caringRN2B

Hello everyone, I'm feeling a lot better today than I was on Saturday when I recieved both of my decision letters from the two schools I applied to. I'm still in total amazement that I got both of the letters on the same day. Talk about a double wammy! Anywho, I was devasted that I was put on the wait list at both schools. I was just sitting there saying, how can this be, I have straight A's and I did pretty good on the TEAS test, not as good as I would have liked, but still very good compared to others, and I have all my classes done with the exception of microbiology which I am taking right now. After this semester is over, I have nothing else to take. So, I spent the weekend crying. Well, today I contacted the school of my choice and asked them a few questions. First of all, they offered me a conditional acceptance for the following fall 2006 term. Wasn't sure what "conditional" meant, so I wanted that cleared up. Basically, it means that I have to fulfill all the requirements after being accepted like, physical, immunizations, cpr cert, cori/sori, ect. and then the acceptance is official. No problems there. So, woo hoo!!! At least I know I'm in for 2006. But, the best news they gave me is that unlike other schools, they keep their wait list down to a very small minimum. 20 people, that's it, and I'm one of them! (Granted, I'd rather be totally accepted and not wait listed but hey, I'll take what I can get). They won't tell me where I am on the list, but even if I am dead last, there is a very good chance I could still get in for 2005. The other school had a wait list of over 100 applicants, and that's the norm at most schools from what I understand. So, I was told in a couple of weeks I will be getting info on all the orientation sessions and registrations and all that. I'm going to be going through the ropes just like I am accepted in the event I get moved off the wait list I'm ready to go. So, wish me luck!! I'm feeling a lot more optimistic today than I was Saturday! And that is why I say, its not so bad to be wait listed after all! Janet

Hello, I came to this board because I figured I could get the best advice. I finally recieved my long awaited decision letters from the two schools I applied to. The good news, I wasn't rejected, the bad news, I wasn't exactly accepted either, I was wait listed at both. My school of choice stated that if an opening does not come available for fall/2005, I am conditionally accepted into the fall/2006 program. However, they can call me up until the very last day of August to tell me if a seat came open for fall/2005. In my letter, all it says is that they will notify me immediately should a slot come available for 2005. But, I know the nursing students, prior to starting the curriculum in the fall go through several orientation sessions. There was no mention of when these sessions will be held or that I should attend just incase. Here is my question: I want to attend these sessions just incase I get that call that a slot is open so I am on top of everything, but, there was no invitation that allows the wait list people to go. I was wondering if I would be out of line if I contacted the director of the program, who is one of the educators as well, and ask her if I can attend these sessions just in case, and so I am prepared in the event that I a slot comes open. Would I seem pushy? I just want to be prepared. I don't want to get that call at the end of August (well, ofcourse I want to get the call, lol), and not be prepared and be totally lost and have to rush to do everything I need to do in a week. So, long question made short, as educators, and if your school does not openly offer these orientation sessions to the wait list people, would you be upset or happy that someone approached you asking if they could attend? How should I ask? I don't want to ruin my chances of getting off this wait list by seeming overly persistent either. Thanks for any suggestions you may be able to give! Janet

I know how you feel. The waiting really stinks. At my schools, the applications started in Oct/04 and the deadline was by the end of Dec/04. We took our entrance exams (TEAS test) in Jan/05, and I've been waiting ever since. One of my friends from school was brave enough to call and find out what was going on with the applications and he found out that the letters (acceptance/rejection/wait list) should be going out by the end of the 2nd week of March, so hopefully, it won't be too much longer before I find out. But, I'm not holding my breath. I'm guessing it won't be until April. I know a lot of people in the nursing program who didn't hear until mid April. In the meantime, I'm driving my family nuts because I am constantly running to the mailbox to get the mail, see if the mailman has arrived (I think the poor man feels I'm a bit on the crazy side because I'm usually standing there waiting for him if I happen to be home). All and all, I'm doing everything I can to keep myself occupied until I find out. So, sounds like a lot of us are in the same boat. Good luck to everyone who is waiting!!!

Its funny that I came across a post with this subject. My fiance and I were just having a discussion about this exact topic the other day. I can certainly see a financial institution running credit checks for liability issues, but, I really don't see how it could possibly pertain to something in the health field or anywhere else other than a financial type job. Like someone else previously mentioned, there are a lot of reasons for a person having a not so good credit history or for filing bankruptcy. For me, I've never filed bankruptcy, but I can tell you, since I was laid off 2 years ago and decided to go to school (at the time my fiance was working and although we wouldn't be living in the lap of luxury we'd at least be able to pay our bills), and then my fiance was laid off 6 months later and it took him another 6 months to find work, our credit has been destroyed. I know a couple of friends (not in the health or financial field) who have been declined work because of their credit for a lot of the same reasons I just mentioned that affected their credit. I don't know how in the world a person can attempt to rebuild their credit standing if they can't get a job because of poor credit. Its an endless vicious circle and personally, and this is just me, I don't think its right and it shouldn't be allowed. Trying to find a job in this day and age is hard enough (other than the health field, at least in my area), and its stressful enough just interviewing and hoping this time your resume and interview will stand out without having to worry about your credit interferring as well. I don't know, I don't think it should have any part in deciding whether or not a person should be hired. Again, that's just me.

I am a 35 year old single mom going back to school for nursing and its tough. But I can tell you, I have 2 male classmates, one is 47 and the other 52, both persuing nursing degrees after being in totally different fields (one a computer programer, the other was in sales) and they switched and went to school for the same reason as you, they felt it was a calling. The 47 year old has 3 small children and the 52 year old has two in college. I'm not going to lie to you, its tough for them both financially and mentally for many reasons, I know it weighs heavily on their minds that they are not able to support their families the way they once did and they both feel very selfish for going after their dreams. But their families are very supportive and so are we as classmates. I know the one with the younger children has taken out a few alternative student loans to make ends meet while he's in school, I'm not sure what the other does. I think nursing school is rough for the student, the family and everyone and everything surrounding it, but its well worth it in the end. I guess the point to my post is, no, you are not out of your mind. Go for your dream, you deserve it. It will all pay off in the end. Good Luck!!!

Several years ago, I was hired at an assisted living facility as a CNA. I had been a CNA for many years and had worked in nursing homes and thought the assisted living job would be a welcomed change of pace. My duties when I was hired, I was told, would be much like a light duty CNA job. Okay, great, I thought. I didn't last more than one hour on my first day. I was told that part of my job would be to give meds to the residents. Ofcourse, I immediately refused because I knew a CNA couldn't administer meds. I wasn't comfortable doing that and I certainly didn't want to jeopordize the license of the RN I would be administering those meds under. I don't know, I may seem closed minded, but even back then, before I even knew what it took to be a nurse, I KNEW that nurses went to school for several years to learn about meds and there had to be a reason for it. I didn't want to risk the lives of people by giving meds when I didn't have the full knowledge it requires to administer them. I don't agree with med assistants. To me, its very scary and dangerous. I wouldn't do it then, and I certainly wouldn't want an aide giving me meds if I needed them. If they want to give meds, they should go to nursing school. But, that's just my opinion.