Shorty11

I had a confused patient one time who pulled out her FMS (fecal management system) and was sucking on it when I returned to the room to do my hourly rounds. When I tried to take it out of her hands and mouth as gently as possible, she fought me and it flung feces on my hair, my scrub top, and and on the wall. I washed my hair in the sink and wore paper scrubs the rest of the night. Not only that but she had feces all over her mouth and face. Ugh.

I work in a medical intensive care unit. We are 1:2

I started as a new graduate in a Medical ICU. I did a new graduate internship program with a 6-month training period. While I was very intimidated in the beginning, my coworkers went above and beyond to make sure I was catching on and learning things daily, even once I was complete with training. While it is not for everyone who is a new graduate, working in an ICU is possible. The learning curve is steep and you must be willing to put the extra time and effort in to keep up with the fast pace. I have been working in my unit for 3 years now and I love it everyday. I am so happy I made the decision to just go for it right out of school. The hard work has payed off for me. It definitely depends on the environment and mentality of you and your coworkers, but I feel that working in MedSurg as a new grad is not a "must". Not to brag at all, just to give you some insight, but I became a charge nurse after two years and I precept new graduates now. I truly love my job and my unit.

Are you wiling to move? (I.e. Texas?)

Are you willing to relocate to Texas? If so, PM me. I know of some job opportunities for new graduates.

Was the NCLEX as hard as I imagined it to be? No. Was it difficult? Yes. I took the Hurst Live review and then studied everyday for 8 hours a day for 2 weeks before I took the test. I passed in 75 questions. I still did not feel 100% confident that I passed as I walked out of the testing room but I had a feeling that I answered enough correctly to pass. Don't take it lightly. Yes, it is difficult, but it's not so hard that you cannot pass in the first attempt if you study enough! (I took NCLEX-RN in June 2014).

6-8 patients seems like too many for one nurse to manage. At my hospital, even our least acute floors only have a 4:1 ratio. I graduated from nursing school (BSN-RN) in May 2014 and became an RN in June 2014. I started my job working in a Medical ICU/CCU in June 2014. It is possible to start in an ICU right out of school (I am proof). We have a 2:1 patient to nurse ratio. I love my job. I received 5 months of preceptorship before being on my own. Seems like the problem here is the environment (heavy patient to nurse ratio, management, environment, etc). I would personally look elsewhere to work... A safer, more nurse friendly environment!

Thanks for the warnings. I do not have a physical acceptance letter, but if I log onto the hospital's hiring system, it states that I have been "awarded the position". I have an exact date and time set up to meet with HR to sign my contract (scheduled for next week). They also have also emailed me my upcoming orientation schedule. So hopefully all these things mean the job truly is mine! Fingers crossed for now!

I just wanted to share my story to give others some hope. It is possible to get a job straight out of nursing school..with no previous experience! I live in Texas. I applied for a position at a hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in March. The position I applied for was a year-long CCU internship program with permanent employment upon completion. I was called for an interview 2 weeks after I applied. I was offered the position approximately 10 days after I interviewed (in April). I gladly accepted it! I graduated last week from my BSN program. I start my new position in mid July. I will work as a GN until I pass my NCLEX, if I haven't taken it by then (waiting on my Authorization to Test). Of course, I must pass the NCLEX on the first attempt or I will lose the internship. Also, I have to sign a two-year contract to remain at the hospital after completion of the internship. But I will gladly sign the contract! I got my dream job. : ) Some tips: practice, practice, practice questions and answers to behavioral-type interview questions. I really believe my interview skills got me this position. I searched this site for samples of interview questions and practiced what I would say. Over and over. Dress professionally. The person who interviewed before me wore... Get this...Flip-flops. Seriously? Don't do that! I wore dark gray short heels, black dress slacks, a button-up blouse, and a light cardigan. They commented on how put together I was. Make your resume stand out. If you did something that no one else did, put it! If you worked during school, held a leadership position in a school nursing organization, had an excellent nursing GPA, or volunteered... Put those things. I did and I believe it made my resume stand out. Make sure your resume is short (less than one page) but to the point. They don't have time to read a novel about you. They need to be able to see in less than 60 seconds why you are a great candidate. Get recommendation letters from several of your professors. I got three professors to write me amazing letters. Even if they don't require it, it couldn't hurt if the letters are good! Network. If you know someone who works where you want to, reach out to them (friend, preceptor, etc). Let them know you are very interested and see what they can do. Best of luck everyone!! Happy job hunting!! : )

