sunshine9

Yeaaaaah. Congradulations. Hopefully you will be seeing this post from me one year from now. Now you can sit back and relax for a little while. Again CONGRADULATIONS. Takes a big burden off the shoulders.

Hi, Would love some information from new grads that entered into the air force or nurses who have entered into the air force with some experience and let me know the pros and cons. I know that some of this depends on the individual but I would like to hear different peoples points of views. I will be graduating next May and am supposed to be meeting with a recruiter (don't worry she's not an enlisted recruiter) about the pros and cons about going into both. However, I would like to hear from the nurses themselves before I have this meeting before I meet with her. Biggest questions from new grads entering the military. Did you feel like you gained a lot of experience of training after your initial experience out of school. I tend to hear a lot of negative comments about the overall clinical experience and what the patients are like in the military world. Is it a wiser choice to gain my first year of clinical experience in the civilian world? On the other hand, if I decide to go back into the military, I am hoping to make the choice sooner than later. I would feel like I am just holding back on something that I am really interested in doing. I do however want to make the best choice as far as my initial clinical experience and I have always heard that you gain your most experience during your first year of nursing. Any ideas, experiences, feelings, or advise would be well excepted. I apologize upfront for any spelling errors. I think that most of you get the gist of what I'm asking. Late night worker and still going:). All in all, pros vs. cons of going in the air force (or military nursing in general) as a new grad or with experience. Should I hold out one more year and gain my experience at the current hospital that I work at or do people feel they have gained a well rounded experience as a new grad going straight into the military and their training there.

I live in Cape Cod and most of the hospitals make around the same (for the most part) as they have mentioned above for the Boston Hospitals. I am still a nursing student but many of the new grads that I work with said that they started off at 24 and change at Falmouth Hospital and that it was one of the better paying hospitals on or near the cape. I am not sure what the other hospitals make, but that's what quite a few of them have said to me. I think Cape Cod Hospital might have a better starting new grad rate, but I'm not 100% positive. The RN's that you talked to that had a starting rate of $32/hr. Were they new grads? Did that include differentials? If it didn't. I would love to know what hospitals they were.

Congradulations on your upcoming move to Houston. I eventually would like to move there when I finish nursing school also. ???You have newbie down for years experience. Are you a new grad? If so, when you start your orientation? Would love to know any info on your job interview, years experience. Good luck on your trip down.

Hi hoping to hear from anybody. new grads, experienced nurses, and especially any nurse recruiters about what nursing recruiters look for when new grad students are applying for an intern position in a hospital. Ex. Do they look at grad scores, previous experience as a CNA, overall package, or just a certain vibe that they get from a one on one interview. Just looking toward the future and what will make me the most marketable (?) for a new grad intern opportunity. I am looking to move to a different state after school and I really want to try and land a job as soon as possible. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

You may want to call and find out when their new grad orientations are. I believe that most of them are unfortunately in June and Janurary, which I think that you mentioned you may have unfortunately missed due to personal circumstances. I think that St. Luke's had one for September but the website shows that they are just finishing interview right about now. What is the HESI. I don't think that I ever had to take it before and have never heard of it. Maybe we don't need it in Massachusetts. Is it a must for Texas? Please let me know if you find out any info and hope that your job search goes well. I am interested in moving to Houston, or someplace in Texas after I finish nursing school and afraid of running into the same problem. It's difficult to go through all the schooling, and then go through the problems of trying to land a job. I am hoping to land a job before I graduate, but I am not sure how most places are about allowing you to take a day or two off to go back home to test and then trying to transfer your license over. But I am wondering if some of the places have not called back because their internships have already started and the deadlines have passed. I would definitely call and try to find out so you know where you stand with some of the hospitals and if that is the reason why you are not getting some callbacks.

You might want to look under the site for massachusetts if you are looking at ideas for Boston hospitals. There were some informative messages about good hospitals to work at. I'm just starting some of my clinicals in Boston starting this fall so I can't be of much help. I am sure that there is probably a good deal of 12 hr shifts if you are thinking about doing nights, so that might help a little bit more with the safety part and not having to worry about being there at 11pm at night.

