Sassafras83

Hi, I graduated from McNeese's College of Nursing in Spring of 2006- BSN program. I had some of the best instructors over there. The skills lab is very good. The program is hard, but it needs to be in order to prepare you for the NCLEX. As far as the HESI, I didn't find it very difficult. Feel free to PM me with any questions. Good luck.

Thank you both for your replies. They were very helpful.

In Lake Charles, the only 2 facilities that have L&D/postpartum/nursery are Women and Children's and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital- Gauthier Campus. W&C has around 120 to 130 births per month. They also have up to a level 3 NICU. LCMH Gauthier has couplet care, so you'd be taking care of the mom and the baby. That facility was built a couple of years ago. They have a NICU, but I don't know what level. Although they don't have L&D/postpartum/nursery, Christus St. Patrick's is known for their cardiac stuff. West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in Sulphur (10 minutes west of Lake Charles) has a cardiac cath lab as well as L&D/nursery, but it's a very small hospital. W.O. Moss Regional is also in Lake Charles, but they've had a lot of cuts recently. And there's no L&D or nursery. I'm not sure about a cath lab. As far as a flight nurse, I don't know what's available.

Okay, so I have to come up with an invocation for our pinning ceremony before April 24. Right now, all I have is the end (In Jesus' name, Amen). By the way, I'm so not a public speaker. If anyone could give me some tips or point me in the right direction, I would be so appreciative. Thanks in advance.

We took the HESI for the first time in the first week of the semester. I didn't prepare for it at all and I got 1010.

I don't personally know anything about the ADN program, but here's their link: http://www.mcneese.edu/colleges/nursing/adn/adnabout.asp The BSN does requires pathophysiology (Nursing 203), I don't know if ADN requires it. When I took it, it was pretty difficult and quite a few people failed it, so they made a lot of changes for that course. From what I hear now, it's fairly easy to get an A or B in patho. But classes always change from one semester to the next. For a while it was web-based. As far as test go...the instructors are really trying to prepare us for NCLEX, so, depending on the class, the tests seem hard. For med-surg, OB, and pedi: there's a lot of prioritizing questions, and "select all that apply" and "what's the best answer". Some people do work and go to school, but I choose to just go to school. A lot of my classmates are in extern programs so their schedules are very flexible. Good luck with your decision and with school.

it's an awesome program in my opinion- i'm going for my bsn, so i can't speak for the adn (but i'm almost sure it's good as well). we just got accreditation renewed semester before last. gpa is 2.7 for admission and retention in both programs. class size varies- mine started with 60 something, we gained some new people and lost others, and last semester we started with 50. the class behind me has around 70. quality of instructors is way above average. we have some very dedicated teachers. we also have a very good clinical simulation lab and computer lab. it's not perfect, but i really enjoy being a student there. my biggest complaint is the nursing lab fee: it's $150 per semester. i'll be happy to answer any other questions. here's a link: http://www.mcneese.edu/colleges/nursing/default.htm

Congratulations!!!! I was so excited when I saw the title of the post and your username as the poster. I'm so happy for you. :)

Hey, thanks. I've already gone to their website (not much info on it). But I will try their recruiter.

Does anyone work at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center or know someone that does? I'm interested in working there once I graduate but I'd like more information about it. I also wanted to know about a good apartment to rent. I used to live there but I can't remember where everything is. And I'm a couple hours away so I can't just drive by and look. Thanks.

Here is some information for a few hospitals in Lake Charles. St. Pat's-- $17.32 plus $3 for evening; $4 for nights. ALSO $2,500 sign-on bonus. Memorial--$16.30 plus $1 for days; $4 for evening; and $5 for nights. ALSO sign-on bonus available if you were in the extern program and sign a 2 yr contract. Women and Children's-- all they told me was $15.25 for days b/c the person that had additional info wasn't there. Moss Regional--$16.32 plus $3.75 for evening; $5 for nights. Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Orange, TX has $25/hr per diem without benefits.