willvz

I have been a member of this site for almost 7 years. I have been back and forth on nursing quite a bit in this time. At one point, about 3 years ago, I was actually in nursing school in an ASN program and doing well. At the time, I was working part time at my office job and took on a new Nurse Tech role in my second semester of school. I went through the full training and worked my first night shift. My anxiety that night was through the roof. At the end of my 12 hours, I decided to withdraw from my nursing program and take on a full time position with my current company. I've since realized it was not the nurse tech job that made me this way but the idea of something new coming close to fruition had scared me. After I left I followed along with my colleagues careers. I even at one point applied for another program(that was actually higher ranking) and was accepted. I ultimately turned down the acceptance the Summer prior as I was worried about how my wife and I would pay for it. This year, in May, I finished a BS in Information Technology as this degree had the best application to my current role in my company. I also do very much love working with technology. Unlike nursing, I was able to do all of my classes online and so I was able to work full time and go to school full time. My salary is similar to a nurse at 57k + time and a half for overtime. I am very fortunate that I have been able to accomplish what I have accomplished in the past few years but I just don't feel fulfilled. I work for a marketing company in a management role but I don't feel like I am truly helping anyone. I am more looking for anyone else who has been in a similar position. I definitely have the intelligence to be a great nurse. I just don't know if this feeling is fleeting or if I should pay attention to it. And yes, I realize I am absolutely spoiled to have been able to be in a program 3 years ago and taken up a seat that someone else could have been in. I completely understand any frustration any aspiring nurses may have with me. Don't know if it matters but I'm 35 yo male with wife, two kids, two dogs, and a mortgage. Look forward to hearing any other stories or opinions on this.

I withdrew my intention to join the nursing program so that will be freeing up a spot. Good luck to the alternates!

I'm in too. Chin up MP32. There's bound to be a spot that opens up as we get closer. Positive thoughts your way.

Tried to do some research on when the emails go out but it seems so random every year.

Hi all. I'm at 177. Here's hoping.

I personally don't think anyone should be a CNA unless they have an extreme passion for helping people(and I mean extreme to the level of cleaning up some pretty nasty bodily stuff) or they are planning on becoming a nurse. I'm a nursing student about to finish my first semester and part of our weekly clinicals is essentially doing CNA work and I have seen some pretty nasty stuff come out of people. I mean I have a toddler but this stuff tops her. The reality is, the pay is just not equivalent to the type of work. It is very physically demanding work. I actually made more working as a barista at Starbucks than what a CNA makes(around 9-$10/hr in Florida). Plus, you get all those great Starbucks benefits...I know I sound like I'm preaching for working for Starbucks, but I do miss all the free coffee and cheap health insurance. Point being, it's not worth the cost of the program when there are higher paying jobs that are less demanding with better benefits out there.

I appreciate the input. I should note that I do have some networking possibilities via my current job as we do business for a couple local hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. I also may have a connection with a hospital group CEO, but I barely know him(family connection) and part of me feels it would be very rude to discuss him helping me be employed at one of his hospitals. I also don't know how involved he is in the hiring process of nurses at his level as well.

I like to keep things simple and direct so here goes... I am currently a student in an AS RN program. I work a non-healthcare related job that pays well. Our instructors have mentioned that we can work as nurse techs after fundamentals. Is it worth leaving my current employment and taking a substantial pay cut(likely about 50%) to gain the experience and networking a nurse tech job would provide? Thanks, Will

Hey, so am I reading this right..we only have class Tuesday and clinical all day Saturday?

The actual site is castlebranch.com. I think the information they have is is out of date.

Does anyone know the specific day in January we are starting?

I'll be in class with you all as well! Very exciting!

Mine still says Chem Tech. That's not the most thrilling of news. I mean my last name starts with V, but yeah...

I'm not entirely sure what area you are looking in.

I saw. Bummer, I guess we have a little more time. Time to focus on other things for a couple weeks.