XmasShopperRN

I have my objective assessment scheduled for this Thursday. I took my pre assessment about 1.5 weeks ago with an 81%. My mentor keeps saying that the objective assessment tends to be more difficult than the pre, yet the questions are formatted similarly. For anyone who's taking CSC1, would you say that there's any truth to that, or is my mentor trying to scare me into studying day and night?

Have you completed a 2013-2014 FAFSFA application? The financial aid process was a little tedious, but not all that bad. For an 8/1 start date you'll need to have payment arrangements finalized by 7/22. I'm not saying it's impossible, but several steps in the financial aid process took up to 3 weeks to complete.

Also, place the limb in a dependent position and let gravity help you out once you've spotted a vein and are getting set up. And reassure the pt's who question your IV skills that you're just looking and won't stick if you don't see anything; once you spot a juicy vein and are all set to go, most people will let you continue.

I finalized my first term with my mentor yesterday, and I'm starting out with CSC1 (Nutrition). I was hoping to get feedback from anyone who's finished or currently taking the class about what I'm in store for. My mentor said that typically students don't start out with Nutrition because it's one of the longer classes, but I had already gotten a head start on the reading and didn't want to move on to something else. So far I can definitely tell that it's going to be A LOT of reading (which I'm cool with), but I was wondering if anyone might have some insight about what's more fluff/busy work than the more important stuff. Thanks!

E2NURSE, I don't start until 7/1, but if it's any comfort to you, Biochemistry is supposed to be a performance assessment class. So while you'll have material to read and learn, it doesn't sound like there's much focus on testing. Stats is an objective assessment class, so can you ask your student mentor if it would be possible to replace Stats with a performance assessment class this term? If not, best of luck to you. Stats is one of the classes I'm supposed to take the first term; if there's something I can help you with, let me know.

nursehuffandpuff, what did you think about EWB orientation? I've done online classes before, but never an entire program. Hopefully the student portal, Task Stream, and all of the other WGU things are as user-friendly as everyone's made them out to be Have you heard from your student mentor? Mine sent all of her mentees an email today, and first calls start tomorrow! Also, not sure if you noticed, but when you log onto the student portal and click on Degree Plan, all of the program's Courses of Study can be assessed. I browsed through a few classes to get an idea of how they were set up, and it looks like the materials (reading, videos, lectures, etc.) are available to start!

If I'm not mistaken, with 2 yrs of RN experience, you would be considered a Clinical Nurse II at a base of 28/hr I think. Depending on how the unit is structured, you could also be looking a shift differential. Good luck!

In addition to the message board and other resources on the WGU student portal, I was hoping to meet and chat with other RN-to-BSN students who also will be starting on 7/1 to see how you're getting prepared and to keep in contact once classes start.

Hi russki, as of 2 days ago, I've gotten through all of the transcript evaluation and financial aide stuff, so I'm all set to start the RN to BSN at WGU on 7/1. How many credits can transfer is decided on a case by case basis. You'll have to submit an official transcript from all colleges that you've attended before you'll know for sure what coursework WGU will accept. What I can tell you is that for the gen-ed nursing courses like the sciences (A&P, microbiology), for WGU to accept transfer credits, the classes have to have a lab component (8 total credits for A&P, 4 for micro). Developmental psychology must cover the entire lifespan (from birth to death). Statistics courses need a lab component, but can't be any older than 5 years. The biochemistry requirement can only be fulfilled by a biochemistry course; general chemistry along with organic or inorganic chemistry won't meet the requirement. Hope some of this helps. The whole process from application to actually starting the program was a bit drawn out. But my advice is to stay in at least weekly contact with the enrollment counselor, and whatever weekly tasks he or she assigns you, get them done and out of the way well before your next scheduled call. I found that as long as I was taking it one week at a time, the whole application process really wasn't that bad. Good luck!

I start the the RN to BSN on 7/1. Your statistics has to be current (taken within the past 5 yrs) to be considered for transfer. It sounds like you're going to have to take Biochemistry. Out of GE credits, I only have three to take: statistics (took it in 2000 so way expired), biochemistry, and health assessment. Worst case scenario, you'll have to take several GE classes; chances are that you'd probably finish your degree sooner with WGU than with another school because of how quickly you can move through each class.

Not at all. I'm set to start their RN-to-BSN program 7/1, and what helped make my final decision was WGU's awesome reputation. Out of many other online schools, WGU comes very highly recommended and is very affordable. There's no real motivation for them to operate as a diploma mill as they're a not-for-profit school and stand nothing to gain by providing substandard educational experiences. Not to mention the fact that their tuition is based upon 6 month terms and not per credit. That's why really motivated students have been able to finish the entire program in a single term. I can't exactly speak to the specifics in California other than when I completed my background check for the program (I'm in MD), I did read that for CA applicants, an immunization check was required in addition the the background check. I definitely agree with you that their website doesn't really go into much detail about the program. Honestly, I learned more about WGU from allnurses.com than wgu.edu. If you're interested in learning more about the program, fill out the online form to request more information and someone will contact you within a day or two. I can even forward you my enrollment counselor's contact info as she was incredibly informative and thorough.

