HelloWish

Try adding some high carbohydrate snacks and meals!!! Your snacks sound like mostly protein and fat. When I gained weight rapidly it was because of carbs!

You can check into North Central Texas College. They have LVN-RN program.

I really felt like I did myself a disservice when I took an 8 week accelerated A&P I class. Sure I made and A and it turned out fine, but so much of it has been lost because I studied to do well on the exams and not really understand and retain - all of it went to short term memory. I am really enjoying my traditional semester of A&P II because I know I am learning to understand and retain - learning for long term memory. I feel that our sciences are important and something that as nurses we will need in the future not only in nursing school but beyond. I think chemistry is something that will show up in all the other sciences so you will have time to reinforce what you learned quickly and repeat some of the info in the other science classes. I think it would be the best class for the summer. I hope all that makes sense.

Fill her cup with 15 minutes of mommy time, then sit her down to play on her own for however long she can stand it and then repeat. Also teaching her some of the material you are learning and reading to her can sometimes work. It works with my 7 year old boy, but I am not sure how it would work with a 3 year old. I too implement an early bed time. My son is at an age that I can say okay you have to be in bed by 7:30 but you can read, make bracelettes, or whatever he can safely do in bed by himself until 8-8:30. I have story CDs for him too. The I-Pad can be your friend with interactive entertainment/educational games for instance, try going to PBS kids.

A nurse on this forum suggested I work as a monitor technician while in my pre-nursing studies. I thought that was an awesome idea and would love to find out from you all if you know of a good way to get some basic training in this area. I have been a stay at home mom for many years and haven't worked in about 10 years. I found Learn Rhythm online training which is part of the ALCS certification on the AHA's website, but it is for health professionals such as nurses. However, I can purchase it and I wonder if this would be good enough for me to apply for any positions as a telemetry technician? If not, where can I get basic online training in this area? My community college offers it but it is over $1000. I would appreciate any help!

I could work a full shift, if I only had to do it every couple of weeks. However, volunteering requires a minimum of 4 hours per week as I was reading on the local hospital websites.

So, should I try to find a PRN position now or just wait until after a semester of nursing school and then find a job as a PRN CNA? Since I haven't worked in so long, I was worried I may have a hard time find employment.

Classicdame, I see that you are from Texas. Which hospital system are you referring to that trains monitor techs? That is a great idea if I can find one nearby and I am also in Texas.

Thanks for the info. I am not a CNA now and haven't been seriously employed in close to 12 years. So, I was thinking if I volunteered now, it would help me find a CNA position during the first summer after my first year of nursing school. Right now, since I haven't worked in a long time, I am not sure how employable I am. I was hoping that if I volunteered at one of the local hospitals that I would be more employable especially if I apply at a hospital where I previously volunteered. Does that make sense? I could try to find a job too, I think I qualify as a unit secretary or sitter. I use to be a pharmacy tech but didn't get certified. Anyway, I couldn't work too many hours, I guess I can call and find out how many hours a person has to put in PRN. So, do most PRN personnel have the option to turn a job down if they work a minimum of hours? I was thinking I would have to take a job if it was if working in PRN position. However, if I only have to work a minimum number of hours it might be doable.

If you could choose one to work at, which would it be? Presbyterian of Flower Mound or Denton Denton Regional Lewisville Medical Center or, any other nearby hospitals? I want to put in a volunteer application at one of these hospitals in hopes that my experience gained there will not only benefit a good hospital but help me gain employment in the future! Thank you!

I have been a stay at home mom for 8 years and haven't really worked in 12ish years more than little odd jobs here and there. I did work as a teaching assistant one year at my son's preschool a couple of years ago. So, I am thinking of either volunteering or finding a part-time job. Do you all think that a volunteer position at the local hospital 4 hours a week would help me to be employable once I am in nursing school hopefully next fall. I hope to work as a CNA during the summer in nursing school, if they hire seasonal employees. Will facilities hire a CNA during the summer only? I really don't feel like I can do more than 4 hours right now with school and family. I would appreciate your thoughts!

