MASSRN2B

I would be curious about this too because any hospital that hires a new grad in the ED is not a place I would want to go to in an emergency. I am a ADN student and I work in an ED as a tech. I can't imagine why a new grad would want to work there. You have to have incredible assessment skills and be able to balance interventions/treatments for serious co-morbidities in a fast-paced environment. Why would you want to put that additional pressure on yourself while orienting not only to a new job but to a new career? I'm sure there are nurses that started their careers in emergency and are incredible nurses. My guess is that they are the exception and not the norm. If you really want to be an ED nurse...get a good year of Tele in lieu of Med/Surg. Your cardiac experience is more transferable. Best of luck in whatever job path you choose.

I am also in the class that is graduating 1/18/08 (like Julia...) Jaz-We had a fair number of LPN's join us in our second year this semester. Some have been LPN's for years and some just finished thier LPN education at Quincy or from other programs. It seems like the only real "wait" was waiting for the program to cycle through so they could join our group...meaning they had to wait until there were openings in the RN programs-2nd year. Disney-I have quite a few LPN's in my clinical group and I have learned almost as much from them as I have from my instructors. They have a really solid background in nursing fundamentals as well as medications. They are a great addition to our program!! By the way, what Juila said is SO true...the LPN's are doing much better on the tests! We work our butts off for a C/C+ and they are pulling solid B's for the most part. If I could do it over again, I would have done the LPN 1st. I have to work while I go to school anyway...I would have rather been getting the LPN pay instead of the CNA pay I get now! Good luck in whichever program/school you decide!

Many of the Boston hospitals' job websites have "BSN preferred". I know recent grads that are now working in Boston (BID, Brigham). Mass General and Dana Farber have magnet status...you wouldn't get hired without a BSN at any magnet hospital. There is a website to check it out...I think its under massnurses.org. I'm pretty sure that General & DF were the only Boston hospitals that are magnet. I know Jordan in Plymouth is as well...there are a couple others I can't remember.

Just think about the s/s r/t each of the medical diagnosis. What would you expect a patient with CHF to experience? What would they look like? What limitations would they have? Then created your nsg dx based on that and not focus so much on the medical diagnosis. Example for the CHF: Activity intolerance r/t weakness or fatigue. Impaired gas exchange r/t excessive fluid in the interstitial space of lungs. Fatigue r/t disease process. Decrease cardiac output r/t impaired cardiac function. Fear r/t threat to well-being. Good luck!

Hello! For those of you that have worked on the major holidays, what do you differently that day, if anything, for yourselves or for the patients?

Bowel incontinence r/t decreased awareness of need to defecate/loss of sphincter control. Deficient knowledge r/t lack of information on normal bowel elimination. Disturbed body image r/t inability to control elimination of stool. Risk for impaired skin integrity r/t prescence of stool. Situational low self-esteem r/t inability to control elimination of stool. Tolieting self-care deficit r/t toileting needs. Functional incontinence r/t altered environment; sensory; cognitive or mobility defects. Reflex incontinence r/t neuro impairment. Risk for impaired skin integrity r/t prescence of urine. Stress urinary incont. r/t degenerative change in pelvic muscles and structural supports. Urge urinary incontinence r/t decreased bladder capacity (h/o PID, abd sx, indwelling cath). Hope this helps!

Hello! I too have made a career change from the cubicle city of Accounting to nursing. I have just finished all of my pre-req's and "non-nursing" classes. I was also worried seeing as how the classes I had taken until now were all business/liberal arts. I was apprehensive about bypassing Bio. even though it wasn't a prereq. Luckily I saved myself some time & money and went to Chemistry first. I found that Chem was the class that formed the foundation for A&P I&II and Micro. I have referred back to my Chem book in all three other classes. Drop the Bio and focus on the Chem! Good luck with your career change and your classes!

I have had similar experiences with my parents and I am 31! Throughout high school my sister and I were typical overachievers. It was pre-determined that I would be a doctor and my sister would be a lawyer. Well my sister is a lawyer and I am an accountant (disappointment #1)However, I had always wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to go to the local vo-tech HS to take the LPN program. You can imagine how well that request was received. I had to have an occupation that could be bragged about. When I told my family last year that I was reducing my work schedule to part time in order to go to nursing school the immediate reaction was "if you're going to do that, why not medical school?". You are too smart for nursing...you'll make less $, etc. (All of the same things that have been mentioned by other posters). I don't understand where this comes from. As a mother, I want my children to do what feels right for them and will make them content with their lives. Maybe its an "older generation" or cultural issue only--money is more important than being happy.

