Kateswedlund

[Hi Krissy- I'm taking an online course now with Canyon College. You can google it on the web. Basically, they tell you which books to buy and you take the tests then give you a certificate of completion. There is no guided education other than that, but if you're a self-starter you should do O.K. QUOTE=krisssy]I am an RN with a BS degree from 1969. I worked as a school nurse teacher for two years, and then I became an elementary school teacher for the next 30 years. I retired from teaching, and I took a 6 week refresher course in nursing. Considering, I did quite well. I am now thinking of taking the Kaplan online course in case management. My questions are: 1. Does anyone know anything about the Kaplan online course? If not, has anyone had experience with online case management courses? 2. Do you think an inexperienced RN would be successful in case management? Do you think I could get a job after taking the course even though my only hospital experience has been in college and in the refresher course? Thank you for helping make this decision.

I'm new to this site, but decided to drop a note. I lived and worked as an ER nurse at Mountain View Hospital. Er's all over Vegas are usually at capacity with beds in hallways etc. However, they have a great CEO, Mark Howard, with an open door policy. Before working at Mountain View, I worked for 1 day! at UMC ER! No training, not even a tour of the department! Where did they put me? TRIAGE!! I worked the day shift and came on at 7 a.m. By 10:00 they had a human resource person come and tell me that there was a mistake and my relocation expenses would not be reimbursed. Then my manager came by and told me that there had been a 'mistake' in my bonus and it would halved from what was agreed on. Then he asked me, "How's your day going? :angryfire At noon, the ER education person walked into triage slammed some documents on the counter and said, "Fill these out! And don't expect me to be your f------ babysitter!! At 7pm that night I told them all GOODBYE!! That's when I was hired my Mountain View. It is busy. There are lots of patients. But I found the people of Vegas to have wonderful, colorful lives, that they would share with me. If you are a new grad, then God love you!! Keep looking for your dream! It's out there. I had to move back to Colorado when my father and father-in-law were both stricken with terminal illnesses. I also decided to get my BSN while I was at it and I'm coming back to Vegas to work as a case manager. Can anybody give me some advice on the Case managment scene? I know Sunrise has 11 open jobs...that makes me nervous. Kate

First, look at your assets. You've got plenty. Then take a look at the ages of your children. They grow up fast and you might not want to spend a lot of time on a second degree right now. Believe it or not, you've got plenty of time to get a nursing degree, and it might be easier if you wait. However, if nursing is something that you really want to do, I would advise you to find a program that is part classroom and part on line. Usually these colleges have all your nursing classes during one day a week, however some of the courses that you will need to take can be very time intensive. If you really want this bad enough, you will take the time to do it right, not just fast. good luck, Kate:balloons:

I am a graduate of the Excelsior program. I graduated in with my associates degree. Chancelors and Excelsior aren't the only programs out there. You must understand that other being vaguely told what you will be tested for, there is no 'education'. I would recommend to anyone who wants to be an RN to look into colleges who have the majority of their degree online. That way for the first year or so you're still in control of your school and time, but then, do yourself the best favor ever and go to the school and experience the clinicals. I was a paramedic before becoming a nurse, so I had a great deal of clinical experience in spite of going to Excelsior. But, I always had the thought in the back of my mind that I missed something. That maybe I should know something that hadn't been taught to me. It's now 8 years later and I've done the majority of my nursing in ER/trauma. I've gone back to school and I'm a senior and majoring in Health Care management. I'll go on for my masters in Hospital Administration. There are no short cuts. You deserve the best, so take advantage of the best. Good luck to you, Kate QUO TE=HuffmanLPN]Hello, I am new to the site and to posting however I have a LOT of questions on distance learning. I have been searching various distance learning options and have come to a roadblock on the best way to go. I have read several of the messages regarding this subject and am confused on the route to pursue. My question of concern is what is the difference between going through a publishing company like Chancellors or going directly through Excelsiors? What is the advantages and disadvantages? How is it possible to get only the study guides you need and could use from the publishing company without the financial commitment? Hope someone can help with these answers? I would love to chat in more detail with someone who has been through it and has good advice to pass on. DEPERATE FOR ANSWERS :/

You are certainly not alone. There are lots of nurses who have the same condition or conditions like it and have had great success with medication. Do a little research on medications like Paxil. Or better yet, go back to your physician and together come up with one that's right for you. Then get some counseling to help you work through some of the 'what if's' that drive people with social anxiety disorders in the panics. You're going to be a great nurse and don't let ANYONE tell you different. You just have to take care of this little problem. If you needed glasses wouldn't you get them? Kate

The nursing shortage is bad enough. I don't see how adding two extra years of college education and learning really important things like, music appreciation, is going to help this global problem. If a BSN in nursing meant 4 years of actual nursing education, then I would be all for it! I'd be for it if was 3 years of actual nursing education and a year of managment education. Or three years of actual nursing education and a year of residency! If the nursing shortage is going to be remedied then lots of things are going to have to change, and nursing education is a big part of it. Kate