I'm just a little worried because then that means that I will test probably sometime in June and probably not be able to find a new grad orientation again until Janurary. Most places seem to only have new grad orientations in June and Janurary, with the exception of a few places. I was also told by a few people out here to test in the state that you completed school, its a little bit easier just to switch your license over. I worked with one girl who had a really difficult time trying to test in a different state. There is one place that I know that does orientation in September, but I get a little bit nervous waiting till then to try and get a position.

Thinking of moving to Houston in the future, I was hoping to hear from people that were new grads that moved to Houston (or Texas) right after their graduation before taking the NCLEX. Did they have an easy or hard time securing a job before they moved if they had not taken the NCLEX yet. I really want to land a job before I test and move, but I was not sure how most employers were about hiring people that had not tested yet from another state and if they were flexible about giving time off during the orientation so that the person could go back and test and allow time to transfer over the license from their current state to Texas and if it was fairly easy to land a job (have previous background as a CNA and have worked in a hospital before).

I think that ST Luke's has a new grad program that starts in September, but I am not sure when the deadline is. May want to check out their website.

I would say to make sure of the housing situation. Living in massachusetts (Boston) can be expensive. I am actually moving from Cape Cod, MA to Texas after I graduate because the cost of living is much better down there and the rate of pay is not that much less for a new grad. Other than that I think Boston is great. Very diverse place with a lot to do.

Although I don't think these are prereq. for entry into the program. They are prereq before the NUR130 course. Successful completion of all of the following courses is required prior to NUR 130: ENL 101 English Composition I PSY 101 General Psychology BIO 107 Anatomy & Physiology I BIO 108 Anatomy & Physiology II PSY 223 Developmental Psychology NUR 100 Pharmacology Calculations COM 103 Oral Communications or ENL 102 English Composition I

I agree that you should definitely call and ask. They also have a list of prereq. that you have to have completed if you enter into the transition program. So I would at least start on those, because that could take you a year if you haven't already started some of your prereq. You can look online in 4cs and it should tell you what they are. Basically, anyone who is already done with their prereq and has a good GPA stands the best chance. Good luck.

Are the recruiters from within the hospital? I look on the hospital websites but I don't really see much information about recruiters? Do you know if they generally just ask for a resume or do you need to interview in person. I am really going to try for the June orientation but I want to know how to get in touch. I guess that I will just need to find out who to contact in the hospitals.

Meghan, How do you like Houston? That is another one of the places that I am currently looking at. Does it seem pretty diverse, now that you have some type of info on the job perspectives, do they seem good? Would love to have any type of info on Houston or even on San Antonio if anyone has some. Thanks.

Thanks for replying. That makes me feel better. I was a little concerned because most of the hospitals out here post information for new grads so that they know what type of information is required and how long the orientation is...so on. I didn't really see any type of information for nurse internships or something for new graduates in any of the hospital for San Antonio. A little bit overwhelming when you are thinking about moving somewhere. I still have a couple of years... So I should definitely have it together by then. Thank you again.

I am thinking about moving to San Antonio, Texas in the future and I am trying to find out as much as possible about the move for new graduates. I would most like to hear from people that had to transition from a different state right after graduating and trying to find a position in the hospital as a nurse intern and how the transition went. I still have a couple of years but I want to have my stuff down straight if I decide to do this. Did people have a hard time getting into a hospital with the transition. I read that the internships are usually in June and Janurary. I am just a little concerned if I get out of school in May if I will be able to have all my stuff together and already be accepted into an internship by the time I graduate. Do you already have to have passed the NCLEX when they take you on as a nurse intern? Sorry about all the questions. Any responses would really be great. Thank you.

Congradulations on your acceptance and good luck. :monkeydance:

I have never heard anybody think of that as a bad idea as far as wanting to complete the RN route. I just think that people need to be aware of the college's prereq.'s to get into the program when they bridge over into the LPN- RN transition. The closest college near me that offers this program wants you to already have your LPN license and have completed a number of prereq. before you are accepted into the program. There is a nurse that I work with that is currently trying to get into the program and because of work and so on it will probably take him two years before he will complete all of the needed prereq. and is also accepted before he can actually start into the program. So I really think that it depends on where you are at and what the school is like where you are at. A number of people that I went to school with applied at both (RN and LPN) just in case they weren't accepted, they could go that route and not feel like they were wasting there time.

