astarr33

I'm currently enrolled in the WGTC RN program. The program is 6 qtrs, with clinicals beginning the first qtr. Clinicals are typically 8 hr shifts, two days a week. However, beginning Fall 2011, the college switches over to semesters. Not sure how that will equate. As to the interview, dress as if going to a job interview. When asked a question, take a moment to take a breath and collect your thoughts, then answer honestly and respectfully. And don't forget to smile and shake hands with each of them when you enter. Best of luck!!

As a child, I was always fascinated with the stories of my NAI heritage, and I still am. My mother and I are working to track down the bits and pieces of our family history from elderly family members before they pass on. It has only been since reading Thunderwolf's post about how all the parts make up the whole, that I no longer feel like a "wannabe" for claiming my heritage. My great-great-great-great-great(?) grandfather on my mother's side was a Cherokee chief. The story passed down through the years is that he fell in love with a Dutch woman, but her family wouldnt have it, so he "stole" her from a wagon train heading west. They took each other for husband and wife, and she was disowned by her family. The addendum to the story is that when they returned to Alabama many years later, he was deeded land by the government. (I'm not sure if the last part is true or not) On my father's side, there is also NAI bloodlines, though we know nearly nothing about his side. I am made up of NAI, Dutch, English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and French (that I know of). In some eyes this makes me a Heinz 57 or "mutt", but to me, it just makes me interesting. And yes, it still makes me NAI. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could find more information about my grandfather on mom's side? Even just a suggestion of a starting point would be great!!

I began NS at the age of 34. I'm 36 now and in my final year. I have 3 children. I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that it is easy, because it isn't. However, you and your family will adjust. At my school, we have 1 day in class for lecture (4 hrs), then we have a day or two in lab (2 hrs), and then 2 days of clinicals (8 hr shifts/day). On top of that, plan to spend at minimum 4 hrs per day studying, reading your text and lecture notes, and working on care plans and other assignments. There will be days that you will wonder just what you have gotten yourself into, and there will be days that you cannot wait to get to class/lab/clinical. For me, it is more practical to do the harder studying and paper writing and such after hubby and kids have gone to bed and in the early morning hours before they awaken. With you having two little ones, it might work better for you to do things during nap time and after they have been put to bed for the night. Either way, you seem to be very determined, and that determination will see you through a great deal. Never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it be from family or friends when you need the babies watched so you can "study just one more chapter", or from fellow classmates and/or instructors when you need help clarifying something. I wish you the very best of luck!!

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Secondly, the best piece of advice I can give you is to look at EVERYTHING you experience (good, bad, and everywhere in between) as something to learn from. You will make mistakes, we all do, but a mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn anything from it. The best of luck to you!! Should you ever start to doubt yourself, remember, you were one of the small percentage chosen to begin your training for your future profession. You were chosen for a reason. It will be one of the hardest things you've ever done, but it will also be one of the most rewarding. Congrtulations!!!

Unfortunately, we (when on the patient side of the fence) never know just where in their class a physician or nurse graduated. Hmmm...I wonder what my physician would do if I asked what his GPA was when he graduated from med school. On another note, IF I have offended anyone with my previous comments, I apologize. It wasn't intended that way, I can assure you. (Sometimes it's difficult to convey certain emotions accurately without the use of body language and facial expressions.) I agree that having worked hard to earn your grade, whatever it may be, is far better than to just gripe and whine over the grade received when hard work and study aren't involved. As for making "extreme" comments, I didn't think I had, however, I apologize for my error. In response to the statement about getting offended by comments that apply to certain parts of the population, I think that comes from the fact that we are all our own harshest critics. We all want to do the best that we can in order to become the best nurses that we can possibly be. For me at least, I took offense because deep down, even though I know I busted my rear (and still didn't quite make it), there is a part of me that questions whether or not I could have done more. That said, I am grateful every day that I can check these forums. Each time I do, I am reminded once again why I want to enter this profession, and I am thankful for all the wonderful nurses (and nurses in training) that share their wisdom, insight, and perspective on the challenges involved. Thanks to each of you for sharing yourselves. :redbeathe

I am a 36 yr old RN student. My mother graduated from a 3yr Diploma program in 1973. She still has her cap and cape. I grew up when real nurses wore white dresses, thick white hose, white nurses shoes, and their cap (that they had worked so hard to earn) every day, no matter where they worked. Nurses then were accorded so much more respect, by the general public, than they are now. Nurses were recognized instantly by their uniform as something worth respecting. Yes, nurses had to stand when the dr walked in, however, not every dr treated nurses as something beneath them. To me, scrubs are horrid. Everyone from housekeeping to phlebotomy to radiology to Joe Jimbob wears them. Even people not in the medical field wear scrubs when they go to WalMart because they are comfortable. I want to see the nursing profession regain the respect it once held in the eyes of the public and the community. My nursing program requires the white uniform, and to me, that is a great start. I want be capped at my graduation when I am pinned. Noone else in my class wants to do it because it is so "old fashioned". I want the cap, I want the cape, I want the whites, the whole 9 yds. I feel that when I graduate, I will have earned it!! For my graduation pictures, I will wear a generic white nurses cap, and my mother's cape. I will be a proud Registered Nurse, and I want everyone who sees me to know it. Once I am employed, I hope I will be allowed to wear my cap to work every day. My mom did it, in some horrific conditions, and never lost her cap. Surely I can do the same!

My program requires a specific top that we have to order. It zips up the front. Well endowed women like me either end up squished or swimming in tops that are huge. Luckily, my mother is a genius with a sewing machine. I ordered my tops so that they fit where they needed too, namely the bosom, then she took apart the back and side seams and altered it to fit better. She even hemmed my pants which were petites, but somehow always ended up under the heels of my Danskos. Perhaps you could post a notice on the student bulletin board and ask if anyone knows a good seamstress? Or maybe there is another nursing student who loves to sew who would like to make a little extra pocket money? Good luck finding the elusive "perfect fit" scrubs!!!

Personally, as a 36 yr old, mother of 3 children with health issues, and a husband who is OTR driver, with no family nearby, I am thrilled with making a passing grade. Every qtr of NS I earned a high B, until my next to last qtr. Due to family issues (death, illness, etc), I didnt make high enough on my final exam to pass. Guess what.....I return in a few months to retake that qtr. I busted my butt that qtr, but it didnt matter. This attitude of "only the partiers are the ones that dont make A's" really chaps my hide. The reality is, sometimes, no matter how hard you work, you just dont make the grade. Everything happens for a reason, and as my NS director told me, " those that have to work the hardest to achieve their goals turn out to be the best at what they achieve." My goal is to have earned my MSN and NP within 5 yrs, and I will do it. Best of luck to all the future nurses out there.