sunshineintheforest

Mine means even when life seems like your lost amongst the trees, you can always find a bit of sunshine to brighten your way and perhaps even appreciate the protection of the shade. Lol O.K. well really it was just the first thing that popped into my head but if I had to analyze it, that would be my answer:-):redbeathe

I wouldn't worry about your reading speed at this point. Trust me, by the time you finish your pre-reqs to get into a nursing program your reading skills will have improved just from all the practice you will get doing those classes. Get a job in a hospital as a tech in the meantime and you will learn tons of things. Even a medical terminology class might be helpful. My husband went to a catholic high school and had to learn Latin. He is not in the medical field but he honestly understands more of the material right off the bat then I do, just because he knows the roots of the words and what the mean..this way he can boil things down. Anyway, I hope this helps a bit. Good Luck!

Does your school have an ombudsman? If so contact them ASAP.

Wow a WHOLE 65 degrees in the country! So many too choose from.. are you kidding me? I live in NY every program in NY is at least 2 hours from here. So me and my random relative and the other hundreds of people living around me are screwed I guess. Sorry the world is so black and white to you. Anyway, like I said.. what is likely is he will need experience, and he probably could be benefit from it since it would be good for him to get some experience dealing with Know it all nursing types. Yea you made it pretty clear that you pointed out your perception of PA's was ridiculous, but you also ignored me pointing out that I wasn't a 100%. Next time maybe just answer the OP instead of making comments to people who actually DIDN'T ask for your advice.

I actually said I was pretty sure you needed an RN and for your information a family member of mine is in the same situation as Spartan and there aren't any schools in this area that do not require an RN first! So instead of telling the world what IS how about tell them what is likely. Also Just because you see PA's as doctor wannabes doesn't mean it's true. Now to add to my answer to the OP.. Keep in mind the time it may take to get excepted. PA school might seem like a quicker route but in most schools they take only 30 people a semester out of hundreds of applicants. So you may not get in on the first try. So in the end NP may be the shorter route. I'm not sure how flexible you are when it comes to relocating as applying to more then one school would up your odds. Also I'm not sure how set in stone this is and when you would be finishing your degree, but it has been spoken of around here that most NP's will require a Doctorate by 2015. Please ignore any posts stating that is mis information as I already said I'm not sure, but you can always look that stuff up yourself:) One last thing to keep in mind, there are MSN programs that are NOT NP programs. As for working independently, you should check your BON for the scope of practice for your area. Every state is different. Research areas you are interested in working in as well. It's my understanding that PA's get to work more in surgical settings in assisting the doc then NP's. Good luck!

I'm just a student but I'm pretty sure you have to work as an RN for a year before entering an NP program, which makes being a PCA irrelevant for NP. PA is held to medical model standards while NP's are under the nursing model. PA's have more flexibility if they want to move around specialties while NP's would have to return to school to change specialties. NP's can practice ( in most states independently) PA's under the supervision of an MD. I don't think the decisions is usually so hard unless you are doing it primarily for money. Usually, RN's will choose the NP route because they are half way there and as for PA's the ones I have met seemed to be making a career change and it was the fastest way into the medical field from being in a non medical field for so long. I also hear a lot from PA's that it was something that had always interested them. As for going into it for the money..I'm all for wanting money and being compensated for the work I do. I have just seen so many people who have come into this field primarily and I say "primarily" for money, burn out and regret it. Money is a good motivator to get through school but unless you have a strong interest in either patient care or medicine I don't think money is enough to keep you going. I hope this helped some.

If it goes into effect for 2015 does this mean in order to graduate with just a masters you must be enrolled in a program by 2015. Or will it go into effect even for people who's expected graduation date falls after the Doctorate would be required? I hope that made sense. Thanks!

What is SNF?

Thank you all for the advice. I will definitely call COBON. Thank you Start for the link, I'm going to check it out right now. I'm not sure if it will count as experience or not but I was a CNA for many years and I am currently a tech at a large magnet hospital. Most of my fear is worrying that CO hospitals will favor their own new grads over me. I will need a job asap as I will be supporting my family for at least 2 years alone. My husband is applying to 2 colleges there for his PA degree so he will be unable to work once he starts his program. I wasn't sure if taking the NCLEX for CO license would look better to them(jobs) or if perhaps NY would look better. I know NYS teaching licenses look good to other states but I assume Nursing is a whole other ballgame. I guess one issue is I was hoping to move as soon as I graduate and I think you have to wait something like 2 months to take the NCLEX after graduation, is that correct? So I wasn't sure if I should just move or stick it out a couple months here and take the NCLEX before moving. I am SO eager to get out of NY, I do not like it. I have moved away many times but I met my husband here and then was accepted to the RN program.

but didn't get much response. Please lend some advice... My husband and I are seriously considering moving to Colorado. We like the idea of sunny days and snow but also we are both planning to pursue upper level degrees which are both offered at U of C. Anyway, I don't graduate until Dec of 12 and my question is... Should I take the NCLEX here and then try and get a job there or should I just take it there. We really want to move as soon as I graduate. Is there a chance I will get a job as a new grad moving from another state. I am currently a PCA working at a magnet hospital. I was also a CNA for many years. I will have my associate RN and plan to apply immediately to a Bachelor program, probably online. Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the response. Well one of the reason we plan to move is because my husband is applying to Red Rock CC for the physician assistant program, so he won't be working. I suppose we can live anywhere as long as it is someplace he can commute to fairly easy. We assume he won't start right away so he will probably work as a tech while waiting to start. He is a comp. programmer here in NY but will be starting at my hospital here to gain some experience, other wise he will have to go to U 0f Colorado Pa program. It doesn't require any medical experience BUT it's 3 years long and it would be a struggle for me to support the family for that long alone. What are some good rural areas? Any hospital recommendations? I have actually never even been to CO but my ex sister in-law and another good old friend live there and love it.

