DD-RN

Just an idea because I am not a nurse (starting nursing classes in Sept.), but I am a mom to a son with epilepsy. Hyperventilation will often provoke a seizure (particularly an absence/staring seizure) in a person who is susceptible (like a child with a history of seizures or a diagnosis of epilepsy). The absence seizure could cause the child to momentarily black out and could cause a drowning. Those with seizures should always be watched in a pool or bath. Hope this helps.

My 6-week summer session starts May 22. We are using "Foundations of Microbiology" by Kathleen Talaro.

How many semesters have you spent at your current nursing program? How many credits ?? It is pretty hard to get into most of the nursing schools in New Jersey...some wait lists are 2-3 years long.

See these links for pass rates of NJ nursing schools for the past 2 years (PN at bottom): http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nursing/minute/nur215.htm http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/nursing/minute/nur221.htm

Good luck to both of you this week.

Shari, I have a BA and am in my 40's. Last summer when I decided that I would go back to school for nursing, I had no idea how hard the process would be....some waiting lists are 2-3 years long. So I applied for 2 LPN programs as well as the RN program at my community college (which is VERY competitive). I have already received acceptance into the LPN program, so if I don't get into the RN program for fall '06, I will do the LPN program and then bridge to RN after that (while working as an LPN). Why don't you apply for both types of programs and take pre-req's while waiting to hear which program you will get accepted into. Maybe the acceptance letters will guide you. Good luck.

http://www.graduationcardsshop.com/nursing/cards/productlisting-6-36-1.htm http://www.invitations-shoppe.com/productdetails.asp?intcatID=12&intProductid=969

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep us posted and let us know how it went.

Cindy....I think you made a great decision to move forward. I just got accepted to LPN school also. I know of several LPNs that do not work weekends because they work with disabled/medically-challenged school-aged children (and they go to school with them as a personal nurse). You could try that route if you can't work weekends. Good luck.

What was the problem there? Did you leave the program? Or graduate?

Oh, so you are applying for Sept 2007 admission...why didn't you apply now...just in case there is a waiting list? I have been taking pre-reqs for 2 semester, but will be done this summer with all of them. Many of my classes from my first degree transferred. I just got my acceptance letter for the LPN program that I applied to. So if I do not get into the RN program, I will start the Sept. 2006 LPN program. Then do the bridge to RN after that. You sound like you are in a good position so far, but just to be safe, are you applying to more than one school?

Wow...that's fantastic. Sounds like you'll get in!!

You're welcome. I am an older student (44) returning to college too. The RN program that I applied to is VERY competitive (40 seats for 900 applicants), so even though I scored in the low 90's, I don't know if that will be enough. I also applied for an LPN program and scored in the 99th percentile for that test, so I will go that route if I don't get accepted into the RN program. Do you have a back-up plan?

Based on those scores, you might be in the mid 90's (percentile). The results are usually mailed in a timely manner. I got my in 12 days. Good luck.

Different schools have different pre-entrance exams. I just took the ATI and scored in the 99th percentile. It was a combo of math, reading, English and Science. Nothing to really study for....just basic reading and answering questions, putting the correct punctuation in sentences, some definitions, following directions, fractions, some metric conversions, reading a map, biology, etc. Good luck. Find out what test your school gives and get the study guide.

GilbertDaddy, No, this was would not be shaving any time off of schooling...just off of waiting. The original poster and myself already have most of the pre-reqs completed, so instead of waiting for an RN program spot (whcih may take years) the best option may be to do an LPN program. In my case, that program will count for one year of the RN program. The actual regular associates degree RN program is 2 years. A candidate does not always have to have all pre-reqs completed before starting nursing classes (depends on the school). Also you could take the pre-reqs during the summer so that would not lengthen the time. I would say that 3 years is the typical time it takes to finish an assocaites degree RN program.

I personally would not wait years for the ADN program. If the choice is between the 12 month $20K LPN program and the cheaper 18 month program, I would go for the cheaper program...six months is not that much longer. Then after finishing LPN school, you could bridge and complete the RN in one additional year. Does the less expensive school have an associate with the RN school? That is the way that I am probably going. If I don't get accepted into the Assoc. Degree RN program, then I will do an LPN program ($3,000) and then bridge to the community college that has an agreement with the LPN school. Good luck with your decision.

40 seats for 900+ applicants.

my son has had several right frontotemporal craniotomies and did have left sided weakness post op. i do not think that it is uncommon to have motor weakness after surgery on the frontal lobe. my son's weakness subsided several days post-op and he needed pt for a few weeks. i do not know much about care plans as i am not a nursing student yet. but i have some experience with craniotomy post-op care. maybe this link may be helpful: www.neurosurgery.com.au/pdfs/postop/postopcranipdf.pdf

Barb, My son (who has epilepsy) has been under anesthesia 4 times (2 subdural grid surgeries and 2 lobectomies). The anesthesiologist told me that anesthesia actually has "anti-seizure qualities" and for us not to worry about seizures during the surgery. My son had many seizures post-op but that was due to the brain trauma. I think your anesthesiologist will be better to answer you on Sunday. Best of luck with your surgery.

tlhubbard, My son had a few normal EEGs early on (after a few seizures). After that, his were all abnormal. An EEG is just a test to start with. Also, a normal EEG does not rule out epilepsy/seizure disorder (as in the case of your friend too). Just as as a person without seizures can have an abnormal EEG. If your daughter has only had one seizure, I would try and relax (as hard as that may be). Some people may have a one-time seizure and never have another. I hope that is the case with your daughter.

Tweety RN, My son is the one who has had over 500 GM seizures. He had 2 lobectomies (with 2 subdural grids surgeries) in the past 3 years (at 2 of the best hospitals in the U.S.). He is seen regularly (for the past 13 years) by our local epileptologist, who is fabulous. His seizures have been reduced from 10 per month to one per month (last lobectomy was 12 months ago). His medical care has been superb...the doctors say that he has a very difficult case. So have you been seizure-free since your surgery? Was yours temporal? My son's is frontal. Best of luck to you.

Antsypansy, Did you go to MCCC today? Is that where you found out that they are not taking out-of-county residents? That is good news for us residents. Last I heard (at the Sept. informational session), they still were taking out-of-county residents. So, will you be applying to other schools?

My son has had more than 500 grand mal seizures, so my advice is based on my experience with his seizures only. When turning the patient on his side, turn to the side that he is seizing towards to allow the saliva to flow out. Protect head with a jacket or your hands. Don't restrain or place anything in the mouth. Time the seizure. Have someone else call 911 even if the seizure stops after 3 minutes. You never know when a second one could start and that would be a sign of status epilepticus. My son is prone to those and I would want someone to call 911 if he seized at the mall. Like others have said, the person can always decline going to the E.R., but it would be best to get checked out by paramedics. Also check for a medic alert necklace or bracelet and call the family member that they might have listed on it.

Since you already have a very good GPA and degree from Rutgers, their program would be a great option. You would be getting a BSN at Rutgers vs. an ADN at Middlesex. You would probably have one extra semester of pre-req's before starting the Rutgers 2 year RN program (or one year accelerated program). If you have no kids or husband, I would go for that. Good luck. P.S. I think CNA is a short program (maybe 2 months), but the pay is about $10 an hr. I think with your college degree, you should strive higher.