kbucksn

I know of one in Minnesota when I lived there. A college student in her mid-20's answered and ad for a nanny on Craigslist. It listed a phone #,etc and when she called she spoke to a woman claiming to be the mother and invited her to the home for an interview and to meet the kids. When the girl arrived she was brutally murdered. It turned out it was by a 19 year old boy and this was the home he lived in with his parents who apparently were not at home. Police found her body in the trunk of her car parked at some park if I recall. The kid claimed to be addicted to video games and "just wanted to see what it felt like to REALLY kill someone" After this I avoided craiglist and told my collegebound daughter to as well. Scary stuff. It just sucks to think these a$$holes are praying on people needing employment, especially in this dire time.

I think alot does depend on what is the better program. Where I live the BSN program has had a 100% first time pass rate on the NCLEX for the last few years and the ADN is in the mid 90's. So I guess you just have to research it.

Well from my understanding the major difference is hiring purposes. Although the RN licensure is still the same, more and more hospitals are trying to acquire "magnet status" and in order to do that their RN's must be Bachelors prepared RN's. One thing I have also been noticing as I look at job postings is that I am seeing more and more that are wanting an RN with atleast 1 year experience UNLESS they are a BSN and then they are willing to hire a new grad. I am not really sure why that is but that is what I have been noticing. I think overall it is what is best for you though, different people are working with different time constraints so i think it is more a matter of what works for you. Good luck! Karla

Wow!!

The only thing about that is what if you are making these accusations that "Mom is strung out on drugs" and you are wrong? What if like nursemarion's pt there is a REAL illness and REAL pain going on, now we have just introduced a whole bunch of stress and crap into someone's life unnecessarily. Maybe Mom has nobody to watch said child? I just don't think assuming Mom is using child to support her drug habit based upon the few minutes one spend with the pt is quite right either. Maybe Mom didn't realize she went out there because she is sick and in real pain???

I totally agree with what your saying. Things should be taken a step further and other visits checked. Your right if this is the 3rd time this week or they come in a few times a week or whatever for the last few months, etc than RED FLAG. But, i still think as another poster had said, at that point instead of writing someone off that is a flag that they have a need not being met. Whether that means they are not taking care of that "dental pain" for example, we need to find out why not?? No insurance,etc?? Offer referrals or a social worker to help them with such. But I DO believe we need to try to address patients a bit more holistically.

I have to agree with the other comments, pain is pain. I am really glad to hear advice about dealing with pts holistically, I think that is something we all should keep in mind. MissRN2012 you made a good point that if they are "frequent flyers" or med seeking we have not done our job be it due to stress, mental illness or something that has not been found yet. My husband dealt with ongoing pain that they could not find a cause to for a couple if years, finally it was discovered that he had a herniated disc. And as far as pain, it is SUBJECTIVE. What worries me when we start deciding that our pts aren't REALLY in pain, the next thing that leaks in is judgment and profiling. A pt present with pain and maybe they "look like druggies" or have certain things that some person may think "bad people" have (tattoos,long hair,etc)and next thing we start making judgement calls based upon personal feelings. For example I live in a very conservative very religious community where although there are many good non-judgmental people, there are just as many that ARE judgmental. They see someone with a tattoo, or a girl with short shorts or even a freaking tank top and instantly treat the person different like they are criminals, prostitutes or drug addicts. It is RIDICULOUS!!! Example my husband and I were in a store and my husband has tattoos the woman working there followed us around like we were casing the place. Mind you my husband TEACHES SUNDAY SCHOOL! We cannot and should not judge a book by its cover. I also agree with the previous comment that says I would rather medicate someone who doesn't need it than cause someone who is in pain to suffer. What if I am wrong?? Something to think about.... Once upon a time doctors pretty much diagnosed anything a woman complained of as "hysterical woman syndrome". One of those things later became known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, women would complain of muscle aches and extreme fatigue and drs wrote it off as "in their head". Correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that is what we know call Fibromyalgia. As it turns out it is not something that can be definitively diagnosed by a lab test, but by other types of testing in regards to certain points on the body upon physical exam but it took time to figure this out. One other thought, there are times that even people who have suffered or do suffer from addiction have pain too. Do we just write them off? Or there are certain meds used to treat addiction such as Methadone that cause people to actually need higher doses of pain meds to treat their pain and often I have seen that ignored as well, out of sheer judgement. i think we just need to give out pts the benefit of the doubt UNLESS of course they walk in nodding with sub-normal vital signs and are obviously intoxicated asking for Demerol,etc and of course that is for safety reasons. Anyhow just my 2 cents :)

