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!

Oh, don't worry about the GRE's! That is only one factor in the whole equation. I actually did better in math than the other areas, and I pretty much bombed the writing part :rotfl: I thought that my writing skills were really good, so I didn't bother practicing - bad idea. Hopefully your recommendations are good and your essays are insightful. From my experience, and from reading the boards, I've learned that there's no rhyme or reason to the selections made by many of these schools. Maybe they're picking from hats or throwing darts?! :chuckle Good luck! Just when I was at my lowest, I got in. So hold your head up!

Jen, I'm glad to hear someone else mention UMass Worcester! I haven't heard from them either, and I was starting to wonder if they ever received my application. It doesn't matter at this point anyway, but I'm still curious :chuckle Since I went to UMass Amherst, I thought it would be fun to continue the UMass tradition. However, Worcester's not really my idea of a fun city, so I'm glad I'll be in Boston instead.

I applied to NEU and got rejected. However, even when applying I was worried about how new the school was. They are in their 2nd year of direct entry... so none of their students have graduated yet, so I don't know how they will fare out of school (probably just fine). But I would say that the staff are very helpful and I was able to sneak a quick visit in with one of the head people and she was really nice. The program sounded good and I applied, but I think I will enjoy my time at MGH. I also applied to UMass Worcester, which no one has mentioned, so that's an option too. BTW, I was referring to U of Portland (we call it U of P here in Oregon) earlier. Sorry for the confusion.

Hi Rene, I didn't apply to U of P b/c it's a religious school, and OHSU only offers Midwifery and Mental Health tracks for their direct-entry program. I looked at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma but I didn't like the area very much and couldn't see myself there for 3 years. I am originally from Boston, so it wasn't a huge issue to move back home. I would like to return to Oregon after school is done :wink2: Diana

I applied to Northeastern and just found out via mail on Friday that I didn't get in. I live in Oregon, so by now most other states should have found out. I could say it bothered me, but I already got into MGH, so I don't really mind. :wink2: And they did not call me for an interview... hope this helps! Diana

Hi Kris, Diana here from Portland. I'll be seeing you at MGH this fall! I'm doing dual Adult/Gerontology but I'm sure we'll be in the same classes early on. I think there are about 4 of us on this board going to MGH. Congrats!

I accepted at MGH for the Geriatric program. So I'll be there in Sept. Diana

Hi guys, I'm here in Boston for a few days due to the funeral. I went over to MGH today to talk to the financial aid guy (very nice) and it looks like school will cost around $41K a year!! OMG! I was NOT prepared to hear that. He said that if you put in your acceptance letter, you'll shortly get a package with all the info about the school. They will also have a new student forum on their website where you can try to find roommates if you're from out of state, like me. He let me take my family around the school and poke our heads into the various rooms so if you just drop in, you can at least do that. I didn't have an appointment. Hope you get what you're looking for CAG! Definitely follow up with the schools! And Jess, could you tell me where to find the rankings on the schools? My family was interested in seeing that. Thanks! Diana

Hi everyone, My grandmother passed away on Friday night, but thankfully she was coherent when someone told her that I got into MGH. She cried out my name and was very happy, according to my family members. I'm so overwhelmed right now with both getting into school and losing my grandmother but it's been a great comfort to my relatives that there is good news mixed with the sadness. :) Speaking of my choice of specialty, I work for KinderCare but I am in the corporate office doing workers' comp claims, so I actually don't work with children :chuckle I feel much more comfortable with older folks than little kids and that's why I chose gerontology. I helped care for my g-parents for many years and became well aquainted with geriatric medicine as their health declined. I want to emphasize to Jess that it's really okay to put your kids in childcare. Kids are totally adaptable! My mom and dad worked my whole life and I had tons of babysitters and attended lots of after school programs (I don't think latchkey is a bad word!). Not only did I make friends and meet cool people, but I watched my mom succeed in the business world and show me that women can do anything. Many days I missed her company but as an adult now, I appreciate and respect her drive to make a better life for my family! And CAG in CA, I know how hard it is to wait, but you can do it!!! You'll see. Bye for now! Diana

I got in to MGH today for gerontology!!!!!! :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: Relief, sweet relief!! I am totally excited!!!! Thanks for keeping me from getting down after being rejected at Simmons.