txnewby

Hi -- good question, but it HAS been a long time. I did this for a lark and in the end realized I would just stay put with what I was doing. I am a perfectionist and did make an A+ in A&P I, and it did take me 4 months -- I could have probably done it faster but I decided I was in no hurry. I had a full time job making good money. If I had been out of work and in need to get it through it quickly, I probably could have done it in a month or two and made a lower grade. The course ran over Christmas, and I decided I could not put my other interests on hold. However, I am probably the exception. After the course, I put it all away (donated the lab kit to my daughter's school) and buckled down to my current job and will probably retire in it. Widen your request and you will probably find many people who got through in a month or so. They do let you use your book for the final and whether it is proctored depends on the nursing school requirements. But if it is proctored and you need the book make sure you have that in writing to show the proctor person. They are very OCD.

I am reading "Social Intelligence" right now by Daniel Goleman (author of Emotional Intelligence -- EQ). I understand your free time is probably very limited -- but a great book. These nurses are very short on social skills -- zero self-awareness and sounds almost like narcissistic personality disorder. They feel no embarassment and shame for their treatment of others. They are never wrong and everything is done for their own glory -- blithely stepping on other toes. Realizing I should not be doing an arm chair analysis of people I don't know (or do know for that matter!) -- but seeing it in print as a disorder does help me to distance myself and realize it is totally their issue. Dealing with people who have limited empathy is very challenging. The problem is that you are a normal person who does have empathy and feelings -- so you are looking at her behavior based on what would ever trigger you to act that way. Bottom line -- she does not have the social capacity you do so you are beating your head against the wall to figure out the reasons. Sorry -- but I will say most professions have their share of jerks.

Why is not hiring for weight any different than not hiring for smoking? Each is equally difficult to remedy. You could argue that both might be the result of an addiction or "out of the control" of the person. Both cause more sick days and increased medical costs. For women, it is almost harder to stop smoking than to lose weight. Why should the other nurses take up the slack for an obese nurse or, on the other hand, one who has to take smoke breaks every hour? For every obese nurse that swears she is just as healthy as a skinny one, one smoker could swear the same thing. My daughter is a family practice MD. A very obese patient (one of the hospital nurses) was complaining in her office (as her patient) that the said nurse could not make it across the hospital parking lot without stopping for breath. My daughter looked up and innocently asked if she could assist her in losing weight. The nurse acted like her doc was nuts. All she wanted was a disabled parking sticker. Well, if the nurse can't make it across the parking lot, how is she handling her patients?

I think you are over-thinking this. I am glad you are self-confident, and I can't imagine anyone would write you down for such. I certainly wouldn't. Just be the best nurse you can be, and try to fulfill your own expectations. :)))) Maybe strive for super-excellent.

I offer you permission not to feel guilty. From what I hear, there are lots of nurses who would love extra hours. Maybe you are giving them that chance. Feeling guilty is a no win situation. Please take of yourself and get your BSN.

I don't understand why a few of the posters are being so mean to the OP. Perhaps this is the resistance she is speaking about. This is her experience. Fact: Right now, nursing is a very difficult job market. It is an expensive struggle to get through and make the best pre-req grades. Then it is a competitive struggle just to get into a nursing program. Then try to get a job. I can see why at the end of the road, she might be disappointed. And it is not fair where all the money is going. Just like teaching. Those that do the work get a pittance. Those at the top get all the dough and the respect. I had eagerly started down the BSN path because I was so sick of practicing law,and it feels so -- well -- unfilling. Boooring. Man's World. No respect for women. But I do have a job at least. After reading these boards, I understand that I was probably being unrealistic about how much I was going to be able to help mankind in contrast to what a tough life it would be. I appreciate being able to read both sides, and I will say as an "outsider," the replies come across to me as mean spirited and resistant which kind of supports her initial argument.

She may be simply clueless, but this also sounds like "Aspergerish" behavior. They tend to be unwaveringly honest with little social appropriateness. Some of those with Aspergers syndrome are very smart. But they get in a lot of trouble for not responding to proper social cues. Just a thought to consider.

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I still have not had a response from WGU whether I have to be proctored. Are you using your book with a proctored exam????

Missingmy Erica: Re SL A&P -- how difficult was the Final? Did they make you use ProctorU? SL says WGU requires a proctor -- as in a webcam where you are watched like solitary confinement. And you have to pay extra for it and get a computer with a webcam Thanks!!!

Personally, I think the Straighterline course is hard because your only grade is the test. I have done really well but I have referred to the book for some of the tricky questions and the drawings -- there is nothing in the instructions about not using the book. Has anyone had the final? Did you have to proctor? Straighterline SAYS WGU says it has to be proctored -- but no one at WGU will confirm this. Could you use the book?????

Has anyone made it all the way through Straighterline A&P for WGU's program? I have found it easy to pass, but difficult to make a high percentage. I gather that it is open-book -- however it now appears that the final (which counts for a lot) must be proctored by UProctor. I have never used a webcam before and the idea of someone sitting there and watching me is unsettling. If the last test is indeed proctored -- is it also open book? The instructions say you may not get help -- is that from another person? -- or from notes or book? Help -- I am going to have to memorize this stuff (all 8 chapters) if it is a closed book test because the unit test questions were all over the map and some very picky. Also -- what was the final like? How much minutia? Could you have passed it simply by reading it and taking the practice tests? Thank you very much for any replies.

I am in the second part of Straighterline A&P I and I find it hard and confusing because you have to teach yourself totally. Also, there is no specific material to hone in on -- the tests cover the whole entire chapter!!! OK so far because the tests are, I guess, open book. The saving grace. However, I was just told that the final is proctored --- does that mean no notes at all -- cold turkey??? and how hard was the test? Anyone go through this yet??? Help.