lmorganmoore

So sorry to hear of your experience at UM Fort Kent. I graduated from USM @ 25 years ago. It was not a bad school, but I still did not care for it. Too impersonal. What are you studying? I decided to go back to school at the age of 49 to get my RN. I chose to go the ADN route at SMCC in So. Portland, ME. I LOVE IT!!!!! The school is small and personal, I am getting more hands on clinical then I would going the BSN route (besides I don't want to go into administration),the instructors and administrators have an open door policy and are available for students and want to assure that you succeed, our nursing program has a 100% graduation rate. The school is geared toward your success. The only Greek organization is Phi Theta Kappa (the equivalent of the 4 year school's Phi Beta Kappa). I have never enjoyed school as much as I am now. The challenges have been great, but I haven't had to go through alone. Personal e-mail addresses not permitted for member's safety.

rn4booboo, Congratulations!!! You will be amazing - you have been there, done that. I myself am experienced in NICU both from a personal level (all three of my children labor at 25 weeks - they are now all healthy, active 11, 13 @ 16 year olds) and professionally - in a previous life I was a NICU phlebotomist and then patient-family counselor. I am now persuing my RN and want to be a NICU nurse. It was always sad when we lost a baby, but in the NICU I was in we would put angel pins on each isolete and whenever we lost a child we would say that they had earned their wings. It was somewhat comforting. Also we would rock the babies as they were in the process of dying so they would not have to die alone. That in itself was a comfort also. I found that I always felt as if I had received more from these babies than I ever gave - it was an honour and a blessing to be a part of their lives no matter how brief. Hope this helps. Lynda

Hi all, thanks for the welcomes. I had been searching for a site dedicated to nursing and then to find NICU, WOW! It's like finding a second home. I will be starting my clinical rotations in January, so in the meantime in school I am picking up courses this fall that I feel will be helpful - Pharmacology (from the Pharm. dept.), emergency medicine, pathophysioloy, etc. If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Regards, Lynda

Hi all, this site is awesome. I love reading all the threads on NICU. I am 49 and finally decided what I wanted to be when I grew up so I am now in nursing school. I am married and have 3 children, ages 11,13, and 16. In the 1980's I worked as a phlebotomist in NICU and loved it, thus I am aiming to go into NICU upon graduation. Thanks for all of you wonderful and amazing nurses out there I know you will all be an invaluable part of my education. Regards, Lynda