PdxDreamer

I really appreciate all of the guidance that everyone has given to me. It's such a great resource to have so many experienced people available on this board. Having mentors is so important! I'll be going to an NP conference next week, so that will be a great way to get the wheels in motion. Thanks again!

Hi JoPACURN. Thanks for the response! It left me a little confused about where to get experience though. I don't really know how hiring managers think, so I don't know if they care where the experience comes from, whether I get it doing NP work or RN work. Is it all the same to them? Would they wonder why I went from working as an NP to being an RN? Would they consider that backwards? Thanks for any help. I guess I feel like HR departments are black holes sometimes, they don't tell you why you aren't being picked! :angryfire

Will try to keep it short. CNA x 1 yr, Ortho RN x 1 yr, got my direct entry Masters, became Adult/Geriatric NP, have worked x 1+ yr as Geriatric NP, driving around all day in community doing house calls. Enjoy the job, but not the commuting and feeling alone all day, would like something different. Have looked for jobs, especially specialties and office practice, they all want 3+ years experience, don't know if I can stick it out 3+ years at this current job while I get the experience. Questions: 1)Go back to being RN (shorter commute, set schedule)? Maybe go into a specialty unit (ortho, cardio, oncology) to get experience for specialty NP jobs down the road? Or would I shoot myself in the foot, taking a "step down" to be RN instead of NP? 2) Try to be a nurse educator/clinical instructor? I do enjoy teaching CNAs/LPNs/RNs that I work with now, and I have an MSN. 3) Move away, hoping jobs are better outside a big city? I don't think my husband would like this answer - his job is not flexible! Sometimes I feel like you have to know someone to get a job and I don't have many contacts. Thanks for any advice!

I wear Peaches, Dickies, Cherokee scrubs mostly. Each brand has it's own fit, which is why I hate buying them online. I bought my first pair online and they were huge...you're right! The best places to go are the Work N'Gear stores (there's one in Watertown, they have a website with other locations too), and there's a place called Uniforms for America in Watertown center. You'd be amazed how hard it is to find teal scrubs around Boston. You could also check the MGH gift shop, where they sell pretty cheap scrubs. I only bought 2 pairs and I was fine for the whole year. Now that I'm working as an RN, I NEVER wear teal!! :) Um, words of advice...well, I'm doing the direct entry MSN and don't know anything about the DE BSN since it hasn't started yet. But mostly you are going to hit the ground running and you will be studying for tests and be on the hospital floors within a few weeks of classes...so enjoy your freedom now! When it comes to the classes, they are fast-paced, but you will get to know one another and can study/give advice/cope pretty well. The clinicals were the most nervewracking for me because I'd never worked in a hospital before. I dropped my stethoscope onto my patient's chest when I tried to take a blood pressure for the first time...I was so nervous! I felt like I knew nothing for a whole year and my brain hurt from learning new things every day. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel about your skills. I think the hardest thing for some classmates was having "people skills" and being comfortable interviewing patients and talking to them. If you can do that, you can learn the other stuff! You will find some teachers and clinical instructors who are very supportive and nice, and others who you just don't click with...just like real life, I guess. It's important to keep your head up and focus on your goal, no matter what happens or what someone says to you. Good luck and ask any questions...I was in your shoes a few years ago and sometimes it still feels like just yesterday when it all began.

I'm a current student at the IHP and you can wear any type you want, as long as it's teal. We all had different shades of teal in our first year, and each scrub brand makes a different "teal" color. They mostly don't want you to look too "sexy", with belly button showing, etc. Other than that, the style can be whatever you want. I found cargo pants helpful - I'm always carrying notes and pens on the floor.

Hi guys, I guess I'm the unofficial spokesperson for the MGH IHP program, since I don't see anyone else posting from my class. We had orientation for 2 days and basically we're going full throttle now. Classes are busy and fast paced, and we have lots of readings to do already. My first test is Sept 28!! and we have to perform a BP test to prove our capability within the next week. Kind of nervewracking, but fun and everyone's nice. Some people do get scholarships, but I don't know about grants. I took out loans so I'm not the best person to ask. My class is basically doing everything the other schools in Boston are doing - basic nursing skills (bed baths, bed pans, BP, etc). We have two clinical placements - psychiatric, which we started a week ago, and surgical, which begins in Oct. In these programs, you hit the ground running, so anyone who's applying, be ready to take on a full courseload and clear your calendar! Best of luck to all of you out there in school or applying. TGIF!! :beer: Diana

Hi everyone, Diana here from Oregon. I moved back to Boston last week(well, my parent's house in Brookline) and I start MGH on Sept 6. I've been reading any books I can get my hands on because I'm pretty bored. I'm used to school all the time! I ordered most of my books online and got the uniform stuff also. I wonder why we have to wear white shoes? They're going to be so hard to clean! Otherwise,I'm just counting down the days for school. I ride my bike everywhere, so I'm learning how to dodge traffic in Boston :rotfl: Glad to see that you guys are all doing well! And to the newbies who are thinking about applying to grad school: I was always the underdog in high school and college, getting solid B's but never the A student. I didn't think I could get into an MSN program, but my family suggested I try anyway. Lo and behold, I pulled it off! So don't be afraid to try! Diana

Hi everyone, It's Diana. I've been relaxing all summer and haven't checked the boards until now. It's awesome to hear from those of you who have started already. MGH begins on 9/7/05 I think!! Your stories sound so amazing - it's like you're learning new stuff every minute. I can't wait to start. I'll be packing up in Portland and driving cross country in early August. Man, driving from Oregon to Boston is going to be loooong. My dad's going with me :chuckle so we'll see how that goes. Glad to know everyone's doing well! I'll try to jump on the web more often! See ya

I think we start with one or two days, and we'll be placed around Boston, or in the vicinity of the city. No specifics yet, but we need to buy books, coat, scrubs, shoes, stethescope and bp cuff... I'm going to be totally broke for the next few years

I finally found you guys here on this new site. We're playing online hide and seek! :chuckle Nothing to report, just finishing up my last few classes so I can relax this summer. I got my email from MGH and we start clinicals in October - 7am starting time. I had no idea we'd be thrown into the mix so quickly, but it's exciting Diana

I'm starting MSN in September, so I'm finishing up Nutrition and Chem II right now. I'll have June, July and August off. Just have to take a CPR for Allied Health employees and I'm done. Can't wait to take long weekends and ride my bike around the Northwest. I volunteered at a hospital ER and it was great! You'll see much more excitement in summertime - get ready for drunk people lighting fireworks and injuring themselves :rotfl:

Hey Peachy you cracked me up with that "emoticonwhore" line... I totally abuse the priviledge on those things :chuckle See, there I go again! And BTW, don't get discouraged by the anti-accelerated posts on this website (on other threads). I made the mistake of looking at those first and I totally freaked out. Then I found this thread and felt much better. Have a nice weekend everyone! I'm studying for Chemistry today. I've managed to clean my house, get some shopping done and organize my closet, but can't seem to crack that book open yet.

UMass Worcester called today for an interview (at 6:45am!) I was still hitting the snooze button here in the West I didn't have the heart to say no, so I agreed to an interview next week. Should I cancel and get the inevitable denial letter, or go forward with it, even though I have no intention of following through and attending? I'm such a softie :smackingf Diana

I haven't gotten a call, but living on the west coast, I don't know how they'd expect me to get there for an interview. The application was due on March 1. If they do call, I'll just decline. MGH or Bust!