inforthelonghaul

Thank you missnurse and justanlpn. I think you both have very valid points. I guess I just worry more about biased opinions held by adcoms and the competitiveness of the nursing profession in general especially in the advanced practice settings. I also think that I could end up driving myself crazy trying to contemplate all of the "what if's" out there in this profession. I think I'm going to just concentrate on accreditation and let my grades and experience speak for themselves when it comes time for me to make the leap into advanced practice. Thanks again for he responses.

Does it matter to the crna admisions people where you got your bsn degree? Does it matter if you get it online, or at an actuall brick and morter school? I know you can be accepted with either or, but is one better than another? Also if I did decide to do a rn to bsn online is there certain choices in selecting that program that may give me a better shot at getting in?

Thanks for for being so diligent in posting here. I love everything you've shared so far.

Hello. I just want to start off by saying thanks to all of those out there who read these and respond to them even though they really don't need to. It means more to us who need the advice than we could ever repay. I am a soon to be third semester nursing student in an ADN program and I work in a large teaching hospital. I aspire to be a CRNA and have a thourough understanding of what it takes to become one. There are times though, like right now (what rn to bsn online program to go with), that I wish I had someone in my corner that could pass on their knowledge and advice to me but I don't know who ask. First of all I fell like if I seek out someone that I know is a CRNA but I don't know them I'd fell like a stalker. Second, I don't know if I should even ask anybody in the hospital I work in because then you become that person with an agenda. The stereotypical person who only looks at their time in the ICU (not that I'm in the ICU yet) as just another stepping stone to your throne. I wish there were a way to conenct with someone in a hospital outside of the one I work at but how to do that and not seem weird is beyond me. Further more I wouldn't even know who to talk to anyways. I'd like to hear from anyone who has had a positive or negative experiences in these areas. Did you flap your gums about your position and regret it? Have you been a mentor or a mentee and have an insight you'd like to share? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am a huge procrastinator as well. I have a few tricks I use. First get into a good study group. It keeps you accountable to other people, not just yourself. Second, schedule your study time and think of it like work. You would never be late to work would you? So you can take the same attitude to your studies as well. And the third thing that keeps me accountable is the fear of failing out. Seriously. You and I have both worked too hard to fail at this point. My NS is a cohort style, so if you fail your first semester for example you sit around for the next year until you can start at the first semester again with a new cohort. And not only that but you only get one more chance to make it through so if yo fail a second time your never graduating from my school. Add all of this on top of the fact that you never, ever, ever want to have to relearn the things some of these instructors want you to learn. This isn't to scare you, it's just what gets me through.

It's important to know that there can be different organization depending on your rational. So it's more important to have a valid rationalization than it is to have the one and only correct response. Just don't forget your ABCs and be ready to give your reason for the prioritization that you choose.

Yeah check out... http://medicalmnemonics.com/cgi-bin/browse.cfm

Can I ask what class this is for and how far it happens to be in your program. I was just accepted into the nursing program at my school and I'm trying to gain som insight as to what I'm really headded for. Thanks so much.

If your in school you could try somthing like your schools student services office (that's what it's called at my school). They should be able to help. Or contact your counsler and ask them about shaddowing oppertunities that might be available and who to contact. This is what I did. Another idea is to contact the big hospitals in your area, like level 1 trauma centers. They have the designation "Level 1" in part because the take on a larger community education presence than other hospitals do. Hope this helps. I don't know what to do about the private practice or female CRNAs. I guess you could contact them too but there might be liability issues they might be more concerned about. To be honest I see where your comming from assuming your female, but I felt incredably privlaged to be able to see anything at all CRNA related and then I got lucky. Good luck to you.

I have been reading on here about magnet status around the country and it has got me thinking about what the magnet hospitals in MN are like. From what I gather there are good and bad points to each hospital with the status, but what really matters is the way the hopital is run by the leaders in any one hospital. Basically wheather or not the managment and staff buy into the ideals that the award of "Magnet Status" trys to stand for, and in turn attempt to take it seriously as apposed to forcing staff to look good in front of inspection committiees. So all of that for this question.... If your apart, or have been apart of a magnet hopital in MN what were your experiences? and if possable what hospital were you apart of if you don't mind adding. Thanks .

My goal is to start working at one of the level 1's as a nursing assistant, or nurse tech. I'm not even in the nursing program yet. So in two years after I have been working at one of these places I can go strait to work. It has nothing to do with being picky, I'm just trying to set myself up with the best possible oppertunity before I graduate, as apposed to after. Thanks for your help though.

Do either of you know why Regions wasn't ranked in the "Best Hospitals" in Minneapolis/St.Paul by US News and World Report? They rank 11 other hospitals in the metro area and Regions isn't on there at all. I found this to be very perplexing. Any ideas on why? Here's the link. http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/minneapolis-st-paul-mn/specialty

I too am applying the 2012 fall start. Have you heard any answers from any where else other than here as to how challenging the first semesters are?

Coming from a CNA, pre-nursing student, this is all GREAT information and I really hope many more people out there will keep giving their two cents on becoming an new grad ICU nurse because that's what I am going for. All the input is appreciated in so many ways. Thank you.

I am a pre-nursing student here in MN and I am interested in becoming an ICU nurse at one of the level 1 trauma centers in the metro area, (Regions, HCMC, North Memorial). I am wondering if any one would recomend or not recomend working at one, none, or all of them. Which one might have better benifits or pay, and also how well managed each facility is or is not. Any input would be greatly appretiated. Thanks for your time. PS- I plan on getting a job there first as a nursing assistant within the next 6 months or so, so when I become an RN I will be competitive in the hiring prosess... hopefully. So if anyone has any specific experience in that area too, I would love the info. Thanks again.