JDRT RN2006

Hi Janice- I haven't been here in a while...just saw your post. I started the ADN program in August and I'll be starting clinicals in two weeks....school is great so far, challenging, but it's great to learn all of these new skills and new information....I don't check here much, usually only when they send me the newsletter- I have an online class on top of the FT nursing classes so I've been busy. If you want you can email at [email protected] if you have any questions. Good luck with everything, don't worry about the NET, I hope you get your first choice school on your application. Take care, Jared:p

Hi Janice, An RT is a Radiologic Technologist, I had to get an Associates degree in Science and take a national exam to be certified as well as be certified with the state (MRTBE). Some places do pay $19.00- my first job offer was $17.50. I am changing to nursing because I want to be more involved with the patient's care (make more of a difference) and have more latitude- more options- and the potential to make a better living. After becoming an RT you can crosstrain into MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine or Ultrasound. Respiratory Tech's RRT do well, I believe they require the same training as a Rad Tech. Did you make out OK with the NET? Have a good weekend! JD

Hi all, I was just wondering if Phoenix area hospitals have OT available for RN's and if they do, do they compensate for it???? I heard something about RN's don't get paid for OT......... That's all I wanted to know Thanks a bunch !!! :)

Janice, Good luck on the NET, I'm sure you'll do great :) Let me know how you make out! JD

Hi Janice- Don't be nervous, you'll do fine.....I did some caregiving for some elderly folk (baths, meals, dressing, oral care, etc....) and it really felt great. I was a Rad Tech (still licensed), and that just isn't the same as taking care of someone's needs for an extended period of time and making sure they are comfortable. Helping someone that really needs you is a great feeling, if you're that type of person I am sure you will excel. It's unfortunate, from what I hear, that RN's do less direct patient care, but we will still be caring for them and making sure their needs are met, I hear the good RNs will get in there and help the CNAs. Don't be nervous-you'll do great. Answer to your question: I am sure you can get the syllabus off of the GCC website, but you can not do the online hw assignment that is due the first day unless you log on to MIDAS. When it gets closer to starting time and you have your user ID and password you can log on to MIDAS and there will be email waiting for you there from Mark Stalzer or Georgette Howard. They are the two main instructors. They will let you know what you need to do, or have any announcements about your specific class (section #). I put GCC as my first and second choice because I really wanted to go there because it's close by and I was familiar with it. I put the PartTime program at GCC as my first choice because it's only 22 months and you go all year with no semester breaks, but only 2 days per week, that would have allowed more time for work and family. My second choice was GCC fulltime days, which is the traditional 24 month, with semester breaks. ...............Georgette Howard and Mark Stalzer (GCC NA instructors) have tons of nursing experience between them. They are very knowledgable and they can make it interesting with stories from their career. There are also clinical instructors, I had Nancy. She was great. The program is great, just remember that you can't be late at all, or absent, and they aren't bluffing about the 76% or below, I'm living proof. Clinicals are done at Royal Oaks in Sun City and HealthSouth (I don't know if they still use them). They are both good places to do clinicals. Is your friend going to PC now??? I had them down as a choice. So she's heard good things about Boswell??? Feel free to PM me with anymore questions (I don't know if they have a limit on how long the PMs can be on this website). Good luck to you- you'll probably end up enjoying the NA training. Say Hi to Mark and Georgette for me. They probably won't remember me, so many go through their program. Have a good one, JD

Hi Janice, I've got some links here. In order to use MIDAS you need to go to GCC High Tech Center I and have your student ID card swiped so they can give you a user ID and a password for the system. Once you have the user ID and password you can log into MIDAS and get your homework assignments and read and print the syllabus. EVerything is explained there :) http://www.maricopa.edu/midas/ http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/nursing/appl.html this is something extra, I found it interesting and helpful http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/ Good luck!~! JD

Hi Janice, I will get some links for you tonight, I'm really busy right now. Don't be scared about the CNA, all of the answers are in the book, it's open book. Just be really careful because they really will drop you, I got dropped in the fall for getting a 75%. Yes, you can submit your RN application DURING your last semester of prereqs, they designate one week during the semester that you can submit the application and get put in the lottery. If you successfully complete your classes you can be placed at any time after that. They do placements every Tuesday, your chances are good at getting in, maybe not your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, but somewhere. Some people are really picky about where they go so they don't accept the offer and wait until the next go around. Once your application is in, make sure you check every Tuesday because they only allow 10 days for you to accept/decline the offer :) I will make a note to get those links to you tonight....the website where you do the assignments and the CNA website at GCC. I'll dig them up tonight, at the latest tomorrow afternoon, busy day today :) Have a good one... JD

