catman88

I love math...my heart skips a beat when I get to solve a new equation

We have saved enough to pay for my ADN out of pocket, assuming I'm accepted. For the RN-BSN bridge, I'm not sure how much it'll be. Hopefully I'll be working then and can pay as I go, but only time will tell! Would love to stay debt free, obviously, if possible.

I work as an ophthalmic tech and we have had patients wake up during surgery and tell us the next day that they recall certain things that the Dr said, or things that they saw. When I have had opportunities to shadow, I have seen patients "wake up" during surgery...I put that in quotations only because they are (obviously) quite groggy and don't always know what's happening. I don't believe that we typically report it, but I am sure for the patient it is a much bigger deal than it is to us, speaking from my own experience only!

Interestingly enough we have hired several people in the last few months, so obviously the bankruptcy has not applied to our facility as no hours have been cut, no benefits lost, etc. There are plenty of beautiful places in and around Detroit that are still faring well :)

I am an ophthalmic technician and I feel like we are one of the few fields that is not experiencing this. I am so sorry for those who have more education and have a passion for nursing and aren't able to find a job . Ophthalmic techs do not get paid as well as nurses but we are always hiring, at least here in the Detroit area -- we have full benefits, decent pay, "normal" hours. I feel like a nut for wanting to leave my field to go to nursing school. Best wishes to you all. Wish I could offer some sort of help.

Like some others said, my reason for doing ADN and then bridging is for financial reasons. My local ADN program is around 7k total....one year of one of our local BSN program costs more than that. Im praying I'll be able to get a job with an ADN so I can work while I go for my BSN, but here in Detroit the economy stinks and there are waaaaay too many nursing programs.

Aw, thats very sweet! I have had several experiences with very kind nurses. My favorite was when I went to get a mole removed...I was nervous and got there early because I wanted to get it over with. The nurse knew I was nervous and brought me a cup of hot tea in a mug from their breakroom while I waited for doctor to arrive It's the little things that can make such a big impact!

Microbiology, A&P 2, and Psych (retaking it!) Good luck everyone. Can't wait to apply in January!

Positivity is powerful and a little positive energy can turn a persons whole day around! Just one person encouraging you has the potential to make or break your day (or more!). There is negativity on this site -- but for each negative post I encounter, I find two positive posts to keep everything in perspective.

GrnTea, that is how I feel about it as well, I prefer knowing a lot about my patients and having more one on one time like I get to have in my current career. I am sure I can be a good nurse on MedSurg or other floors with higher ratios but i don't feel it would be my comfort zone -- that was my big beef with being a CNA in LTC; I wanted to know my patients better and I never got the chance but gosh did I love them. Who knows, maybe we will all surprise ourselves with what we end up enjoying!

I just ordered a pair of NurseMates "Nelly", they were very comfortable when I tried them on -- they are a clog style like the Danskos but they cost less and I am yet to see how they will hold up after a full days wear. I second the notion for compression hose...I bought Jobst brand, 20-30 mmHg. Waiting for those to arrive, too -- I am not diggin the spider veins at age 24

Hello and congrats!!! :) I have a friend who is a CNA and is 6 months pregnant and thankfully she has a very supportive team that assists her with anything she may need help with. I do not think that they will let you go because you are pregnant. I cannot imagine how difficult this job would be pregnant, but you can do it!! Also, please, PLEASE, do not take this the wrong way -- but I urge you to be very careful if you have a patient who is combative and seek assistance or a re-assignment if possible. It is not worth harming your baby, I know from my mothers experience with her first pregnancy when she worked in a group home.

Ugh, blech, yuck. I hate these situations. I am typically a very non-confrontational, bubbly, sweet girl. Many people interpret that as being flirtatious, which I am most definitely NOT. When I first started my job (as an ophthalmic tech), I got many comments about my size/body which were very uncomfortable to deal with (I am very petite/was a dancer). Since then I have learned to minimize my makeup, keep my hair up in a bun, and definitely NOT wear any clothes that show my body -- loose scrubs and lab coats all the way for me. It helps minimize the subject even coming up, though I know lab coats are not commonplace for RNs.

Hi, I am not a nurse yet, but I often see postings on Indeed for LPNs for SNF/LTC from Oakwood, and also at the Ann Arbor VA. I am not sure about the Detroit VA, but I imagine if Ann Arbor VA hires new grad LPNs, then Detroit probably does, too. Good luck and congrats!

Ooph, I understand the infection/scarring issue. I got a nose piercing when I was 18 -- I LOVED it, but it didn't love me. Even though I cleaned it daily, it was always uncomfortable and got infected to the point that -- get this -- the nose ring actually had to be CUT out. I used nail clippers to break the nose ring because it was so swollen I could not remove it! And I took darn good care of that thing! 7 years later and there is still a scar where that piercing was. Obviously, something did not agree with me!