chris82

Hi, I graduated from CCAC's nursing program in 2009 and have just got my BSN from Penn State. I just wanted to give you future nurses some advice. Currently, the nursing field is highly competitive. If you look on this forum many new grads are having trouble just finding a job. I would suggest that while in school you work as an aide. Also, it is a tough program and you pretty much will not have a life for the next two years. Study hard and you will be fine. Good luck

I too have been trying to fiugre out what I want to do. My problem is that I do want to get my MSN, but I currently work in a skilled LTC unit and really do not have any other experiecnce. I am a supervisor and think that I would like the management/administration side of nursing. The problem with that is that you lose the patient contact, and that is what I enjoy. I think you should just make a list of what you like about nursing and try to fit it into what specialty works with your list. Money is not always everything, but we need to make sure that it is worth all the loans to continue our education. Good Luck!

I believe you must have your license first. We you go to get your BSN they need your license number. Perhaps contact the school and see if you need any other classes( art, humanities)? BSN requires other non nursing classes as well. Maybe you could take those in the mean time~

If you live in PA don't sign the agreement!!! If you signed it than they think that you agree that you have a problem. Get a lawyer if you really don't have a problem you have the right to appeal and have a hearing in front of an examiner for the board. I had a dui before nursing school and reported this when applying for nclex. They had me go and get an evaluation I( they make everyone do this). Well I was two months pregnant not drinking doing drugs nothing. Well the evaluator reported to the state that i have a problem and wanted me to take classes through their program. Once the board sent me a letter telling me to enter into this agreement I thought it was crazy. Anyway I got a lawyer, went to Harrisburg and the board agreed with me. I did alot of work my self. Become familiar with the DSM IV the person who evaluated you had to diagnose you with something from the DSM. Long story short it took almost a year and have no record of anything and have been working as a nurse. Good Luck

I did go through the same thing but in another state. I did hire a lawyer but honestly you probably could do it your self. I would go and get a drug and alcohol evaluation to state that you have no dependency or abuse issues. Make sure you are familiar with the DSM IV on drug and alcohol issues. Get letters of reference from classmates,instructors, employers, etc. I know this can be embarrassing but in the end it will pay off! This process took me over a year. I am a nurse who after a year passed on my first attempt and I have a job! Fight it the nursing boards across the country need to change how they deal with people with criminal records. Seriously if they are not going to give you a license why even let people into the school in the first place! GOOD LUCK.

Had a dui before nursing school and it was a pain dealing with the board just to get my license.Most states when renewing your license ask if you have any charges. The board probably would want you to get a drug/alcohol eval to make sure you don't have a problem. Good Luck

More than likely the state board probably will contact him. I had the same thing happen and had to get an alcohol evaluation. As long as they give him a positive review he should be fine. If not than they may make him enter into an agreement with the board. I am from another state so I am not sure what ohio board does, but I am pretty sure that they are going to look into it because they are not going to give someone a license if they feel that he has a problem. If you want more info send me a personal message for advice in how to deal with the board good luck!! Oh I did get my license and got a job with the same record as him.

I graduated from an ADN program and finally found a job in LTC at 20.50 an hour. Also I just started taking classes at Penn state beaver for my BSN. It currently is not a great job market for new grads! But what I do understand is that nursing jobs go through these waves of having lots of jobs to barley any. Hopefully by the time you graduate the economy will be better!

I graduated from an associates degree program and since passing my boards I decided to go back for my BSN. I live in PA where we have some of the best hospitals and have come to the realization that every job market is struggling and with no experience it is going to take some time getting a job! I finally got hired after probably 100 applications at a retirement community with dementia patients, I am basically going to be in charge so hopefully after a year I can go and get more experience. Eventually it all works out!

I am in PA in a relatively big city, and have some of the best hospitals. But I am facing the same challenges as you. I am a veteran and the VA wants experience in fact it seems everyone wants experience. I decided to go back to school for my BSN in the mean time. I know it's frustrating, I've been on unemployment for months I feel like I have applied at every job opening too! Right now I am just happy that I can at least enjoy the time that I have with my 10 month old son. Sooner or later it will all work out for us!!

Anyone who feels like they do not have a problem with drugs or alcohol needs to get a lawyer asap if you are dealing with the board. In my state I was applying for my inital licesnse had a dui years before, at the time i was pregnant and the evaluator stated that i needed treatment. This seemed crazy to me, This incident was before nursing school and I was two months pregnant and not using anything. So I got a lawyer, and fought the whole entering the VRP and PHMP it took about a year. But the board agreed with me just because years ago I made a bad choice doesn't mean I should be punished for it for years. I found out I never even met any of the requriements for alcohol abuse, they use the dsm four and the sassi, and that the evaluators own kids had problems with the law one had a drug possession charge and the other had id theft. Anyway if you feel you are being railroaded than get a lawyer. I successfully passed my boards first shot 265 questions after a year out of nursing school and a baby.

Congrats on passing. I found out yesterday that after a year out of school I passed on the first shot! I never wanted to take that test again!!!

I took the boards on monday and had alot of infection control, but didn't run into that situation. Personally I would just stick with what you know respirator for airborne, mask for droplet, and gown and gloves for contact. Let's say some one has Hep b you want them to have disposable utensils.Good Luck If you know spiderman and my chicken has TB you will be fine!!!

If you got the good pop up you passed!! I too wanted to actually see my name on the boards web site. I took my test on monday and passed on the first shot with all 265 and was out of school for a year. Just breath you made it. Pa is just great my name was on their web site the next day.

Yeah I took mine yesterday all 265, but got the good pop up, and today my name is on the state boards website!!! Eventhough I graduated a year ago, I really didn't think the test was that bad? I think the questions where pretty straight forward. I think I felt worse after some of my nursing finals than the Nclex. If you put your time in studying and doing a lot of questions you should be fine.