jme2018

Hi all. Anyone have any experience with an ADN program in Minnesota not being accredited. I was just informed that the lpn-rn bridge program that I'm supposed to start in 4 weeks lost their accreditation ( I believe early last year). They ARE listed in on the MN BON website as being approved, but not in the ACEN website. I understand that if they are approved by the MN BON, I can still take the NCLEX. My query is more related specifically to those in MN, and if anyone has had experience with difficulty getting a job, or getting into a BSN program, because their program was not accredited. I assume I wouldn't be able to transfer my license out of state if my program isn't accredited?? On the ACEN website, it says "candidate status: March 2018-March 2020" . Any ideas on what that means?? TIA!!

CPR instructor. You can obtain your certification through American Heart, Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute, as well as a few other organizations. I can only speak for how the AHA works, but you are required to be aligned with a training center (search the American Heart website for a training center near you). The training center I am aligned with is a private entity, but many healthcare facilities are set up as training centers also. Your own employer may be set up as a training center, check with your education department. You can then teach classes for your employer, the training center you are aligned with, and/or you can have your own instructing business. It's a lot of fun, you can make decent money, and the scheduling can be very flexible.

Try working in EMS for 15 years and nursing for 7; you'll get it then....

That's what I was thinking! "Just comply"??!! This is why nursing schools pull this crap; because they can. They hold the futures of their students over their heads and bank on the fact students will be too afraid to fight back out of fear of throwing away everything they've worked so hard for. Nursing schools have somehow gained too much power, and it's getting out of hand. Its like another post on here about the cost of books - $800-$3000 for books??!! That is absolutely ridiculous!! On the subject of books, during school and clinicals, they preach about back safety and body mechanics, yet they want student to tote around 30 pounds or more of books. My med/surg weighed almost 10 pounds alone! Sorry, but nursing schools are getting far gready, as well as too big for their britches.

Boy, talk about nursing "eating their young!" Why are you guys busting on the OP for writing about how she's feeling? Are all you "I never bring my work home with me, me and my husband have the perfect arrangement because I know I don't need to be with him 24 hours a day, I put on my happy face every single day for my patient's" really that perfect, or are you just unable to admit the truth like the OP did? After 11 years as a Paramedic, and 4 years as a nurse, I totally get where he or she is coming from. Not because I'm a terrible person, or because I have mental health problems, or whatever other reasons you people came up with for why they MUST be feeling that way; maybe it's just how they feel. Healthcare right now is in a terrible, terrible state, and it's only getting worse. It is emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting, and admin, in general, doesn't give a crap, becaue they aren't the ones in the trenches dealing with the bull****. After 15 years, I'm getting out too, and it's all because of the general attitude in health care right now, and some of you on here are a perfect example of that. I have more self-worth than to be spit on, swung at, swore at, or treated like a maid, etc, etc, the rest of my life, in the name of an "A+" survey score!! How about climb off your high horse, and have a little empathy for a fellow healthcare worker, instead of tearing them to shreds. Or how about this, if you don't like what they have to say, keep scrolling.....End rant!!

I did Chem, Biology and A&P 1 in the same semester (I called my BioAnatIstry semester), and I worked and I have a son. I was ALOT, and there were times when I thought I would go insane, but I ended up with 2 Bs and an A, so it is do-able (it's not easy, but it is do-able). FYI - nursing school is WAY harder; I'd go back to my BioAnatIstry semester any day!!!

