GoingCoastalRNCCRN

I graduated from Excelsior in 2008. I wouldn't sign up with any of those third party vendors unless you find someone that is willing to split the cost of those work books with you. . they are ridiculously expensive. I had 3 other girls that wanted to do the program with me and we split the cost between us . . much more reasonable. And we used Chancellors books. And when we were done, we sold them on eBay. I took 1 test a month until I was done (I graduated before they added the extra test and additional lab). The longest part was waiting for my CPNE test, which I took in Racine, WI. . . and they were wonderful there. I cannot recommend that test site enough. I also purchased the skills lab kit from Excelsior for the CPNE and practiced religiously. I attended Lynns workshop to prepare for the CPNE. I went to my CPNE and had no repeats. . .on skills lab or PCS. Was it worth it? Yes. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Was I prepared? Yes. However, this program is designed for healthcare professionals that already have a strong foundation from working clinically. I had worked as a Respiratory Therapist for 12 years in a 900+ bed trauma center so I had a very strong clinical background. I do not think I would've been overly prepared if I had been more "green" with little working experience. If you are working while taking these tests. . pay attention to what the nurses are doing. . learn what they are doing and why. Ask questions! If you do those things, you'll be prepared too. I also graduated from Excelsior and went right into a large ICU and I learned even more. The beautiful thing about healthcare is you can NEVER know it all. . don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. :) I earned my CCRN credential last year (proudly) and am still learning. :) As for the NCLEX. Let me first say, I'm a fast reader and I don't second guess myself. . I answer with my gut and I never go back. I got 75 questions (the least amount you can get) and was done in 40 minutes. I passed. Excelsior is very doable and reasonable. Its a great solution for working professionals with a strong clinical foundation. Good luck!!!

I hope you've found a study buddy. However, I wanted to tell you that Yahoo Groups is a great place for study groups. I graduated from Excelsior in 2008 and I utilized 2 study groups on yahoo groups when I was working towards my degree at Excelsior. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out. GL!!!

I've heard there is a 2 year wait list for their program. . .not sure how true that is. . .and since they are going to make NP's have Doctorates in 2015. . that's really pushing it. Just throwing that out there. . . again, not sure how true that is about the wait list. . that's just what I've heard. I do have friends in that program though. . all have nothing but good things to say about it. The wait list scares me since we now have the 2015 deadline.

Sounds like lateral violence to me. . .which is a HUGE no-no where I currently work. I think you should go to HR and ask to talk to whoever represents nursing and tell them what's happening. Tell them you feel like you were a victim of lateral violence. Ask them to move you to another unit. That's just wrong. I worked on a unit where I felt like that too, and I lasted a month before I told them to take the job and shove it. But not before I reported each and every one of them for their poor behavior. Not that it'll matter. . .thick as theives in units like that. . they'll never change.

It would seem like such a waste to have gone through all that education and NOT go into nursing. However, you have been out awhile so getting a job now. . honestly, will be hard. I think you should apply for some nurse tech jobs and start working the floors. Show them that you are good, hard working and knowledgeable. Then, when they do have an RN opening. . you will be a great candidate for them to hire. . . you know the floor, the patients, how things operate . . AND they know you. Its a good way to work your way in and warm back up to nursing. It might not pay the greatest but in the long run it would pay off. I was a Respiratory Therapist for 13 years before I finished my RN degree. Going from a 13 year RRT to a new grad RN required a substantial pay cut. . but in the long run it was worth it. You have a similar situation facing you. . . sometimes you have to sacrifice to get to your final goal. Good luck!!!

Just get a note from your doctor that you had a reaction (without going into details) and wear a mask. I wore a mask the entire flu season last year and it was no big deal. It wasn't required by my employer. . I wore it by choice because we had so many H1N1 patients and I didnt' want to take it home to my kids. Sure my coworkers teased me, but I didn't care . . . it ended up being really funny and I stayed safe.

I agree that the ER doesn't seem like a fair place to start you out. The MD makes a med error and its *your* fault? That's crazy, you're a newbie. . how are you supposed to catch that! Honestly, if you are worried about your career and your license, you need to ask to be transferred to another unit. There's no shame in that. When I first graduated I went to a unit that I did NOT have a comfort level with at all. .and I asked to be transferred. I transferred and it was the best move I ever made. You can always go back to the ER after you get a few years of experience under your belt. Good luck!!

I've met lots of people who commuted that far for work but that all either 1. had friends in the area that they would stay at their houses to sleep or 2. got a dirt cheap studio to sleep in. Nobody can work all night and then drive that long to get home afterwards. I've worked in several places as an RN. All places have downfalls. . nowhere is perfect, however; not all of them are soul sucking horrible (and there are those places). If where you are currently at makes you just miserable, then a change might be good. Keep in mind that you'll have to find a solution at some point in the future for the commute. . be it relocating, finding a cheap place to stay or staying with a friend. Talk it over with your husband. . apply and good luck! :)

I just moved to the coast . . .and I just passed the CCRN this year. :)

You need to file a grievance with the employer that fired you. Go to the HR there and tell them you need to file a grievance that you were unfairly fired. Every employer has routes you can go when you feel you were treated unfairly. And I would say, from what you are telling us, that you were treated unfairly. We are not babysitters for doctors. . they are grown ups and need to be accountable for their own patients as well. I understand that we have a responsibility to contact MD's for problems but they have responsibilities to follow up with their own patients as well. There should be a system in place for errors. . not a "one mistake and your gone" system. That's ridiculous. .we are human. Good luck! Go get 'em!

Here's a link to the practice that services MVH. I worked at MVH for 8 years. . there is a CRNA there that is incredible. . he would be GREAT to work with if you can find him. His name is Bob (can't remember his last night). He worked night shift. . he was a Respiratory Therapist, that turned RN, then CRNA. He was GREAT (not only was he great to work with, but he took care of me when I had my c-section)! Good luck!! http://www.asndayton.org/home

I'm really interested in getting into utilization review. I currently have an opportunity that has presented itself but I need to give them an example of my work and honestly. . I'm not sure where to start and I want to really impress them. If I had a good example, I think I would take right off. . but the internet is just pathetic when it comes to examples. I started researching to see if there was a certification exam for utilization review nurses but all I can find is case management certification. (I figured a great review book for an exam would be a good reference.) So. . . Anyone here do utilization reviews? How did you get started? What can you recommend as a reference? Any advice you can provide, I would be extremely grateful for. . .my husband is currently out of work and I'm already working FT nights but this job (which is telecommuting) would be an IDEAL way for me to make some extra $$ to make ends meet and still be able to be home and see my kids (otherwise I'm going to have to pick up an additional PT job to make ends meet. Please, any UR nurses. . any advice you can provide. . I would be grateful for!!! TY!!!