I think exercise and meditation. I Start nursing 1 in January and I just started having nightmares about school. Forgetting how to spell, not being able to write what I'm thinking. Very frustrating. Remember your dreams are your brains way of relieving stress.. Better to dream this stuff then have it happen. Acknowledge it as a dream right as you wake up and let it feel like you made all your mistakes in your sleep so you will NOT make any in real life. I'm sure it will pass with time:)

My husband and I are seriously considering moving to Colorado. We like the idea of sunny days and snow but also we are both planning to pursue upper level degrees which are both offered at U of C. Anyway, I don't graduate until Dec of 12 and my question is... Should I take the NCLEX here and then try and get a job there or should I just take it there. We really want to move as soon as I graduate. Is there a chance I will get a job as a new grad moving from another state. I am currently a PCA working at a magnet hospital. I was also a CNA for many years. I will have my associate RN and plan to apply immediately to a Bachelor program, probably online. Thanks for your help.

I live in NY and they no longer allow this. Do you think you would be able to take the LPN test in another state after completing enough RN classes...even though you live in NY?

I have been reading a lot of posts saying that that bigger hospitals are requiring Nurses to have a BSN to work for them. I'm curious if anyone knows if it helps if you are in the process of obtaining your Bachelors, if you already have your AS. Kind of how teachers are required to have a masters degree but usually start working with only their Bachelors and have so many years to complete the masters. Thanks!

I tried briefly searching for the answer to this but didn't see anything. Are you allowed to hold both an RN license as well as a PA license simultaneously ? Meaning if you get both degrees can you work..say full-time as one and part time as the other? I know all the differences between the two, I'm not really looking for a lecture on choosing just one. I'm just curious if this is possible. Thanks in advance!

loveanesthesia Can you tell me if your science classes were more then five yrs old? It seems they must have been if you worked ICU for 5 years prior to attending the Grad program. Did they make an exception? Or was it not a requirement? Or am I completely wrong? lol

Thanks so much guys for all the advice. To answer a few questions.. I do realize that I need a year of ICU. I am already employed at a hospital and have some connections, so when I finish my A.S. in nursing (which I am a year from doing because I have ALL non nursing classes finished:) I plan to immediately start an RN to BSN through an online state school my school is affiliated with. It will be 14, 7 week classes to finish that up. In that time I plan to get in my ICU experience. I work on a med surg floor now as a TCA. All in all it would actually be about 4 years until I would be applying to CRNA school. I already researched what school I want and I will meet all the requirements after my BSN and 1 yr. ICU completion. I know 4 years sounds far but once school starts back up for me it will be pretty much non stop till the finish, so time will fly not to mention I already took my sciences which I got all A's in and there is a 5 year limit on them being good and I would hate to have to take them again.. not only because of money but time. So this is why for anyone thinking I'm getting ahead of myself..is why I am thinking about this now:rolleyes:

I am in the beginning of nursing school. I am planning my path to my future and I am almost positive CRNA is the path I want to take. My question is... Once I become a CRNA are there many jobs? I don't seem to see them listed. I worry I will go through it all and then not find a job or not have options in where I want to live because there are such few to choose from. Does anyone have any info? It would be great to hear it:-)

I live in NY around a flurry of colleges. I don't think any of the colleges with nursing programs have on campus housing but there are a TON of off campus college housing where you would have a roommate. I think if you take out loans you would be fine. You could split the rent 2 or 3 or more ways and it would be hardly anything. I live in the capital district. If your looking at NYC you will pay too much.

Maladroit, where are you thinking about moving? I LOVE Chicago.. I used to live in West Michigan.

If he doesn't like it then maybe HE should look down! Also besides that idiotic request.. Who on Earth does he think he is asking a nurse to bite her tongue regarding her patients care! He should be reported and this nonsense put to rest. Regardless of his "culture" he is most definitely not God! He works on a team that includes nurses. They are all responsible for the patient at hand. Instead of everyone always spewing to respect other peoples cultures I wish they would just agree when in the face of someone who has separate beliefs, instead of caving to theirs and disregarding yours..for the time being just be agree to be neutral. Why is that so difficult?!? You know, sort of an agree to disagree.

I can see that. So should I be most on the look out? lol

I think this is a stupid idea.. so what does this mean?? Doctors get scrubs but just so nurses don't look like doctors we wear "trad uniforms" So what then? The CNA's look like the doctors? This doesn't even makes sense! If anything they should make the MD's wear a white coat over their scrubs when addressing a patient. Don't go and alienate nurses.. I would think it would be better for the patient to mistaken the RN for an MD then the Janitor who wears scrubs as well! (Nothing against Janitors, you get my point..I hope) If you changed what the Nurses wear then you better change what EVERYONE wears.. and if you're going to put that much effort in why not come up with something less ridiculous then bringing back totally outdated uniforms. Just my 2:twocents:

I have about a year and a half until I graduate. I am having a hard time deciding what to focus on. Eventually I would like to be some sort of NP but I can't decide what specialty. Is this something I need to know right now or is it something you wait to decide until you have been in the field a while. I am afraid if I start working without a goal I will get stuck in an area I'm not happy in or not get the right experience to get into a NP specialty program I decided I like, too late. I am just full of questions today:)