I disagree with the statement that failing an exam (or one of your first or any exams in any given class, etc)is a "rite of passage". I am in my 5th and final semester of a traditional BSN program. I have never failed an exam in any nursing class. I have made an A in 10 out of 11 courses so far. (Got a high B in the one). Nursing exams are (most likely) unlike any type of exam you've ever taken before. They are application based, which requires critical thinking. Don't get discouraged though...many people fail multiple exams, even an entire course, and still go on to be great nurses. My point is that high grades in nursing courses are possible (without cheating! (as some one else mentioned) and without being exceptionally smart!) It's all about application of the material, applying what you have studied to the particular situation presented in the question. Study NCLEX-style questions. Think about what the question is truly asking. In my experience, usually my first instinct is right. In other words, I try not to chance a bunch of answers. Prioritize, ABCs, Maslows, know what getting better and what getting worse look like, nursing interventions, patient teaching, lab values.. Just to name a few.. all come into play. Best of luck!

If I were you and knew I didn't need to take the physics portion, I would go ahead and take the HESI A2 after taking A&P 1 & 2. Considering you have completed through calculus and some upper level chem courses, I think you will be more than prepared for the sections you are required for after completing A&P 1 & 2.

Like the previous poster, I would recommend contacting the department of education. Check out studentaid.ed.gov/ The website can provide general FAQ's. For more specific questions, I believe contact info is provided. I think you could also benefit from contacting the financial aid departments at the individual schools you are applying to for more detailed information pertaining to each individual school. While everyone's individual circumstances are different, I wanted to let you know that I was eligible for additional financial aid after already having received a BS in BIology. I decided to return to school to pursue nursing after graduation. I was informed through emails with the department of education that if I pursued a ADN that I would NOT be eligible for more financial aid because I already had a Bachelors, but that I would be eligible for more financial aid if I decided to pursue a BSN, another bachelors degree. I decided to pursue the BSN. I was informed that the maximum amount I was eligible for for all combined undergraduate degrees was approximately $57,000. Because I had not reached this amount for my first Bachelors (it cost $26,000), the remaining amount was available for me to use for my BSN. For a second degree you will not be eligible for federal grants, but you will be eligible for scholarships so get applying! Check the school's website for scholarship recommendations. I would not use my example (or others) as a sure thing of what your experience will be.. Just trying to provide an example. Best of luck!

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” –Thomas A. Edison

Nursing school is actually enjoyable. Of course not all times are exactly "fun", but I do find myself enjoying clinicals and a lot of time even lectures! I was always a straight A student too. People told me to forget about making A's... But this doesn't have to be true! I have managed to make 11 A's of the 12 nursing courses I have completed (with an 89 in the other ugh). So you can still be a straight A student! It is possible! (I am in a BSN program). The thing about nursing school is that the subject matter itself is not entirely all that difficult. The subject matter is definitely manageable. It is the amount of material you are expected to learn in a given time that it challenging. Nursing school is very time consuming, but the subject matter is not exactly difficult. The upside to this is that with effective time management it is doable. Also, you will make some of the best friends you have ever had in nursing school. You are all going through the same thing at the same time with the same goal. My nursing friends keep me motivated and are always there to help one another out. Dosage calculation just takes practice. It's foreign at first, but with time and practice it will become easier. I recommend the book "calculate with confidence" and googling websites for practice problems.. There are tons of resources out there to help! I love nursing school, and I am fortunate for the friends I have made along the way. Be excited! Be positive and realize that you can do this! Best of luck!

