EGDnurse

Hi; When I was accepted into the program in 2007 there was not an official interview. I was taking my prerequisite courses at a community college and I became friends with someone else like myself that had a bachelor's degree in another area. We went up to the school and met with the dean of nursing and were both accepted on the spot!! I would treat the interview like a job interview. Why do you want to become a nurse. Where do you see yourself going in the nursing field. How do you plan on succeeding in the nursing program. These are the questions I imagine that will be asked of you. It was a very challenging and fast paced program. When I went it was 12 months with 2 month long breaks in between semesters and a couple week long breaks as well. So we essentially became nurses in 9 months and took our board exams. I wish you the best of luck

Hi, When I was fresh out of school, I had to work 3 12 hour midnight shifts per week, and every other weekend. What I used to do was schedule myself to work two shifts in a row-Monday and Tuesday, off Wed, Thur, Fri, work Sat and Sun. Off Mon, Tues, Wed, work Thursday and Friday. My working weekend was the split in the pay period, so Saturday would be on one week, and Sunday on the next (so I always made my 36 hours) I would get up early the first day of my two days, and go back to sleep from noon until about 5:00 or so, then sleep on the day of my second shift. Coming off my shift I would sleep about six hours, and see my friends and family. It worked for the time I had to do it. I wish you the best of luck, I prayed to find a day shift job, and found one about nine months out of school.

I graduated from the SDO program in 2009, and had a very positive experience with it. I was able to find a job the day of our pinning ceremony, and still work at the same hospital almost three years later. I passed my boards the first try with 75 questions, and was done with the test in 25 minutes!! The cost of it was very high, but I focused on paying off my student loan debt, and had it completely paid off in about 18 months by working a lot of overtime, and budgeting my money. We had some issues with our med surge classroom teacher for 2nd and 3rd semesters (not showing up for lectures) but we all got through. I had one mean clinical instructor, but managed to pass. What I did to help succeed was to pre-read the material on our semester breaks, and re-read it before and after class, and again before exams. It sounds "nerdy" but by doing it this way, I was always able to go out and have some fun time each and every week. Even if it was just a movie, or a party for two hours, I made some fun time each week. I stayed organized with my written assignments, and all the requirements that the program had. It's not a good idea to work during the program, but some of my classmates did. I chose to take out a living expense loan so I could focus on my studies, and I am glad to this day that I did. I would personally recommend the program to other people, but be prepared for some disorganization, and stress. Start each day with a smile and a prayer, and end each day the same way.

Hi, I graduated from the program in May of 2009, and wanted to add that it really prepares you for your board exams. Our passing rate was very high (over 90%) and still feel very happy with my choice in schooling. It was very expensive to attend, and I had to take out additional loans to live off while attending, because it is very hard to work during the program. I was able to pay off my loans in about 20 months with working some overtime, and sticking with a budget.

Hi, I graduated from that program in May of 2009. First, I want to say that you will be so glad when you are finished and out in the working world that you do not have to go back for a BSN completion program. I see so many of my co-workers struggle with trying to do this, and feel badly for them. The program was very fast paced, and you have to be on top of your studies at all times. The first semester starts with more focus on the academics, and less clinical, then each semester works more towards more clinical hours. You finish with having to complete 200 hours of preceptor work one on one with a R.N. I completed mine at the VA, and loved it. I literally worked every hour of overtime offered to me, and had my loans paid off in about 20 months. The board passing rate for that program is very high (over 90%) and each day helped prepare you. Good Luck!!

I graduated two years ago, and spent my first year on a cardiac rehabilitation and stroke floor. I had a mixture of some really nice coworkers, and some really nasty ones!! I really enjoyed the nights when I got to provide excellent care for my patients, and learn new things. I never worked a midnight shift before, so I found it very hard on my body after a few months. I found a day shift opening in an specialty outpatient department at my hospital, and transferred when I could no longer handle being on midnights. Sometimes I miss being on the floor, but I enjoy having my evenings and weekends to myself again.

Hi, I am a very new nurse (2 years) and there are still things that I am not always sure how to do, or need help with. When I was very overwhelmed and very new, I would try to make a goal of learning 2 or 3 things each day. Then I would practice them the next day with another new nurse, or co-worker that I felt comfortable with. When my orientation period was finished, I found several nurses that I felt very comfortable with on my floor, and would offer my help turning and lifting their patients if they would help me with something that I didn't know how to do. One of my friends from nursing school went right into the ED at my hospital, and she said it is completely different than floor nursing was. The nurses can sometimes be a little bit more harsh on the newer nurses because of the type of situations that are dealt with in the ED versus the floor. Try to keep your chin up, and know that you are going to get to where you need to be, just like your co-workers did when they were new nurses.