BamaBeachbound78

I took the leap after I was laid off of my job at the age of 31...best decision I ever made. I utilized my occupational shortcomings and applied for unemployment, which helped pay the bills while I got the ball rolling with pre-reqs and the first few semesters of nursing school. I was fortunate to have a previous degree, which made it easier to transition to a BSN track. However, I was prepared to work my way up from the bottom, if needed by getting my LPN degree, since the market was so competitive. You have to do what you need to get in, and it means not putting all your eggs in one basket. Focus on several schools and have back-up plans in place. As far as working in a hospital from the get go, coming from someone who has been in your shoes at your age, I would wait and focus school and staying a float. The first few semesters are tough, and your grade and comprehension of the material should be top priority. Learning a new job might hender that. My school even deterred employment for the first 3 semesters. I eventually got a job as a PCA/Secretary the summer before my last two semesters on MICU. Best thing ever, because I was able to utilize the knowledge I gained from school and see and UNDERSTAND it face to face. Without that knowledge base, entering orders and doing procedures at work would have been meaningless and at times confusing. Regardless of your path, take assurance that life has a funny way of unfolding its path for you. GOOD LUCK!

You would probably have better luck just getting a job on a unit at UAB than into the internship program. From what I heard, it's like more school and you don't necessarily get guaranteed a job on a unit you orientate on, only if they have an opening.

$20-21 base in Bham with a $4-$5 shift diff

I work in ICU and I've recommended nurses to stop by and speak to our nurse manager directly. There is always a disconnect between HR and nurse mangers. Sometimes it's just best to go directly to the source and create that connection, then see where it goes from there.

UAB job postings state BSN preferred or must be willing to sign a contract to return to school.

Most, if not all of the Birmingham hospitals offer $20.40 plus or minus some cents.

Most hospitals offer some sort of tuition reimbursement program for nurses going back to school and correct me if I'm wrong, but Brookwood does too and even pays Federal loans that you may have already from school. UAB is great learning facility but the other hospitals have their strengths also. Good Luck!

Quite the contrary. Most hospitals still hire ADNs for the time being, I know ours does. They are rumors that they will stop in the near future but as of now they still do. My best advice would be to contact the hospital you are interested in human resources department to validate whether they are or not. Also, there are several online ADN-BSN fast track programs out there, I think at UAB or USA. So I think it would be beneficial for you to get your ADN then shoot for you BSN, especially if you could do it online and not have to commute the 2 hrs.

Soooo...you pay $50k roughly for a degree in nursing which I assume is an ADN program, but....you cannot transfer to other schools for a ADN to BSN fast track, much less a masters??? Sounds like at VC you are pretty much locked into their $50k piece of paper that will probably be obsolete within the next 5-10 years considering the trend that hospitals are starting to adopt where they are no longer hiring ADN RN's in certain departments.....sounds like a rip-off to me. Granted nursing programs are hard to get into, this is for a reason. Sidestepping and paying for the "easy" way out may not be the best option here, but if you got that kinda money to burn go for it. From the sound of it though, you will probably be paying more money down the road to repeat courses for another degree in nursing so that you can further your employment chances later in life.

Does anybody work in the ED at UAB? I am currently in school at UA and graduate in May 2012. I have done rotations in the ED at DCH Regional and love it, but I am trying to get back to Bham after I graduate. I am thinking of throwing UAB ED in on my preceptor wish list and was wondering what the employee moral atmosphere is like. Are employees receptive to students and new grads? How is the work environment? I know it is probably hectic due to it being a level 1 trauma center. Also, how are they about hiring new grads? Just wanting to know if it would be worth while trying to apply for preceptor there next semester or if there is another ED in Bham that is more open and welcoming to students/new grads like DCH?

YIKES! I hope you are getting a BSN for that price! That is about $500 more than what I pay a semester at UA. Their program better be worth it!

For the stake of stability and getting paid for the effort you put in, go for nursing....you can always go teach afterwards if that is what your heart desires. Plus with nursing, you are constantly providing patient teaching if that makes you feel better ;-) Good luck!

Speak with your dean or whomever is over your nursing program. They may be able to work with you and hold a spot for you in the fall given your circumstances. Heck, the campus may even have child care assistance of some sort...if not, they should! Good Luck!

My guess would be to just contact the nursing programs at the schools that you are interested in. I went back to the school that I have my previous BA at and they just looked at my prereqs and sciences GPA overall, plus I had a preference since I was returning persuing my 2nd degree. Each program is different, so I would just focus on the ones that you are truly interested in and figure out what you may need to do with their advisors. You may have to retake some of the classes that you go low grades in to boost up your GPA.....it's not impossible, just may require more work. Good Luck!

With the influx of people jumping to nursing as a career choice, it is a no brainer as to why so many people are unhappy with it. Every profession carries it's fair share of whiners and burnouts, for some reason or another. Nursing is a calling, not a career. Some people loose focus of that and jump on board for the money and stability. Sure those things are nice, but they won't get you through the ups and downs of the job. There are people in my nursing class now that makes me wonder why they are even in nursing school. I can understand the stress from taking an insane course load with assignments and tests around every corner, not to mention clinicals. But if you can't put that a side once you step through those hospital doors, then you need to reevaluate what you are in the program for. I am amazed at how many people whine about going to clinicals or doing patient care, mind you, these are some of the same people with CRNA ambitions. I would gladly sub those classmates for someone who actually wants to be there anyday! Its frustrating, but like some of the others have said, it will probably be rewarding if it has truly "called" you! Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP!!!