Hi Janice, Let's see.....I took my CNA at GCC in the spring and I thought it was a good program. It is very strict and structured, any absences and you are dropped and more than 15 minutes tardy for the whole program, they drop you. Several people were dropped during my program. That was a little scary-but like I said, they seem to really care that you understand. Also, you have about 20-25 homework/online quizzes. If a score of below 76% is scored on any of them (not an average) they drop you immediately. So it is a little scary. Good program though. This is how I decided on what school to go to----I put down 5 choices on the application and whichever one I was chosen for I accepted.:rotfl: I had GCC as my first and second choice, Boswell as my third, Phoenix as 4th, GWCC as fifth. I was selected for Mesa/Boswell so I immediately accepted the offer. I was happy that I was chosen and I did not want to wait another semester. My advice is, just take whatever they give you, you can always transfer to another school after one or two of the blocks are completed. I don't know much about the advantages/disadvantages of each school. I chose the schools closest to where we live because of the price of gas and my vehicle is not in good shape. I have heard good things about all of the programs. I think it is a matter of getting the most out of whatever school is chosen. I do like the idea of a high pass rate on the NCLEX and I didn't realize Boswell's equipment is so good-THAT'S GREAT!!! :) Good luck to you, before you know it you will be starting your program! They say it is about a semester's wait, but me and others did not have to wait long. Just make sure you get your application in during the "early application accepting week" during your last semester of prereq's. You probably already know that, but they accept your application early if you're in the last semester of prereqs and if you pass them you have the chance of having hardly any wait to get into the ADN program. I hope I've answered your questions, I don't have the post in front me. Feel free to ask any other questions. I'm starting at Mesa/Boswell in August. Have a great weekend!!! JD

OK.....here's all the info you could want...and more:roll http://healthcare.maricopa.edu/NET_HESI.pdf http://www.mo-media.com/net/ That should help........these answered all my the lingering questions I had before the exam!!!! Good Luck!!!!!:) JD

Oops, one more thing....you can take the NET test at any testing center. Just make SURE you bring a copy of your results with you when you leave the testing center. It is graded immediately and they are required to give you a printout of your results and where you scored (what percentile you scored in). I made a few copies of it just in case my school lost them or something :chuckle

Hi Janice, I know that each community college has a testing center where you can take it....I don't have my paperwork anymore on where you can take it, but I will try and did up a link to the website. You might want to do a search on yahoo for NET TEST ARIZONA or something.....I'll check for you.....I know the website at GCC has a link......I'll check. I scored in the 96th percentile on the exam. My scores were a 91% on the math section and a 76% on the reading section. I guess, in comparison with the rest of the students who took the test, that put me in the 96th percentile???? I guess some people have had some trouble with it. At least we are allowed to score a 50% and still be able to begin nursing school!!!!! Anyway, I'll dig up a link and post it on this thread when I get a chance. I've got something I gotta do right now, and, barring my baby daughter waking up, I should be able to get you one soon. (I have no idea where they allow/disallow calculators, I would suggest calling each testing center. Talk later :) JD

Hi Janice, I took the NET at GCC about 4-5 months ago. There are a lot of questions on it, but the only sections that count toward your score are the math and reading sections. The math is basic math, a couple of simple (one or two variable) algebra problems. There is a lot of fraction and decimal problems. There are a lot of percentage problems. The reading test is designed to measure our reading comprehension. You will read a passage and then have to answer questions on it. It was a different sort of test than I ever had in high school, as far as the reading goes- different from an SAT test (I don't know if you're familiar with those). Anyway, I bought the book as well. I looked through all of the practice math problems and felt confident about those since it was basic math. I looked through the reading questions and knew I would struggle a little with that. My advice--just be very attentive when reading the passage, try to remember little details because they will come up in the questions. I did not prepare for the test at all, besides ready through the study guide once. Depending on your math level, it may be like that for you. You are correct in that you only have to score a 50%. That gives us a good opportunity to pass. Good luck with the test! By the way, some testing centers will supply you with a calculator-I would choose one that does, it makes it easier. The testing center at GCC would not allow a calculator. The exam takes around 2 hours. It took me and another guy 1 1/2 hours. GOOD LUCK!!!! I'm sure you'll do fine......I worried way too much about it before I took it. Take care, JD :)

Hi There- I'm new to the site too, but I do have some answers to your questions.....I've just finished my pre-req's in Phx and I am starting my RN training (ADN) in August. I have heard many advise to be a CNA first to get some valuable experience, especially if you're new to healthcare. At the community colleges in the valley (I went to Glendale Community College), you can do a CNA course in six weeks and it is very thorough. You get a few weeks of book learning and a few weeks of clinical training for which you are evaluated. After the 6 weeks, you can take the CNA exam and start working. You can certainly get your CNA and start taking pre-reqs.....you can actually take pre-reqs and get your CNA at the same time if you have someone to help out with your children :) All of the community colleges here in the valley are linked up and it is really one big program- when you're done with your pre-reqs, you just rank which school you want to go in order of preference and they place you wherever an opening exists. I don't know about getting your CNA at PMI or College of America. I went with the community college because at this point the CNA class is required to take as a pre-req for the ADN program. The course titles are NUR156 and NUR157. I've included a link to the Nurse Assisting website at Glendale CC. http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/nursing/Nurse.Assist/MCCDNP%20NA%20Packet%20SUF04%20rev%202.18.041.pdf Hope this helps! Good luck in whatever you decide