Lori215
Members
-
Joined
-
Last visited
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I worked as a CNA (for 6 months) before nursing school and then what they called a "nurse extern" in the ICU during third and fourth semester of nursing school. I also did my fourth semester preceptorship (or practicum) in ICU. After graduation I landed an RN position (in a different hospital) in neuro ICU. I think it helps them to know that you have SOME idea of what goes on in a hospital/unit and you're not going to take a job and quit a year later because you hate it! It also gives you more experience to draw from during your interview which is great, and most interviewers want to hear situational stories and how you resolved them. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world! I think it helped tremendously in my case. :)
-
Thank you KatieMI. I was hoping someone who has recently been through the process would chime in. So from what you are saying, do you think a BSN from a university would keep my options more open than one from a state college? Or is it strictly GPA and where you obtained your credits doesn't matter? In your program it seems like it mattered where your classes were taken. I know from personal experience that my grades have been much better at the state college level than at the university level, so if it is just GPA I will probably stick it out here.
-
An interesting point. I suppose that would depend on the specialty one chooses for NP/grad school. I am not concerned about BSN school rankings, I was asking if NP schools are Can you blame me for wanting to keep my options as wide open as possible?
-
Luckily the RN program at my school is highly regarded in our county (Palm Beach State College.) Our RN-BSN program, however, is very newly nationally accredited, but that shouldn't matter I don't think. Someone has to be in the early years of a program, right? I guess I'm just wondering if it came down to it would they take someone with a BSN from Palm Beach State or from the University of Florida for example. But from what everyone is saying, it shouldn't matter.
-
I meant state schools (as in state and community colleges) compared to public universities that are definitely accredited, but I understand what you're saying. I would never go to a private school, I agree it is a waste of money in most cases. I'm not someone digging myself into 100k of debt for no reason. I left a great university to avoid unnecessary debt once I realized I couldn't pursue nursing there! And I like to think so too, that GPA and experience would matter more. Thanks for your response.
-
Hi everyone, I am graduating next year with an ASN and will be deciding where I want to further my degree with an RN to BSN program. I go to a state college and we have an accredited RN to BSN program, but I am wondering for the future whether NP programs give a look at where your BSN came from? I don't know what kind of NP or graduate school I will want to pursue just yet, but I don't want to have any doors closed on me. Would it put me at a disadvantage to have a state college BSN vs. a university BSN or does that not matter in the slightest? Thanks!
-
It was January 27th and I was just beginning my second semester of nursing school. I had been assigned two very "easy" self-care patients and found myself aimlessly roaming the halls as my professor approached me. "Would you mind going and helping K with her bed bath? She could really use more hands in there" Ugh, another bed bath. Another bottom wiping, backbreaking bed bath. Isn't it time for IV's, shots, and med passes now? So reluctantly I went into the room. When I opened the door, I expected to see a patient like the others, finishing her breakfast and awaiting her bath. Instead, I saw a motionless, flaccid body in a bed, breathing through an opened mouth entirely filled with scabs and dried blood. She truly was a hospice patient. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, even with my experience as a CNA in long term care facility. The woman was gaunt, toothless, and wouldn't respond to any verbal stimuli. After a moment of awe and anxiety, we began our bath. My fellow student and I wet our washcloths and did our best to remove the crust from this poor woman's eyes. She let out little moans but did not speak. Her body was tight and she grimaced as we washed her face and began to wash her body down. And then something abruptly changed. As we finally removed the crust from her eyes, they popped WIDE open and I saw the woman staring right at me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. I couldn't believe it. This same, lifeless woman who just moments ago wouldn't respond to her name is now awake and aware of her surroundings. All this came just from a silly little bath? My fellow student and I continued washing the patient, and as we combed her hair she let out a little "ow" and jokingly, with a smile on her face and a little chuckle, shook her fist at my colleague. Was she really playing with us? This same woman who moments ago was unresponsive? We asked her to turn on her right side. Immediately her left arm came over and she was helping us roll her over. She understood everything we asked her to do. Of my moments as a CNA and a nursing student, this is the type where I am left walking on air and more confident than ever in my decision to become an RN. No matter how hard, bad, or boring your day is, the smallest gesture of warmth and kindness can change a patient's entire day and make them truly believe that they are still cared for in this world. All this woman needed was a little attention and love to bring back her spark in her most dismal moments of life. It is easy to forget that even as a nurse our duty to our patients is simple. Make them comfortable and help them feel better. Whether that is giving medication, an IV, or a simple bed bath, the outcome is the same. It is hard to think that I cannot change the previous care that this woman received (which was obviously lacking based on her condition), but it is enlightening to know that because of my presence today, she is now just a little more comfortable and obviously happier. For the rest of the day, I kept overhearing staff members say, "Have you seen the patient in 222 today? I have never seen her smile!"
