nurseliane

Ladies! Come join us on the new Facebook Group for our cohort: Frontier CNM Classes #188+189

Do you hold a bachelor's degree in any field? FNU does not require a BSN to apply for the MSN program. Just a BA or BS in any discipline, in addition to an ADN. Completing your BSN at the lower tuition rate is wise, especially since just about any other graduate program requires a BSN so it does open a lot of doors.

I'll guess we'll see in a few weeks ? I have plenty of experience writing and delivering presentations so that section wasn't hard to complete. But, I haven't had any scholarly work/research published. The admissions officer I spoke with said that was ok and to include any type of publication. I included my monthly column in the school newsletter (I'm a school nurse), some health policies I co-authored for my school district, an online training project for the district, and a guidebook for school nurses to teach the State mandated middle school sexuality curriculum. So, not publications as I think of them in a research context but definitely things I wrote and other people read (at least they are supposed to read). This process is so intimidating. I keep thinking positive things like I'm really good at my job and I'm a strong leader, why wouldn't FNU accept me. But then I realize, we're all applying because we're really good nurses and strong leaders and ready to take our careers to the next level. I'm not special. Have you applied already? Preparing to do so?

I applied for the WHCNP program. I have an ADN and a BA, so I've completed the portfolio to go directly into the MSN without doing a bridge year. Fingers crossed!

Oh boy!

How's everyone doing with the wait? I was ok until yesterday, then my stomach started knotting (very accurate medical term....) each time I thought of it. I felt really confident sending off my application packet and now am having some serious self doubt.

I've been waiting for "right time" to make the jump and realized there is no right time, it will always be hard. Kinda like having baby....

The admissions officer that I've been corresponding with says 6-8 weeks after submission deadline (sometime between July 1st and July 19th). And that it will be delivered by email....my heart is going to explode next time I see an email come in from FNU! You've applied to the FNP program? I'm going for WHCNP. I am so looking forward to this next phase of my professional life.

Hi Future classmate! I'm also waiting in agony and the due date for apps hasn't even arrived. Sigh.

Hi. I was hired as a new grad in LDRP, completed a 6 month orientation and have been on my own for about 3 months. It's hard some days and on other days I walk out glowing because it was a great shift. You won't suck. Just take what you can from orientation and go forward with confidence and a great attitude. As I've been reminded in my times of doubt and fear--you're never alone. There's always someone there to give advise on weird strips or help in an emergency.

Looks like I'm reviving an old thread. I am a new nurse and could have written this original post. I can find a vein with no problem. I can get a flash with no problem. Then I blow it with no problem. Every single time! Or I almost blow it but stop because I just cannot advance the catheter. So frustrating. I work in L&D and feel more confident with neonatal resuscitations than I do with simple IV starts. Unfortunately, I only have an opportunity to try about once a week, sometimes way less than that. Thank you to those who already responded. I will keep at it and envision myself as a resource person for other nurses who are having trouble with sticks!

I can only offer you support, but no advice. I am coming of off orientation into my LDRP unit and frankly terrified and completely uncertain in so many ways. If it's any help, you are not alone. And, it has to get better. It just has to. No amount of paychecks could be worth walking in the door everyday if the level of anxiety and fear about work remain this high. Right?

Good luck to you! I'm in the same boat, just licensed this month and just got the job offer. I am thrilled, but a little scared :-) Will be haunting this thread for more wisdom. -Liane

hi whitescrubs: i, too, am a new member, so i guess we can have this conversation in a crowd :-) i'll take your questions in order. no, most clinicals were at st. v, but we also went to the state mental health hospital in las vegas, the va in abq, unmh, and several community experiences like healthcare for the homeless, following a diabetes specialist, following a wound care specialist, a day of rounds with a hospice agency. a few students, though not me, went to presbyterian. yes, i believe my clinical experience helped me find a job. i made that the focus of my resume, so it was unavoidable. however, it was not through connections made at clinicals that i landed a job. as far as difficulty finding a job, i have been extremely fortunate. my prior career was hr/recruiting, so i had no problem just busting into offices and asking for work. i just graduated in august, took nclex at first available date and was granted my license on 9/1/11. i blanketed sf in resumes and knocked on doors like a stalker. i had 1 interview for a job i didn't want and didn't even get a courtesy phone call afterwards telling me i wasn't selected. after that, i tracked down the manager and director of the unit i really really really wanted to work at and, per my new boss, sheer tenacity got me the job. on the other hand, i have not heard of any of my other graduating class getting a job yet. many have not taken the nclex yet, and a few are really really close to working. summary: it's a mix, timing and tenacity help a lot! the school schedule was not always consistent. classes are typically 2-2.5 days per week, clinicals 1 full day, and lab work is sporadic but almost every week. i treated it like a full time job and used my "regular business hours" outside of class/clinical to do school work. many people did work part time. i did not and i think that immense luxury afforded me the time/sanity to pull good grades and keep stress minimal. yes, i live in sf. i actually live within walking distance of sfcc, but i lived here before applying for school :-) fellow students?? coolest, smartest bunch of colleagues i've ever had. particularly in the accelerated program, there are only 12 of us (8 normally, but we had some exceptional circumstances for this class) and to be in the program you have to have a ba or bs already. so, the result is a batch of folks from very different backgrounds, but all starting a new career, professional, competitive, really dynamic folks. at graduation, one of the speakers read our list of accomplishments and it was breath-taking to hear what we've all done in our lives. hope that helps. feel free to fire more questions at me. i start my job in less than 2 weeks, so i am free free free until then!!! -liane

Hi There: I just graduated from the SFCC program. I had a great experience overall (there were some bumps in the road, but I doubt that is anything to do with the program and just a normal part of life, and the school resolved the problems succintly). I'm actually a little bit in a daze right now....2 years ago I was starting my pre-reqs and now I am an employed RN. I completed the accelerated program, hence the fast turn-around. I know nothing about CNM's program, so I can't give you any comparison. Feel free to message me with any specific questions. Whichever you choose, your real education is on the job and you'll be learning for a lifetime.