On that note, I totally get where StuckintheMiddle is coming from, and EMT (less time in training than Paramedic) or Paramedic may have been a good choice. I come from a Paramedic background (10 years) and chose to go into Nursing to (hopefully) find a bit more stable of a schedule, and of course, better pay, and also for personal reasons related to ambulance work that are hard to explain. I never wanted to work in a hospital setting for the exact reasons Stuck mentions, and I suppose short visits are what I'm used to (treating patients in the back of an ambulance for a short amount of time and then turning them over to the ER). I'm still finishing my RN program (6 months to go - fingers crossed!!), and somehow found myself working as an LPN in a spinal cord injury unit (read also - long term, inpatient care), and I absolutely HATE it! I dread going to work! I don't like having the same whiney, entitled, patients for 8 hours at a time, I don't like having those same patients for 3 shifts in a row, I'm tired of being swore at and treated like crap by both patients and families, and I don't like arrogant Charge Nurses (I know not all RNs/Charge Nurses are arrogant) who take the easy assignments and give the LPNs all the really hard work and sit back on their #$%% and watch while we run around like maniacs. I can't be without a job, so I can't quit at this point. I do have resumes and applications out there all over the place, and am excited about a clinic job I recently interviewed for, as well as a recent interview for a job teaching First Responder/EMT classes. I also hope to do some ER work once I'm done with my RN (hopefully!) I know this makes me sound like a terribly cold-hearted person who should never have gone into nursing, but that's truly not the case. I actually do enjoy working with patients, and being around people, and I'm proud to be a nurse. I just feel as though I made the most ginormous mistake ever applying for this current job. I have discovered what I kindof always knew - that inpatient/LTC is most definately not my cup of tea. Good luck StuckintheMiddle!!

I'm quite frustrated with my RN program at this point. How is giving us an exam that only 5 out of 40+ people passed at all helpful? My clinical group has 6 days of clinicals scheduled for this semester, and in all reality, we are only going to spend 3 of those 6 days actually seeing patients; the rest of the time is spent writing and/or presenting paper after paper after paper about taking care of patients, instead of actually taking care of patients. I fail to see the logic in any of this. The concept of overwhelming us with information is counter-productive; we aren't actually taking in everything we should be taking in. I'm an excellent student, and not at all afraid of hard work, but this is bordering on the ridiculous. Ok....end of rant. Good luck to everyone else struggling to beat this monster.

Wow, ColleenRN2B, that was really rude. I guess noone realized you are the perfect nurse "2B". You should remember that attitude when you make your first mistake as a new RN and come on here looking for a little support.

@ crufflerjj - also VERY well put. As a Paramedic currently going thru RN school (only to get better pay), you have very well stated some of the "truths" of the job. I get very frusterated with those, especially those in the medical field, who think we are just "ambulance drivers" and have no concept of the responsibility involved in doing the job. I wholeheartedly agree that EVERY E.R. RN, and what the heck, E.R. doc as well, should spend some time in the back of the ambulance. I believe it would open their eyes significantly. When I'm done with nursing school, and hopefully working as an ER RN, I still plan to work as a Paramedic as well, and I'm excited for the opportunity to be an advocate for EMTs and Paramedics, instead of the one criticizing them.

To aliakey, VERY well put!!! Thank you!

VERY well put!!!! Thank you!

I know many may think who goes backwards? Why would you assume that others would be thinking "who goes backwards?" If that's what YOU think, you might want to reconsider. I've been a Paramedic for 8 years, and trust me, Paramedics have a whole lot of responsibilities in the healthcare world. The only reason I'm going back to school for my RN is because Paramedics don't get paid worth a crap. It's a great job, and I plan to continue to work as a Paramedic even after I'm an RN (ER, of course); however, the two careers will complement each other well. You don't have to be an RN to fly; look up flight medic (Paramedic with tons of extra critical care training). By the way, you'll have to become certified as an EMT first, then Paramedic.

Thanks sheryl18 and myprideandjoy! I primarily used Kaplan QBank, but I also downloaded Saunders NCLEX review on my iPhone to use when I was away from my computer. Out of the two, Kaplan seemed to be the most similiar to NCLEX. I'm soooo glad it's over; it's wonderful, and kinda weird, to NOT have to study tonite!!!!! Good luck on your upcoming boards!!

Sounds as though you passed. Congrats!!! :cheers: