LizHope

I took the NCLEX last july. I highly recommend doing the hurst review. There are definitely people who fail the NCLEX and don't start the residency as some of my friends last year got last minute positions that way by taking someone's spot. Not to freak anyone out, but take the nclex seriously and study as much as you can before you take it.

Hello everyone, I too would like to know if we will hear an 'all clear', that we passed our health screening and background check and we are officially 'hired'? Just curious.

Kat_Walk I saw that you asked for advice on the 2012 forum. Some quick stats for me.. I had over a 3.8 gpa for my undergrad....but they only counted upper division so that lowered it to a 3.5 something. I had almost a 4.0 in prereqs...one B at the time of application. My GRE was 1190. I had about 100 hours of volunteering at a hospital. I really tried to write a good essay and discuss how this was really what I wanted to do. The program is getting more and more competitive though, so unfortunately I don't think my stats guaranteed my admission. It was really close this year, so I think I was lucky that I made it. My advice is, write a GOOD essay that the admissions committee will like and respond to..maybe even relate to.....keep your prereqs up as much as possible. Study hard for the GRE, get as much volunteer experience or healthcare work in as possible, and keep your fingers crossed. Oh and, I tried to get good recommendations. 2 were volunteer supervisors, and the third was a liberal arts professor who I knew well, and I thought she would attest to my abilities more than any science professors I've had. Hope that helps a little.

I think I'm going to enroll..you?

Are you still enrolling orchidgal?

Yep I know.

The thing is is we won't have any nursing degree so it's kind of weird circumstances. I consider the rn we get to be the equivalent to a bsn. It's 2 years of UT nursing in one and we're qualified to go on for a masters so I think it's a bsn equivalent... I think they won't officially award us our bsn though because they'd be afraid people wouldn't finish the program. I hope it doesn't affect hireability but it might

Thanks lol! That was my self confidence boost haha.

That's a good point. So much of it is attitude. Sometimes management is terrible etc, but the good thing with nursing is, you can probably find a different job! Or at least when the economy picks back up. I like your practical mindset. I'll try not to let self doubt get in the way. I am a conscientious, smart, compassionate person and I think I'd make a good nurse.

To clarify I've researched a number of careers and nursing is the one career I felt really good about and I love where I volunteer. I need a job that is engaging. It also kind of freaks me out how many people end up hating the career though I don't have any idealistic expectations but some of the stories I've read on here are discouraging.

Thanks acbs, you put things in perspective for me. My main other doubt is that I keep hearing.. If you don't think this is your passion don't do it, I couldn't imagine doing this without the passion yada yada. I seriously don't think I'll figure out my 'passion' til I'm like 50. I think nursing is the best fit for me now because I want flexibility, stability, decent pay, and I want to help people. I also want to be able to transition if I need to and I think I can do that with nursing. I just feel like some nurses I've talked to have made me feel like if being an RN isn't my life's passion and dream I'll never make it. I feel like this is the best road for me to go down at this time, but I am not feeling passion yet, i haven't even started nursing school! Does anyone feel like I do?

Right, I want to be a NP eventually but I'll have to work at least 2 years full time before I can apply for the certification so it will be a while. That's slightly discouraging but hopefully I'll enjoy regular nursing. I just wish the ae program had more np specialties and room for applicants.

Ps I know ten years is a long time but I'm thinking worse case scenario here!

I think it's unlikely you know, if you feel like there might be a smarter move for the position you're in, there's no shame in that.

Crap. So what do you think you're gonna do? I have doubts too..