Annesy

I am so glad this was a helpful post. I know that I can't be the only one concerned about my post-DSN career. Thanks for the California information RNnewgrad. I am actually from SoCal, and plan to move back there as soon as I finish my RN program. I will be contacting a number of schools and programs to find out what their position is on DSN grads. We were considering WA as well, but I am focusing on Cali now. Cheers, Anne

Hi All, I am in the ADN RN (graduate June 2007) program at DSN. I was about to withdraw recently, because I was afraid that other nursing schools would not admit me to their BSN, or graduate nursing programs. If anyone else is worried about that, here is a little bit of relief for you... I wrote to MSCD, CUHSC, and UW Tacoma (possible relocation in the works). I explained that we are not as of yet NLN accredited, but we are of course CO State board approved. So far, MSCD and UW have been very excited about me (!??), and enthusiastically invited me to apply. CUHSC is meeting to decide, but they may have to say yes, due to the CO Nursing School Consortium agreement. Of course being a candiate for admission is much different than being accepted, but at least the option exists. CU seemed to know ALL about DSN, and I have the feeling that they are keeping their eyes on what's happening at DSN. YAYAYAYAYA!!!!!! :cheers: Best to students at DSN and elsewhere, Anne

Thank you for your responses! Even with so much job related discussion in this forum, it's hard to understand exactly what people do at work, and how they feel about it. Any LPN's or OB Techs, I hope to hear from you! Thank you, Anne

Dear Nurses, Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice. I have a few questions, for any LPN's who may be out there, working in prenatal, intrapartum, and/or post delivery care. Are you in a hospital or clinic setting? What is your job title? Are you working as a nurse, or an OB Tech? A description of your specific job responsibilities (i.e., what exactly do you do at work)? Do you have any special training or background for your position? What challenges do you face? How do you feel about your job? Your specialty area? Thank you so much for your input. Cheers, Anne

Dear Nurses, Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice. I have a few questions, for any LPN's who may be out there, working in prenatal, intrapartum, and/or post delivery care. You might be in a hospital or clinic setting. What is your job title? Are you working as a nurse, or an OB Tech? A description of your specific job responsibilities (i.e., what exactly do you do at work)? Do you have any special training or background for your position? What challenges do you face? Do you feel about your job? Your specialty area? Thank you so much for your input. Cheers, Anne

Hi There, I am not a CO native, but I do live in Evergreen. We absolutely love it here! I am in nursing school in Denver, and my husband works in Golden. I have worked as a CNA at various hospitals in the Denver metro area, of which there are many, so I've done various commutes. If you want snow and wildlife, this is the perfect place. We have elk, deer, bears, and probably many other creatures that lurk about in the dark, unseen. Our neighborhood backs up against Arapahoe National Forest, where we hike, ski, mtn bike, and I am sure you can snowmobile. A lot of people in our neighborhood zip around on snowmobiles all winter, to get the mail, to drop off kids at the bus, to visit the neighbors, etc. About Evergreen: -It is very large. The north side is more developed, (north of downtown Evergreen and the lake) and is much closer to I-70 and Denver. The south side is rural and much less expensive. We live in south EG. -The north side of Evergreen has more expensive homes (many in the millions). It has a really fun little downtown with galleries, cafes, shops, live music venues, a winery, and bars. There is also a gorgeous log community center right on the lake. We have numerous open space parks with trails, and two big rec centers with indoor pools, gym, spinning, a climbing wall, etc. We have three giant grocery stores, banks, and all of the services any larger town might have, minus the hideous strip malls and what I consider the ugliness of your basic bland suburban neighborhood. -We got over 250 inches of snow last year. We skied in our backyard! -The commute in winter time can be a challenge. It takes me easily an hour to get to the hospital, but we live in a far south west corner of Evergreen. People on the north side can be in Denver in 20 minutes. Our roads are not always plowed as early as I need to leave, so it has taken me longer than an hour. I have considered spending the night in Denver the night before a 12 hour shift, just to not have to worry about the morning drive, but I haven't yet. -We have more than an acre, a beautiful new house, and awesome neighbors. I couldn't be happier, but I am not an urban city type of person. I love the altitude (9000 feet), the aspens, the clean air, and the characters that live near us. If you want the name of our realtor, I would be happy to pass it on to you. It's a "buyer's market", with plenty of choices, and many bargains to be had. We moved here from Orange County, CA, so it seemed to us that the houses were being practically given away. I am sure you would have a similar feeling coming from Boston. We rented a condo in Golden for about two months, so we could look for our house, and check out all of the surrounding towns. It would be hard to do from across the country. Good luck with your move, Anne

Whoops...I forgot to offer the heartiest of congratulations on passing your boards! The director of nursing at DSON came running into our class a few days ago to announce that their first student had passed! She was very proud, and I am assuming it was you! How is your first nursing job going? Best, Anne