I am currently finishing up my prereqs to apply to a BSN program. Thus far I took Biology 2 years ago now, Anatomy Spring semester, and I am registered for Physiology for Fall, what I am wondering is if I would benefit from any sort of order in these classes. I have to take Micro which I wish I had taken right after Biology but the school i was attending at that time did not require Micro so here I am needing that. I also need to take Pathophysiology which I am wondering if I should take next semester right after Phys. Finally have my Nutrition class that I am taking this semester and I will be needing to finish 2 Chem classes. I guess my worry is forgetting info, I figure pathophys is basically an extension of phys so i should take them consecutively,etc. Does anyone have any insight they would like to share here?? Oh and I am needing Critical Thinking Communications as well. Or am I seriously OVERTHINKING it all?? Thanks in advance!

Well first of all every class is different, so its kind of hard to compare. Teachers make the class in many ways. For me, I took sociology last semester, I had a really laid back teacher, but she taught us so much. it has been one of my favorite classes thus far! We did write a couple of essays, but sociology is not one of those black and white subjects. My teacher's goal was to basically get that across to us, to encourage us to consider other ideas, cultures, beliefs, etc. Depending if that sort of thing interests you will probably make the difference of how you like the class. my favorite part of the class was the discussions...everything turned into a discussion, which was awesome to hear opinions and ideas from other walks of life. Good luck and I hope you get something enjoyable from it!!

First of all you need a ((((((BIG HUG))) :hug: I know your pain , I have actually been going through the same thing. Spring last year I took my anatomy and I am at a smaller school so we do not have many instructors. I had heard about 2 instructors that were good but as i was still a Freshman I had last pick of classes. So when I went to register of course BOTH of those instructors were full and they no longer would let us add in, anyway I was stuck with the only other instructor and she was AWFUL!! For one she was teaching way more than anatomy, expecting us to diagnose and cite treatments,etc on her tests. The tests were so hard, the way she asked questions it was a tests just to figure out wth she was asking? Her testing average was a 56%!!! She would lecture SO fast and not slow down or repeat, ridiculed any questions, expecting us to have the knowledge of 3rd yr med students!! To top it off the materials she used FREQUENTLY were not accurate (diagrams,etc) and those were her words. i could go on and on....anyhow I was studying constantly, I mean literally I would study when I awoke, then after class, then at home until I fell asleep at night. But the material was so wide not just anatomy, that it was just impossible to prepare for her exams. Anyhow I got a C in the class, which as you probably well know may as well be an F when trying to get into nursing schools. So since then I have really been in this depression over it all, I thought "well that's it, my dream for the last 15 years was gone" but this fall I still kept chucgging alone in my prereqs. Currently my school accepts 20 students in the Fall and Spring, this last semester people with a 3.8 GPA didnt get in and this is how its gone for quite awhile I felt hopeless. Well I met with an advisor at another school in my area (the only other for abt 200 miles) and its a uiversity and 60 miles closer to home. well they have a rigorous program its a BSN with no ADN option and has LOTS of prereqs but also a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the last 2 cohorts of RN grads. So I laid it all out to them. They told me to retake the class, and include an explaination of why I did poorly the first time and of course kick butt on everything else! So there is def hope!!! My advice retake the class and investigate the instructors!! Try ratemyprofessor.com and best of all word of mouth from several people. If you have to take more than just that class trying and take easy ones, also there are some great resources online. If your interested in some let me know. But point is all nursing programs tell you that!! Dont let this deter you PLEASE. Redo that class, that is what I ma doing. I am actually transferring to a school that has better educated professors, low class size and highly recommended instructors. I dont know how rural or metro of an area you live in but dont just focus on the 1 program, there are alot out there that factor in many other things than grades. In fact in calif they select a certain amount by grades, etc and a certain amount by lottery. You have to meet a minimum but it just really opens your chances alot. I dont know how far you are willing to go for this but check other school in other areas or states.also study grp for science!! i never used them and that was prob dumb of me because all those that did, also were more succesful. Anyhow sorry for the novel, I just really feel for you. Don give up!!!! Best wishes you you :) btw you will her many deterring things abt all problems but alot is others trying to deter the competition.

