nurse34

I have a friend that is wanting to become a ultrasonographer and she asked me about schools, message boards, etc. like I have with allnurses.com. I told her that I had no idea and to try checking the web. The only thing she has been able to find is Sanford-Brown Institute. She is in the Houston area and I told her I would ask you folks to see if you knew anything about the school/career. When I looked on the internet....I saw Sanford Brown in alot of states. Thanks for any information!

Hello all! I just started my Lifespan Psychology class this past Monday and I wanted to get a head start on my research paper but I am at a total loss at what to write about. Basically the assignment is to compare the behavior or attitude about an issue of six people in two different age groups, three in each group. I want it to be something different but I am stumped! I've thought of the abortion issue, political issue, etc but I'm sure those have been done several times over. Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

Hello all. I am getting ready to have a hysterectomy and wanted some input from any of you who have had one. I'm only 34 but I've been dealing with several female issues for about 4 years and since I'm done having children my GYN suggested this route. I will have both ovaries as well as my uterus taken out. What has been your experience? I look forward to my pain being relieved and no more periods but wonder what other issues I will have to deal with now. My dr. has already stated that I would be put on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. I've been reading up on all of this but still would really appreciate some feedback. Also, I'm getting ready to start school this summer and have a husband that works offshore so timing is very important. Is there something that the dr. can do to either make me start my cycle early or delay it all together? Thanks in advance!

Hi CV! As I'm sure you have read this thread that HCC's nursing program is not that good. I was so disheartened because that right now is my only chance in going to nursing school! So I'll be right there with ya! I hope to start my clinicals in the fall of 2006. I also read your thread about Pharmacology. I am way scared because of the horror stories I've heard about Pharm at HCC! I just went to an information session last week and they told us we could take Pharm elsewhere. That is very weird! But if you can test out of it...more power to you! Good luck to you!

Hi there! Just thought I would give you my 2 cents worth! We moved to Katy just about 2 years ago specifically for the schools. My son is in 3rd grade and Katy ISD has been really good to him. We live in an older neighborhood that will not grow anymore...thank goodness! We love it out here! They are getting ready to start building 1 maybe 2 hospitals right off of I-10. But the med center is just a straight shot down I-10 and takes about 30 minutes! St. Christus is right off of I-10 and Fry and then there is Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital off of I-10 and Pin Oak. The houses are very reasonable too. Hope this helps! Good luck to you!

Well, I don't know if I would be one to answer this since I haven't taken Microbiology yet but I have taken AP1 and made an A in it without much effort. I had a really good professor and I think that makes all the difference in the world! Just my 2 cents worth! Hope this helps!

Wow!!! I'm impressed!!! It's good to hear success stories like that! If I waited until I didn't have to work.........I'd be retired! That is just not an option and I'm tired of putting off my nursing degree so I'm just going to bite the bullet and pray real hard!

While I am waiting to start my clinicals would it be possible to get the books and start reading now? If so, how would I go about that? I have about 14 months before I start clinicals and I thought I could get a jump on the reading so maybe I wouldn't be so overwhelmed during clinicals. Thanks!

I'm not concerned about having to work around my schedule because it's very flexible. I just was worried that they wouldn't accept me if I worked full time. Yes, I've heard that you basically have to be dead to miss clinicals! Thanks for your input!

Yes, our CC also gives us our classes but we also have an evening program. The counselor I talked to said that if we sign up for the evening program that all of our classes will be in the evening. So.....I'm hoping this all works out because I've wanted to go to nursing school for so long! Good luck to you!

Wow, it does sound like you and hubby have thought about this thoroughly! I already have a BS degree so I didn't have to take many pre-reqs. I did take AP1 and Nutrition in 2003 and I would just study after the kids went to bed but from what I'm reading about the clinicals....they are saying 250+ pages a week of reading, not to mention all the other stuff like care plans, assignments! This summer I start my non-nursing courses...I'm taking Lifespan this summer. I wanted to get those all out of the way before starting clinicals. I have been reading this book called How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School and last night....I was really wondering if I could do it! Some days, I feel pretty good and other days, I kind of feel helpless and think to myself.........what am I doing!!!!! It's going to be tough but it's only 2 years..........21 months to be exact!!!!!! ha!

I was reading this book last night and it gave me the impression that colleges are somewhat hesitant to let you in if you work a full time job. Is this true? I work full time and plan on doing an evening program at a local CC but my job will allow time for me to read and that sort of thing. Plus, I have 4 weeks vacation and I get every other friday off. I looked at my application and it does ask you if you work and if so, how many hours? I'm kind of scared to put that I work full time! What has been your experience with this? TIA!

