marinelayer

Very insightful. Thank you.

Thank you

Thanks :)

Are there less men in pediatric nursing than other specialties?

The Affordable Care Act has nothing to do with a lack of nurses. The so-called "nursing shortage" began more than a decade ago: Nursing Shortage Is Over in U.S. Until Retirement Glut Hits - Bloomberg The Affordable Care Act will (arguably) increase employment for healthcare workers: How Does Obamacare Impact Healthcare Jobs | First Choice Emergency Room: ER Clinics in Dallas, Houston and Austin

Thank you zoe92. I have heard that the School of Nursing at the University of Maryland is outstanding. I also think that some healthcare experience should be another pre-requisite, not unlike the TEAS or GPA. Whether it be a full-time job or just volunteerism, experience working with sick and injured individuals is far different than the idea of it. Perhaps it would even alleviate some of the congestion that pre-nursing students face when trying to get into a program? Just a thought.

Thanks golightly8, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. I too have struggled with the issues of education costs, but at the end of the day I believe strongly in my decisions and don't mind paying the price. The cost of my degree may require me to rent a cheaper apartment, buy a smaller house, or drive an older car, but that's o.k. by me. And as you said in your post, you're trying to grow professionally and personally. There is no way to quantify those pursuits.

Thank you so much for the kind words. And best of luck to you!

I worried extensively about my GPA as I was preparing for nursing school, but also recognized that a GPA is a somewhat limited assessment of a persons strengths. Many of the schools that I contacted chose their students based on only two factors: transcripts and entrance exams. This is especially true here in California where budget cuts don't allow for the kind of personal approach to choosing students as one would hope for. It takes more time, and ultimately more people power to read personal statements, resumes, letter's of recommendation, and in some cases interviews. It's far more cost-effective to look at a simple number. Sad. So I decided to find the programs that valued my individuality. These schools however tend to be private and more expensive. My advice is to find schools that look to build a diverse student base. Highlight your strengths and weaknesses and go from there. GPA is one tool to better understand an applicant, but it says very little about you as a person.

I have been an EMT-B in LA county for two years working on both the private and 911 sides. If you have your sights set on pre-hospital care (flight nursing) than I would strongly encourage you to gain experience working on an ambulance. Working in the field is very different than working in a clinical setting. Also, you can use your EMT-B to find employment as an ER tech in many emergency rooms. Some of these positions have different requirements (phlebotomy, etc...) and some none at all. In the end, any patient care experience will benefit you greatly before entering nursing school, and ultimately help you accomplish your dream of flight nursing. Best of luck in your pursuits.

These are great stories!!!

I applied to two of the schools on my list, NYU and Johns Hopkins. I was accepted to both and chose Hopkins. Best of luck dsb_fam.

I thought that I might share some of my own personal experiences with the pre-nursing process in hopes that it might inform and/or encourage others who have many of the same concerns that I did. Firstly, I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree which hardly prepared me for a career spent in the sciences, and secondly, I was in my thirties and worried about being an older student. I had spent the majority of my adult life working as a carpenter and felt comfortable in that position. The idea of re-inventing my life was invigorating, but given my circumstances it seemed near impossible. I spent a solid year really considering my reasons for wanting to be a nurse, and enrolled in a biology class as a litmus test for myself. After having such a positive experience in biology, and really craving a new challenge, I jumped in with both feet. It took me 3 1/2 years of community college work in order to finish all of my pre-requisites, and in that time I managed to gain patient care experience by working as a caregiver, interning at a hospital, and becoming a licensed EMT. Balancing school with full-time work was excruciating, as was making $15/hr less than when I was in construction. Being in my thirties, making so little money, and having the constant stress of making grades took a huge toll on my confidence. Because a 3.75 GPA isn't considered competitive at the many Universities where I live, I decided to make a list of colleges that look at more than just grades and entrance exams. I found that everyone I talked with at these institutions were helpful and kind. Here is my list in no particular order: New York University University of Pennsylvania University of Washington University of Colorado Denver UMASS Amherst Johns Hopkins University of New England Duke After nearly five years of unbelievably hard work, I start my accelerated BSN program in May. Things I have learned: it doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter if you were someone else in another life, it doesn't matter if it feels impossible because its not. Work hard, be patient, encourage yourself, and find a way to get patient care experience. Oh, and get to know your professors, they are your strongest advocates. Hope this helps.

Congratulations! I start in May.

Undergrad 3.68 Prerequisites 3.75 One year internship at a local hospital Two years working as a caregiver for a women with demenitia Two years working as an EMT in a busy 911 system in LA county Extensive volunteer and international travel experience A s**tload of stress Was accepted to both schools I applied to. NYU and Johns Hopkins