chessknightRN

I've heard many people say that the Lacharity priority and delegation book is pretty good, you may want to check that out.

I would definitely suggest finishing your current degree before you decide on nursing school, especially since you are a senior. With Nursing being such a competitive field now, chances are it would take at least that long after applying before you actually start a program anyway. I'd look nationally and focus on community colleges that have no GPA requirements and rely on waiting lists for admission. You can always do an RN-BSN program after you finish at a community college and you should have all the pre-reqs out of the way by then since you will already have a prior bachelors degree. You are looking at probably a 1-2 year waiting list depending on the school (mine was almost 2 years and I got on the waiting list back in 2010), 2 years getting an ADN at a community college, and then 1-2 years getting an RN-BSN if you go that route. Hope this helps!

Yep you are right, it's definitely a lot harder to pass if you don't finish the test. I just took the test and had all 265 questions, it was awful...lol. Hopefully I passed, now I have to wait 48 hours to find out!

Good luck! I take mine tomorrow as well, I don't know how I'm going to fall asleep tonight! Hopefully we will both pass!

From my understanding you can not fail the test by running out of time. They simply take the last 60 questions you answered to determine if you have passed or failed. I know a couple of people who did not finish the exam by the time limit and still passed, so one thing I would do is take your time reading and answering the questions. Also, before you take the test again, make sure you read the NCLEX candidate bulletin and FAQs on ncsbn.org so that you are aware of what is going to be on the test and the rules about passing and failing, especially regarding time. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the info jluve, when did you originally get on the waiting list at forest park? I was #104 when I got my letter in Sept. so I hope I'm not too far behind.

Hey I'll be at that information session too, hopefully we will get more waiting list info.

I emailed Flo Valley to find out, and nope I haven't received another letter from Forest Park yet, I emailed and got no response...what about you?

I'm #24 at Flo Valley so it looks like I'll be there next fall unless I somehow make it into Meramec or FP this Spring.

Just wanted to echo the sentiment of getting a job as a tech part-time while in nursing school. I'm currently a tech and I have seen pretty much every single one of my fellow techs who graduated nursing school get hired on to stay as an RN and they all had ADNs.

I got one too from Forest Park and I am #104.

No problem, I'm sure you'll do fine! I've only been working there for 4 months but I like it and they have great benefits including tuition reimbursement and lots of vacation time...feel free to send me a message if you have any specific questions.

Hi, just be ready to answer the standard questions like why do you want to work there, what are your strengths/weaknesses, etc...and you should be fine. I was hired with no experience as were some others in my PCA class so you definitely have a chance. Your first interview is with HR and if you pass that one you interview with the Floor supervisor wherever the openings are, sometimes you even get a choice of what floor you want to interview with. Hope this helps!

I haven't heard anything but I am pretty sure the next waiting list letters get mailed out sometime in September after the Fall semester starts.

Yes, you can take your pre-req courses at any of the STLCC campuses regardless of the specific one you want to go to for Nursing school.

Hey cam, I was just wondering how your CRC job has been going for you so far?

I have a beard and mustache but I shaved it down to where it looked like a 5 o'clock shadow, and didn't have any problems during the interview process. You're going to have to shave it very low anyway to get fitted for a respirator mask if you work in a hospital so you might as well do it before the interview process.

You might want to post this in the Psych specialty forum and you'll probably get more responses.

Hi, I'll be starting nursing school soon and recently got a job as a PCA in the Behavioral Health department of a hospital. I was just wondering if anyone was or is currently in the position and knows what a typical day is like?

If you check the St. Louis County website and the MO state websites they usually have nursing positions available, I would probably try there first, then maybe just going into a community health center and asking if they have positions open might help.

Have you guys tried St. John's Mercy? I'm pretty sure they are hiring. Also, have you looked at Public Health nursing or any other fields if you don't want to go the nursing home route, or are you only interested in bedside nursing in a hospital?

Hey Abbs or Tam I was wondering if you got your Forest Park letters in the mail today? I got mine and I'm up to 203 at FP and 218 at Meramec, so it looks like I'll get into Forest Park first since I heard that list goes by much faster. I'm really hoping to get into Forest Park in Spring '12 and the admissions lady said I have a shot so you two will probably get in since you are a bit higher than me on the list. I was going to apply to UMSL for Spring 2012 and for the accelerated BSN that starts in May '12 but I saw how much tuition went up there and I don't know if I want to spend that much!

I'm glad you like the program, I'm hoping to get in at FP Spring 2012. I went from 343 when I got on the list last October to 238 now, so it seems to be going by fast.

Thanks for the info and congrats on getting accepted! I'll probably be applying to the area accelerated BSN programs after this semester now that I know that all the pre-reqs don't have to be completed first...I think I only have 4 left. Good luck at SLU! Oh and I think you have to make 10 posts before you can send private messages.

You can try St. Louis Community College in Saint Louis, MO. They have 3 campuses with Nursing Programs and you have to pass a dosage calculation test with a score of 90%, but no GRE or TEAS. Once you pass the test and have already taken Biology and Chemistry you go on the waiting list until your number comes up...I've been told the wait is about 2 years though, don't know if you're willing to wait that long.