prospectivepville

I don't think so much that it's about negativity, it's about how much negativity is boring. I know any time I hear a sad story from one of my peers I usually tune out the negative things, until their revelation about how great life is. Instead, you should put yourself in their shoes, they may read hundreds of essays, one similar story could melt and blend into another, what would you want to read? How can you make yourself stand out? Start with a really catchy first sentence, not just restating the question and talking about how you reflect on it, it's so cliche. Trust me, many many people start out with similar structure, you want (dare I say need?) to have a "hook", something profound and thought provoking. As I read it, (and please this is meant to be constructive not critical) I felt someone going through the motions, not necessarily writing from their heart of hearts. You talk so much about how you let everyone else down, and your paper goes from one topic to another, instead you need a pivotal "ah-ha!" moment, something to cue into. I know it's hard to keep all your experiences at a minimum, and try to leave out the story about your nurse cousin. It's beautiful, but it doesn't really go along with the rest of the last paragraph. There's a lot of bouncing around, and remember to spell out all your numbers, like, suppose seven instead of 7. Minimize your failures, and focus on your accomplishments, your motivations, also, leave out a lot of the encouraging words from other people, nurses so rarely get the praise they deserve their motivation has to come from within.

Congrats! (WIA is workforce investment act for those who know, you just need to google it, it's through your state)

This is a horrible situation! I never received financial aid until I lost my job, and now that I have it, I know exactly how lucky I am. It can be a miserable and trying time especially for those trying to get back in school and start a productive life. Have you checked with the WIA? I'm only asking because I know someone that is in the program, they pay for childcare, books, transportation, tuition, etc. Sometimes there's a waiting list, and right now funds are limited, but it's a really good program if all else fails.

I hadn't been able to sleep the whole weekend after someone told me they'd mailed out our acceptance letters... I opened my letter, sent out a mass text, then took a nap.

You're in the same boat as I was! I got into a technical college program, and also a private university (they just obtained university status this year). Both only offer ADN, so I was absolutely terrified when I discovered how much the tuition was going to cost, about 16,000 a year. Financial aid really worked with me, but of course they work with anyone that shows up to their office before they do. I've decided I'm either really annoying or really determined.

I just went to my RN orientation today, and was so disappointed with the uniforms they've chosen. Instead of selling the patches separately, and allowing us to put them on (I'm a sewing champ!) they've contracted out the work to Meridy's. Which requires also that we order a specific kind of scrub, and alas... they're collared. I'm kind of in the dark with how the sizes run, has anyone ever ordered from the site? I've heard they run a little small.

I took the class but have yet to get my certification. The plan I'm going with doesn't require it though, but my just-in-case school did.

I hate myself sometimes for having a draw to the disgusting things. The only thing that really turns my stomach is that hocking sound some people make when they cough, and then don't spit.

Don't be sick to your stomach! The first time I took A&P 1 I thought I'd been working my butt off, but guess what? Big ole D! It doesn't matter how well you do on all the laboratory work if you don't understand the exam material. First thing you should reconsider? Your study skills, I think they're some online assessments to test your learning methods, do that first, find how you learn. I'm more of a auditory learner, so I had to record a lot of the lectures, and listen to them while I was jogging, cleaning, or sometimes sleeping... (yeah you think I'm crazy? SO!) As with anything, repetition is key, whether it's copying notes down a hundred times, listening to it a hundred times, reading the chapters a hundred times... you gotta do it. Repeat repeat repeat. It's how you learn language, hearing words and actions over and over, and you have to start somewhere. Finally, mix it up. Talk to people in your class, something I've found convenient is talking to people who are doing just as or better in a class than I am. Their ideas and information are the most valuable resource I've had. By changing my study habits I changed my whole life, in highschool, I was the brainiac, in college I'm just another face in the crowd. It's been a very humbling experience, I used to think I learned by osmosis, but now I realize I actually learned by having at least an hour of repetition a day, guided instruction, and forced studying. NEVER GIVE UP NEVER SURRENDER! I hope all this stuff helps me next semester. When I finally begin the program. :) Also, don't be afraid to talk to your counselors, they're there to ensure you succeed, some are slackers, but most want to help. If one isn't helping switch it up, there's no building that doesn't have a way in. Anyone have any advice on new recorders? Mine got destroyed in a rain storm.

You could always be a CNA. My best friend took an EMT-B class while doing our pre-reqs (this is years ago, and I took a few years off before actually putting forth the right effort in school). She ended up failing her pre-req classes, but loving the EMT class. If you really fall in love with it, you could always become a paramedic. There were several EMT's in my A&P class, some wanting to be RN's some wanting to be Paramedics, but all wanting to do emergency care. I suppose there's something about it, that maybe it gets in your blood.

I took all my pre-reqs at a CC college, so I understand the expense part most definitely! You gotta give yourself options!

KHAN ACADEMY! The BEST youtube channel for math, and step by step instructions/explanations. Still not an all inclusive thing, but watching some of the videos over and over especially helped me understand the function of nephrons, the heart, the cells etc. It's all about repetition and visuals for me. http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy?feature=chclk

I would suggest online ONLY if there is a tutoring facility you can go to for hands on instruction in your spare time. OR your instructor is really generous with their time, and will meet with you occasionally to discuss specific weaknesses. Classroom arrangements have always been best for me.

