Spearfisher

I have asked that a lot. The answer I get most often is that the hospital would rather not, but if they are not able to staff the ICU they will.

I am an RN studant and work as an ACP on the weekends. 1 month ago I was freaked out at a BS of 22. Then 2 weeks ago I go into a lady's room. She's unresponsive, but breathing. I see her uneaten lunch. I take her BS and it just says "LO". I know it is at least under 22 from previous and O chit. D50 on the way. She's OK now.

I'm a student. It's nice to hear a GOOD first day. Usually all I read about are the horror stories. Thanks for the post. It makes me feel less nervous.

The question I remember best is what d you do if you enter a pt.'s room and they are not responding. Remembered to check vitals, and ask about DNR. Good Luck.

In NE Florida, after you complete your first term of the nursing program, you can work as an assosiate care provider (ACP). An ACP is interchangeable with a CNA. That may be an easier route.

I agree whole heartedly with llg. Also, that the next time you are given a position of authority, act with authority and good communication skills even if it is just temporary/casual position.

In my program you have to have an 80% average on all test. The last final I took the was 22% of that average. When you think of how many people you would kill being right 4 out of 5 times it's not so bad. It's kinda scary either way.

At my school it is just used as a tool to locate your weak areas. They scheduled it during finals week 3 hrs before our Pharm. final. One guy (needing to cram for the final to make an A) just marked a for every question. He finnished the 2 hr test in under three min.s . I broke up laughing we he stood up and told the proctor he was done. Another student needing to study then did the same and walked out a few min.s later. It is a good tool, but my school did not schedule it at a good time.

If the business office is making these decisions, then they need to find the loop hole to the madness [like having a roaming nurse assigned to the acute care out patient department or the treatment room in the ER (on weekends)] make rounds giving the shots. Your facility, it seems, is just trying to make ends meet and give the patients what they need. I wouldn't consider it fraud (they were told what hoop to jump through to get reimbursed). I wouldn't call it abuse. I do agree it's a waste.

I wouldn't have went into my program if I considered quiting as an option. Commit yourself to doing it, then do it. There was a story I heard once: A kid complained to his grandfather he couldn't climb over the fence behind his house. His grandfather told him if he really wouldn't to climb over the fence he could help him. The boy assured his grandfather that he wanted to be able to climb the fence. The grandfather asked if there was any other way to get in the yard other than climbing the fence. The boy said no the fence went all the way around and the gate was always locked. The grandfather said okay are you ready? The boy excitedly said yes getting almost giddy. Then his grandfather reached over and grabbed the boys hat (that he knew the boy loved very much and was proud to have) and threw it over the fence. The grandfather said go get your hat. The boy made it over the fence then back over into his yard again with his new confidence. Sorry so long. I keep this story in the back in my head and occasionally, when the going gets tough, throw my hat over the fence. Quitting should not be an option. You can really do it if you throw your hat over the fence. Good Luck.

It was 12 years for me. I have done all my pre-req.s and just finished first term in the program. It is do-able. Being older gives you many advantages over the "kids". We may not absorb the info like sponges anymore, but we are more focused and have a stronger determination that only life can give us. I was sooo nervous my first day back, and so was everybody else (young and older). Budget your time, study hard, know that there may be times you want to quit, then stay with it and get your nursing degree. Good Luck.

If you can pass Algerbra you can definitely do the math needed in nursing. Med. calc. is way more simple than abstract math formulas that you can't figure out the use for. Good luck.

Man, I wish I had a cadaver or cats to disect in A&P I&II. I would have loved to have that experience. We did pig hearts and goat kidneys and such.

My GPA was 4.0, but my school has a point system. I CLEPed 3 classes and they were treated as Cs.

Soulshine, way to go on your success so far. I am very similar, I graduated in 92, 4.0 for pre-reqs, married, father, and I work full time. It is hard but, if your CC is on a points system and you have a 4.0 GPA I don't think you should worry too much. As a rule of thumb the 4.0 students get in. At my CC I was told by several people that they or someone they new had a 4.0 and couldn't get in (terrible, false rumors). I thought to myself: If they don't take the straight A students who do they take?" In my class there are a lot of us with 4.0s, but there are more without. Check with your CC's nursing department and ask them what the points are based on, if grades only how can you not get in. My CC's point system is half grades and half Nursing Aptitude Test score (with limited bonus points for experience in the healthcare field). Good Luck.