futureRN07

I entered nursing school with the intention of being an OB nurse. I graduated in June of 2007 and was hired for night shift on an L&D unit in July. I'm from Oregon and the hospital I work at has a six month internship for new L&D nurses and a very supportive staff and has you back at all times once you're on your own. I believe the hospital that I work at is the only one that hires new grads into L&D but I could be mistaken. I also want to speak to the desire to have a day shift versus night shift position. In L&D there is a big difference in the type of work you will do and the environment that you will work in depending of your shift. Day shift had MANY scheduled procedures such as inductions, cesarean sections, NTS's, and many more triage patients coming in "thinking" they're in labor. Not to mention many more management and Dr.'s running around creating a high stress and chaotic atmosphere. On night shift you generally have the inductions from the morning finally getting ready to deliver, less triage patients but more of them who are actually in labor, fewer cesarean sections, and no management running around. I also find that you have a lot more atomomy at night and ability to manage your patient's care because most of the time the Dr.'s aren't present and they're relying on your eyes and your judgement. And we get a very nice pay differential for working nights which makes it well worth it in my mind.

I am a current employee of Salem Hospital, hired as a new grad last year. I work at the Family Birth Center and absolutely love it. I would agree that they are short staffed but I think that they are just suffering from the general nursing shortage that most parts of the country are suffering from. There are only two nursing schools close to Salem, both ADN programs, and not many large towns to recruit nurses from. On the other hand, Portland has five BSN programs and at least three ADN programs that I can think of to pull from, plus a much larger population and many surrounding towns to recruit RNs from. I was working at St. Vincent's in Beaverton, a suberb of Portland, and nurses were getting called off at least once a pay period because of over staffing and budget issues. If you are interesting in making a lot of money and picking up extra shifts, then Salem is the place to go. I can pick up as many shifts as I want and get paid time&half plus 20% for each shift. I would rather have the opportunity to make more money, but not be required, than be called off twice a month from my regularly scheduled shift. There's my 2 cents! :)

I also have an interview for a new grad internship at Salem Hospital, mine is for the L&D internship. I haven't met anyone who has any experience or knowledge about Salem Hospital but like you, I would love to have a bit more info. before my interview. If you happen to find anything out, please pass on the information and I will do likewise.

The hospital that I will be doing my preceptorship at doesn't allow new nurses to work in labor and delivery until they've worked in post partum for two years. When I first learned this I was a little disappointed because I'm becoming a nurse to do L&D. I'm thirty years old and have had two kids of my own but I think there is a lot to learn about working with laboring women and A LOT of responsibility. I think that having two years to get some experience in post partum is a good idea especially for the younger nurses who have zero experience with labor and delivery.

I am currently a nursing student at OHSU and the way I understood it was the Nurse-Midwifery program required you to obtain you nursing degree at OHSU. There are four our five mid-wifery students that started with us nursing students our junior year and obtained their BSN after 5 terms. They then go on to do two more years before they obtain their masters degree. You might be able to transfer in but being able to get your BSN in a year and three months and then start into the masters program seems like a much quicker and better deal.

I understand what you are saying and I agree with some of it but the fact is that many people that are going into nursing now days are taking out HUGE loans. I am interested in knowing how much I might potentially make because I want to know if I will be able to pay back the 50K I had to borrow to get my BSN and also be able to support my two kids that I'm raising on my own. I am going into nursing because I couldn't imagine doing anything else and it is a bonus that it pays fairly well. The fact that it does pay fairly well certainly played into my decision to become a nurse because I have two other people to think about besides myself. I don't think it's wrong to want to know how much you're going to make when you're finally done. Just my two cents. :)

I got my prereqs at a CC and I'm attending a fairly expensive BSN program. When I'm finished, I anticipate owing about $45,000 in loans. I try not to think about it too much because there isn't any other alternative. I'm just greatful that there are loans and financial aide available for me to go to school and get my degree.