I don't think that you are being uptight or a witch for feeling the way that you do. I would be cautious how you dealt with your feelings and the situation though. Because it is such a close atmosphere and they deal with these patients on such a regular basis they no longer associate between the caregiver/patient relationship. There has to be some type of boundary and that's where rules and regulations come in. Obviously they have let the familiarity and comfortableness with the patients take over in this situation. I'm not exactly sure how I would handle this situation because it is definately a difficult one to deal with. But I also agree, if it becomes to overwhelming, to look elsewhere for a job.

This is actually going to be my first degree. After I got out of the Air Force, I started working in a nursing home. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do and didn't want to spend my money going to school just to find out that I didn't enjoy it. Soooo years after being a CNA, I decided that I wanted to become a nurse. But, about the essay. I would send one in only because they do not do interviews and the essay is really the only way that they get to know you. Good luck with everything.

I don't think it should be a problem but I'm not positive. I don't know if anything has changed. I took Pharmacology Calculations in the summer of 2004 and there were students that were entering into the actual nursing program for the fall of 2004, so they did allow it before. I would just double check and make sure that all of your prereq. transfer over. I don't know how long it has been since you have taken some of the science courses but they have to be within a certain amount of years or you have to retake the. You would have to call the college about that though. As far as the GPA, I don't know what to say. I had a 3.76 and didn't get in or even get on the waiting list but a co-worker of mine had about the same average and got into the nursing program. I would just make sure that your application is in early and that you have a good essay. I think one of my downfalls was not having my application in early. Anyways good luck with everything. I hope that you make it in. I heard that they have a really good program.

I still have two and 1/2 years before I even graduate, so I am not going to go into the nursing point of things. But I do agree with what the previous person said. Definately think about whether you are a night person or not. Don't try one shift and if it goes okay, think that you will be fine. Nights is a whole different ball game and can either be fantastic for you or be a complete nightmare for you. I work nights right now as a CNA and also going to nursing school but I will definately be going off the night shift before fall semester of 2006. I can no longer focus and the constant transition from nights to days can sometimes be overwhelming. Keep in mind what the long-term problems or benefits can be with your different shift schedules. Good luck with your decision. P.S. I'm not trying to keep you from taking the night shift but some people don't think that it's that bad after the first couple of nights and then realize that it's not for them later one because your working completely opposite of the body's normal hours to be awake or asleep.

CCCC does have a nursing program to get your RN. I have heard very good things about their nursing program (very well put together). It is very competitive to get into though (then again, it's competitive to get in almost everywhere now), and they accept a lot of students that have all or most of there prerequisites completed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, I'm so lucky to be living on the Cape for a year. Long story, but it's great to be here for the off season. I'm a mid-life career changer who feels an inexplicable (kind of) call to nursing. I'm exploring taking prereqs at CC Community College -- they have an Associate's nursing program that feeds into/works with UMass, I believe. I would love to know anything and everything you might know about CCCC as well as other training opportunities! I've got an undergrad BA in English and a Master's in Counseling Psychology so quite a few credits will transfer. Thank you all in advance! I took prereq. at CCCC for the last year and a half and I am currently enrolled in the nursing program at UMB. I did not get accepted into CCCC so I transferred over. I don't know about the nursing program itself(but I have always heard wonderful things) but I thought that the professors were excellent. I did not have one bad professor and the science professors were incredible. As far as getting into the nursing program, it can be kind of tough. To get into the general day program, you need to make sure that you have already completed Chemistry and Ana. & Phys. I cannot remember if there was another prereq. that you needed. I would also have as many of the courses completed as you can (with as good as grades obviously) because a lot of the people that got in last year had all of their courses completed besides the nursing courses themselves (Micro, Ana 1 &2, Engl 1 &2, etc.) Besides some of your credits will transfer, hopefully it won't be too bad. Also if you have completed any of the sciences make sure it's within a certain time limit. They only accept the sciences within a certain amount of years taken. Last thing. Make sure that you turn in your application early. A co-worker of mine have exactly the same GPA and she got into program and I didn't. One thing that helped her out also was that she had two more classes completed than I did. Last but not least, keep other options open. It was my first choice because I get to learn in teaching hospitals and I have heard that they have excellent clinical training at UMB, but it was my last because now I have to commute from Pocasset to Boston five days a week. But I would not trade it for the world. I guess that you end up where you are supposed to be. Good luck with getting into nursing school and your nursing career.