SamuelMorris

Hey everyone, I just got my license after finishing my ADN program in December. I'm starting the job hunting process and am a bit overwhelmed with the number of hospitals. But my main worry is that many of them avoid new grads like the plague. I willing to work at any hospital on any floor as long as its in Acute Care (I can't do SNF's, I'd rather go back to being a CNA then work SNF's again). Does anyone know of hospitals/units that are hiring ADN new grads or any upcoming job fairs. I'm looking at all over orange county, San Bernadine and into LA as well. Thanks everyone

I found out this morning I passed the NCLEX. The Pearson Vue trick appears to work yet again. They got my my results in about 36 hours which was pretty quick. Good luck everyone else

So I took the NCLEX this morning, I'm in CA and am now waiting for results. 75 question shutdown and I used uworld exclusively for prepping. Did the whole qbank in 75 question tests with a few shorter ones when I was pacing myself. Scored about 50% at the start climbing to to 60's as I get more familiar with the question styles. After that I started making new tests with the ones I got incorrect. I've done the Pvt once about a hour after I got the email from pearsonvue and got the good pop-up. Now I wait for results, I'm anxious but hopefully the results come in this week. Wish me luck.

Well, it could be a good sign if you see people with 62's getting in as it should mean you are close to the top of the list, you most likely have the points you submitted as long as you included the documentation to back them up.

pathophysio is not required, I have a full aa and had basically all the required ge classes done. You won't need anything outside the required classes, pathophysio and pharm are the only 2 courses i'd recommend, anything else is just way overboard.

I mentioned the few changes I was aware of, but other than that no, I'm not entirely sure what the new circulum entails, but the schedule is mostly the same. There were a grand total of 16 clinical days, they vary in length slightly by facility, but they are generally pretty close to 12 hours (some days we did get off slightly early). You do have to go into the hospital the day before to get information on your patient, takes around 30-45 minutes at the start for most, by the end usually about 15-20. For ati, you take a test on it at the end of the semester and it is worth some extra credit, but isn't a major grade factor at all. Many people didn't study (but we didn't do well as a class on it, so i'd recommend reading through the ati materials before it). For the first month, you go through a "boot camp" where you are there for 4 days a week getting basic skills down before clinicals then it moves into 2 days a week of class. Our clinical sites were south coast global, kaiser irvine and Orange coast memorial, and i believe that is staying the same. and for dkat, I would recommend pharmacology if you have the time, it does help and is worthwhile but you will manage fine without it. Path-physio is a great class as well from what I've heard, i was unable to take it due to time constraints. As for clinical site selection, you fill out a sheet with where you live and your preferred day and they do their best to accommodate you. I got the day i wanted (Thursday), I'd recommend marking on the paper what is most important to you, I didn't really care where but wanted Thursday as then i got my entire school week done in 4 days which was nice.

Hey everyone, I'm a spring 2016 student who just finished his first semester and can answer some questions if you'd like, however they are changing the entire curriculum this fall (they were supposed to do it for us but they delayed it), I'm not sure how much changes although it sounds like you will be doing some pediatrics in first semester (we just did pure med-surg) but again, they might delay it again. By the way, I was a alternate who got called up in june, I was accepted so take a deep breath if you are on the alternate list, especially for spring. A lot can change in 6 months. One person even got called up as late as December! Is there anything you guys would like to know? i'm looking back through the thread and answering questions I see I saw people talking about pharmacology earlier, yes it is nice to know but you will survive just fine without the course, for me it made a few tests slightly easier and i recognized drugs a little bit better, but you will be fine without it at least for first semester As for being called up from the alternate list, its a email, not a phone call. I distinctly remember getting that email and having a mini-heart attack. For the people wondering about order they call up from, it entirely depends on your points, I only had 56 as I was too late to include my associates in my application. The application cycle before me, someone got in with just 44 points as they had to dive rather deep into the pool of alternates that year. It really depends on the quality of candidates, I remember it was around the 64-65 mark was the cutoff during my semester between the last candidate and the 1st alternate.... And yes, they rank alternate list by number of points, not a lottery.

