Boxer Mama

Just from my personal experience. In May, I went back to PT nights, even though I had difficulty working nights before, but I thought things would be better. I found I cannot tolerate working nights and being 5 years older didn’t help. The headaches, nausea, inability to sleep more than 4 hours during the day got to be too much, and tomorrow is my last day at this job. There is just not enough money (for me) to make nights worth it. Goody luck in your decision!

I can honestly say if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t become a nurse. I graduated in my late 30s (been a nurse for 6 years now), and nobody could have talked me out of it. I recently went back to the hospital in my “dream” unit, part time, and I’m trying to figure out how to quit with literally just getting off orientation without feeling like a jerk for using up their time and resources. I spend more time charting than I do actually doing patient care, which is disheartening. Just hard with more demanding patients now, the emphasis on achieving the perfect patient satisfaction ratings, but with less staff. Good luck with your decision!

HCA has an ER residency program you could apply to (since I saw in previous post you are in Denver). It is a highly competitive program, but it opens up the door for a nurse without experience.

I went to DSN (I guess now DCN), graduated with my BSN. I did not have a problem finding jobs because of the school. I was accepted into a highly competitive residency program. Like you, I went there due to being able to a quicker start date. Please feel free to PM me if you have any further questions!

This is from their website, where there is more information listed. You just have to have passed your NCLEX by the start of the program, not to apply. We invite new graduate registered nurses to apply for a unique opportunity to be given didactic and clinical training in either ICU, Progressive Care Units, Telemetry, or Medical/Surgical. This program will allow new graduates to obtain specific experience through an intensive residency program and then transition to staff roles within the nursing departments of HCA/HealthONE Hospitals. They also run new grad (or new nurse to these areas) programs for the ER, periop, and L&D.

HCA is currently accepting applications for their StaRN program if that is something that might interest you.

You could look into Highlands Behavioral Health.

I graduated with my BSN when I was 38, and it took my about 4 months to find a hospital job. I was then accepted into a very competitive residency program in my dream unit at 39. Anything is possible!

We use PowerPorts and only use heparin when deaccessing. We flush with 10 ml saline every 8 hours, 20 ml saline after blood draws.

I am a former student of DSN and a recent new grad. Any school is going to have good and bad points, and I really think it is what you put into it. It is true the NCLEX pass rate for 2015 is not good as reported on the DORA website. Since I can only speak for myself, here it goes. I did have an OB rotation at Denver Health and other clinicals at other hospitals. The majority of my cohort passed their board exams on the first try and now have hospital positions throughout Denver and in other states - UCH, Children's, Swedish, Denver Health, Medical Center of Aurora, Porter, Rose, Lutheran, SJH just to name a few. In addition, I was selected, along with other DSN new grads, for a competitive SCL new grad residency program. There are no perfect programs. I would recommend getting information about all the programs you are interested in and seeing which one works for you. Good luck!

Some hospitals have new graduate residency programs, and the competition is fierce for these positions. There may be only one new grad position per unit, and you literally have to be the best to get these jobs. I think that is why it is important that you want to embrace nursing in all its forms because it can become very frustrating when your resume is rejected by the screening computer program. The drive to keep applying comes from having a passion for nursing.

I sent you a PM.

I was really worried about the math, and it turns out that I now love the math problems because of how we were taught. I do set up every problem I have with dimensional analysis. I have to see and write everything. Step 1: Figure out and write ORDER: What is your order HAVE: What do you have on hand KNOW: Any conversions you will be using. Step 2: Solve for what the question is asking (ml/hour, ml, teaspoons). Step 3: Set up the problem using the numbers in step 1 to cross cancel out until you only have what you are solving for left and solve the problem. Example: The dose to be given is 2000 mg. The stock solution contains 1 g per 15 ml. How many ml would you give? ORDER: 2000 mg HAVE: 1 g/15ml KNOW: 1000 mg/1 g Solve: xmL: 15 ml/1 g x 1 g/1000 mg x 2000 mg/1 = 30,000/1000 = 30 mL I hope this did not confuse you more, but you can do an internet search on dimensional analysis that would go through the steps more thoroughly. Good luck!

I would recommend a cheap watch that can get wet and you can wipe off. I have 2 of these (I keep one in my car as a backup): Prestige Medical Women's Cyber Gel Watch | allheart.com

I am 37 years old, have 3 kids, and I am an the middle of my senior year in nursing school. I agree with the previous post about learning your learning style. My time is limited, so I have to make every minute count. I have a planner that I write everything down in. I think being "older" helps me in nursing school, as I am very determined and not doing well is just not an option. You have to learn to let things go. My house is not as clean as I would like and sometimes my dinners are whatever we can throw together last minute. I do have a very high GPA, so I know it can be done! You just have to set your mind to it and take it one day at a time! Good luck!