smelendez

Ok, here is a silly question. It's obvious that females dominate the nursing profession and I have accepted that since I decided to enter the field of nursing. I also know that pretty much whatever schools I decide to attend to further my education (BSN, NP), I (being a male) will be outnumbered by females. My question is (more of a concern), how about attending schools that seem to be mostly for females? For example, Texas Womens? Frontier school for nurse midwifery? Looking at the picture of some students on the home page for Frontier, they all seem to be females, not one guy. I'm not really interested in Texas Womens but Frontier's FNP program seems like a great program and one that will probably fit my needs. Do some schools like these not accept male applicants or does that type of discrimination not even exist? Should I even be concerned with something as silly as this? thanks

Hey guys I have a question regarding what you believe about the future of CRNA programs.... There is a supposed shortage of anesthesia providers..... is it getting worst or is it improving? If the shortage continues, do you guys believe CRNA programs will change their requirements about previous critical care experience for applicants? Some NP programs, especially for Family NP don't have a previous experience requirement. I've even heard that some CRNA programs in the first days of class tell their students to throw all their RN thoughts out the window and start from scratch in CRNA school. Don't the programs provide all the necessary education and knowledge needed to be a good CRNA, even without previous experience? Or, Do you believe the requirements will become even stricter and make acceptance into CRNA programs even more competitive?

I saw frontiers website and they require 1 year RN experience, but extensive experience in other healthcare field would be considered. Would a paramedic of 8+ years have much problem going straight to an NP program without any RN experience. I know the RN experience must be valuable but my previous paramedic experience in the prehospital setting should also be beneficial. What do you guys think?

I know for CRNA programs they REQUIRE at least 1 yr critical care. Do NP programs require any type of experience? I understand it is highly recommended...but could someone go straight through from ADN, to BSN to NP without actually working as a nurse?

The BSNs I'm looking at only require 4 hrs of general chemistry! The one I really like is all online, done in 2 semesters, 30 credit hours. (texas tech health science center) Any other chemistry I take will be beyond that.

Wow, I'm sure biochem, organic, plus physics will make a well rounded applicant and will definitely look good on application. All those would put me back 1-2 years though. When I'm ready to apply, with 1 year of gen chem only, I should have the minimum requirements. Probably not the best application compared to others but at least the minimum. If I don't get accepted then I can spend the next year beefing up my application. Does that make sense?

How much chemistry do MOST schools require? Is 8 hours enough? For my BSN I will be only required 8 hrs chemistry. I think Intro to Chemistry and General Chem I will suffice for that requirement. Will that be enough for most programs? I know it varies by program, but for those of you already in, how much chemistry did you guys have? Initially I was planning on taking Gen Chem II and Org Chem I and II, but if I don't have to I won't. Save some time and $$. Thanks

Are there many male nurses in NICUs? How are they looked upon? I'm currently a paramedic working on my nursing degree. My ultimate goal is NP or CRNA. As far as NPs go I'm interested in PNP or NNP. I think experience in NICU also counts for some CRNA programs so I'm thinking about seeking opportunities in an NICU after obtaining my RN license and I was wondering if you have worked with many male NICU nurses, or even male NNPs. Thanks!

Returning to the original question about part time ICU... I know a guy who spoke the the program he was interested in applying and told them he would only be able to get part time experience before applying because he wanted to keep his Fire Dept job for its flexibility with school. What they did accept, and he starts this fall in that program, was 2 years of part time ICU experience. They stated that would be equivalent of 1 year full time. I thought that was pretty interesting!

Two questions: 1).I know this has been asked many times and I know many people have done it. I would like to hear from those that have been accepted with only 1 year of ICU experience at time of CRNA school. Meaning you had about 6 months ICU at time of application. What where your stats? Did you have previous experience that might have given you an edge? How about certifications? 2). I've heard of pediatric anesthesia....but, for CRNAs is there an additional internship or specialization in pediatrics if I want to focus on pediatric anesthesia? How does it work if I wanted to become a pediatric CRNA? Or do all CRNAs handle all types of patients? Thanks!!!!

Currently a Paramedic working on my RN, I wanted to post a reply to this thread. I'm not defending rude behavior by any EMS worker because it is inappropriate and unprofessional. What bothers us EMS workers at times is when we are called out to pick up patients that could be transported by private transfer ambulance services. When we are called out to 911 calls we expect to be responding to life or death emergencies. Some times doctors offices or nursing homes call 911 because they don't want to wait a longer time for a private ambulance service and they know when they call 911 that an ambulance will show up quicker. That is the only time I personally get upset. Not really angry, it just bothers me. Instead of being rude I just mention to the nursing staff to try to call a transfer ambulance next time. In the case you mentioned, a hypoxic patient with altered mental status seemed like an emergency and I would not have even thought of complaining. I would have just been focused on pt care. On what you state you have more education than paramedics, I'd have to say you actually do. Does that make you any better than us? Can you intubate? Read and interpret ECGs and 12 leads? Surgical airways? Chest decompressions? I can also complain about rude ER nurses that act like we are bringing them pts because its fun for us. We know they are busy but we still get called and have to transport pts to the ER. They also get angry when we don't call ahead of time that we are bringing them pts. That is a courtesy. People don't call the ER before they decide to walk into one. We will quit bringing in pts when they turn off the big red 'Emergency Room' sign out front! So instead of continuing or starting a fight between EMS and nurses, I think we should just work as a team to improve pt care.

I'm not sure it can be done all over the summer. What I get from the site is that it takes 2 semesters to finish the program and you can start during any semester (spring, summer or fall). Spring and Fall semesters are 16 weeks long, Summer only 10 weeks. The 2 different summer sessions listed describe what a student will be taking if he/she is either a 1) student just starting the program in the summer (in their 1st semester), or 2) a student taking his/her 2nd semester in the summer. That's what I understand. Haven't spoken with anyone about it. Maybe I'm wrong. Sammy

Hello there! I'm also a firefighter/paramedic going on to nursing. I have yet to take my NC1 test from Excelsior, due to financial reasons. I believe I'm ready for it though. Maybe in the next week or so I can get it done. My goal is not to work on the side as a nurse. My ultimate goal is to become a CRNA. So when I complete my ADN I'll be looking for a full-time position in a busy ICU to gain critical care experience while I work on my BSN. (That'll be a huge step, to leave the fire department.) For you nurses out there: Should it be easy to go right into an ICU as a new nurse? Sammy

I'm actually in Houston. I know the Texas Tech program is only 2 full time semesters. Do you know how long the WTAMU program is? My ultimate goal is CRNA! I haven't completed my ADN yet but I'm just planning ahead of time.

Anyone have any information about the RN-BSN programs offered at Texas Tech and West Texas A&M? Anyone a student there or know anyone in those programs?