summerly

I'm still confused as to how you can get into an NP program without RN experience? What kind of legitimate programs are these? My program requires 2,000 hour of RN clinical hours verified by your manager as part of acceptance into the program.

If you do go with a littman go with the cheapest model - that's all you need for nursing school. Plus, nurses and residents will want to borrow your stethoscope and you will have to track them down to get it back. Get yourself a nice stethoscope as a graduation gift and make sure to get your name engraved on it!

Or look up the policy/procedure

I had cancer when I was 16 and it made me want to be a nurse. Worked oncology ever since. Now in NP school. I love it.

I've been a nurse for 9 years and I'm halfway through NP school. I was under the impression you couldn't be accepted to NP school unless you had your BSN and RN experience. My school requires at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience post nursing school to apply. I would be very scared of a NP without RN experience.

Oh hell no. That is where the line is drawn. I'm sorry but I am so sick and tired of MA's calling themselves nurses.

Look up any hospital application in Chicago and check out the requirements... I'm not lying jeez. They literally state that they want BSN prepared nurses. This is a new requirement that magnet hospitals want. It has changed over the last few years.

I live in the Midwest as well, and it has here. Chicagoland area.

Most hospitals require a BSN degree upon hire now. Especially magnet hospitals. It's becoming a baseline necessity for RN's. Would be smart to acquire one. I started out with my ADN then did ADN to BSN. Now doing BSN to MSN.

MA's should definitely NOT be triaging patients

Follow through with the rule and actually fire someone. That will set an example and actually scare them into not calling in for bogus reasons. If they don't comply, then keep firing until you find staff that can be responsible and work their jobs. There are tons of nurses out there looking for jobs and willing to work.

So what ended up happening?

One of the biggest things I learned when studying for the NCLEX back in 2007 was how to take the exam. I remember they drilled into us in this order think: safety, airway, breathing, circulation. I'm sure it's changed though since then. I took the Dr Martin review course in Chicago... It was a week long. It helped me immensely and I passed the NCLEX my first try with 75 questions. I don't know if she's still around or does an online review now, but worth checking out.

I loved working bedside... For 7 years... Until I didn't. When staffing became unsafe and management just got worse and worse due to budget cuts, nurses quitting and not hiring new nurses to fill those FTEs. We were stretched thin. Having to take more patients then safe, PICU pushing out patients on drips who are still PICU status, home vents, Trachs, chemo, DKAs on insulin drips changing fluids every five minutes, fresh post ops, traumas (level one trauma center), etc etc etc ... Not to mention all the new policies, procedures and paperwork we had to keep up with. No lunch, no water, no bathroom breaks. The catty high school crew always talking crap about people... Staying after a 13 hour shift to finally chart, then getting yelled at for not clocking out on time, Enough was enough. I loved loved loved my patients, but I was done being a floor RN. Now I'm in NP school and work outpatient.

The initial application asks these questions. My RN renewal did not ask this question.

I'm a RN now. My concern is when I graduate and file for my first time to get my NP license. I've looked at the applications in my state and the state my husband and I may move to ... My state asks if you've had a problem or been to rehab for drugs/alcohol ... The other state asks if it's been in the last 5 years... I'll be just shy of five years since my rehab stint by then

Take your class this summer. You will regret it when you have to wait another year to start nursing school. You will be able to take plenty of vacations In between semesters and when you graduate. And tell your friend making fun of you to eff off.

Along with all of the other advice given - take your ADHD medication when you wake up and go to bed early!

I try to keep patients actively engaged in conversation and eyes off what I'm doing. If they are really freaking out I'll tell them to close their eyes, take slow deep breaths in through their nose, out through their mouth and visualize themselves on the beach with waves and seagulls ... Etc.

So you marked yes to having alcoholism? I don't graduate for a few more years and it hasn't hindered my RN license because I haven't had to answer that question when renewing my license. This totally sucks. I don't want to lie, but it's like I went to rehab, I did my part in getting better, and Im doing what I need to do daily to stay this way. I don't want to be in a monitoring program or bring this up and make it into a whole to do and hinder my job chances and make a "black mark" on my NP license when there doesn't need to be one. You know?

I worked as a CNA for 4 years while in nursing in the hospital and department I wanted to work in as a nurse. I got to know all the staff and the in's and out's out the hospital and unit. The nurses were amazing and taught me so much, as they knew I was in school, as were many other CNA's who became RN's and continued to work on the unit. It's a great way to get your foot in the door on a unit you want to work in. My unit was pediatrics - I worked there for 10 years total CNA & RN combined. I definitely felt like I had a lot more knowledge than the other RN hires that started with me because I knew where everything was, the charting system, I knew all the staff, etc. It will definitely benefit you.

That's bizarre. You need to ask her what's up with that. Regardless, she shouldn't be stealing syringes from work or taking patient labels.

Welcome to nursing school! Wait until you get to graduate school!!

That's how it is in Illinois on the floor. No food, no break, no bathroom. I work outpatient now while I'm in NP school and it's glorious.

My teacher rounded my 85.96 to an 86 so I got a B instead of a B- this semester. Whoo!