SailorVee93

Hi all! I'm currently attending an RN-BSN program in MA. One of my courses regards Pharmacology. We have the option to either pay to take a pharm class or pay to take a challenge exam to earn the credit for pharmacology. I would rather pay under $100 for an exam than over $1,000 for a semester. I have been trying to find ways of studying for this exam online. Apparently there are no official study guides from the NLN (or other book companies). The study guides I do find are unofficial ones posted on StuDocu or similar sites. I'm just curious to know if anyone has had to take this challenge exam? If so, how did you study/prepare for it? I only want help/guidance, no test questions/answers and no spamming of shady websites asking for money for study guides or test answers. Any and all information is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance! (I did post this to the student forum on here back in November in the ADN/BSN section with no results, unfortunately.)

Hi all! I'm currently attending an RN-BSN program. One of my courses regards Pharmacology. We have the option to either pay to take a pharm class or pay to take a challenge exam to earn the credit for pharmacology. I would rather pay under $100 for an exam than over $1,000 for a semester. I have been trying to find ways of studying for this exam online. Apparently there are no official study guides from the NLN (or other book companies). The study guides I do find are unofficial ones posted on StuDocu or similar sites. I'm just curious to know if anyone has had to take this challenge exam? If so, how did you study/prepare for it? I only want help/guidance, no test questions/answers and no spamming of shady websites asking for money for study guides or test answers. Any and all information is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Hi @Caroline Sheppard! I will say that I do believe you will be able to find a job as an RN here in Massachusetts. I live on the eastern side (Boston) and have worked with ADN/new grads at my hospital. Some hospitals will require that you plan or be in the process of getting your BSN within a certain amount of time after the date of hire. For example, I know that at Boston Medical Center (BMC) they stipulate that you have 36 months after hiring to get your BSN while you work for them. Other options for employment include psychiatric nursing, home health nursing, nursing homes, rehab hospitals/facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. You do have options, regardless of whether or not you move to Boston. Also, have you looked into other schools that are closer to Boston? UMass Amherst is on the western side (Springfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Westfield, etc.) of the state. I only ask as I have heard of some RN-BSN programs requiring their students to have a community health clinical incorporated into their learning experience before they graduate. I hope some of this information is helpful. Best of luck and stay safe!

Salem State has a part time LPN to BSN program

Hi kjs! I actually made the same exact assumption as you. Being new to Massasoit, I had to go register for class in person. I also did the orientation online. I didn't know about course registration until I got that phone call a few weeks ago. Also make sure that all of your paperwork has been turned in. Lastly, be aware of tuition payment dates after you've registered for the course. I hope this helps! :-)

Hi my fellow future classmates! Please make sure to get all of the necessary materials in by their respective deadlines. The administration is basically waiting to hear back from all of the currently accepted students so as to make room for any waitlist students. I only know about this as I received a phone call about my course registration and some missing paperwork at the start of this month. I do not want for anyone to miss the chance of losing their spot in the program. I also do not want for a waitlist person to miss a chance at being accepted off of the waitlist if they have that opportunity to join our current nursing cohort. I hope your summer is going well! :)

Hi kjs91, Have you considered looking into being a Unit Secretary/Coordinator? Although you will not receive any experience with direct patient care, you are able to see how things work from an administrative persepctive. In this sense, you will have the opportunity to see how orders get put into the system and still work closely with the RNs when needing to get in touch with other departments in the hospital. I just wanted to put out that suggestion if you're still looking to get some healthcare experience. If not, then my best advice to you is to stay with your job if it will pay you more and allow you to cut back on your hours. In the end, do what works best for you.

In my personal experience, I would suggest that you try to work in psych. I know it is not a popular field, but I was not certified when I got my first job at a psychiatric hospital. I ended up on the dementia unit and loved it. You can get a lot of training that can help you to learn the skills that go along with being a CNA/PCT. You can also learn a lot from the nurses on the unit. I have learned a lot and I'm still learning. I was even able to use that experience to help with my CNA certification paperwork, which was accepted and I was able to test and pass for it. There are other avenues, you just have to spend some more time looking. I will say that you have taken a great first step by asking for help and guidance on this board :)

Hi everyone! This is for future reference and for anyone who may need to get this done: If you need to be certified or recertified for CPR/AED, Carney Hospital in Dorchester offers the cheapest courses in the Boston area. It costs $40 and you can receive your card right after training has ended on the very same day. It is the course provided by the American Heart Association for Basic Life Support CPR. Courses are offered every week, either on Thursday or Saturday, with the days alternating between each other each week. The Thursday courses are offered in the evening (6 pm - 10 pm), while the Saturday courses are done during the day (10 am - 2 pm). I have done my certification there twice and have enjoyed the format they present to their students and how they teach it to the students. (I always do the Saturday morning option and the class tends to end early... ) If you are looking for an affordable option, try looking into it. Here is a link to their website, as well as their other course offerings: https://www.cprboston.org. Newbies and experienced health care professionals are all welcome to take part in these classes!! I hope this helps!

My rubric was roughly at a 60.5 before the personal letter/statement. With the letter, my final rubric score was between 63.5 and 66.5 (very rough estimate). I just checked my mailbox. I got my large envelope and acceptance letter. Now it's officially official!! :)

@Jamie try to look at your unofficial transcript or your transfer credit. It will list your major on it.

I feel the same way! I need physical proof, lol

@kjs91 Thank you! I checked it; now it feels official! I'm so excited to be on this journey. I am throwing out good and hopeful vibes for everyone else on this board!!

kjs91, I woke up to the same email. I guess we're officially classmates now :) How were you able to check your status? I couldn't check DegreeWorks. I had to look at my unofficial transcript in order to see my major, lol.

Hi LPNfutureRN, Welcome to the thread! I applied to day RN program as a new/transfer student. You are lucky enough to have access to Degreeworks; I'm going to have to wait for an answer via snail mail, lol. Good luck with your application! :)