So do you think volunteering would help me get hired later on? I only want to work about 4 hours a week, and it looks like I could do that as a volunteer. Then of course as jobs become available, maybe I can let others know what I am looking to do and hopefully as a CNA later on.

I found a couple of jobs, unit secretary PRN and admissions PRN. I guess I am going to submit my resume to see what happens. I don't think I could sit on my butt for 12 hours as a sitter. That would drive me nuts, but I may apply and see what happens anyway.

I was thinking of getting my foot in the door somewhere now, and once I have completed my 1st semester as a nursing student to apply to work as a CNA the summer after my first semester. I started looking on hospital websites though to see what I can possibly apply for right now. I realized I need to get back in the work force so that finding a job later on wouldn't be so hard, esp. if I already have my foot in a hospital door. :-) It looks like I qualify for a sitter position, but honestly that kind of scares me starting out again...

I have been a stay at home mom for 8 years, however 1 of those years I did work at my son's preschool as a teaching assistant. I do have a medical background from 15 years ago as a pharmacy tech and an in office trained medical assistant. Other than that, I haven't really worked in 15 years. I hope to start nursing school this upcoming fall, but I am thinking I should look for some PRN or very part time work at a local hospital - only summer jobs while in nursing school. I would even volunteer if you think it would help? What should I look for? I wish I had gotten my pharmacy tech license, but I quit working as a tech right before they required certification. Maybe I could work as a pharmacy clerk. Any other ideas?

I would also suggest only taking one science at a time and starting with general chem as all other sciences will be easier to understand after chem. I would then take general bio as it will also help with A&P I and make it a bit easier. I think A&P I is the hardest since it can be kind of a shock at how much you have to memorize.

Did you ever consider becoming a nurse educator? If you excelled in a scholarly environment, then maybe you would be a good educator.

My first thought when I read this, was why would you be working there and not report the situation?!?! I can't imagine have an elderly relative living in such conditions when you are afraid you will get sick while not having reported anything! I agree you have an obligation to report this place!!!

I hope to attend an ADN program like this starting in the fall. They have clinicals every semester increasing in intensity with each semester. First semester you start with one, eight hour clinical day and progress up to the final semester where you complete three, 12 hour clinical days with a nurse preceptor.

What notebook or electronic device would you all recommend? I may be upgrading my notebook soon, and I was wondering what you found most useful in the nursing program.

If you can devote yourself to studying fulltime in addition to the job, it is doable.

I am not yet in nursing school but hope to start next Fall. I was curious about this topic too! There are some great pointers here that I hope I can remember in the future, like wearing a mask. I think I would be one of those that is extra precautious, because I certainly wouldn't want to bring anything home to my little boy who has serious allergy issues and gets respiratory problems easily (same for me). Is there any area of nursing that a new graduate can get into that isn't as risky? I am really interested in epidemiological or research nursing, but I don't know how much acute care experience one would need first. The idea of school nursing or mother/baby sounds good too. If I didn't hate being up all night, I would seriously consider becoming a CNM. Anyway, it was my understanding that one has to gain acute care experience before really moving into other areas of interest in nursing.

My NP has told me she does basic procedures and I had an NP sew stitches on my son in the ER.

I had one child at 30 and lost several babies after waiting until my later 30s to have more children. I say nursing school will always be there but your ability to have more children won't. I wouldn't hold back on trying to get preggo. If it happens then you can decide if nursing school is appropriate. If you don't get pregnant then go to nursing school. You just don't know what will happen in the future. Maybe you can do both just fine...it depends on your support system!! Also, kiddos ARE all they are cracked up to be (I found the comment about them not being all they are cracked up to be inappropriate). In my opinion, it depends on the amount of time you devote to them and what your priorities are in life. It is so much harder to have them when you see them as an inconvenience. Becoming a nurse is important, sure...but for ME life is so much better for having my one child! It depends on what matters to you!!! Go with the flow, what ever happens, happens!!! Good luck!

Why is this posted 3 times?