SherBearRN

I was diagnosed May '06 after being sent to the ER during my shift b/c I couldn't see. After the MRI, I was diagnosed with optic neuritis and referred to a neurologist four days later. I was officially diagnosed then w/o the spinal tap; I had more than 10 lesions on my brain and several in my cervical spine. I started on Avonex in June '06 and experienced seizures and severe mobility and cognitive issues almost immediately after the injection. My neurologist didn't want to listen to me and refused to take me off the medication for several months. I fired him and found a wonderful neurologist who listened to my concerns. I was started on Copaxone January '07. Unfortunately, I have had multiple exacerbations over the past year including four rounds of optic neuritis, vertigo, diplopia, cognitive problems, bowel & bladder issues, and mobility problems (I walk with a cane & I'm thinking about taking up my neuro's offer for other assistive devices). My last MRI in June revealed a more advanced stage of MS - according to the report - and stated I had four times the lesions than originally noted on the MRI done last August. My neuro took me off Copaxone a few days ago in anticipation of starting Tysabri in a month. In the mean time, I'm off work on short-term disability. I'm trying to recover from my latest flare. For everyone with MS, hang in there. It's tough, but keep a positive outlook on life! SherBear

downtownsjb, I took A&P from Michael Heffron, but there are other instructors, too. I personally liked Michael because he was hard and challenged me at every turn in the course. I will say, however, he is not the instructor for everyone. Those that complained were usually the ones who wanted the easy A. I nominated Michael for outstanding teacher at the end of my fourth semester. Although many nursing instructors were instrumental in helping me understand a certain concept, he was the foundation to my success in nursing. Bob Broyles is an excellent instructor, too. Although I never took a class from him, those who did loved him. I wanted to take his Human Dissection class, but wasn't able to swing it and 3rd semester at the same time. He talked to me about the class in length, which I greatly appreciated. I didn't take the TEAS test (they started it after I graduated). I took the Nursing Entrance Exam. My pre-req grades were a 4.0. If I remember correctly, my overall score to get into the program was 134 out of a possible 143. My class ranged from the low 120s to 134 for overall scores. It was unusual for a class to score this well. Mkramos81 might be able to give you a more accurate score and give you advice. I graduated May 2005, so things have changed a bit. LOL I would recommend taking as many classes related to the degree that you can prior to starting the nursing program. For example, take Microbiology, Nutrition, Child Development, and Composition II/Speech. If you are not able to get all of them completed, just make sure you take Microbiology. I hope this helps. Butler is an awesome college! I wish you the best. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions. SherBear

mkramos81, I graduated from BCCC a couple of years ago, what a small world! I took the NCLEX-PN approximately one month after classes finished for the semester. I finished second semester in May, so I was competing for test slots with graduating RNs. I'm not sure if it would be better in December/January or not. The good news is you will know your results in approximately 72 hours by going to the Kansas State Board of Nursing verification page. Here's the link: https://www.accesskansas.org/app/nursing/verification/ To expedite the process, make sure you get all of the paperwork from Karen in the office ahead of time. You will also need to have a picture ID (similar to a passport photo) taken that will need to be affixed to your paperwork. I went to Kinkos for the photo. Second and fourth semesters were my favorites. This may sound corny, but in my opinion you are at one of the best places to receive your nursing degree in the US! It's an excellent program with excellent instructors. To this day I still remember test questions like it was yesterday! I've even challenged some of my co-workers with the knowledge I have obtained from the program. If you need any help or have questions throughout the program, please feel free to PM me. Good luck! SherBear

MuddaMia, When I first moved out here, I moved to Pacifica and really didn't look at the East Bay facilities. I started on the transplant unit and eventually transferred over to the Pre-registration and Learning Center a year ago after I was diagnosed with MS. My husband and I moved to Concord last October to get a warmer environment and cheaper rent. Even though I live in Concord now, I still wouldn't make a move to work for another hospital because of my position. I work as a nurse facilitator calling patients over the phone to register them for surgeries/procedures. My office is located off-site from the hospital and consists of nurses, registrars, clerks, surgery schedulers, receptionists and management. The position is awesome, and so are the pay and benefits! It's a non-clinical position - for the most part - other than the occasional rotation in the clinic downstairs where nurses draw labs and conduct EKGs on patients prior to surgery. In addition, the hospital has treated me exceptionally well. Finding a place of employment where you are valued and respected is hard to come by. In all honesty, this is my main reason for staying at CPMC. The BART ride may be a pain, but I put up with it because I like where I work! Good luck with your first year in nursing. Please feel free to PM me if you have additional questions or if you need another nurse to talk to. SherBear

MuddaMia, I live in Concord (neighbor to Walnut Creek) and work in SF. I ride the BART into work. Although I don't know what John Muir pays, I would say riding the train into work may be a good option for you. My rent here in Concord for a one-bedroom is approximately $800/month. My pay is more than $46/hr. The cost-of-living can be affordable if you know where to look. Do you want to rent or buy? Purchasing property here in the Walnut Creek/Concord/Pleasant Hill area is lower than SF and the South Bay. I don't know much about the school system out here, though. I don't have any children so I can't give you honest feedback. BTW, is there a reason why you want to get a year of experience first before moving? I thought the same way when I lived in Kansas, but after working on a busy trauma surgical floor as a new grad nurse with 10-13 patients, I soon changed my mind. I spent three miserable months wondering what I got myself into and contemplated leaving the profession. I applied to a hospital in SF and the rest is history. My suggestion would be to make the move sooner rather than later. California has mandated patient ratios. In addition, most hospitals out here offer free medical/dental/vision to you and your family. I had to pay more than $300 a month to cover my husband and me where I worked in Kansas. I hope this information helps. Please PM me if you have additional questions. If you need a contact name for my hospital, I would be more than happy to give you her name. SherBear

HCA is a for-profit hospital organization. A lot of the hospitals in the Midwest are HCA facilities. I used to work for one and I will never do it again. When it comes to making a profit or staffing adequate nurses, the hospital will choose the monetary compensation over patient and/or staff needs. The end result? High staff turnover and dissatisfaction. Nurses' opinions are not valued at HCA. Just my two cents...