I understand your trepidation and the idea you are loyal to your job, but you have to remember that at the end of the day, If it suited them to fire you, they would do so without a 2nd thought. Job loyalty isn't a hugely admirable thing when your working for a large company where you are just a cog in the machine. This is a lesson that you should learn early, as job loyality really is just a pathway to becoming a used worker. Before turning in your notice, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! make sure you get a written job offer, the new job is all hear-say until you actually have that document. Once you have the written offer, turn in a letter or resignation with 2 weeks notice directly to your nursing manager or whoever would handle such things at your facility (depending on size of facility, submitting both to HR and your manager might be wise). I wouldn't exactly offer to be per diem as you have written above as that does sound presumptuous. Try something more along the lines of "Thank you very much for the opportunity in working here, I learned a great deal about patient care and the role of being a nurse however, I have found a position that better suits my needs and is where I want to take my career. As such, I'm submitting to you my letter of resignation and two weeks notice. If you'd like to keep me as a per-diem employee, I'd happily accept such a arrangement" Obviously this isn't exactly what you should say, as this is coming out of my head not yours but that is the general idea. Be nice, Courteous but firm. Do NOT let them use guilt, that's the sign of a terrible employer. If they try lines such as "I'm very disappointed in your discussion" or "I thought you cared about this place" etc. etc. I've heard that some places even try to pull stuff like "what about the resident's, don't you want to be there for them?". Again that's a extreme example but has happened in places desperate to keep around staff. Don't back down, Be strong and make it clear the decision has already been made. Good luck, and remember, don't forget to get the written offer first before talking to anyone about this!

CSU's are so impacted, I'd cast the net far and wide. They all have about the same quality in programs but are all impacted to death. I'd highly recommend applying to every single one you can, I know it can be expensive but sitting around waiting to get in would be even worse.

Due to the fact you already have a bachelors, I would recommend a accelerated bachelors to bsn program (aka A-BSN program). Certain private and csu programs offer it. It is no joke to do such a program, It will be a full time commitment of around 1-2 years depending how many classes you need. You will most likely have to stop working and devote yourself full time to such a endeavor. There are private colleges as well which might offer these programs on a online basis, however the cost to do so would most likely be far more than living off student loans and going full time at a csu. Think long and hard about it, maybe take a CNA course and test the waters a little. Here's the link to the csu webiste on the program. Accelerated BSN Curriculum Requirements | California State University, Northridge Also, If you go this route, I'd highly recommend completing the pre-requisites courses at a California community college, it would be much cheaper and you could still work and take them at night. There are 26 units you have to take to be ready to attend (I'm guessing with your bachelors you have about 9 of the units done and have 17 remaining (science courses and statistics as they are most likely outside your major), you could easily work full time and take the 17 units over the course of a year, save money and then focus on your A-BSN program full time and complete it in about a year and half. Taking these courses at community college also will let you cheaply decide if this is what you are interested in. People do what your about to do every day, but don't make this decision lightly sit on it long and hard. Good Luck (about to start nursing school, and my girlfriend is a animation major. I couldn't imagine her in a million years doing nursing school XD completely out of her element.)

Yeah, that sucks. I would give them a call. I did a few weeks ago to confirm my email was correct and also to verify that I had the number of points I thought I did. As long as your friendly it shouldn't be a problem, linda is very nice. BTW, ATTENTION EVERYONE WHO IS ATTENDING SPRING 2016!!!! ----------------- (the person who is in charge) sent out the letter about the curriculum changing. THE nursing counselor will be in the nursing building on june 17, this Wednesday to check over your transcripts. with the curriculum change, you have to have a additional 3 classes completed to attend the program (its beyond stupid, they're no longer making a&p and micro prerequisite for nursing school, they'll be taken concurrently with nursing classes, but making statistics, public speaking and lifespan development, guess the weeding out of the weaker students is gone.) From what I was told, if you have not completed statistics, public speaking and lifespan development, you MUST complete them this summer or fall or it looks like they won't let you in. I'm guessing there is some lee-way in this considering it wasn't even stated or even shown during the application process. I would highly recommend anyone who got into spring and didn't go to the meeting on June 4th or is in the 50 point range to stop by the nursing office on Wednesday with a unofficial transcript and figure out if your okay or not. If you think you have a possibility of getting in this spring, I'd highly recommend you take Statstics, Lifespan development and Public Speaking if you haven't already. You can easily get them done this fall. Also, on another note. Pharmacology is no longer a requirement, *** IS THAT???? Guess well get to push drugs without knowing what they do. I for one am definitely taking in this fall anyways because that's just rediculous

Well I have some good news for you all, I just got a email offering me a spot in the spring 2016 class (I'm guessing I got dals spot). I had 56 points to offer you all a frame of reference for how far down the list they are. Good luck everyone

I am on the alternate list waiting hopefully for a slot to open up.

I'd imagine if i got accepted into the fall at one program, and the spring at another. I'd probably choose the one that's 6 months sooner as well.

I only had 56 points (finish my AA this semester so I didn't get the extra 5 points). I'm hoping to maybe get in through the alternate list if I'm lucky. Someone else got in with 44 points from the list so here's hoping. It looks to me 69-70 is the sweet spot for getting in right away.