Love2ReadRN

I prefer longer shifts too. I can't imagine having to go into work 5 days vs 3! I know the shifts are longer but in all honesty the extra four hours aren't that bad.

Last I looked into Hawaii nrsg schools was 5 years ago. At that time, it was highly competitive though and I'm not sure that has changed. I've always thought of it like this: UHM - BSN, competitive. Need as close to a 4.0 as possible. Price - in state is around high 5000.00 and out of state is around 14000.00 a semester. (I actually just looked this up because I was curious so those prices are current. That seems really high to me. But this is for NURSING which is more expensive than general undergraduate) HPU - BSN, private, expensive. No clue. KCC - ASN, still competitive but also I think there is a wait list? Resident: 2320.00 per year (2 semesters) Non Resident: 7000.00 per year (2 semesters) I think there are schools on the other islands (Like, UH - Hilo and some on Maui) but I am not familiar with them. There are also maybe other nursing schools on Oahu... maybe on the West side.. but I'm not familiar with them. I would suggest, if you're a new student, going to KCC and getting ALL your general education out of the way and getting straight A's. You will need to transfer to UHM before you start nursing school but you could really save money getting general education at KCC! Associate Degree in Nursing Program

Absolutely 100% get a BSN. Athough yes, it looks good on paper, it will open doors for you that an ASN will not. If you have any interest in ever getting away from bedside nursing, you should go back. The only suggestion is finding a hospital that will pay you to do it (My hospital paid almost 100% of it)

I second that you should look at state schools. I got my BSN through a state school even though it was all online it was substantially cheaper than I thought it would be (Part time for 2 years, ~10,000.00) Most schools offer an online option because they know we're busy professionals who do not have time to get to school 1+ days a week.

Anyone taken it recently? I have to take it soon and Ifailed horribly the first time I took it right out of nursing school 3 yearsago (Not that I was only one - I was in a highly competitive fellowship programof 75 new nurses and 55 of us failed!) I'm a nurse that passed NCLEX with 75questions so I assure you I'm not completely inept.. I just don't test well thisway. I'm terrible at scenarios like that. In the hospital setting I tend toknow so much more about the patient and can't think on my feet better. A 5minute video just doesn't do it for me Anyway they never made me take it over (not sure why?) Andnow that I'm at a new job I have to take it again for them. I'm not concernedabout failing it because I know they won't fire me (they even said "Don't worryif you fail, It's not a big deal.. You'll just retake it later").. I just don'twant to look like a total idiot and would like to prepare at least a little. Thoughts on topics/scenarios suggestions to study would behelpful. So far I've got: MI, CVA, DKA, ARF, Dig Toxicity (Definitely remember that one) For anyone who doesn't know: PBDS is an assessment toolhospitals use for new hires. They can generally be split into topics and I willbe taking the Med-Surg one (vs OB, ICU, etc.) There are different parts but themost difficult is 12 or so videos that you watch once and then type everything,in great detal, that you would do. Some of them are obvious but most of themaren't. You say what you think it is andthen write what you would do as well as what you would tell the doctor and whatyou anticipate him/her to tell you to do.

Hi Snowyeyes, First of all, I want to say I know exactly how I feel and to be honest, my anxiety got a lot worse once I started working on the hospital floor (with 5-6 patients). However, having said that, I also gained an insane level of confidence because I was able to do something I was so scared of. You have the tools, YOU CAN DO IT! I feel so strong that I'm a nurse and sure it's difficult but I'm putting in my time until I can get a better job. I love being a bedside nurse but I can't do it forever. Unfortunately, at least in my area, you need a BSN to move away from bed side nursing. Some jobs (rarely) a BSN is enough to get your foot in the door but really, they want a BSN and 1 year experience..and honestly, I've started seeing 2 years a lot more frequently. Those other jobs ARE highly sought after and they easily go to the BSN prepared nurses. Although being enrolled in a BSN program will help set you apart from the ASN nurses, you still need that BSN to be completed to actually get the good job. Here are some jobs: Review Nurse/Insurance Nurse (Usually M-F, work with insurance claims) Case Management (Usually M-F, works in hospital setting and still works with patients but it's not skills-based which, at least for me, is where the anxiety has come in the past) Education (No idea on hours... Hard to get into and you need experience...Rarely see job openings...You could work as a patient educator, do in service in the hospital for hospital employees, or work with educating new hired nurses) in fellowship programs) Doctor office nursing (Varied hours... Only knew 1 ASN with no experience to get this job and it's because she worked for him for ever before and during nursing school.) Hospital Admin (again you need experience and a BSN) Good luck :)

I am an RN. When I move to Hawaii I will have been out of nursing school for 5 years and have approximately 3.5 years of experience (some of that part-time but I don't think that matters too much.) My experience is ALL in acute care areas (hospitals; orthopedics, post-op, just general med-surg "hospital nursing"). None of my experience is in high acuity though.. ER, ICU, etc. Based on your experiences being RNs in Hawaii: Do you think I will have difficulty getting a nursing job? I am considering going back for my masters to simply help me stand apart from the group as I would like to have as many doors open as posisble. If I started soon I would be done with my masters right before getting to Hawaii. My master degree wouldn't be a NP but rather nurse admin, public health, education, or general MSN. Some jobs that appeal to me would like to be a nurse educator in a hospital setting, a public health nurse in the community, manager in hospital admin.. but really, just throwing out ideas.. I'm just not one of those people who is going to be a bedside nurse forever. Do you think a master's is worth it? I know that for some of the jobs listed above I *need* a master's but not for all. (My homestate school will be 15,000.00 for my master's.) Just looking for thoughts from RNs with experience in Hawaii. I know alot of you are saying it's difficult with no or little experience. Just wondering what is considered "enough" experience. Thanks!!

Well I did a ton of research on online RN-BSN programs and I don't remember seeing University of Central Missouri! How weird. I really wish I had gone with them - I would've saved myself thousands of dollars!!! I went with UMSL. Avoid Chamberlain and Central Methodist. I am actually really unhappy with UMSL but that's for another post. My online RN-BSN is PT for ~13,000.00 and it'll take me 2 years. I'm fine with the time as I'm in my 20s and working FT. I have all my prereqs and general education completed prior to this program so all I needed were the core upper level nursing classes needed for the BSN.