My background prior to nursing was sales and marketing. After graduating from nursing school, I accepted a position on the transplant floor at California Pacific Medical Center as a new grad nurse. The position was on med/surg working with patients who needed kidney, pancreas, and liver transplants. It was a wonderful learning experience! You can certainly get into this specialty as a new grad nurse. If you think this is an area you would like to work in, I would suggest working on a transplant unit as a nurse tech or clerk, volunteering your time in that department, or shadowing another nurse. Good luck with your program and I wish you the best! :yelclap:

I agree that talking to your surgeon would be the best. Multiple surgeries do and have happened at my facility. I just registered a patient yesterday who was having a procedure done to her arm and a D&C. Two different surgeons were going to be in the room at the same time. Today, surgeons are so specialized that the GYN who is performing your hysterectomy does not have the expertise to perform a cholecystectomy. I would speak with the surgeon and explain your situation and also ask how your insurance would cover it. BTW, you are right. Breast implants are routinely performed with an incision through the umbilicus. SherBearRN

I experienced the same thing in nursing school a few years ago. I had always been an A student, so after getting a B on the first test and a D on the second, I knew it was time to do something new. Here's the book that helped me get A's: http://online.medspub.com/meds/studentsproddetail-tabs.aspx?pid=186&cid=541& I'm not trying to promote Meds Publishing, but I highly recommend you take a look at books that offer assistance with test-taking tips for nursing students. Good luck!

Suzanne is right. New grads at my hospital start at $41.49, not counting shift differential. Housing is expensive, but you can find affordable housing if you know where to look (and no, I'm not referring to Oakland). I live in Concord and ride BART to work. My apartment costs me approximately $900 a month. $70/hr is the going rate for per-diem nurses with experience.

The best pay in California, hands-down, is San Francisco. New grads start at $41.49/hr not counting shift differential at my hospital. Experienced nurses make around $55-57 an hour and per-diem nurses make approximately $70. The trick is finding living arrangements that are not outragious. So, my suggestion would be to live in the East Bay (like Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill) and commute on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which is a train. It takes me about an hour each way. My apartment costs around $900/month. If you live in SF, it will cost you $1500-2500/month in rent.

I work in San Francisco and I was hired about 1 1/2 years ago as a new grad making more than $40/hr. Per diem rates at my hospital (I've heard) can go as high as $70/hr. We have several per-diem nurses from Texas and Colorado who work two week stretches and then go back home for a month. Depending on where you live can be expensive. I did live in Pacifica, CA right on the ocean. My one-bedroom, 632-sq. ft. apartment cost me more than $1,600/month. I moved to the East Bay area of Concord, and my rent is approximately $900 for a larger apartment. It's also in a safe neighborhood (unlike parts of Oakland). I commute on BART and it is reasonable. I think wherever you decide to live in California you will make it just fine on the nursing salary. If you want more specific information on my hospital, feel free to PM me. To NurseguyFL: I agree with you about HCA facilities. HCA is a for-profit hospital chain that is only concerned about their bottom line than their employees. Before moving to SF, I worked for one in Kansas. Not all hospitals in CA operate like what you experienced, though. If you travel again, ask for UCSF, Stanford, or my hospital, CPMC. You will have a more positive experience!

In March 2006, I was administering insulin to a patient on the transplant floor who was Hep C +. As I pulled the needle out and went to pull the protective sheath up around the needle, I stuck my index finger. I immediately went to the sink and ran my finger under the water while milking it to bleed. I then contacted my charge nurse, filled out an incident report, and went to our occupational health department. I was seen for approximately six months, making sure I didn't convert. Almost a year later, I'm still negative. I learned a valuable lesson that day; ALWAYS wear gloves no matter if you are giving subcutaneous or IM injections. Like a dummy, I didn't put them on like I would for other injections/procedures. I never go without them, regardless of the procedure now.

I relocated as a semi new grad from Kansas to San Francisco. Although I'm not single (I've been married for almost 11 years), it was a big decision for me, too. I moved in October 2005 and don't regret it at all! I'm still working at the same hospital and the pay and benefits are excellent. As far as meeting people, I believe you won't have any problems. I immediately bonded with a couple of nurses and a unit clerk upon hire. Good luck on your decision and let me know if you plan on moving to California. If it's in the SF area, I could give you suggestions on where to live, work, etc.

I work in San Francisco, and I can say most of the nurses I know make over $100k a year. At my pay rate and working 40 hours a week, I would make over $96,000. However, I work four, 8-hr shifts, so my annual pay is around $77,000. I'm also a fairly new nurse (1 year of experience), so the rate I quoted is pretty much what a new grad would start at. Rent is higher here. I pay $1,500/month for a 1-bedroom apartment. Taxes and food are also higher. With that said, you can still make a decent income and be able to save money without being in the poor house. The only thing about SF is you can't afford to buy a home (renting is ok). The average home price is around $650,000. At that price you will get a 650 sq. ft., 1-bedroom condo a.k.a. crackerjack box! LOL SherBear