TheMuffinMan

+1 on buying cheap throwaway watches; Walmart stuff with a large face/hands to easily see. My second option lately is my Fitbit blaze the unit itself pops out of the band making it very easy to clean the band. The unit itself is "splash-proof" but not waterproof but I haven't had any issues. The countdown timer menu takes a few seconds to get to and start (if preset at the countdown time you want; I leave mine at 30 seconds) but if you have to change it from 30s to a minute that can take a few more seconds. It's nice though because it vibrates when the countdown is done and I don't have to watch the clock or countdown timer.

What I typically do is use the gown, rolled or bunched up over the breasts (using bedsheets/blankets to keep the perineum area covered) to keep them covered and then can either go in from the neck opening or up from the bottom. If the woman is younger then 30 or older then 60 I almost always try to have a female coworker (doesn't have to be a nurse) in the room as well when doing anything that the patient could misunderstand, or take offense to. In those higher-risk situations I always am verbose in what I'm doing and why, before I do it. For ekg leads I place them as close as I can to where they need to go and then check with tele to find out if they're getting a good reading. If not I adjust the pad that seems the most out of place and usually it only takes me 1 adjustment to get the placement correct.

Some programs prioritize GPA in their admissions criteria. I had a tough time getting in since my GPA was low as well due to bad grades from school 10 years ago. It took me a year and a half of applying but I finally got in to a program. I did have to move about 100 miles away but only after I was accepted. For me the process was I got in on a standby list about 6 months before the start, and then a month before the program started I received notice that I was accepted into the program. My advice would be to apply to many schools, and cast a wide net. I received about 10 rejections before I got into this school. Not all BSN programs are as picky about GPA. Just keep looking, and keep applying.

Nursing Central for fast and easy med lookups when writing care plans and also for informational purposes. Almost every acute care clinical I've had has their own drug guide on their internal website if clinicals prohibit smart phone usage (for the Nursing Central drug guide). Med-Surg clinical companion book. Above all else I'd buy time if possible. Time to study, time to get that procrastination out of the way so you can get to studying. Time for yourself so you can maintain sanity and then get back to studying. For me it was doable to put off studying until 3-7 days before a test until Med-Surg. Many things that weren't learned or retained in A&P and Pathophysiology will come back to bite me in Med-Surg and this can be overcome with lots of studying and reviewing, but it takes a lot of time and it's not the only class vying for time during the semester.

Dry erase markers Gum (if allowed) Lip Balm Pens Granola bars or some similar snack I like one of those folding clipboards but my scub pant knee pockets are wide enough to accommodate it others who are smaller or wear tighter fitting scurbs don't have room for those pockets. If they're not floating then a laminated index card with the unit's phone numbers and nurses phone numbers if they carry around phones. Nutrition's phone number. Sheets or laminated sheets for each diet what people can eat from the main menu (recently I had a pt. on a renal diet and my facility didn't have a menu for what they could order though they have them for cardiac and diabetic diets) A really good brain sheet, tasks sheet, and/or report sheet.

Colorado nurses are some of the lowest paid in the country from what I read online. For a BSN degree in Denver as a new grad you're getting about 30/hr if you can find a job. Many hospitals in the Denver area don't hire new grads at all. I have friends who drive from Denver to Pueblo to work at a hospital there that hires new grads on 2 year contracts. The cost of living in the Denver metro area has skyrocketed in the last 3 years. Rent has no-joke doubled or more and housing prices are up 50-70% in the last 3 years. Traffic is also horrible now due to the massive influx of people and poor road infrastructure (super expensive toll road on the east, mountains on the west, not enough north/south highway capacity). I moved out to Denver in 2008 and am very happy I got into nursing school outside of the mess that Denver has become now. I'll be heading towards the western slope after my first year or two if I need to sign a two year contract that is. Oh and Pueblo pays new BSN's about 10% less then Denver but the cost of living is massively cheaper; housing and rent is half the cost of Denver which gives me a ton more disposable income to go on trips, pay off debt, or whatever.

For me it took one solid 16 week semester before the females in my cohort got used to me. As another male student put it they eventually forget you're a guy and relax around you. After that point small study groups were much easy to get in on or organize myself. The best advice I can give you is to study early and every day no matter what. And do not plan anything during the semesters as you'll be busy enough with school with or without a part time job added in there too. Oh and while we can't run that fast if it chases us I highly do not recommend sleeping with anyone in your cohort; go for their friends instead.

It's pretty good. The first semester we're in a long-term care (LTC) facility which leaves a bit to be desired for me personally; LTC isn't my cup of tea but it's a decent enough place. Classes are crazy, it's a lot of work and a lot to learn. It's not horrible, but I really haven't had much free time which is to be expected. I'm not working this semester either. Most professors I like, one is just ok. I feel like I'm learning a lot and the school is setting me up with the right skill set. I can't imagine what the accelerated program is like, and I'm really glad I didn't get into the accelerated program first (I applied to both).

I had a 3.65 or so pre-req GPA but had a previous degree from 10 years prior which had a miserable GPA. My cumulative over all my college credits was a 3.1 and I was on the standby list. I was notified I got in 30 days before the semester started.

Anyone else get into CSU-P for their basic BSN? I just got in off the standby list and am moving in two weeks from Denver. If I can find an apartment by then anyway. If anyone wants to meet up for beers or whatever before the orientation I'll be down there after the 10th or so.

I know what you mean by needing the A's. My first bachelors degree grades were very very poor and most of the nursing programs I want to apply to require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 minimum. When you are starting out with 168 credits and a bad GPA it's quite difficult to move that quickly even when pulling A's/4.0's. Not to mention getting into a nursing school.... Good luck to you as well! :)

My Spring/Winter semester grades are: Human Growth and Development: A Microbiology: B (89.46%, so close! ) Anatomy and Physiology I: A Human Nutrition: A Worked my butt off and the Micro grade is disappointing but in the end I'm not that worried about it. As for the futrue I'm doing stats over the summer and then A&P II and Chemistry this fall, perhaps pathophysiology as well but I have no other classes to take for next spring/winter semester which will be a nice break before I hopefully start a nursing program next year summer or fall.