MissPersistant

Currently live in Houston, TX- planning to move to Austin, TX in early December. I am still a new nurse- 1 year of experience. Experience is in outpatient surgery and I am hoping to get in an acute setting for general surgery... I have my BSN. How much time in advance should I start applying for jobs? Right away? Or is that too soon? I checked out the job market in Austin and (naturally) RNs are in demand, and in the number 1 spot for sought out professions for 2014.... Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I just wanted to ask some more experienced nurses your opinion on deciding btwn two jobs. I have been applying nonstop for abotu 3 months and finally got 2 interviews in the same week. One is at a private practice, a surgery center for vascular access for dialysis. Only 2 nurses on staff, and a doctor, good salary, good area to work in, seems like an awesome opportunity to get in the swing of being a nurse, and get comfortable in my practice. They are all really nice, and the doctor is super kind and friendly, and I'll be assisting with surgeries which is really cool. I also heard that cath lab nurses make great money and this seems like it would be good experience for that later in my career. And I will also be assisting with numerous roles as an RN- pre op, post op, surgery, discharge & admin. And they said I can start right away. The other job is at the VA hospital in the med center. I was not expecting to be offered a position in a major hospital system, so when I got asked to come in for an interview I was surprised. Ends up it was because my dad is a veteran (thanks dad ) It is this Friday, and I don't have a job offer, but the only reason I would consider the VA in comparison to the other place is the opportunity for change in positions. Say, I want to go to another department, I have that option unlike the other place. Other than that, I like the dialysis center a whole lot more. I have also read that their hiring process can take several months, and I need to start working right away. Any advise on what you would do, or what you think as an entry level RN is better? I am planning on continuing my education to an MSN as well. I think the smaller facility would be better choice to ease into the profession... Thanks bunches!!!! :)

Hi, I am looking into applying to nursing homes for my first work experience as a new RN and I am curious on the "correct" method of applying. I know with larger hospital systems, online applications are the way to go. If you do a walk-in, asking speak to someone, usually you are shooed away and directed towards the website. Is this the same with nursing homes? Is it acceptable to walk in and ask to speak to someone in HR? Or do you have to go through the same online application approach? I've noticed several nursing home websites do not have online applications either. Any tips/insight will be appreciated. Thanks a bunch!!!!!

Hi there! So I have considered to go ahead & shoot for a NP license so I can have more knowledge under my belt while I am still in the routine of school. I have a question on the traveling aspect: is it just domestic, or do we have opportunities to go abroad? & if we do get to practice overseas, do we get to choose where? Among the countless reasons I want to be a nurse is the opportunity to have a transferrable license to practice anywhere.. but I just want to double check that I am not romanticizing things about practicing in Europe. Any info welcome- thanks!! (:

I would retake A&P since it is really dire to make sure you understand for the program bc they won't be going over anatomy terms & physiology.. but that's just my opinion. Other than that.. since they have cracking down on A&P scores were lower & some girls got in with high 10's & low 11's.. good luck!

Anyone on the 290 area.. I went to the Neighborhood Health Clininc off 34th & 290. All shots & titers are about 20-25 which is a good price from where I've looked. They also accept those w/o insurance & your results come back within 2 days.

Yes, I got it on Monday. I was accepted at Tomball (: How about you? I heard Cy-fair isn't sending theirs out until next week so if you haven't gotten a letter from Tomball you were probably accepted at Cy-fair.

I thought so too, but it said 4 semesters of fall/spring fall/spring on the website.. where'd you hear this from??

I GOT MY LETTER! OMG! So happy.. accepted for Tomball w. an 11.61! SO HAPPY, celebrating w. some sushi! Mmmm.. congrats everyone! Well worth the wait! Can't wait to start the program

Congrats everyone! I guess if people are getting their letters from Tomball I should be getting mine soon! I can't wait to get off work & run to the mailbox! Yay.....!!! Seems like a lot of people are getting in w. scores close to mine! myyellowbutterfly,, what was your score?? Congrats!

Hey everyone! So nervous & waiting impatiently.. I am surprised I haven't broken out w. a rash from the stress! Congrats on everyone who has been accepted so far, such an awesome feeling! I applied to Tomball first, then Cyfair... I spoke w. the Tomball nursing program & they said they should be sending out letters this week! WHOOP! Hopefully at the beginning of the week rather than Friday!!!