Interestingly enough, because of its sedative properties, clonidine actually has street value.

Probably not, but it seems as if my point has been mistaken. If a doctor's right, good nurses recognize that and don't seek out battles just for the sake of battling. My point is that nurses are supposed to speak up when they believe any aspect of pt care is lacking; not to challenge or disrespect authority, but rather as whatever's best for the pt. Case in point, when succ is ordered during a code as an RSI drug, and a nurse questions the order because the pt's ESRD; or a nurse who insists that an attending stay in a pt's room because of the nurse's certainty that the pt can't protect their airway and needs to be intubated despite the attending's proceeding 10 minute rant about why the nurse is an idiot and doesn't need a physician present to treat vomiting, and in less than 5 minutes the pt aspirates and codes. My point isn't that physicians make mistakes 24/7. The majority of doctors I've worked with are really, really good at what they do and bring a lot to the table. But I've also worked with a couple real lemons who, more times than not, exuded incompetence. One might hope that after all of the years of school and residency that a physician would be batting a thousand in terms of correctness. But given that doctors are human and make mistakes, expecting perfection from a physician at all times based upon the letters after their name isn't good business. So let me rephrase my previous post; in those extremely rare instances when a physician's judgment is made in error and a 'good' nurse challenges that physician's judgment and claims to smell the proverbial rat, I hypothesize that in 90% of those rare instances there's actually a rat hiding in the woodwork. Maybe I'll propose that as a topic for my capstone in hopes of producing verifiable data....

I don't think the OP was expressing anything other than frustration about a situation with which he or she disagreed. 9 times out of 10, when a nurse smells a rat, there's usually a rat. The last I checked, nurses are still their pts' advocates, so they're allowed to use their experience and critical thinking even if that means, God forbid, disagreeing with a doctor.... I'm not really clear on how a nurse whose opinion doesn't match up with a doctor's is somehow overstepping a boundary. IMO, it's just the opposite. I've worked with some ER nurses who I'd want running my code any day over many physicians.... Really good, experienced ER nurses are worth their weight in gold and are just as vital to pt outcomes as the ER docs. And anyone who fails to recognize that because of a God complex and who isn't open to criticism is as dangerous as a loaded gun. IMO. Ok, stepping off of soap box now :)

five_apples, I completely understand your point, and agree that sometimes there isn't anyone available to start an IV, draw blood, draw an ABG, etc. My issue was never that I couldn't do any of those things; it was actually the opposite. I knew that I'd be able to start IVs and everything else despite residual weakness in my hand from CRPS, but it was my former employer who decided that I couldn't do those things. Oddly enough, I've had absolutely no problem with IVs and manual dexterity in my new job despite a recent CRPS Sx recurrence (being treated successfully with steroids and Elavil).

I'm in the process of figuring out which pre-reqs I'm going to need for WGU. Does WGU offer the classes, namely Biochemistry and any of the other classes that I just can't wait to start (sarcasm:o)? If that's the case, I'm going to pass on taking the Nutrition and College Algebra classes at a local community college! Thanks for any advice!

August 13th: Happy Left Handers Day!

I believe when administering epi IVP, the appropriate concentration is 1:10000. With SQ epi for allergic reactions, the standard adult dose is 0.3cc of 1:1000. But if the reaction is severe enough, IV is the preferred route, which would be 0.1cc of 1:10000. So if the MD ordered 0.1 of epi, he intended for IV. Sounds like the nurse used the incorrect epi concentration?

5 minutes, geez please tell me they were short answer or essay? The CEN only averages 1 min/question, but that's multiple choice. Best of luck to you!

I wish I had the foresight that you obviously have when I received my ASN in 2009. If I knew then what I know now, I would've pursued my BSN initially or immediately after my ASN. I agree that most masters-prepared nurses are teaching or move onto management, but regardless of what area of nursing you choose to pursue, a higher degree will set you apart from most and demonstrate to your employer, managers, and colleagues how dedicated you are to your education! Having your MSN shouldn't preclude you from providing bedside nursing care; it will, though, open up so many more doors in your future. You never know what tomorrow brings, and one day we wake up and realize that we're not spring chickens anymore, and bedside nursing isn't as easy as it used to be :) IMO, if you've already begun your MSN bridge, keep going!

Best reply in this entire thread! Thanks for the laugh!!