KCMedicRN

Oh wow, my orientation is 11 months! I will do 2 weeks in Tele, CVOR, Cath lab, Cardiac rehab while completing the Versant program and then 16-24 weeks of CVR. My facility is also providing in house classes on topics such as balloon pumps, pacemakers, cardiac surgery, hemodynamics, and 12 leads. This is the first time this facility has accepted new grads to CVR/CVICU and I feel blessed to be there. Best of luck to you!

I am a new grad in CV recovery/CVICU, about 8 weeks into my orientation. When I asked what materials would be good to study, the following was suggested by my preceptor and I am currently reading the Manual of Perioperative Care. -Cardiac Surgery Essentials for Critical Care Nursing Sonya R. Hardin -Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery Robert M. Bojar I am also going to really review hemodynamics since almost every one of my patients have a Swan. If you have not taken ACLS you should highly consider it, or at minimum purchase the book and study it. How long is your orientation?

Yes, started pre-req's with a 3 year old and working fulltime, had a baby - bad timing, and just finished my BSN. My children are ages 7 and 3 now. My husband was very supportative, even to the point of bringing our infant to the campus so I could breastfeed between classes. As someone above stated when there is a will, there is a way!

Judy, Congratulations and Welcome! My class is the last class on the 21 month program cycle, we attend 7 quarters straight (including summers). This is finals week of quarter 6! In our cohort we have lost 4 student but they have all been re-accepted and are currently in the cohort behind ours. We lost those students in the first 2 quarters. With the 3 year program that you are in our first 2 quarters are broken in to 3 quarters, so in other words what we did in 2 quarters you will do in 3 quarters. The staff is really supportive and wants everyone to succeed. A few things that will help you succeed is to be organized, prepared, and on-time. Oh and buy a case of paper. Seriously, a case.. you will print everything yourself, they do not do handouts of anything! It is all on Blackboard, if you want a copy, print it yourself. I have had a really good experience with little to complain about. There are a few professors that are known to be tough, but they too want their students to succeed and you will be a better nurse because of their expectations. Expect to read, A LOT...you will sleep on your books :zzzzz. It is a quarter system, so at week 5 when you feel like you are drowning you will realize you are over the hump and on the downhill slide to finals week! Relax, smile, and enjoy it! As one professor likes to remind us, you wouldn't be here if you were not capable and smart! See you at your orientation!

Just want to say Congrats to all the CSUB nursing students starting this fall! I am a senior nursing student at CSUB and remember well what it was like the weeks prior to starting the program. In the previous posts someone mentioned books...try the website bigwords.com to get the best deals. Best of luck to you all! See you on orientation day! ~DB VP Class of Fall 2012

I was 34 when I started back to school part-time at night, had a baby during my pre-reqs and am now in a BSN program with a 2 yr old! I would not start with taking the TEAS for a few reasons. First you probably need the knowledge from the pre-reqs, especially in the sciences, second if you take it now by the time you are ready to apply they may have a new version of the TEAS, and thirdly some programs limit the number of times you can take the TEAS. Also regarding tuition assistance for the RN to BSN, take a look around your local market. Some markets have a strong preference for BSN's making it more difficult for ADN new grads to find jobs and with all the cost saving measures, tuition assistance isn't as available as it was just 5 years ago...when I started back to schools all the major acute hospitals in my area were were sponsoring students in an ADN program- they paid tuition, books, and fulltime wages and benefits if you worked for them 20hrs a weeks and agreed to 2 yrs employment, those same hospitals now will give you a seat and an interview. Best of luck!

Not always true, the last MSN program that graduated was change in the middle of their program...due to budget cuts, and now the MSN program is on moratorium. I just have my fingers crossed awaiting something "official". Honestly for me it won't make a difference, I would just have to do it. Its not like I would quit and go somewhere else at this point.

Household income does not affect elifibility and you do have to be laid off first. You may have some problems with the whole junior college thing. I'm doing a 20 month BSN and they denied it stating the following regarding my "training"..... "the training program is primarily intended for a degree from a college, community college, or university". If I understand it correctly CA BRN requires at minimum an assoicates degree to sit for boards, so I'm not sure if it will work out for you. Good luck!

I'm at CSUB in the 21 month program & haven't heard anything! I'm goning to be UPSET:uhoh3: if they cancel our summers!! Heck, summer quarter starts in a 3 weeks!!!! To the OP, I would strongly consider the BSN to be a competitive new grad. I'm not sure hospitals are going to continue to fund the RN-BSN. A few years ago hospitals were paying for the entire ADN program & requiring employees to work 20hrs a week and get a 40hr a week paycheck with full benefits, which has all stopped.

For me it is more about the journey then the destination. If I find myself on a wonderful journey that leads to APN or other graduate degree then so be it.

To answer both your questions, IMHO.. My experience as a paramedic is helpful, but my life experience and interest in healthcare has been equally as important. That said, my EMS experience was very broad. Am I doing better then a lot of other students in my class, yes. Is there anyone with no previous experience that is doing as well as I am, yes. A big piece of it comes down to individual students determination, study habits, professors teaching abilities, and how much one is willing to sacrifice..nursing school does take effort. :) Secondly, if your ADN program is designed for those without previous healthcare experience then you shouldn't worry about being behind or keeping up with anyone else in the class....unless your own personality is of those competitive types-which I understand... Just learn, do the work, and pass the exams.

there are a few paramedic to rn adn programs in different areas of the state. from what i found, those programs were not much different then the standard adn program. adn programs usually choose their students by lottery or using a list (and the wait is long), bsn programs use a competitive process to choose their students, they usually have more pre-requisites, higher tuition, and often are longer then adn programs (although i found a 20 month bsn program). there are a few direct entry masters program although i didn't research those, as most were out of my area. if you go to the california brn website it lists all the approved rn programs in the state. to start you might look at the pre-requisites for a program that is close to you to get a general idea. my suggestion if you need to take those classes to get enrolled at your local community college and get started on those.

Best of luck to you!

I did! We are just completing week 6.:)

Although what classicdame states may be true, there are some parts of the country where new grads are having difficulty getting a job. I would think certifications that reflect the area you desire to work in may give a competitive edge. For example PALS if you are looking toward peds, TNCC if you are looking toward an ED or SICU, NRP for the NICU, etc. I had the same thought for once I graduate if employment opportunities for new grads are still competitive.