kgroundw

I am currently an Oncology Nurse. I love my work, and although it is really fulfilling, my first love in Nursing, what got me into the profession, is women's health and L&D. I have an an interview coming up for an internal transfer. I'm doing all the normal interview prep (Ex. Give an example of a difficult situation and how you dealt with it), but could anyone give me some advice about questions that they may ask an experienced nurse like me with zero experience in L&D? A big part of why I wanted to pursue this dream is because I recently gave birth (in a completely unexpected way), and so I now feel like I have some significant personal experiences that give me a lot of perspective. I am finding it somewhat tricky to find crossover between my experiences in Oncology and Orthopedics with L&D. Aside from the common issues of dealing with difficult family situations, patients in pain, death and dying, having an abundance of patience and compassion, what are some other qualities that you think may be good to highlight? I am so excited about the chance at making this crossover, especially if I can do it at my existing hospital. I'm even willing to go back to night shift to do it, which is pretty remarkable haha. Wish me luck!!

In one of my nursing textbooks, Lewis et al say to put the patient into Sims position ( on left side with the right knee flexed). It says that this helps the air pocket move away from the diaphragm... I wish I'd read this before I did a GI surgical rotation where everyone was s/p lap. I also remember that this was the worst part about the lap surgeries for the patients. I suspect that walking might have made it worse in the short-run (after all, standing up straight would make the air pocket press right up against the diaphragm, right?), although perhaps it still helped in the long run?

I just recently got a job at Northridge Hospital as a new grad RN in their Versant Residency Program. I am very excited to have gotten the position, and I want to learn a little more about the program. I have read up on the general elements of the Versant program; however, I have a couple of questions for people who have gone through the program. 1. What was your experience with the program at Northridge? Was it supportive? Did you feel like it was worth all the hype about the Versant program? 2. What was your starting salary, and was there any level of negotiation? How often do they give raises and at what percent? 3. Does Northridge offer night and weekend differentials? 4. How do you feel now that you're out of the program? Is the hospital still very supportive? 5. What are your general observations about the hospital culture? I will be going into HR next week to get some of this information, but I'd like to go in a little prepared for what I'm going to see. Thanks a bunch!

Hey Kassach and Chappie1920, friend me on Facebook - name is Kate Groundwater. And I don't want to start the classwork until April either, so we're on the same page there.

Hi everyone, I decided to take the BYU Independent study class so I could still work during the Summer. I was wondering, is anyone in the Los Angeles area taking this class that would like to get a study group together to help each other stay on track? I can't send private messages yet but hopefully I can message them, otherwise I'll try to set up a Facebook group for us soon. See you!!

Hi everyone! I haven't had a chance to post this weekend because I was visiting my Grandma (who doesn't have a internet connection). I got my acceptance letter on Friday, and even today the website https://www.gradadmissions.ucla.edu/newapp/Login.asp?topage=AdmissionStatus.asp still hasn't updated my status. So, chances are you'll probably get the letter first, like most people are saying. Someone asked earlier about stats for people who got in, but I already put my stats up. You can find my post on page 6 if you're curious why I got in. I also spent a TON of time on my personal essay, and I think that really helped. I emphasized my volunteer as well as my medical assisting experience. I spoke about the one-on-one interaction I had with patients. I also used a personal anecdote about my dad's decline into Parkinson's as being my first experience with needing to care for a patient. I didn't dwell on this tragically, but rather added it to make my desire to do nursing more personal rather than practical. It also really helped that my mother works in a hospital, and asked a couple of her fellows what they liked to see in a personal statement.I don't remember all the specific advice, sorry, but hopefully what I wrote here helps out future applications anyways. For those of you that got into the program, I'm looking forward to seeing you !! I'll be taking the summer Epidemiology class starting at the end of June most likely. Good luck to everyone who hasn't heard back yet, and to those who are going to push on for next year!!

First off, I asked the office and they said online should be updated with the result https://www.gradadmissions.ucla.edu/newapp/Login.asp?topage=AdmissionStatus.asp) So if you're at school, work, whatever, you'll still be able to check it and it should be posted pretty soon. I felt really guilty calling them but I was going to be out of town this weekend and early next week so I couldn't help it! So on a different, but related topic, I had a question for anyone who is pretty informed on the somewhat recent decision to have a doctorate required for advanced practice nursing. As I understand it, the way it is now is that we need a Master's to be able to enter into a program to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist, N.P., Nurse Anesthetist - ie an advanced practice nurse. However, the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) has recommend that a doctorate be required for someone to become an advanced practice nurse by 2015. Now, if we all get into this cohort Fall 2012, that would put us at graduation in 2014. Were we to accelerate the heck out of our education in the N.P. program and graduate 2015, do you think that is still too late for this new recommendation? I want to ask the office about this but I don't want to sound presumptuous haha

Thanks Sai A, that's comforting. I think my SOP does show my compassion and commitment to patients, so hopefully they agree haha Well, moment of truth is coming up soon, so hopefully I'll be seein' ya!

