Compost189

Excellent. Thank you for the advice! I've decided to take the ER position, continue to grow as a nurse and if something happens to come along that will aid me in becoming an even better nurse...well...I will take that opportunity as well!

Yes the residency is en the ED, and the way residency's work in my state is that you are a full-fledged RN w/ regular pay and everything. So it is a job already. You sign a 2 year contract and you have mandatory education. Granted, you don't complete the 2 years you have to pay them back a couple of grand. Right now I plan on taking the local ER job and if something else comes along thats better for me career wise I will take it. I'm just excited to start off my career in an ER and not in a specialty far off from what I'm wanting to do. Thank your for the advice! It's all about getting your foot in the door and on my way to my CEN, which I will obtain around my 2nd year as an RN. You can actually take the exam at any time, but it's recommended to take it after a minimum of 2 years experience.

Wow, I just posted a similar circumstance that I am having. I currently don't have either job, but am planning for the future. My personal thought's are to take the job that you want. Employers look out for the company, you look our for yourself. If they offer you the new gig you want, take it. I know professionally it doesn't look good to be in a position for less than 6 months to a year, however if they have no issue with it I see why not. How did your interview go? Was the new employer aware you worked at another facility? I'm trying to decide on what to do myself. Stick it out in a non-nursing job for 4 months and wait for the RN job I really want, or take an RN job to tide me over....All good problems I suppose.

Hey Everyone, What are your thoughts on accepting an RN job (as a new grad) to hold me over until the job that I want starts? The job I desire is a nurse residency program at a level 1 Trauma facility, but does not start for another 4 months. I have the opportunity to work at a local ER for the next 3 months, but if I end up getting the residency I would give up the job to pursue my real passion which is trauma. Just so background. I am a new grad, but I am 30 years old, served in the military for 10 years and worked as a tech during nursing school. Also, I have my BSN and just passed NCLEX-RN last week. I know what many of you may say already, "you shouldn't deceive an employer", "don't take a job you know you won't be at for very long", etc. However, the nurse residency program is no guarantee. I could be at this local ER for a while, but who knows. So....what are your thoughts people of the internet? I'm looking for constructive thoughts, not wagging fingers please. Thank you in advance!

Here is a link that you may find helpful: The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing - Prospective Students. It has the admission stats for the past 3 years, but not 2012 yet. My cumulative GPA was only a 3.37. I really thought I had 0 chance on getting in, but by some miracle I was accepted. They will factor your Science GPA, Cumulative GPA and your past 60 hours. My past 60 credit hours and science GPA were much higher, which I think helped me out. Also check out this link: The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing - Current Students - Orientation and click 'watch student orientation'. The first few minutes they talk about our admission stats. Be sure to meet with the adviser as well so she will remember you. I can't say it will help, but it doesn't hurt. Also, Lawton-Ducan has a much lower admitted GPA acceptance than OKC or Tulsa. Hope this info helps!

We'll pick up our patches, scrubs, etc. the first week of school. I was told that we will only wear our scrubs to clinical's and to just dress casually for class/lectures.

try this link. if it doesn't work please let me know: staff note, link removed

I've made a group on Facebook called, OU ABSN OKC 2012-2013.

Never mind! I guess D2L was updated and now I see all the info. I will create a Facebook group when I get home this evening, that way we can easily use each other as a resource. I'll post on here and email everyone via D2L when I've created the group. Also, I was told that we will pick up our uniforms, patches, etc. the first week of class and that we will only wear scrubs to clinicals and to dress casually for class.

That was another question I had. Where do we post it and were we given any instructions/guidelines for this?

Did anyone catch at orientation when our patches and polos would be in? Also, are we wearing our uniform/scrubs to class? I guess with us all going down to the basement I missed a few things.

I haven't found any groups on Facebook yet. I suppose we could start one. Also I talked to the woman who handles our clinical packets (immunizations, background checks, etc) and she told me we can just bring all our records to the orientation and don't need to mail them in.

I still haven't heard anything on the national background check. Did you hear anything TiffT?