I am a woman and I get bothered by the term "male nurse". Of course a nurse is a nurse to most people, but I think there is a generational gap as far as the acceptance of men in female dominated occupations and women in male dominated occupations. My dad is a frequent patient of the VA hospital, he is also one of those "Archie Bunker" types. To him, there are only nurses and orderlies. I have explained to him NUMEROUS times that when their id badge has an LPN or RN after their name they are a nurse...not a male nurse, not an orderly, and not gay. My dad also refers to women as "girl cops" and "female firefighters"...this all infuriates me to no end

Associate Degree-Nursing

Hi Dana-Thanks for posting this question to the community. I am curious as well. I am also 31 and leaving a career in "the corporate world" and a company that I have been with for almost 9 years. I often see cases of ageism in my current field, but I would think the opposite would be true in healthcare. My guess would be that with such a nursing shortage there wouldn't be much discrimination towards people transitioning to another stage in their careers as long as they are qualified and motivated. Of course I am not a nurse or HR manager, I am looking at this from the most basic macroeconomics view. Good luck with school Dana :) :balloons:

Hi-I was also told (by an admissions rep) that everyone on the LPN waitlist was called last year. Just in case Q.C. doesn't work out, you may want to look at LPN programs at Vocational High Schools in your district. For example: I am in the Southeastern Regional Technical school district. They have an adult ed division that offers an LPN program. The cost is very low for residents of the district (higher for out of district). Maybe the tech school in your area might be a resource. Then, once you have your LPN, you could take the LPN to RN bridge at Quincy. Good luck with your search!! :balloons:

No word yet on what I need to get. Orientation is in September so I assume all the details will be addressed then. I will have a million questions by then!

Hi Jessica! Great idea...I was beginning to think I was the only Jan '06 starter here. I was actually wait-listed at first. I just got my acceptance 2 weeks ago. I rushed right over to the school to pay my matriculation fee before they could change their minds or tell me there was a mistake, lol! I am SO excited but terrified of all the "unknowns"! Best of luck to you!!! :balloons:

I took Chemistry before my A&P classes...I am so glad that I did! There was alot of topics that were covered with the assumption of chemistry knowledge. It was clear during lectures that the students without chem had a more difficult time covering certain topics (active transport; muscle contraction; conduction of nerve impulses, etc). Of course each class/professor is different, this is just my experience. Good luck with your class!

Wow! I think we go to the same school! :chuckle How about the ones that want to argue the test questions once it is handed back? When the prof tells you to read Ch's 8 & 9 before the next lecture and it's BLATANTLY obvious that some people don't by the nature of their questions. When students aren't grasping a certain topic they say, "Why do we have to know this stuff anyway". (I actually had a classmate in General Psych argue the reasoning behind why nursing students needed to take Psych!) I also have a problem with the know-it-all students...we have some medical assistants that act like they are nurses/physicians. UGH! :angryfire

Hi Carolina- Out mass transit system is called the MBTA. It consists of subways, buses, commuter rails and water shuttles. A pro about our system is that it is possible to get to many outlying suburbs with the commuter rail line. A con would be that the system closes at approximately 12:50am each night. If you need specifics on routes, pass prices, etc the website is http://www.mbta.com/ Good luck and I hope you enjoy our city!

Hi-How is everyone enjoying their summer? I was wondering if there were any current or former students from Quincy College's RN program on these boards. I have been accepted into the Jan 06 program. I don't know if I am more excited or nervous right now. It is REALLY hard to get information from people about the program, expectations, facilities, etc. I have found so much information that has been passed off to me as truth turns out to be a big rumor or exaggerated version of the truth. Whenever I call the school with a particular question, I always get the "you'll find that out during oreintation". I don't mean to be a fly at their picnic it is just that I am married with 3 children and I work full-time. I need to know what changes to plan for not just for me, but for my whole family. I would love to hear from any nurses/nursing students in MA...about your education, NCLEX experience, careers, employers, etc. I wish you all the best!!