Hi DanaS and Infullbloom, I am a current student at DSON. I am very, very curious about what IFB's response might be to DS's questions?? Would you mind sharing your thoughts more publicly? Thanks so much, A slightly nervous DSON'er, Anne

Just wanted to back up Tlackey regarding the quality of my experience at DSON. I feel the same as she does about the program so far. I was fairly nervous regarding the lack of accredidation situation, until she posted the facts about the lack of accredidation at other schools. That is really great information. Thanks! I will be more concerned about it later in my education, if my credits and classes at DSON are not accepted at other schools. I plan to investigate that very soon, and I will post about how it goes. Like she said though, I love my instructors, my clinical instructor, having them actually know my name(!!!), seeing the same friendly faces in class, and the environment of an institution devoted solely to educating nurses. I like the throw back style to diploma programs our mothers were in. I am primarily interested in the technical nursing training, and if I want another academic degree, such as a BSN or MSN, I will head to a University later on. All of the students are serious about their education goals, and we even have a handful of people commuting from nearly two hours away. People have done their research previous to selecting DSON, and they REALLY want to be nurses! The experience of the instructors at other highly regarded institutions such as Regis and UCHSC is comforting. I expect the school will become an important and well regarded local instituion as more cohorts pass the boards and do well in their jobs. Regarding a post in the other DSON thread, about continuing to work as a CNA in light of the costs of school, well that is just not an option for us. I don't think continuing on in nursing at the lowest level of responsibility, reimbursement, general respect, and knowledge about healthcare would be statisfying to anyone in our class. Hence the acceptance of high fees (less $$ than Concorde's LPN program, by the way) and the newness and growing pains of the school. I understand being suspicious of something new and seeimingly too easy (no waiting list!?), as I am in the program, and wondering how it will all work out for me in the long run. DSON is trying to educate more nurses, and since CO has one of the worst shortages in the USA, it's really important that they be successful. Best to all who head to DSON, Anne

well, i stand by my comment. perhaps i am a naive and new to the nursing world though. what is it, if not selfish, to put your personal needs above those of the people in your care, those who are literally in your hands? rings carry nasty bacteria, so why is it even an issue? my rings are very special to me too. but, i would not want to unwittingly introduce vre, mrsa, or whatever else is floating around the unit, to a sick person, and possibly make them sicker. can you, or someone else, please clearly explain, in light of infection control, spread of disease, and the proliferation of drug resistant bacteria in health care settings, why you wear rings, which are known resevoirs of bacteria?

hi ruby and everyone, seems the argument about rings comes down to three issues: 1) wanting to protect your jewelry from the wear and tear of nursing work 2) sacred/religious/personal aspects of jewelry pieces 3) wanting to protect your patients from harbored bacteria in rings i don't think she is trying to tell you what to do with your jewelry, whether it is wedding, religious, or a fun piece. the fact remains, jewelry harbors bacteria, which can be transmitted between patients, and even to your family at home. your religious feelings toward your jewelry should take second place to your professional obligation as a nurse, which to is protect patients. i think it is very selfish of you to prioritize your need to wear rings, versus the patient's right to bacteria-free care. if you need to wear your rings, put them on necklace, so they are at least off of your fingers. why do nurses have to argue so much about something that is a known fact, is even a rule in most hospitals, and as educated professionals, we should just know? remember hand hygiene? what would florence think? a married and ringless nursing student, anne

Hi Dana, I just started the LPN program last week. I went with the Sallie Mae loan, as we just bought our house and don't have much equity yet. Home equity is probably better though, because the SM loan is to be paid back at "current market interest rates", which apparently can be as high as a credit card rate. Your mortagage and equity loans are probably at a much lower rate. I don't know what exactly they are looking for in your background check, but I am sure you could find out through the board of nursing or even DSON. I think they are looking for big stuff, like abuse/felony, maybe drug stuff. I dunno. I am sure crazy teenager stuff isn't going to keep you out. Good luck with all of your decisions. Anne

Hi Tracy! Good to hear from another DSON'er. I never even went on a wait list at the community colleges, Regis, or UCHSC. I moved here from CA last summer, and did a little research from there on the Denver area options. I assumed Denver wouldn't have the same problems that SoCal does (2-3 year long wait lists, not enough instructors, etc.), but it definitely does. It may even be worse here, due to the fewer number of schools! Anyway, I am just thrilled to be starting my nursing education, FINALLY, after years of pre-reqs and searching. Do you plan to go somewhere else for the RN and/or BSN? I saw you mentioned CCD's online option. I live about an hour (without snow!) from LoDo, so the online option would be great for me! I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is still a viable option for us. My only concern is that if DSON is not accredited by the time we graduate, we will have issues getting into advanced degree programs. One step at a time I guess! Have you worked in health care before? I have been a CNA for about a year and half, to confirm my suspicions that I want to become a nurse. Before that I taught school for five years. Do you know how many people will be in our class? Looking forward to it all!!! Best, Anne

Hi infullbloom et al! I am starting the LPN program this summer too! Same reasons as well (long wait lists, already have the bachelor's). Are you planning on working while in school? Are you a CNA? And hey, Adventure Girl...how's it going? Any other future DSON LPN students out there?

