BeesMama

I went to nursing school with the goal of becoming an L&D nurse, so when the opportunity presented itself I took it! if you are interested in OB it might be a good fit. If you you're just not liking Med Surg, it might not be. We are very fast paced, very high acuity and high risk and there is a huge learning curve. It's a specialty like none other. Its also total patient care, you don't have aides. Often you have other RNs around if you need physical help, but otherwise it's complete patient care. Ratios are like ICU because things can turn on a dime and when it goes bad, it goes quick! We are a tertiary facility, meaning we take the kinds of patients no one else in the area takes (like really sick pregnant people). So it can be really challenging at times. We circulate c sections as well, which is something most other units don't do. It isn't hard, but it's a lot to learn. i think if your heart is in it, it is an amazing and rewarding job. But if you are not totally invested, it would probably burn you out faster than you can imagine. I am being brutally honest because we have had a lot of nurses try it out and we invest so much in training and helping them out for them to just leave because they don't like it or it wasn't what they were expecting. If you're interested and think you want to see what it's like, our educator is a huge proponent of doing a shadow shift. It's an unpaid shift where you can come and shadow one of the nurses for the day to get an idea of what the day to day is like.

I loved it!! I hired into the adult float unit which is where most new grads get hired. It is supportive and a great learning environment. The preceptors on the various floors were great and I really enjoyed my orientation. I only stayed in the float pool until end of March (I started in January). I moved over to the L&D training and just got off orientation this week. Let me know if you have any other questions! i had a couple of choices and am really glad I went with LBM! I think they are the best choice for a new grad!

I am excited to be starting the new grad program and LBMMC on Monday! Has anyone been through the program? Is there any advice?

Is this for a new application or an endorsement from another state?

Hi, I am graduating from National in LA this month. The prompts change every time. Mine was something along the lines of besides caring why do you want to be a nurse. What they really care about is 1) your ability to write (grammar, sentences, flow, etc). 2) can you follow directions - FOLLOW the prompt. Don't try to make it something that it isn't. If it asks you about why you want to be a nurse (besides caring) talk about the real reason you want to be a nurse. I wouldn't use it as a chance to grandstand or boast about your qualifications if that makes sense.

It was axillary - so near the arm pit. Her airway wasn't compromised during surgery. And I can't think of any evidence for that either. I think I could do anxiety - but I just did that on a previous assignment and she hates seeing the same thing more than once (she is VERY picky)

Ok - so I have to do two nursing diagnosis for the two surgeries that I observed. Here is the catch, only one can be a "risk". I had a patient go for a partial nephrectomy and the other patient had a lymph node excision and lumpectomy. I can think of most of the risks - infection, bleeding, self-image, etc. But for the life of me, I cannot come up with one that isn't a risk. Since my objective that day was to observe surgery, I didn't have the chance to assess the patient (other than quickly in the surgery room - and it was from 4 feet away!). So I have no real "evidence" to support many dxs. I was trying to do altered urinary elimination r/t nephrectomy, presence of Foley catheter and surgical procedure AEB??? He hasn't had a problem yet because I left before the procedure was even finished. I suppose I could assume he had the issues after the fact, but again, it would be purely assuming. I thought I could do disturbed body image - but like with the above - I don't have evidence to support a dx. And we aren't allowed to use pain - so that is out too. I'm at a loss. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I'm in cohort 10. We started in November 2013. I don't remember my exact GPA but it was roughly 3.5. I got an 87.4 on the TEAS and never asked about my essay score. Our professor was saying they are looking at essays now so you should hopefully hear something soon! Good luck :) happy to answer any questions, too!

I had a frustrating experience with WGU as well. I applied for the OC Cohort last year, was not accepted. Then applied for LA, was not accepted, then applied for Pasadena -- again not accepted. I had a 3.5 GPA, previous degree, but no healthcare experience. I was told getting my CNA might help and healthcare experience might help. But having a family and a FT job - if it won't definitely help, it isn't worth my time. The counselor has been great, but I wouldn't waste my time if you have other options.

I asked someone the same question...don't quote me because I am not sure it is always the same, but white, non slip, fluid resistant shoes!

You can search West Coast University in the search tab and find good info. Not sure what you want to know, though. Have you talked to them yet? It is a for-profit, private university. If you have no pre-reqs to transfer over, it will cost you in the upwards of $135k. It is extremely expensive. Pro is that there is no wait list. Some people will tell you that employers shy away from graduates of West Coast, but the people I have talked to is that a nursing degree from an accredited university, is fine. And WCU is recently accredited through WASC -- which is important. They have a lower pass rate of the NCLEX I believe (I could be wrong though). And there success rate isn't very high - meaning people start but don't finish. It is a block schedule, so you have 9 weeks of class and 1 week of finals (if I am remembering correctly).

I would think working full time would be near impossible unless you are able to work a night shift somewhere. If you do real estate, with your own hours, perhaps it's possible. With National (I'm starting in nov) it would be hard because you never know what your schedule will be until a month or so before the start of class. Best of luck to you!!!

Additionally, my goal (though perhaps it might be too big of one) is to compile my study tools, along with others I find useful, in one place! Blog or something. Along with my experience to get here, how I found my classes, what steps I took to find programs.