kmstamper

I already had a bachelor's degree in english lit with a minor in education before I started nursing school. I breezed through the nursing pre-reqs, but I will say forever that nursing school was the hardest 2 years of my life. As has been previously mentioned, a lot has to do with the way the program is set up and ran. There was a lot of chaos and little organization in mine. I tell anyone that asks that my class pretty much self-taught and were determined to make it through (the 20 or so of us that made it all the way through). I was working 40 hours a week and in a night/weekend program, so I was overwhelmed and under-rested most of the time. Another thing, also mentioned, is the high stakes in nursing school. You fail, you're out, at least for a year until you can jump back in (if there's an open spot during the semester you need). Most nursing schools won't accept transfers mid-program due to the set up and requirements, so it's kind of 'do-or-die' which is intimidating!

I went for an in-state school (because it has a good reputation, was recommended, and was MUCH cheaper than anything else I found), which is online ONLY (research based clinicals, no in class ANYTHING, etc) and that I could manage while working full time, plus my PRN job. The school has a regular 2 year program and an accelerated 15 month program, but I went with the 2 year. I do 1 class every 8 weeks. I already have a bachelors degree, so all of my pre-reqs were met (except statistics, which I took online last summer). So far, so good! Just focus on what is most important to you, whether it's all online, hybrid, shortest length of time, price, etc... and go from there! :)

In the rural area I work in, we still have to mix our own drips after hours (meaning after 5 when pharmacy leaves) and have ONE tech for 12 hours most days. On nights when only 2 nurses are staffed, if a critical patient comes in, once they are semi-stable, one nurse is one-on-one with them, and the other has the other 10 beds to take care of, plus any incoming patients... I work prn at a much larger facility where staff are assigned 4 patients/rooms at a time or have 7 patients and a 2 RN/1 tech team, and they were afraid it might be too busy for me. HAHA... while the numbers are much higher there, the patient load per nurse definitely is not! I love my job(s) though!

I started in ER straight out of school (although I had been working there in a different capacity for 5 years). I think the best thing to do is jump in, learn as much as you can from those with experience, and NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!!!! I have been in the ER for 5 years now, and still ask questions DAILY. If I'm curious why we are giving a certain medication, or why we would choose one over another or why we wouldn't do a certain intervention, I ASK! The doctors are (usually) more than happy to educate if you don't come across as threatening or questioning their judgment. I also still will ask more experienced nurses for tips and tricks if I am having trouble with something. It will be an adjustment for you, not only in skills (because you seem to be on the right track with your experience so far) but with pace and environment. Don't give up if you don't feel comfortable after a few months. You learn to roll with the punches! Congrats, and good luck!