I do not get why a certain person on this board sees anything about entitlement?? I am so glad you have a wonderous "protestant work ethic" but not everyone was raised that way. you want to talk judgmental?? i think you should look in the mirror. a question was asked i answered, that is it... why you have turned this into you being so righteous because you made education and financial security your priority i have no idea. i am glad that you made those choices, i encourage my kids to do the same, but not everyone was given that ethic. in fact you want to know what i was raised by?? My mother was a prostitute. how is that for teaching your kids ethics.So before you go getting on your all mighty high horse maybe think that others walk down different roads. Just because I raised my kids before having a career does not mean i should never fulfill my own educational goals. Also I never said that I was entitled to anything, all I said was yes it is maddening, didnt say a word about I should get in before ANYONE, only that it is frustrating when you see someone not even wanting to be in that field. anyway enough said. btw leenak that is my personal goal as well, to become an RN but eventually become an adv pract nurse/NP. But the point is that is still a route for the field of nursing. We were referring to people that plan to never have anything to do with that field. BTW I commend you in your goals, best of luck to you.

Hey there, welcome to allnurses...I am now in my 3rd semester, i am done with all my nursing program prereqs accept for physiology which i take in the fall, chemistry which i cannot take until i get through a math 1010 class in the fall,and statistics which comes after the mth 1010 class. I am currently finishing up my english and some general ed stuff...i am looking to apply in the spring for fall 2012 nursing program, which mean i will have to take my entrance test, (they changed it to the kaplan test)by march of 2012. so i will be in the middle of statistics and chem when i take the test.i have heard many many people say the kaplan science part is mainly anatomy and physio. but i am glad i ahve gone back, just sooooo afraid i wont get in, the programs are so competitive. i did not do as well as i hoped in anatomy, i got a C...so i dont know i may have to retake that. its just so different being out of high school this long, and never having had much of the basics in the first place. my advice is if you can take just a couple c;lasses at a time especially with math and sciencess, then do it. i am in a catch 22 because i need to keep 12 units for my financial aid and loans. best of luck to you and email is [email protected] if you ever wanna chat :) karla

I also would like to reiterate that it is one thing to go into a program with the intent of becoming a nurse, probably what those ladies that Streamline2010 was referring to.I can understand having the intent and then working or having a family or whatever and doing something else but when you have NO INTENT of ever practicing that is crappy...like the PP who had someone on her cohort that was just trying to find herself a doctor to marry...that could have gone to someone who worked their butt off to get their. Streamline I an sorry that you evidentally think nursing school is boring, etc...but some of us do not and are really driven to get our licenses. Nobody was trying to start "drama" as you also stated but the OP asked our opinions so we gave them, not sure why you felt like jumping down my throat....not sure why you rudely put "no moral issues here folks. move along"...

Streamline 2010....wow I did not mean to trigger someone to be so nasty!! I am so glad that your life was able to go that way to go to college than have kids...well I have been on my own since I was 15 years old, my guardian died... I had my oldest daughter at 16 (and no i do not regret that)....and so no I did not have that opportunity...maybe some people want to raise their kids and be home with them first before beginning a career??I am not saying that people do not have a right to their degrees, but when you have someone go into the field expecting some glamorous job and when they realize its not what they thought never working in it again, its a little frustrating! I am just saying I think nursing programs should do like paramedic programs do....they have to get their EMT Basic first and then they have to work as such for 1 year before applying tot he medic program. I think that nursing should be the same, you should not only have to take a CNA class but work as one for a year. You know how many times I have heard people so shocked and bothered when they find out they have to "wipes butts"?? Too many! All I was saying is that it is frustrating when the programs have such few spots and people who have no intention of being a nurse take the spot. I did not mean to have you bite my head off about I should have done that before having kids....not all of us are perfect...sorry..

I am sorry to be the bummer but I would be very upset. Maybe it is because of where I live, a very rural area with exactly 2 nursing programs, one of which is over an hour away. The first one accepts 20 students per year the other accepts 30. We do have alot of students that live on campus from out of state as well so it ups the college population immensely. The next nearest program is almost 3 hours away, in another state actually, and there are people so desperate that they actually do that commute (they only accept 20 as well). None of them do wait lists nor lottery system, it is 100% based upon GPA, entrance test (TEAS,Kaplan,etc),and essay. I have wanted to become an RN since I was 17 years old (I am now 32), I have raised 4 children which I had very young, and my youngest is 12 and oldest 17, when they were younger I didn't want to take away from them for my dreams. Well now that most of them are doing there own thing much of the time, I have the ability to take on school. I worked in the medical field as a tech for 10 years, so i know what nursing is truly about including the not so pretty parts. I am just 1 of many with similar stories. So yes I think it is not cool to take a spot in a highly competitive program for a profession you have no intention of going into. Now if when she went in she DID intend to be a nurse but things changed halfway through or whatever, than OK I get that things change....but if she did it knowing full well she would never practice, that isn't cool. But that is just my opinion. Karla