lmattera

Hi everyone, so I am very new to the healthcare field- I've only been working as a tech for 2 weeks so far (I'm still training with someone). I start my ADN program in the fall, so yes I have very little experience. But yesterday at the very end of my shift the nurse called a rapid response on one of my patients. He was a very difficult patient all day but we definitely noticed a decline in him- he was pretty young (late twenties). Anyway I was with the patient when the nurse left to call the rapid response team, and I've never seen a response or code so I literally had no clue what to do. Luckily one of the other tech's went and got the dynamap and told me to take vitals. Literally in less than a minute his room with filled with doctors, residents, resp therapists, phlebotomists, critical care nurses, even patient transport. I watched the nurse tell the doctor what had went on throughout the day and as the doctor ruled out things the room started to clear out and eventually I left to give the phlebotomist some room. Because it was already into the next shift I left soon after so I don't know what happened to my patient but all I can say is that I'm so lucky to be part of a team that looks out for me because I was so nervous since I have never seen a response before. Honestly it wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be, but that's a good thing haha.

I live in NJ and I work at 2 different hospitals as a PCT. Both will hire CNA's as PCT's. At one hospital we do not draw blood (the phlebotomist will come up and do it) but we can do EKG's. At the other hospital we can draw blood and do EKG's. Whatever hospital you get hired at will make you sit through some sort of course (which you get paid for) to teach you everything they expect you to be able to perform. Good luck!

A lot of people who go for ABSN programs have been out of school for quite some time, so I believe a majority of them take their prereqs at community college. I don't think that it will put you at a disadvantage at all, unless you do poorly (which I know you won't!!).

Thank you everyone for your input!! I really appreciate hearing from you because you all bring up points I wouldn't necessarily think of. I'm fortunate enough that I didn't have to take out any loans for school, but I agree with a year left it makes the past three years of college a waste. As with most my first two years were mostly gen ed courses, but when I transferred to Rutgers to take the higher level math (my major) courses , it killed me. I'm hoping if I do apply to an RN program I can explain that the low gpa is due to the higher level math courses (I'm talking calc 5 and above) and not general chemistry, and college writing among others, which I got A's in, which are needed for most nursing programs.

Hi everyone! I'm in a tough situation right now and could really some opinions on what I should do. Out of high school I went to community college and graduated with an associates in chemistry. My gpa was 3.8 and then I transferred to a very large state university. I don't know if it was because it was my first time living away from home or the fact that I was at a university as opposed to a community college but I had to struggle and fight for c's. Not matter what I did I never got higher than a b. Now my gpa is 2.0 and I still have another year to go. When I was at community college I wanted to do their nursing program but there was a two year waitlist and I figured I could do something else with my time. Looking back that was me being impatient and stupid, but hey that's life. I'm certain now that nursing is what I want to do and I'm eager to start a program because I feel like I've wasted a lot of time. Now as far as I can see I have three options: 1. Finish my bachelor's and apply to a second degree BSN program, however I doubt my gpa will increase much (def not to a 3.0 in just one year, considering I haven't be able to get a single A at this university). 2. Transfer to a school where I could get either an ADN or BSN however with my gpa I doubt I'd get in 3. Drop out and go an LPN program and later work my way up to a BSN I'm currently leaning towards the third option because after 3 years of college I just want to be a nurse already!! But I would appreciate any input of what I should do. Thanks!!