Based on your particular situation and location, it is hard to suggest a school for you without knowing your area and nursing schools in that particular area. Most, if dare I say almost all, BSN programs (for those who are not already nurses- RNs,LVN/LPNs), at minimum will require you to be present for all clinicals and maybe even on campus proctored exams... even if they do offer an online-based curriculum. It may be possible, but I would expect it would be next to impossible to find a "completely"online traditional BSN program. You say that nurses you know on the island have attended online programs? Did they attend these online programs pre-licensure to become a nurse or did they attend online programs after already being a licensed nurse in order to obtain an additional degree/certification (as in an RN-BSN program)? Maybe you should ask the locals in your area. Maybe the nurses on your island could guide you towards a program that would work for you better than we could (w online courses and going onto the mainland for your clinicals). Not trying to be harsh, just realistic. While doing your basics, pre-reqs, and even some co-reqs to nursing is possible online...Once you reach time for nursing courses themselves, i would think it may be very difficult to find a program that meets the criteria you seek. Best of luck.

Maybe not the best thing to do if you still have months to wait before you are supposed to hear anything, but when I was waiting for my letter I decided to call the school. I applied for nursing school in the fall of 2011. Our application window was from sept 1st to sept 30, with midnight sept 30 being the deadline. They informed us that we would receive a letter in the mail (snail mail) sometime in December. As the days passed by, waiting became harder. After the first week in December passed with no letter, I decided to contact the university. I called and asked to speak to the advisor for the nursing department. I asked if her if letters had been mailed, and she said they were working on it. I said is there anyway you can tell me over the phone if I was accepted. She said yes, one moment. She got back on the phone and then told me that I was not accepted. I was shocked. I asked her kindly to explain why I was not accepted. She responded that my GPA did not meet the minimum requirement (the university I applied to first requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, a science GPA of 3.0, and a HESI A2 overall composite score of 80% before even considering you. Acceptance is then based on a point system). Anyways, she told me my GPA was not high enough.. It wasn't a 3.0 so I had not been accepted. I told her with all due respect that was not possible (I had calculated it over and over before applying). I asked her if we could go over my transcript grades. Right off the bat, there was a major mistake. My grades for English Rhetoric & Comp 1 & 2 were listed as C's when in fact I have taken and passed both AP tests for credit while in high school. The Transfer credit (TC) had somehow been recorded as a C for both when in fact the transfer credit for AP tests counts for an A. After correcting this mistake and then calculating my points, the advisor determined that I did in fact make it into the program. Based on the point system, I actually was one of the top applicants even. She apologized and said I was lucky to call before they had given my spot to someone else! I am sure mistakes like this don't happen often, but in this case my impatience worked out in my favor! Who knows what would have happened if they would have given my spot to someone else. I received my acceptance letter about 2 weeks after I called. I am now about to start my last semester of a BSN program. When it becomes close to time to receiving your letter, maybe try calling the school and see if they have reached their decision on those who will be offered spots. Of course, don't call over and over and be polite. I'm sure they will be getting lots of other calls at the same time so be tactful and respectful. But in my case, I am lucky I did call to try and find out a bit early! Best of luck.

I started the program in the Spring of 2012. I'm not sure if the point system has been modified or changed in anyway since I applied in the Fall of 2011. I was accepted into the program with 65 points, and I know of others who were accepted with slightly less (I think 63). Unless the point system has changed since then, then you have a very good chance with 70! (I will look at the website after I post this and see if I recognize any changes from the point system used when I applied). Every semester is different though. Some semesters the pool of applicants have higher average scores (point system scores that is), pushing the minimum score accepted up. Other semesters the pool of applicants may have average scores lower than previous semesters, pushing the minimum score accepted down. (Hopefully that makes sense). So really depends on the pool of current applicants. I think you have a really good chance though. Best of luck!

The supply bag we were required to purchase for our simulation lab (for working with the simulation manikins) was put together by our school. The only place it was available for purchase was at our university's bookstore. I would check with the bookstore.

The HESI score itself does not weigh heavily on admission. You are just required to have an overall composite score of 80% or higher to be eligible for admission. Admission is based on the point system that is explained on the schools website.

I started the program in spring 2012.. So it has been a little while.. But we were not required to become CPR certified before starting. We were required to become CPR certified before the start of our second semester. I took the CPR course over the summer in between the first and second semester.