Has anyone done there National Background check yet? I did mine on the 10th and OU says they still don't have it yet. I don't have anything on there I have to worry about, I'm just wanting to make sure it was taken care of properly.

I was the same way. Apparently they only accepted 43 applicants. I feel very, very lucky to have gotten in. Just as a heads up, if you want to purchase your scrubs buy from a place called "The Uniform Shoppe" in Oklahoma City. The nursing advisor pointed me there direction when I went to go try on scrubs and she didn't have the sizes I needed to try. This place is cheaper than the packaged deal and then they will give you an additional 15% off because you're an OU student. Just go in there and tell them you are with the OU nursing program and they will get you the correct color and brand of scrubs. If you do that all you need to purchase from OU are the patches and the polo. It's worth it I think. For 2 sets of scrubs I paid $70 and the price of the male cargo pants are more than that with the packaged deal.

I've actually made up my mind. I can't turn down OU, so I just put down my $250 deposit and will let OCCC know next week that I won't be attending the BADNAP program. It's funny because I have my first BS from OSU and hopefully next year I'll have my BSN from OU. I guess that gives me the right to jump on whatever band wagon is doing best during football season. I guess I'll start on the checklist now!

Well, I was accepted to OU OKC accelerated yesterday! I'm very happy, but now I have a decision to make. I was also accepted to OCCC BADNAP program which is 4 months shorter, $10,000 cheaper, but I would only get an ASN and not a BSN. Is anyone else in this same situation? I'm just unsure of which is the better fit for me. I honestly don't know a lot about the OU program since I thought it was such a long shot that I would get it. Are classes for OU OKC M-F 8-5? Where are clinical's held? I live in stillwater, so I will be commuting mostly, but am hoping to find a temporary living situation to where I can stay down in OKC some nights during the week. Being a guy, I don't think the possibility of finding people to split rent with is much of an option. If anyone has some general advice, or might be in the same boat I am feel free to share. Thanks.

I signed up for one, but it's here at Meridian Technology in Stillwater. It's March 13 & 15 at 6 pm. I'm not sure of anywhere you can do it in the city. There has to be an organization that specializes in health certifications.

I'm still waiting to hear back from OU as well, but have already sent in my acknowledgment to OCCC. Even though it is just an ADN and not a BSN, it's $10,000 cheaper, 4 months quicker and it lets me commute from Stillwater. I would love a BSN from OU, but everyone in my family who is an RN says that just having an ADN starting out will get you the same job as someone who has a BSN. It really starts to matter when you want to move up into the administrative world. From what I understand class will be 9-4 Wednesday and clinicals Thursday's and Friday's. I have no idea if this changes around or not. All I've ever heard from anyone who has done this program is that you can not work and expect to do well or even pass. Has anyone figured out the actual date for the orientation. I'm pretty sure it is the 18th, because the 8th isn't on a Friday. I called, but couldn't get ahold of anyone who knew the answer.

I got my acceptance letter yesterday! Ever since I heard they were mailed out I've been stalking my mailbox, haha. For anyone who wants to know, the letter is post marked February 23. I noticed the 2 dates on there as well. It seems like a typo to me, but I'll call them Monday to find out. I've already signed up for a CPR/BLS course here in Stillwater, but does anyone know of somewhere down in the OKC area you can take it? I'm wanting to get everything done on the checklist ASAP so I can turn in my clinical preferences. Congratulations to everyone who got accepted and also to you val_kye!

Nope, no letter today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have good news!

Awesome, thanks for letting me know!

Wow, congrats! Do you mind if I ask where in OK you live and what your GPA was? I didn't think we would be hearing back this quickly, but now I'm really hoping to get that acceptance letter in the mail tomorrow. I'm in Stillwater, so it may take longer for me.

I called OCCC today and they said they have 63 applicants and more than likely they will accept all 63 since not everyone will end up going or finishing! He also said certified letters are usually mailed out 6 weeks after the deadline. It's looking really great for everyone who applied for OCCC :-)

Also, based on what I've heard and read we should hear back around the second to third week of March. Last year they heard back the week after Spring Break.