One of the college's in my area has known as what's "automatic acceptance" which means you qualify for the program with a 3.0 AND a minimum score of 24 on your ACT. HOWEVER they have have a limited number of seats therefore, if more applicants apply which meet that condition they use a point ranking system to weed them out, and also if they have seats not taken, they use a point ranking system to determine who gets in. Although the minimum requirements are a 2.5 and a 19 on the ACT, no one ever gets in if they just have that. I think it gives a lot of people false hope. I know a girl with a 3.8 and a 22 on the ACT that didn't get in, and I had a measly 3.25 and a 26 and got in. I simply have better testing skills, I don't think that I'm any more intelligent than she is, and she has wayyyy better study skills. They also didn't have an entry exam. I chose a different college, they arguably have the best program in the area, however they also administer an entry exam (TEAS), and since they had more applicants that met their qualifications they accepted six more students than normal. Just by that they won me over, and truly they want their students to succeed, plus it's wayyyy closer to my house, and they offered me a better scholarship. They also tell people flat out that it's competitive. And have an NCLEX pass rate of nearly 100 %, compared to the 80 at the other college. According their ranking I only had 13 points at the time I had applied, it was really terrifying when I received that sheet and calculated my points! There's a third newer program in our area, taught by National College, they require an interview, the HESI entrance exam, and a minimum 2.5 GPA. They're private, and also the most expensive. Their NCLEX pass rate was only 33 %, out of the six graduates of the program... They started out with 20 students. I'm not sure if that's normal for a new program, but those odds were just too stacked for me, PLUS their cost was ridiculous. I notified them after much research I was not going to be attending their program either... Anyhow, the key to anything is research. Do they go by ACT or SAT also? Is there an entrance exam? They're truthfully God sends, if that's so! Is there an essay? There's so many different ways you can separate yourself! Simply by taking the online practice tests for the ACT, and retaking college algebra, I was able to raise my ACT score significantly (from a 22!). I studied for the TEAS and HESI using the same book, as I thought they were kinda alike, I really think the TEAS was more stressful though. I used Nursing School Entrance Exams by Kaplan. I asked people I knew who graduated, I went to the newer school's website and they had the names posted of their first graduating class, and I found someone that I had graduated highschool with was among them (very intelligent girl). I added her to facebook, and her story horrified me. Two years of school and unable to pass the NCLEX... And they didn't offer her any prep work for the exam. She had to purchase her own review (My school REQUIRES you take a review, have instructor's help you review and prep). Then, I checked the pass rates from the last couple of years on the state board's website. THEN, I asked people I knew that had went to the college I really wanted to go to and graduated. Then, between the two major runners I found out my financial aid offers, I talked to the staff, I really ran my feet off. But most of the people you talk to want you to succeed, because your success is based from theirs. To say I was crazy about attending school is an understatement, I'm absolutely loony for it. A lot of it takes very little time to do, maybe a few phone calls, some facebook chat, but the testing and visits take time and money, the prep work, the exams, the pre-reqs! DEADLINES! Upon DEADLINES! But I really want it, and making the right choice is always ALWAYS the biggest decision. You could go to any school, stay for two years, and then end up with nothing, because you can't pass the NCLEX. Or, you could go to a program with teachers that don't care about your success and fail out. Or, what's worse you could start a program, do really well but have to leave because of expenses. You have to take in everything when you attend. Maybe the BSN program is just pumping out nurses that can pass the NCLEX, but can't do much anything else. Also something you don't want! For sure. But, honestly, if you educate yourself on how the ranking system really works, talk to someone that got in the program in the last few years AND graduated and compare your potential success to their actual success you don't need to worry. Be on par. Also, if an essay is required get a professor to read it prior to submittable, nothing is worse than someone handing a paper in riddled with errors, if not a professor someone with really good wordsmithing skillz. It's all about accountability, holding yourself responsible. Last year when I first embarked upon all this, I looked at the ranking sheet I was handed and said, "I'm not ready now, and this is my fault. But I can fix it, and I will." And I did. I'm in now, but what the future holds is completely a mystery, I hope it's success, I had a taste, but I want the whole cup!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3t8gtN-Wfk This may help you understand it more! I'm not sure if this explains it, but the way it works is, if there is an area of greater concentration of salt outside of the blood stream, in the extracellular fluid, then water wants to follow salt from the intracellular fluid out. That's why kidney's are naturally salty, to draw water out, and to conserve water, because that's hard earned fluid, it takes energy to consume more water. Also, when you're dehydrated, often times your blood pressure is low, this can be extremely bad, as a blood pressure that is too low can deprive certain cells from receiving enough oxygen. However, salt has a purpose in the blood, although excess salts can be unnecessary, cause a retention of fluid in the body, increase blood pressure, also the opposite may be true. Hyponatremia is basically water poisoning, diluting sodium in the body. Remember when taking any Anatomy and Physiology classes or any class really, youtube can be your best friend. Other professors with different teaching styles can help so much!