rwethereyet

If you're sure you want to go into pediatric oncology, consider joining (even as a student) APHON (The Association of Pedatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses)-- if you're a member of NSNA, you can join APHON for only $25/year. You'll get a great discount on books. Two books that they sell that look really good are: The Pediatric Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Curriculum 3rd edition, and Essentials of Pediatric Oncology Nursing: A Core Curriculum. It will also give you a huge advantage when you go to look at jobs if you know what you're getting into-- as a student member, you can attend chapter meetings-- you'll learn a lot just by talking to people. If I was hiring, I'd be very impressed that a student took the initiative to join a professional organization-- it would make me think that you really wanted to be in the field and you were motivated to learn. Hope this helps.

Does anyone have any information how a degree from WGU is viewed? And if you want to get an MSN from WGU and then go on to an additional program, have people had success with that?

I've heard that if you want to teach at some point, then getting an MSN in Administration/Leadership would be a better move than getting an MBA. Anyone hear this too?

txspadequeenRN-- What did you end up deciding? I'm also trying to get more information on schools like this, so anything you can share would be very much appreciated.

klone-- How have your experiences been? Have you had to turn back on the perfectionistic side for any classes? Or are you still finding that the competency-based program requires you to look at classwork in a different way?

In the hospital system where I work, the HR people are specialized. There are a few HR folks who only work with RNs, and there are others who deal with non-RN positions. Just something to be aware of as a possibility. Also, I agree with the poster who said that if you make a good impression to the clinical manager that it can make a huge difference. Short story, if people like you and want to work with you, the manager will be able to find a way to get you hired. Hope you have good experiences!

One of my biggest complaints about the Press Ganey scores is that I think that they are misleading. I was told that the surveys are sent only to NEW patients, not repeat customers. I work on a floor where people have chronic conditions, so we tend to see a lot of familiar faces-- but it's only the first visit that counts. So, if a person comes back 10 times, nothing we do in those last nine visits is surveyed. What irks me even more is when management makes a big deal about the numbers, but our "n" (the number of survey respondents) is 2 or 3.... I don't think those results are very statistically significant, especially since we treat many, many more patients (most of our patients are repeaters and specifically request to come back to our unit.) I feel like I'm out there busting my butt to give amazing care, and the survery just doesn't pick up the care that I give to our long-time repeating patients. It makes me pay less attention to the survey results and more attention to the handwritten cards that we get from patients and families after they leave-- those mean the most to me.

My understanding (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is that you can sign up to take the test in any of the states or in selected international places (like Hong Kong). When you take the test (regardless of WHERE you physically take it), you need to choose ONE state Board of Nursing (BON) to recieve your NCLEX results. You can choose any BON in the US or US territories (like Guam). That BON will receive your NCLEX scores and also review the package from your nursing school (whatever material is needed to support your application for a license.) Then, the BON of that state will determine whether to grant you the RN. One way that you could use this information is to test in a state where the waiting time to take the NCLEX is less... For example, if you are looking for a NCLEX time soon, and no times are available in your state soon, you might want to look to neighboring states to see if any earlier testing times are available. So, for example, if you live in Florida and there are no times available in the next month or two to take the NCLEX-- but you really want to get it done-- you might want to check out available test dates in neighboring states-- maybe Georgia, for example, has openings right away to take the NCLEX. If you took the test in Georgia, you would just need to specify that you want your results reported to the Florida BON. That way, you could get the test done sooner without waiting for a spot in FL to open up.

I am currently a student at U Penn, and I love it. If you are a non-traditional student, you may be eligible for lots of financial aid-- people who are old (I don't remember the exact age-- I'm thinking 26 but it might be higher) are considered independent from their parents-- that will make them eligible for a lot more financial aid (unless you are independently wealthy.) The teachers here are great, and most of the students are really (no kidding) wonderful. It makes going to school great. I do wish that Penn had a co-op program, though. I work with someone who attends Drexel, and it seems like she loves her program too. If I'd known about Drexel's program, I might have applied... but I didn't know about it. I probably would have gone to Penn any way though... Can you visit at both schools and talk to students? (For example, Penn has summer nursing classes-- you could sit on one or two and talk to students about how they like the program.) I think wherever you go will be great. Wait to see what the financial aid packages look like. If you're close to the age when you can be considered independent, ask the financial aid offices how that will affect your aid in future years. Best of luck to you!