jocy_anne

jocy_anne has 2 years experience and specializes in Neonatal ICU.

jocy_anne's Latest Activity

1. 

   NNP Outlook

   jocy_anne replied to guest769224's topic in NP

   I've been inactive on here for a while and I know this thread is old, but as a NICU nurse currently in the middle of a NNP program, it was great to stumble upon this thread! Sometimes it's discouraging when I mention to other nurses that I'm in NNP school and they grimace and tell me I should be picking FNP or PNP instead. My passion lies in taking care of neonates. It's the reason I changed careers in my late 20's and the reason I want to be a NNP. I'm supposed to graduate in August 2018 and cannot wait to progress in this amazing field! Thanks for creating this thread!
2. 

   New Grad NICU Residency Program

   jocy_anne replied to cguz's topic in NICU

   I'm not sure what part of New Jersey you are moving to, but I live in South Jersey (20 minutes outside of Philadelphia) and work in the N/IICU (Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I was hired into the residency program back in February 2015, and I know they still hire new nurses into ICUs through the residency program. Our unit is not your typical NICU, since we take care of babies up to 1 year old. It's almost like a baby PICU. But I do like it there and feel as though I've had some pretty good experiences there.
3. 

   Fall 2012 - Pharmacology

   jocy_anne replied to SopranoKris's topic in Pre-Nursing

   I'm about to start my first semester of Nursing school on Tuesday, and even though I'm not technically a pre-nursing student anymore, I will be taking Pharmacology. I actually have to take a Pharm class all 4 semesters. My Pharm class this semester won't start until the beginning of October because September will be spent taking Medication Calculations and doing clinical skills labs to learn all the basic clinical skills before starting our first real hospital clinical in October. My book is also huge and super intimidating. I'm hoping it'll go well, but can't really think about it too much yet. I'll try to check in here throughout the month to see how everyone is doing. Good luck!!!
4. 

   Camden county college

   jocy_anne replied to Lala potential LPN's topic in New Jersey

   I'd say the Blackwood campus is probably at least 25-30 minutes away from the Camden campus, but I've never traveled between the two, so maybe it's not quite that long. I'm not sure if you've ever driven down Route 42, but the Blackwood campus is right off Exit 7B. Would it be cheaper for you to attend a community college in Philadelphia? Or is the Camden campus actually a lot closer to where you live since it's right off the bridge?
5. 

   Lunches

   jocy_anne replied to CRNBSN18's topic in General Students

   I love Thirty-One bags!!! :-)
6. 

   Direct entry Msn for non-nursing BA?

   jocy_anne replied to notyetnurse's topic in General Students

   I believe the program I am starting in September is considered a DE program, although from reading the posts here, it might not be a "standard" DE program. My school offers 2 DE programs for non-nursing majors. One program allows you to complete your BSN in 1 year while also completing 3 grad courses (9 credits) along the way. Once you obtain your BSN you continue straight into the MSN portion either full-time (complete in 15 months) or part-time. The other program is set up the exact same way, only the BSN takes 2 years to complete. This is the program I'm starting in September. I chose to apply to the 2-year program because I don't feel I'd be adequately prepared to be a practicing RN after only 1 year of study, but that is just my personal opinion. I have done nothing in the medical field thus far, and don't want to rush myself into the career. Like I said, maybe these programs are set up differently than most DE programs across the country, but I'm really not sure. I feel confident that I will be able to learn all I need to know before graduating in 2014. Then again, my program is longer than most out there, so that probably has something to do with it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
7. 

   senior in high school starting pre-reqs...

   jocy_anne replied to dannyb358's topic in Pre-Nursing

   I just spent a ton of money getting my books for the first semester of Nursing school. But I have to agree with Saysfaa about watching the trends on Amazon and other places. My school bookstore was selling my Med Calc book for $103. I found the same book brand new on Amazon for $72 and ordered it last week. A couple days after I ordered it, I looked up the book on there again, and it had gone up to $96. I'm so lucky I bought it when I did! I was still annoyed when the book came yesterday and I realized I spent $72 on a super thin paperback book with a CD, but still...definitely shop around! I'm weird and prefer to get my books new if I can because I like to highlight and make my own notes in them, but not everyone is as weird as I am. Good luck to you! It's great to see someone your age seriously considering your future already!
8. 

   No More Prereqs!!!

   jocy_anne replied to jocy_anne's topic in Pre-Nursing

   Wow...the intent of my post was to celebrate one small milestone in my journey with those who could relate or those who will be in the same situation soon. Chill. But since you brought it up, I can't help but respond: I am fully aware of the current job market. I made the decision to give up a steady paycheck to do this for the next couple years, and know that I am not guaranteed a job at the end of the program. However, I have chosen to trust that God will get me through the next couple years (when I hardly have any money to pay my bills), and I am choosing to trust that He will also provide me with a great job when I graduate if that is His will. This is one of the biggest risks I've ever taken with my life. Risks aren't always fun, but sometimes they're necessary. It would be a lot easier for me to stay in my current job as an Executive Assistant...I have great health benefits, a steady salary with a quarterly bonus, and have become a valuable part of this company over the last six years. But I'm also miserable, hate what I do, and long to do something with my life that will really make a difference. I am only 28 years old, am single, and have no children. It's a scary, unpredictable move for me to make, but I decided to take a huge risk and pursue something I've always wanted to do instead of playing it safe and being miserable for the rest of my life. Like I said, this is scary and unpredictable. There are a million things that could go wrong. I have a 4.0 GPA in my prereqs, but I could still fail all of my nursing classes. I could start taking the classes and realize I don't really like nursing. I could get hit by a car/bus/airplane that falls out of the sky tonight and never make it to nursing school...now I'm being a little dramatic, but do you see where I'm going with this? We have no guarantee of ANYTHING in this world. We like to think we have control over our lives, but we don't. So why am I going to worry over things I can't control? All we can do is live our lives the best we can and hope that we figure out what our purpose is in this world. End rant.
9. 

