manatee17

Hi all! I'm graduating in May from Arizona with my BSN and I'm looking to move to Colorado. I was wondering if anyone had any advice when it comes to new grad programs in Colorado? I'm specifically interested in Children's Hospital Colorado. Does anyone know how many positions they fill? I have family in Denver but I'm really interested in any areas around Colorado. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Hi everyone! I'm graduating this upcoming May from a traditional bsn program. I'm just wondering, what were/are your guy's timelines for interviews, getting hired, graduating, NCLEX, and starting the program? I graduate May 9th. I'm also getting married at the end of May. I was hoping to go on my honeymoon the first week of June. If this would conflict with starting a job though, my partner and I would postpone our honeymoon. Just curious on how it worked out for you guys. I have 2 more semesters left and I am so excited. I really love nursing and I can't wait to start my career! Thanks!!!

Hi everyone! I'm graduating this upcoming May from a traditional bsn program. I'm just wondering, what were/are your guy's timelines for interviews, getting hired, graduating, NCLEX, and starting the program? I graduate May 9th. I'm also getting married at the end of May. I was hoping to go on my honeymoon the first week of June. If this would conflict with starting a job though, my partner and I would postpone our honeymoon. Just curious on how it worked out for you guys. I have 2 more semesters left and I am so excited. I really love nursing and I can't wait to start my career! Thanks!!!

Thanks everyone. I'm sure if I manage my time wisely I'll be able to figure it out. Most of the people in my program don't work at all but I know it can be done!

This will be my first semester working and attending university at the same time. I work at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. Originally I had planned to quit my job at the end of summer but I love my job so much and I can't imagine quitting right now. Luckily, my job allows for a lot of down time, which I can use to study. Am I crazy for working full time and attending nursing school full time? What are your guys' tips for working in school?

Make sure to take the CPR healthcare provider level course, not the layperson level. A few people in my cohort accidentally did this. And I agree, do the fingerprints asap. Enjoy the first semester! It's a lot of reading and a lot of work but don't stress and enjoy it. Talk to people the first few weeks, these people will be your support for the next 5 semesters! Most importantly, take advantage of all clinical experiences. Some girls in my cohort would just sit back in clinical and let the nurse/cna do things and just observe. If you know how to do it, ask if you can! The only way you'll truly learn skills is to use them! Good luck guys! I just finished my 1st semester of nursing school at NAU Flagstaff and I maintained my 4.0, so work hard and it can be done!

I have the classic SE II in purple and I love it. The turnable head is a good thing because with the other one your depending on knowing the correct amount of pressure to apply, which is a technique that will take a while to completely understand. I can hear amazingly on my classic and it's pretty lightweight. A lot of people in my program have heavier steths and it makes their necks hurt at clinical. Also, I've never had a problem with blood pressure cuffs. Normally my cuff is slightly above where I place my steth when taking a BP so I have no problem at all. Overall, their both Littmann's so they'll both be amazing. This is just my experience! Hope you have an amazing first semester!!! Nursing School is truly awesome so make sure to try and enjoy it through all the stress.

I'm about half way through my first semester of nursing school and I'm really worried that I won't be able to afford my rent come summer time. I had gotten a school loan and I've been trying to save but it just hasn't been enough. I'm thinking of getting a part time job working maybe 20-30 hours a week. What do you guys think? What are your tips for getting through school while working?

I just took it a few months back so maybe I can be of help. =) Out of curiosity, what school are you planning on applying to? The Kaplan Entrance Exam has 4 portions: Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. For the reading portion, I had long passages to read and then answer multiple choice questions. It's very similar to the reading you'd have on the ACT or SAT except easier! You can prepare by doing some sample passages and questions, but don't stress it. I should have done much better than I did on the writing portion. It has passages that are usually 2-3 paragraphs long. They ask questions about the passages like, "Which sentence is not needed?" "In which sentence to the verb and subject not agree?" "Which sentences could be combined?" If you use the kaplan study book (which I did), do not bother with the writing portion of the book. It is not similar at all to the test. I mean it, I completely did not expect the writing portion to be like it was. The math was very basic. The majority of it was conversions from decimals to fractions and fractions to decimals. There were a few very simple dosage questions so you may want to do a few samples of those. The problems were pretty easy and I got a 95% in this section. The science is like everyone else says, all A&P. My test seemed to be primarily A&P II. I had only had a month of A&P II when I took the exam and I did okay, but not stellar. Because I was worried about that section, I had bought an Anatomy and Phys. For Dummies book to try to review with and learn the stuff I hadn't learned yet. It was helpful and I recommend it. Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions!

I got into Flagstaff! I can't wait to meet everyone and start classes! Anyone else nervous?

AH! Excited and nervous. :)

Wow! I'm so surprised that pretty much everyone has already applied. My application isn't due until the 1st of October and we find out if we got in around Thanksgiving. Needless to say, I am already quite nervous! I wish my college did guaranteed admission! Then I wouldn't have to play the waiting game.

Last semester I took A&P1, micro and nutrition all at the same time. Honestly, my nutrition was super easy and I got an A, unfortunately, I don't think I learned anything. My A&P and micro were really hard though. I was studying constantly for both of them. I don't need chemistry as one of my prereqs so I haven't taken in. I would just recommended that you try to figure out what your personal limit is. If you're also volunteering regularly or working then I think A&P, micro, and chem might be overkill. But, again, just try to figure out what you personally can handle a semester and I know you do amazing.

I really love to find medically related articles online or at the library in journals and magazines. First of all, their interesting and may contain information you haven't heard about yet. Secondly, they have really awesome facts and you can use the information as a conversation starter with other nursing students!