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Hi! I have lived in the West Valley my entire life and if I were you I would try and get in the Litchfield Elementary School District rather than Avondale Elementary. Of course there are variations from school to school, but Litchfield has a much better reputation, and there is no uniforms like Avondale. Not sure if you are set on Avondale, but I think Litchfield Park or Goodyear is just nicer overall and they are right next door. Although Garden Lakes is considered Avondale and its great there.

I agree with the above poster about taking some time off and do something else with yourself. Nursing school is definitely not for anyone that has any self doubt about their abilities and determination. You are only 21 so there is no rush. Some people just need more time to make these kinds of decisions. I am 28 now and am going through a BSN program. I would never have been able to do this when I was 21... Personally, it just took some life experiences to have the discipline and confidence that I have now to make it through. Also I think working as a CNA in a assisted living facility is a little depressing. (No offence to those that are! I guess it depends on the place...) Take some time off, regain your spirit, and come back to nursing really knowing that is what you want to invest your time and money into. Don't just "settle" on a degree. I did that with my first degree... and all I was left with was just a degree.

No you don't have to use a math. Just like WattleBird said, it just has to be 3 of the 4 science courses and your English courses. Other than those, you just use whatever you have A's in, until you have 13 finished. You should call down to the Student Services office and talk to an advisor. They also do workshops for students looking to start the program. They give you tons of information. Actually I think its required to do the workshop before enrolling.

I've heard that those shoes were comfortable. Thanks for the tip. The totally white shoe search is on! We start on the 23rd which is great. Why start on a Thursday?

OK. Thanks for the info. I'll keep that in mind.