   PATHOPHYSIOLOGY?!!!

   jocy_anne replied to KAC123's topic in Pre-Nursing

   I start an ABSN-MSN program in the Fall and have to take 4 semesters of Pathophysiology (and 4 semesters of Pharmacology, as a matter of fact). I'm hoping that means it will give me a lot of time to digest the information, but I may be wrong about that, lol. Good luck when you take the class in the Fall!
10. 

    No More Prereqs!!!

    jocy_anne posted a topic in Pre-Nursing

    I just wanted to share my enthusiasm with the AN crowd...I am finally finished with my last prereq!!! I will officially start Nursing school in September and am both nervous and excited. I started my prereq journey in May 2011 when I decided to take a 5-week A&P I course. I've only been working at the prereqs for about 14 months, but it feels a lot longer than that! I just want to encourage anyone who is just starting out, or anyone who has been chipping away at the prereqs for a while now...just keep at it! I worked full-time while I took all these courses, so I know how burned out you can get and how sometimes it feels like it's never going to end. Keep focused on the ultimate goal of Nursing school and don't lose sight of that until you've made it!!!
11. 

    Cheating in Pre-Reqs

    jocy_anne replied to xxyyzz's topic in Pre-Nursing

    Back when I was in high school, I would have never said anything about those that cheated because I think I was more concerned with making sure my peers liked me. Now that I'm 28 and have been out in the "real world" for a while, I think I would definitely say something! I wouldn't make a huge scene out of it (i.e. standing up in the middle of the next test and dramatically announcing to everyone that she's cheating ), but I think it's necessary to discretely point this out to the professor. If the professor chooses not to do anything about it, then that's his/her decision...at least you know that you did your part to stop it from happening. I do agree with people that even if she passes this class and gets into Nursing school, she won't make it very far. But I honestly don't think people should be given the chance to start Nursing school until they've grown up and can put the necessary amount of work into it...especially when there are plenty of excellent students working their tails off just to have that opportunity! Keep us posted!
12. 

    2nd Degree: Admission Stats

    jocy_anne replied to KDSkyy44's topic in Pre-Nursing

    I was accepted into the Accelerated Pathway to the MSN program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. I start in September and can't wait! The prereq requirements for my program are as follows: - Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits) - Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits) - General Chemistry I (4 credits) - General Chemistry II (4 credits) OR - Microbiology (4 credits) - Nutrition (3 credits) - Statistics (3 credits) - General Electives (39 credits) My undergraduate GPA from my first degree was only about a 3.3. Once I factor in all of the classes I took for the program, my cumulative GPA is now a 3.5. My science GPA is a 4.0. My prerequisite GPA (for just the classes I listed above) is a 3.6. As for work experience, I don't have any prior experience in the healthcare field. I've been working in various administrative and customer service roles over the last 6 years, but all for the same company. I haven't had the chance to volunteer at any hospitals, but I have been a volunteer youth leader for my church's high school youth group for about 10 years. Hopefully that helps you a little, but let me know if you have any questions!
13. 

    Do you think this fall class schedule is doable?

    jocy_anne replied to Nursing2102's topic in Pre-Nursing

    I think you can do it! I've worked full-time while taking all of my prereqs and managed to take A&P II and Chem in the same semester (and actually got an A in both classes). It's not easy, but it's possible!
14. 

    Is it possible to get into a nursing program with no prior experience in healthcare?

    jocy_anne replied to booboopanda's topic in Pre-Nursing

    I, too, have a non-nursing degree and was accepted into a nursing program that starts in September. It is possible!!!
15. 

    Considering nursing but hearing Philly market is lacking jobs.True or False? Help!

    jocy_anne replied to Ally082's topic in Pre-Nursing

    I'm starting an accelerated BSN-MSN program at Jefferson in Philly this September and I do have the same concerns about not being able to find a job in the area when I graduate. When I went to an open house at Jefferson back in March, a few professors and admissions counselors told us that getting a minimum of a BSN is the only way you can really secure a job in the Tri-State area. However, every school loves to promote their own programs, so I really don't put much stock into that statement. I have heard that Jefferson Hospital is very good to Jefferson graduates, so I'm really hoping I'll be able to get a job come May/June 2014. I guess we all just have to take risks in life sometimes when we are passionate about doing something. Hopefully it will pay off for all of us in the end!
16. 

    Essex County College-nursing program spring (evening)

    jocy_anne replied to Yani_5412's topic in Pre-Nursing

    Have you checked under the NJ Nursing Programs forum? Go to the "U.S." tab at the top of the page, find NJ and then click on the NJ Nursing Programs link. There may already be some info about Essex there. And knowing the admins of this site, they will end up moving your forum there, anyway.