Hey everyone, I just spoke with the office and they confirmed that the school is now admitting 90 students, although he asked me not to spread it around. Seeing that it's already be spread around in here, I just wanted to warn you guys about what he said. I guess they're worried that everyone and their mom are going to keep calling them to confirm. So I just thought I'd confirm it here so you don't feel the need to call them. That way they can get those letters stamped and sent out faster!! He said they would be sent out by Friday, so it looks like we'll be hearing back next week!! Also, he confirmed that they send the letter out before they update the status online, so more than likely we'll get the letters first. ........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Hi, this post was from a while ago, but I wondered. If I am getting a N.P. June 2015 will that be too late? Thanks so much :)

Hi Sai A, I was wondering, when did you make this comment? It says it was Feb 28th at 5:29pm; however, seeing as it's now 12:07 pm on the 28th, I feel like this might be an error haha. I am obviously trying to glean as much information as I can about when the letter might go out, and can't wait to get a decent night of sleep, regardless what the result is. I live in Westwood, so do you think I might get my letter as soon as this week? Not that you could REALLY know this, but I'm just curious if you have an opinion on it. Also, on my application I talk a lot about my involvement with Planned Parenthood and part of me worries that someone in the admissions committee will take offense to that (given that many people don't approve of their role in providing abortions). Do you think they would appreciate it mainly for the benefit of giving me clinical experience, or do you think some might see that experience as a mark against me if they don't believe in the Planned Parenthood mission statement? That's rather a specific ideological question, but if you had any insight I'd be happy to hear it! And also any insight from any current MECN student. Thanks!

Holy moley lisapett42, you just made my day, my week and my year! I had just emailed Mark about a week ago , and at that time he still said that it was only 60 people that would get into the program this year; upping the number must be a fairly recent decision. Thank goodness for that, YAY! And any further tidbits you get, please feel free to share P.S. Is it the coffee or the excitement that's making my hands tremble? Who knows, who cares!!!

Oh, and I called the office today and they told me that there were 460 people who applied and they are admitting 60 people. And seriously, that's a great acceptance rate compared to last year. Last year they had over 600 people apply!! Also, from what I've read in threads for previous years they have about 40 people on the waitlist, and anywhere from 10-20 of them end up getting in. As far as last year went, a girl who was 12th on the WL got notification the third week of March. However, considering that we have less people applying,and therefore less people dropping out of the program before it starts, the WL situation will probably be a little more harrowing for us. Also, the Fall 2009 applicants had apparently 21 people from the WL taken, so that's a huge amount when you consider that the cohort is only 60. Anyone else get any juicy tidbits of info? Anyways, I'm losing a bit of sleep over here, but not freaking out TOO much yet. Hope you're all doing well. I'm glad this thread got started so we could share out experiences/questions/etc :)

Hey, there's another thread for the Fall 2012 MECN program if that's what you're looking for. Although I've got to say, not many people have been writing in it at all. Perhaps that's a good sign for you and me

Someone asked earlier about the deadline for sending in transcripts, and I have personal experience with this that I wanted to share. They notified me that I needed to send in my transcript for Fall Quarter 2011 January 20th. I'm embarrassed to say that I was just procrastinating on sending it because I figured they weren't even looking at the applications yet; luckily, I think I was right. Still, that's about the end of procrastination if I get into this program (crosses fingers). Aside from this bit of procrastinating, here are my other stats: B.S. in Bio from UCLA - departmental honors - 3.7 GPA Interned at Planned Parenthood as Sexual Health Educator for a school year Worked at Planned Parenthood as medical assistant for a year - received an award Volunteer occasionally with Planned Parenthood still Strong personal statement and rec letters (from an N.P. friend/mentor (works at UCLA), an N.P. coworker (Planned Parenthood), and the director of the education program at Planned Parenthood). The main problems that I see in my application are that I don't have a 4.0 undergrad GPA like I am afraid many applicants probably did, and I have an even lower GPA for my prerequisites (3.6) than for my undergraduate education. Also, a lot is riding on this application. Due to financial reasons, UCLA was the only school I applied to. If I don't get in, then next year it will be too late for some of my prerequisites (which I took in 2007 at community college before I transferred), and I'd have to take three of those over again, and I just don't even know how I'd do that at this late stage since I'm working and busy all Spring and Summer too.... :( Anyways, good luck to everyone, I wish that we could all get in!!!