Hi hopeful! I'm in the same boat with you. I have a 9 year old and a 4 year old and I hope to start clinicals in the fall of 2006 AND I work a full time job. Needless to say.....I'm really, really nervous! I keep hoping and praying that I absolutely love clinicals and just soak it all up like a sponge! As for my kids...my husband works offshore and is home every other week so he will keep them and the other times, I have an awesome next door neighbor who has volunteered to keep the kids. Heck, they are over there so much anyway you would think that they live there! I also have other family members that will help too. Good luck to you!

Way to go!!!!!!!! Good luck to you!

Hi there! Ok, call me stupid but is this a different course from the Pharmacology that you have to take for your RN degree? I am really worried about Pharmacology because I've heard such horror stories about it? I didn't know if the class you are talking about is kind of like an intro to Pharm. Glad you like it!

You go in once a week for the labs for both AP2 and Micro.

Hello all! I know there was a thread last week I think about Houston Community College and that it wasn't very good but I think that is the only option I have right now. My question is...I'm planning on taking AP2, Micro and Pharmacology before starting the clinicals. At HCC, I can take those all online but wanted to get your feedback on what you thought about that. Should I do the online courses or actually go in the classroom? I'm really nervous about Micro and Pharmacology. And then you guys also said that Hermione Sullivan who teaches Pharmacology at HCC is terrible so now I'm really scared!!!! Also, I'm taking Lifespan this summer and then I can take one class in the fall, one in the spring and then another one next summer. Any suggestions on what order to take them in? I know this is alot of questions but I trust you guys! Thanks!

Snowfreeze...what an inspiring story! I have wanted to do this for so long and I think I'm just scared of the unknown. I keep hearing these horror stories and it makes me think twice but this is something that I have to do for me. It is so nice to hear stories where yes it was hard but they love being a nurse like yourself! I just think once I got into clinicals that I would just eat it up! Or atleast I hope so! Thanks again for your input!

Hey Mona! What school are you going to apply to? I'm actually in the Katy/Houston area! Wow, small world!

Hi Kim! See, I don't know if my program will allow me to stretch it out like that. I did read that we have up to 4 years to finish our nursing courses so I don't know! Man, your plan sounds awesome! I live in the Houston, Tx area. No, my husband isn't in the Navy...he used to be! He works offshore on a natural gas platform. I just want to be a nurse so bad and I figure that 2-3 years is a small sacrifice to do what I really love! Good luck to all of you and thanks so much for all the responses!

that you found the hardest? I am in the process of taking my pre-reqs and wondered what you found so hard about nursing school? Was it all the studying, memorizing? I am going back for my second degree, am 34 years old, have 2 kids and a husband that works offshore and I am SCARED TO DEATH!!!! I know nursing school is still a year or so away for me but I am so afraid that I'm just going to run myself in the ground! I will be going in the evening and when my husband is offshore my good friend has offered to take care of the kids. Some of my clinicals though won't end until 11 pm and then I have to turn around and go to work the very next day. I guess I'm just wanting to hear of some people that have actually done it and kept their sanity! I don't want to be the mom and wife from hell during these next 2 years or so! Also....what all is involved in clinicals? Are you actually in the hospital working, learning, etc? It's not classroom work right? Thanks to all who reply and you all inspire me so much! TIA!

Thanks for the information! I found out that the school that I want to attend does not have a waiting list!!! But also found out after reading these boards that the school that I want to go to is not that good either! I'm stuck between a rock and a hard spot though! I work a full time job, have 2 kids and a husband that works offshore and I'm SCARED TO DEATH that I'm not going to be able to pull this off! I've been wanting to go back to school for about 10 years now. I have to have an evening program. I plan on getting all of my pre-reqs out of the way before starting so hopefully by next fall I can start. Again, thanks for all the info and good luck!

Oh NO! I'm so disheartened hearing about HCC!! I do know that I have emailed their secretary and she hasn't been the nicest but I thought oh well! Also, she told me there was no waiting list....now I know why! I want to go to nursing school but I have to go in the evening. HCC is the only program that I have found that offers evening classes. Does anybody know of anywhere else in the Houston area that I can get my ADN in the evening? TIA!

I've been reading about the NET and another test...the name slips my mind right now. I wanted to know that if I already have a bacherlor's degree...do I have to take the entrance exams again? I took the ACT and SAT SEVERAL years ago....like about 15-17 years ago. Thanks for your help!