Thanks for the support! I actually did just resign from my CNA position. I am in no way discouraged to become a nurse however. My classes start in June, and until then I will be traveling and skiing. I resigned because the job was too stressful, very low paid at $11.50/hour, and tiring, in return for the huge daily effort I was putting in. It was an interesting window into the world of nursing though, and I completely recommend CNA work to those interested in changing careers, or those just starting out. As a teacher, I had an inkling of what nurses actually do, but no specific picture of "a day in the work life of an RN". I feel so ready to start clinicals!

You are right. There is very little rest, lunch is often not until 2pm, and I am totally tired the next day. Try to avoid more than 2 twelve's in a row, otherwise you will burn out. Most of the CNA's I work with are students, and they seem to manage one shift a week, but they always have stuff to study in the even they get a minute off.

I've only been a CNA for a year and a half, and in that time, I have floated to all ICU/Neuro ICU/CCU, etc., types of units. Generally there are only two maximum CNA's, depending on the size of the unit. CNA work is more about scurrying around doing random tasks (emptying foleys, helping with code Browns, oral temps, suctioning, checking O2 sats, stocking supplies, moving a pt to a floor; generally the gross and/or mindless stuff that needs to be done but can be delegated) than a daily set of responsibilities that is typical on a floor. i like the ICU's because of the totally different type of nursing than what happens on a medical or tele floor. or any floor, they are all so different.

hi Kddex, i am currently working as a CNA on a tele unit. my job is super interesting. here's a typical day for me (not including all of the unexpected events of course, which are many). I work 12 hour shifts in a hospital with a very well known Heart Center and CCU; lots of patients!! 0645: get report from night shift CNA, and a list of my patients and the nurses that have them. 0700: introducing myself to pts, do vitals, some orthostatics, help pts to bathroom, work as fast as i can safely afford to, as this is for 10-13 patients in all ranges of indenpence and level of accuity. 0830: chart vitals, help with breakfasts, baths, beds, bathroom, ADL's, ambulate pt's, get transfers from ED and CCU, or overflow from wherever. 1100: second set of vitals, blood sugars on ACHS people, help with lunches, transfering zillions of patients to/from treadmills, cath lab, xray, PICC placements (IR), etc. more baths and ADL's for the late sleepers. 1400: I&O's (most cardiac patients, esp. CABG people are on strict fluid restrictions. empty foleys, hats, ostomy bags, tally up drinks from B and L trays, and water pitcher, pass more ice water for those who can have more. 1500: third set of vitals. usually a lot of admits at this time, after the poor person has been languishing in ED since like 0300 (they are usually very unhappy, hungry, tired, scared, etc. by the time they get up to tele) we have 2-3 circ nurses, that only do admits and discharges because we have SO MANY people coming and going on Tele. You will too. : ) 1600: second round of blood sugars, lots of charting on vitals, ADL's, sugars. D/C iv's, foleys for those who have been discharged. 1700: ambulate, dinner stuff, bathroom stuff. transferring patients to TCU, home, SNF, wherever. help secretary take off orders. clean up the floor, empty linen, be a gopher for the nurses. 1930: exhaustion. drive home, eyes droopy, back tired, frazzled, stressed, full of new learning experiences. one day closer to being a nurse myself. FYI, in my experience, many tele, if not most tele patients, have had open heart surgery, so they are on "sternal precautions", which means they can do just about nothing for themselves, even if they are young-ish (40's would be young), so you have to be prepared to do a lot of hard work. Also, a cool thing about tele, is many patients need cardiac monitoring, but they have other, non-cardiac medical issues, so you can learn quite a bit. Also, code Blue ("COR") gets called pretty frequently, relative to other floors I think), so be prepared for that. And it seems to me that many tele patients are extremly old people, just aging naturally, yet they are subjected to so many painful and pointless, invasive procedures that they end up dying from. Why put a pacer in a confused 97 year old lady?? But you will have NO option to voice your concerns, because as the CNA, you do what you are told, and what the patient needs. Healthcare sometimes seems to be about keeping suffering people alive at any cost. Of course, you will learn tons about cardiac meds, EKG strips, crazed doctors, and CCU nurses who are just very impressed with themselves. As far as CNA work goes, I would recommend it.