What is your class schedule like? First semester we spent approximately 15 hrs a week in lecture, plus one online course that met only for exams, and 4 hours a week for "simulation"/ skills clinical (first semester we did not actually work with patients... We worked with simulation manikins and practiced basic skills on one another). Second semester we spent approximately 15 hrs a week in lecture and one 12 hour shift each week at a LTC facility. Third semester we spent approximately 16 hrs a week in lecture, one 12 hr shift per week at a psychiatric hospital, and one 12 hr shift per week on a MedSurg unit. Fourth semester we spent approximately 16 hrs a week in lecture, one 12 hr shift per week rotating on pediatrics one week and on ER the next, and one 12 hr shift per week rotating through preop, MedSurg, PACU, CCU, OR, ICU, etc. I am about to start my fifth and final semester. What do you find to be the hardest/easiest thing during the 1st and 2nd semester? Hardest thing = adapting to the NCLEX style of questions... Application based questions. Long gone are the days of simplying knowing what a term means. You must know what the topic being tested over is and be able to apply it to a particular situation. Critical thinking! Easiest thing = making friends and coming together... Cooperate to graduate! (not cheating.. But you know what I mean.. Help one another out). What were you're studying habits/schedule throughout the year? Any study groups? No study groups for me. I work best alone. Do not follow my study habits. I am a procrastinator. I thrive under the pressure of "last minute"... It's like the now or never mentality. I have always crammed... And I know people say you cannot cram in nursing school.. But you can, just not the same way. The day before the test I literally study for 10-12 hours straight.. With short breaks for food. It is not fun and every time I tell myself that this is the last time I will study this way... But it works for me. I have made an A in 11 out of 12 nursing courses (I made an 89 in one. Ugh). I read aloud. Act out things. Use pseudonyms, draw pictures, whatever works to get the info to stick. I do not recommend studying for 12 hrs straight thought. It is hard and will not work for most. For me though, the adrenaline rush and the pressure keep me going and focused. What school do you attend? ASN or BSN program? BSN Do you work full-time or part-time? If so, is it hard to balance both a job and nursing school? I worked part time first and second semester... It was hard but I made it work and made excellent grades, but when third smester started my clinical schedule interfered with work to the point that I had to quit. I did not work for 3rd or 4th semester. What's something you WISH someone would've told you prior to entering into nursing school? I may be chastised for saying this but it is not as hard as everyone made it out to be. Nursing school is very time consuming and that is the main concern. You will need to tell friends and family that you may be absent or flaky for awhile while you are trying to better yourself. But while nursing school is very time consuming... Which is the hardest part of nursing school!... The subject matter itself is really not that difficult. I wish someone would have told me "do not listen to everyone else.. Nursing school is time consuming, but honestly it's not insane... It's not this unobtainable thing that people act like it is. It is super time consuming, but with effort you can and will do well. I make A's and you can too. How many hours of sleep you got throughout the day/ week? Around 6-7 hrs a night. Never been much of a sleeper so enough for me. Any other advice? Best of luck! You can do this!

I would say rent your prereq texts or buy used from Amazon. It is not necessary to keep any of your book from your prereqs. I am about to start my final semester of a BSN program. I graduate in May 2014. For reference, I have made an A in almost every single nursing course (11 out of 12). I recommend keeping your textbooks once you start actual nursing courses, but honestly there is no need to keep your prereq textbooks... You don't need them! I do, however, recommend keeping your actual nursing textbooks... You will reference those again over the semesters as you are expected to build upon knowledge learned each semester. Also, when it comes time to study for the NCLEX, HESI, etc you will be glad you have your Patho, MedSurg, Pharm, and Lab Reference texts! Best of luck!

You should never feel guilty (for some, possibly even embarrassed or ashamed) by a decision to better yourself.

Student loans are a necessary evil for many people, including myself. Without federal student loans, I would not be able to attend college. That being said.. The college you attend is very pricey! (In my opinion anyways). Before you start actual nursing courses, you may want to look at more affordable options. Once you start nursing courses, nursing courses themselves are unlikely to transfer. Prereqs are much more likely (though not guaranteed) to transfer. I currently attend a public university in Texas (BSN program). My entire degree will cost around $26,000. To me that seems like so much.. I couldn't imagine owing that much for one year! For some, the school and program are meaningful and worth it to them, but if you are concerned maybe it is a good idea to research other, more affordable options. $130,000 seems like an massive amount of debt to accumulate for a nursing degree of any type! (ASN,BSN, or MSN!). (For reference, my sister is finishing up her M.D. and PhD at the end of this year (after obtaining a BS and MS) and will owe a combined approx $120,000).