I just want to work first...If I get to the point down the line where I want to continue my education, I may. I am just sick of school at the moment, I will have 10 years of secondary education by the time I am through with my BSN, concluding with 2 bachelor's degrees and an associates. I could've been a doctor by now!

Not really, other than what I have read on here. I heard from a friend that Lawson had a good program, UAB's program didn't really give a damn for their students, but that is about it. Each program has it's hearsay, it's what you make of it that is important.

Depends on the Pharm class itself and how the instructor is about giving you what you need for the test. I found making flashcards helped with my course, and then trying to write the drugs out for each class with specific actions, AEs, CIs, etc. And it also depends on your style of studying. Id suggest speaking to some of your class mates and see how they are successful at it. Find what you think would work for you and try that. Reading chapter to chapter can be redundant and pointless if you are not retaining the info, not to mention a waste of time. So streamline those 8-9 hours with plenty of breaks for food and minor exercises if you can to get your blood going!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Study anything Evolve related, they are the closest thing to the HESI's as far as material style. I didn't have to take it as a pretest but I do have them at the end of every clinical course in my program (7 Total), which is 10% of that course grade and if we don't score at least a 900 on each, we have to do remediation on each or you repeat the course...not fun.

I am halfway through with 2 1/2 more semesters to go. Digging it so far, the first 2 semesters bout killed me and now things are leveling out a bit. Right now I am trying to get a PCA job to start building some hospital experience that will hopefully help with job placement come next May. BTW...I haven't heard anything good about Shelton's program, I was going to apply for there's when I was taking my prereqs out at their campus, but thankfully got into the BSN program at UA.

Yeah, pharmacology can be tough...If you want to review it, just go over and study the classes - Know the general classifications, actions, CI's, adverse effects and maybe some key patient teaching. As far as prepping for what drugs to go over, I would just hold off until class starts. Each course is different for requiring which drugs you need to know. If you know the basic classes of each and how to recognize the basic suffix of each drug such as "-olol, -lol" are your beta blockers, you should do fine going into the class. You kinda build your drug knowledge with each semester so don't worry if you don't get it all from the get go. Plus you will get more familiar with them as you use them in a clinical setting. I wish I had this prep advice before I started LOL

This post is ridiculous...GPA or an IVY league degree doesn't make a good nurse. Some of the smartest people in my class lack the common sense to be competent nurse. In the long run, what is going to matter is the connections you make in clinicals and passing the NCLEX...everything else is trivial. Your rejection happened for a reason, if for nothing else to remind you that where you got your degree will not matter to some programs. Dust yourself off and diversify your application process. And if your IVY league degree is something you value and want to be acknowledged for, pick a program that takes that into consideration. If nursing is what you truly want to do and what you have a passion for, suck up your pride, and get used to the rejection and keep on trucking. Its tough getting into any program, and each one will have their own prerequisites for entry that are slightly different than another program. Take the rejection and use it to drive you harder, graduate from a program and get a good job doing what you love, so that you can wave a middle finger at that school. You don't need them anyways...

It really depends on your situation with your school and they're advance degree options. I went back to nursing school where I got my BA. There are multiple advantages from attending where you are alum, your prior classes are accepted with no questions asked. Plus, my school gave prior graduates a preference into the program over any one else. You also have to consider out of state tuition, which can be killer at some schools. It does help with getting a job in most instances to apply in the area in which you do your clinicals. You are currently making connections while you are completing your clinicals which helps. Also, you are familiar with that hospitals policies and procedures, which also help. All in all, there are probably advantages either way in your situation, just weigh them carefully before you take that leap. And most of all, GOOD LUCK!

Summer programs are rough, you have a short amount of time to complete a semester's worth of work...I did so at UA last summer, it was hell. Though, if you survive it, it will be worth it. Just remember to stay on top of your game, don't slack at all or you will be behind before you know it. And remember to ask for help if you feel like you are sinking. Im not sure what the CC curriculum will be like for the summer, but we had 5 classes for the BSN program including Patho which nearly kicked my butt! Good luck!!!

I think it all depends on the nursing program that you get in to. For me, I am in an excellent program where the instructors care and try to help you in any way shape or form. It's not hard, per se, but it isn't for everyone. It is very time consuming, and you get out what you put into the program. You have to have dedication and determination to complete the program. You have to take it day by day, literally or you will be consumed and burn out quickly. Good grades are something to strive for, but you won't always get. You have to be ok with that, because Ive seen a lot of people freak out over it. Grades will get you into a program, but they won't make you an excellent nurse. And my last piece of advice...you have to be willing to give up your social life for the 2 years that you are in the program. Granted you can still have one, it's just hard to find a balance between the two. Overall, it's not that bad. It just takes some adjustments that some are not cut out for. And that's the dirty truth from my perspective...