I'm currently a junior at OHSU and just starting my fourth term. The first term (summer) you take a pharmacology course, health assessment, and two others that I can't remember (must not have been that interesting :) ) The pharm. course was extremely difficult, a lot of people got C's and one person failed out but it's definitely doable if you put in the study time. The second term we took a pathophysiology course that was pretty difficult but the instructor is awesome and makes the class very entertaining (she also teaches the pharm. course). We took a three other classes that I really can't remember. We started having clinicals during the second term and it was usually two days a week 7am-3pm at a local hospital doing either acute care or long term care. You have a companion course for you clinicals plus a skills lab every week where you are checked off on whatever skill we are learning and then you are cleared to do it in clinicals (injections, catheter, etc.) The third term our class was split in half, one half did maternal and family care and the other did adult care. Our clinicals for family care were either in pediatrics or labor and delivery. This term our class switched and now I'm in adult care. I have clinicals two times a week 7-3pm, class two days a week from 8-3 and skills lab on day a week for a couple of hours. The work load hasn't been that bad but it helps that I actually enjoy what I'm learning now. It's also nice that each class builds on the next. Hope this helps and good luck.

That's such a shame because I had a fabulous patho. instructor. I took it last term and it was an extremely hard class but the enthusiasm my instructor showed for the subject and the way she taught made it not only bearable but fun and interesting. Having a good instructor can make all the difference!

I am a 34 barely A and very comfortable with my body and happy with my "flat chest." I have two older sisters and both of them have implants. I've seen them both (with their shirts off) and that was enough to convince me to never get mine done. I have yet to see a pair of fake breasts that look anything close to real. I don't judge people that get implants but I think that it's creating even more unrealistic expectations for women to live up to. Apparently it's considered natural to be 105 lbs. and have 34D's. And if you are flat chested then men assume that you want to be bigger because "bigger is better." How would men feel if there was a way to enlarge their "you know what" and every time they were with a woman she asked "don't you want to get that fixed?" Just my 2 cents :)

I have two kids, one is in first grade and the other is in fourth. I just finished my second term at OHSU (a BSN program in Oregon) and so far everythings is going well. I'm single and the closest family member to me is two hours away so that makes things a little difficult at times because I NEVER get time to myself. Luckily, I only have to work part-time because of the help I get from grants, scholarships, and lots of loans. At this point, I think that I'm just used to being pulled in a million directions and I've developed great multitasking skills because of it. I can study, help my kids with their homework, and watch my favorite TV program all at the same time :). Hang in there because it will be over before you know it and your kids will love and respect you for what you've done for yourself and them.

I live in Portland and attend OHSU's nursing program. I don't know about all of the other hospitals but at OHSU new grads stary out at $25 on days and $31 on nights. As far as affordable living goes, houses in the Portland area run around $250,000 for a modest 3 bed 2 bath, and I do mean modest. If you get out into the surrounding smaller towns you can find a small 3 bed 2 bath for around $170,000-200,000. It's definitely not cheap and it doens't seem to be getting any better. Hope this helps.

I went to LBCC from 2001-2004, taking my prereqs for nursing school. I decided I wanted to get my BSN so I transfered up to PCC last year and I just found out in April that I will be starting OHSU's BSN program this summer :). I really enjoyed my all of my classes at LBCC and the small campus. I also found the onsite daycare to be invaluable! Good luck getting in!!!

I wish I could give you a little insight but I never had to go through the interview process. I would just be yourself and let them know how much you really want to be a nurse and why. Good luck, you'll do great.

I've had the same reservations about taking the Providence Scholarship as you. There is no gaurentee what city you're going to be placed in and you do have to pay taxes on the scholarship which is taken out of your paycheck. The issues with OHSU is mainly the parking but I looked into it and as a student you can get a carpool pass if you can find someone else to ride with and it only costs around $30 a term. They also offer emergency transportation if you have to leave campus and they will pick up the cost. I was lucky enough to have the decision made for me though. I got waitlisted at UofP and I got accepted to OHSU so that is where I'm going to go. Plus, I get to start school in July as opposed to waiting until January. As far as taking out loans for OHSU. It is about $150 a credit which comes out to around $7500 a year and it's only two years. If it was me and I had the choice I would definitely go with OHSU. If you do decide on OHSU I will see you at orientation in June :) !