rmolander

Hey guys... congrats on being almost done with your first semester! Woohoo! I'm applying for spring 2014, wondering if you would share your points and if you know what the cut off was? If I'm adding correctly, I'll have 35. I live out of state so I won't be able to take the extra, optional course that gives you 5 points. Thanks!

I had planned on attending an online nursing info session, too. I called Health Occ Admissions and asked, they said the online wouldn't be available until AFTER the close of application? How on earth does that help us? Lol!

Hey ladies! I'm applying with 25 points. Make sure you get all your shots, I had a friend turned down for no flu shot last spring. I can't believe we have to wait until May to hear back! Argh! Are y'all applying anywhere else? I'm applying to TWU, but... yeah freakin' right... lol.

Really, as long as you have taken most of your pre-reqs, studying for either one isn't terribly necessary. I refreshed on a few things that aren't my natural strengths and did great on both. Good luck!

To periwinks00: You just have to go for it. I work 18-24 hours a week, am a single mom of a three year old, and still attend school full time. There are two days a week I don't see my son at all... it's incredibly hard. But if you want it, wake up at 4am and push hard until you pass out at 10. You CAN do it!

I work part time as a CNA, receive a Pell Grant, a subsidized loan, as well as a yearly honor's scholarship. Money is still tight, as a single mom, but I get by. In a couple of years I'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief as it will all have been completely worth it.

I have a serious decision to make in the next few months, I need some advice! I've been working as a CNA with a hospice agency for over a year. Hospice is okay, I don't love it, but I do love the company I work for. They respect me, treat me well, pay me well, are super flexible about school, etc. Buuuut I have an opportunity to accept a position as a PCT in a local hospital in January. It would be a pay cut of $2/hr and the hours are rigid. The only reason I'm considering making the switch is because I know how hard it is to get a hospital position as a new grad (my eventual goal is acute care NP) and this could get my foot in the door as an internal candidate. What would you do?

Personally I don't pay much attention to the power points... other than things I know I'm not understanding. What works for me is to read the chapter ahead of time and teach myself. Attend lecture and focus on the things that are fuzzy to me. After lecture I work the problems at the end of the chapter. In preparation for exams I find as many questions as possible over the material - form a study group and you each create a 20 question quiz, look up practice tests online, etc. Good luck

I truly appreciate all the input, thank you! What I'm faced with is: get a position as a PCT which means a pay cut and rigid hours, or stick where I am as a CNA with flexible hours and higher pay. The ONLY reason I'd make a change would be for the hospital experience. I was hoping to have the best of both worlds by sticking where I am and volunteering in a hospital but it certainly sounds like that doesn't even scratch the hospital surface, so to speak. Still not sure what to do but at least that's one more option crossed off my list. Classicdame when you say you sometimes hire prn nursing students, doing what exactly? Duties similar to a PCT?

Thanks! Thanks for the input, too! So if I understand correctly, you're saying even volunteering won't give my resume much of a boost to the rest? I do need the money [single mom, full time school, part time work... yeah, I'm rockin' it =p] That's all I'm seeing, too, information desks and gift shop type duties. I could attempt to get a PCT position at a hospital and really get my foot in the door, but I'm concerned about the pay cut I'd be taking as well as more demanding hours as my school demand also increases. I feel kind of darned if I do darned if I don't... for right now, what's best for my son and I is to stick with what I have. In thinking long term, it'd be best to get into a hospital now and work my way up... but would a more demanding hospital job affect my grades and therefore NOT be ideal for my long term goals? UGH! I'm so confused...

Hi! I'm new here =) I am so much better in lecture than in lab... just pulled a 101 in lecture over endocrine/blood/heart but an 85 in lab over the same. As long as it averages out to an A, I'm good! SopranoKris, I'm taking pathophysiology as well as pharmacology in the spring. Patho sounds interesting but I'm not looking forward to pharmacology. Also taking a human sexuality class just for kicks, since I'm done with everything else I can do!

Hello all... hope you don't mind me popping in from the student section to ask a little advice. I've just been accepted to the BSN program of my choice (yay!) to start in the spring. I would like to work in an acute care setting and eventually go for my NP in acute care. Because of my long term career goals, I realize I need to get my foot in the door in a hospital setting as soon as possible. However.... I've been working prn for a hospice agency as a CNA during these two years of pre-reqs. I love the company, LOVE them, and I'm hesitant to leave what has become a second family for me. They've been flexible with my school schedule and pay better than the PCTs in hospitals around here. I'm also thinking with the rigorous demands of clinicals and theory it may be much easier with me to stick with my hospice company. But, I have no interest in being a hospice nurse, and don't want to seal my fate. Is it possible that volunteering in a hospital setting would be enough to get my foot in the door? Is it truly near impossible to get into a hospital as a nurse without any hospital experience? Any thoughts, advice, experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!