hiddenjoules

Thanks for setting up this thread as I am also in the same boat and planning to apply for the 2016 cohort. To those who have applied and gotten accepted into the program -- when did you have your Bachelor's Degree? I will finish my undergrad officially (transcript-wise) in December '15. However, as of 2014, all of my nursing prerequisites are already finished, so I hope that I'll be eligible to apply in the fall for January 2016. Your feedback is appreciated! Good luck to all who are applying!

I am a PCT in an Emergency Department. I love my job, especially the unpredictability and variety of patients/cases. If I ever have a "rough day", I find comfort in that no two days are the same! :-)

Have you considered volunteering as an EMT-B? I know some ER jobs have specified "at least" a certain amount of months/years with patient care experience in the field, and it's a great way to get some hands on patient care as an EMT-B to add to a resume. I'm not sure what is offered in terms of training in other states, but I was able to take a "PCT" course which encompassed three certifications: CNA, EKG and Phlebotomy and I'm sure that helped me stand out over others who did not have the training prior to hire for my job as an ER technician. Good luck, I hope you find something!

Persistence is key. I have my EMT-B, I'm also a Field Training Officer, my CNA, and training in EKG/Phlebotomy. I had no previous hospital experience, and at times I felt discouraged applying, but I didn't give up. I created a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and kept track of every application. I applied to 40, yes, 4-0 jobs in over 12 hospitals over the course of 3-4 months straight and I would call HR to confirm they received my application and to show them I was interested. It paid off. 4 months later, I received ONE callback, nailed the interview, and was hired a day later. Granted, I commute 45 minutes one way, which really isn't too bad, but I get to work as an ER tech and I love my job. Persistence! Good luck to you.

I appreciate the response Smiley06! I'm taking it tomorrow morning and hoping it won't be too bad!

Great post! So many fascinating and inspiring stories! I'm 24. It took me almost 3 years going to school full-time and working to (finally) finish all of my nursing prerequisites on top of receiving a Liberal Arts and Sciences A.S. degree with honors this year. I plan on applying to several BSN programs this winter as a transfer for the Fall of 2014. I've been an EMT for 2 years and I'm hoping to become a Nurse by the time I'm 27-28.

Hello everyone! So I have to take an exam next week called the "HOBET" to be qualified for one of the PCT programs in my area. It means "Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test". An online source I found stated that it "measures a person’s ability to learn importance health care concepts, as well as if they have what it takes to handle the stress that comes with working in health care. It also measures a person’s social skills, since these are much more important in health care than in many other jobs." Has anyone out there taken this test? What did you think? Just curious to learn more about it since I've never heard of it before. Thank you in advance for any responses! Nicole

Hi, I'm from Connecticut and I'll be applying to BSN programs (and one ADN program) that accept transfers, not limited to, but primarily in the northeast. This is my list so far, but I plan putting myself out there to more schools since it's really competitive out there. CT: Uconn, Southern CT State University, Quinnipiac, and Capitol Community College MA: UMass Boston ME: University of Southern Maine Neat post, it's really interesting to see where everyone is from. Good luck to all!

I agree with the previous posts from those above me -- if it applies to you (as I'm sure it does with most people) definitely speak to someone in the Financial Aid department. I'm in a similar situation, except I'm coming from a community college with my Associate's Degree (with all of my prerequisites completed). I considered, as a back up plan if I don't get in, to just finish my Bachelor's in a biological sciences/pre-med type major, and then apply into an accelerated BSN program. I decided against that because I personally cannot pay for my tuition without some help from student loans and I don't want to waste the federal aid I "could get" for my goal, even if it means waiting. At the Associate's Degree level, I believe a student is only able to qualify for federal aid up to 90 credits. I'm pretty positive there's a similar cut off for a Bachelor's degree. I'm unaware of what forms of aid are available for a 2nd Bachelor's degree, but I've been advised by many people to stay clear of private loans if at all possible. If I were you, I would explore BSN programs you're interested in that accept transfers and find out what each school is looking for their admissions and keep track of their respective deadlines. I made a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to keep everything organized, and it really helped. From there, you can decide which prerequisites you need to take and go from there. It may take a little longer but you may end up saving yourself from a real financial headache later. Everyone's situation is different though, that's just my reasoning for why I'm not doing it that way. Best of luck to you!

I took Pre-Calculus (Summer '12) and Statistics (Spring '13). I found Statistics to be more "helpful" when it came to being able to relate to nursing. Statistical applications can be used in any field as it is the "science of data collection and interpretation". I needed to take Pre-Calculus in order to take General Physics I which (believe it or not) was a requirement for my top choice BSN program. I found it to be interesting as well, especially logarithms. It did come in handy when I took General Chemistry II when we did equations involving pH. Just my $0.02. Good luck! :-)

I started off with a Littmann Lightweight ($40). I thought it was a great first stethoscope for learning what to listen for. I never had any problems with it, in fact I still use it as my back up. After two years as an EMT, I found that I personally needed something a little stronger to hear things in the back of a moving ambulance (especially with lights and sirens). I now have a (black) Littmann Master Classic II which I absolutely love, and I also plan on using it throughout nursing school. I've seen them range from $89-110. In any case, I highly recommend the Littmann brand. Good luck, I hope you find what you're looking for!

Hi Cassi, I'm also a fellow Connecticut pre-nursing student. I'm familiar with the CCC-NP application process and what they're looking for. I applied last winter for the Fall of 2013 and was wait-listed #7 out of 150 for Capitol's program. Though I was only wait-listed, what I think helped me the most was that I finished every single nursing prerequisite and did reasonably well. Most of my grades were A's, B+'s, and one B. Having a high grade in A&P I and a high TEAS V score will definitely set you apart. There's a packet online that breaks down the scoring of each criteria they're looking for (for example, the TEAS score being worth 25%). It is competitive (CT is a pretty small, dense state) but don't be discouraged! There are some really good practice test books out there that will help familiarize you with the wording of the questions and build your confidence. Also, the program is 4 semesters long. If you start in the Fall (2014 in your case) it will end Spring 2016. I hope that helps a little. Don't give up! I'm not going to. If anything, I'll be retaking the TEAS V and reapplying again next year. Best of luck, Nicole

Thanks fireman767! I'm going to look into pharmacy tech programs to possibly take this summer. That sounds perfect. Is your certification as a pharmacy technician good for any state? (I'm thinking in terms of EMS and state reciprocity haha).

Apologies for the delayed response CowboyMedic -- that sounds like a great career, good luck with your program! I really appreciate all of the responses on this thread, thank you!

Fireman767, would you be able to tell me a little more about being a Cardiovascular Technician? Does the hospital train you for that position or do you have to go to school and acquire a degree? I've never heard of that job before, it sounds awesome.