If you can take the drive, I took mine at Tomball bc they were not offering it at the Cyfair campus last semester. It was mainly online, and the exams were open book.. however, the questions as you probably know were not straight from the book, but application. It wasn't so bad.. I made a B surprisingly! lol. Good luck

We have to wait until mid April?? Arg... I am going to break out into a rash from the anxiety haha! But we will all get in!! Any of y'all takin classes this semster? I am only taking one class towards my bachelor's so I'm not busy to preoccupy me until then.. boo!

Same here! I keep checking on here everyday just for something to hold on to until we find out.. I am going to be a nervous wreck the next month, meh! I am turning in my application to Tomball tomorrow.

Hi everyone.. I am turning in my application on Monday at Tomball.. really nervous but excited about possibly being accepted.. 11.65. I got my hep b shots done about 10 yrs ago.. I asked the secretary at the nurse's office if this was alright, she said it was... still nervous that they won't accept it since it's old.. anyone know???

Hi! Where can you check your Hesi scores? I want to make sure they're right.

I already took my Hesi, took it Monday.. 91 for my overall Reading, including vocab, grammar, reading.. I think that's how they calculate it? All of them together? But.. my score comes out to 11.65. My first choice is Tomball, then cy-fair & so on.. I am really nervous!! Sending my application on Monday. Good luck to you! Where are you applying?

Hi everyone.. Took my Hesi on Monday.. 91 overall for reading, 80 on anatomy :/ I studied the hardest for the anatomy section.. I had the review, studied for close to a month & was asked questions on the ear- should have covered that! The review did not cover the special senses.. but oh well. The reading score is really what matters.. I made a 94 on my math so that's good I think.. So my overall score is an 11.65.. I am applying to Tomball first, then cyfair & so on... I am still nervous even though I feel pretty good with my score. Just know a lot of girls what this like I do! Anyone else applying to tomball?

Hey guys, So the days are drawing nearer & nearer to the deadline & I'm a nervous wreck! I have been waiting for about a year after completing all my prereqs that I can FINALLY apply.. however, I am SO nervous since there are a lot of people out there you want this just as bad as I do! I have about an ~11.5 so far. 4 on the psych, A&P & English.. 4 on the completed courses, I am retaking the HESI since it has been a year, I am not too worried about it- I took the HESI before & did fairly well. But what I am getting at: do we need to have our CPR certification & shots done before we actually start the program or is it before we apply??? I am pretty sure I read that you just need it before the program, but I have been so stressed/anxious, like to have some clarity from some one else lol.. thanks...!

Hey guys! So I am retaking Eng 1301 to replace my b w. an a.. unfortunately I have the WORST English teacher possible! It was a late start class in which she has not shown up three times w/o telling us.. & I think this is her first year teaching. The main thing is she is WAY to critical when it comes to grading, I am a good writer.. not OUTSTANDING, but definitely "a" worthy.. she keeps giving me b- for missing small things that involve MLA format.. ON ROUGH DRAFTS! NOT finals.. is it just me or is she way too strict? Maybe it's because she has my chances of getting in right in her hands & she's horrible! Plus, most of the kids in the class are obviously freshman who do not even show up & when they do, do not even complete their assignments.. so I am incredibly stressed out by my teacher's grading habits... So.. what I am asking, what is a good way of approaching her about how IMPORTANT it is for me to make an a? I don't want to tell her that her grading methods are a little TOO strict, (but in reality they really are, I spent hours on all the papers I turned in..). I just want to stress to her how I really need to make an "A" & what I can do to achieve this since obviously I don't look "A" material to her... Please, any advise on how to approach her, or talk w. her abotu this would be greatly appreciated! SO stressful working hard to get an a that you feel you deserve when you're teacher is horrible. Thanks!!!

Hi all, I am currently taking nursing pharmacology.. AHHHH!!! my last prereq before applying for the program in January. It is INCREDIBLY difficult! I failed my last 2 tests :crying2: I am totally flabbergasted since I am an all A/B student! I study.. I know I can do better by changing my study habits.. more notes, more flashcards.. but still feel discouraged by how hard this class is. I am not saying nursing is a cake walk, just want some reassurement that this class is a difficult, or one of the more difficult ones I guess. Also, say I do make a c, (hopefully!) do you think that would look bad on my transcript during my application process? Or is this class just to help with preparing for the program? Thanks! Sarah