asylum5w2

I don't want to sound like a wimp here, but I am afraid to post the syllabus online because it says this: "No communications for this course are allowed on Facebook or any other social media." I took the course this summer. There were two quizzes and two major 2-part projects, along with the usual discussion boards stuff and a couple other easy things (plagiarism tutorial, etc.). There was a TON of support from coaches (quiz cards, online classroom sessions). There was no group work involved. I would say the workload was comparable to the other nursing classes I've taken so far. I am assuming you are doing online RN-BSN. Hope this helps.

I believe starting pay (for a new grad RN) is just over $21 an hour at the hospital in Greeley. You can get a decent house there for around 200,000. School district has a pretty bad reputation---my kids went to school there and I would have to agree they are not so great. I've heard the schools in Loveland and Fort Collins are better but you'll pay more for housing there. Job market is pretty tight for teenagers and young adults....nurses should have no problem.

We were required to have 6 months telemetry experience before moving into ICU, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. There is something to be said about experience. I have seen many new grads excel in our ICU but have also seen them struggle with things like when to wake up the doctor, what data he/she will be asking for, how to get along with some of the other strong personality types in the medical field... It is never a good feeling to look around and realize you are the most experienced RN on when there is a trauma coming in and they want to put in a ventriculostomy at the bedside or something similar. Good Luck to you and demand every minute of your orientation even if you (and your manager) feel like you are ready to be on your own.

I took CCRN two years ago--I used Pass CCRN (bought it at one of her ccrn prep classes) and the Gasparis-Vonfrolio DVDs but my FAVORITE study method was Critical Care Examination Review by Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio. It is all practice tests with answers and rationale in the back. (much harder than the actual CCRN exam in my opinion) Good Luck!

I am glad to hear I am not the only one who wears my scrubs home. I have run to the grocery store (rarely) and even fallen asleep in them. "Back in the day", as a new grad, I wouldn't have been caught dead in them once I entered the house (kids were younger then too). Hospital supplied scrubs would be nice for patient protection--we only get them for OR/PACU, burn unit and L&D/mother-baby, but can always request them when we get "slimed" and need a change.