KatMill2312

I just want to put my 2 cents in as an EMT-B and nursing student (insert groans, it's ok I accept)! One of the most impactful things my EMS instructors ever said to me was: it's not MY emergency. That simple. I've practiced that way as an EMT and tried to approach my clinical as a nursing student that way as well. What is an EMERGENCY to me may not be to my patient. Respect to you as RNs and...I get it. We have the luxury of knowledge and often privlege when we walk through the doors because we know people working here! Anyhow, just my very basic take on the situation.

Hi Kristinn239! I'm starting nursing school in like 3 weeks (í ¾í´¤) I, like you, have been a SAHM for a long time. My kids are 9, 6 and almost 3 year old twins. It's kind of terrifying gong back to school AND doing all the mom stuff, BUT that's what we've been doing! You got this! Congrats on getting into a program and in a couple of years we'll be nurses and our kids.... will still be our kids: bugging for fruit snacks and watching cartoons. Good luck!

Ah, the joys of the "nurses vs EMS." Welcome to the world of EMS, as a PP put it. I start my nursing program in August and I have been told by countless people "DON'T TELL ANYONE YOU'RE AN EMT!!" It is simply based on this stupid idea that nurses and EMS don't get along basically (this is my opinion mind you) that they are both the dumping ground of their medical areas. EMS often gets sh*t on when we were arrive at definitive care by docs and nurses because we are seen as "uneducated/undereducated," we are just ambulance drivers after all. Nurses are sh*t on because they are "just nurses," right? So really we should join forces but we don't. What you are experiencing is life on the other side of the fence, the disrespect and disregard that EMS professionals receive on the daily. Honestly, the reason they are often to tired and depressed looking is because of what they do and see: you are more on the transport side and not on scene from what it sounds like, but showing up on scene, whether it be an MVA or a little old lady's house can be hard on the soul day in day out. We too are working long hours, on little sleep and understaffed. Top it off with crap pay and little respect from "co-workers" in the hospitals and corporate bullsh*t, yea. I'm sorry you are feeling like you are being treated badly, try introducing yourself when you arrive at the ED, and I hope that the situation gets better for you. PSA: This is not a "them vs us" post, hopefully just a little insight from an EMT as to maybe why you would be getting treated this way. Obviously everyone's experience is different, each department/hospital/work environment is different. I'm not trying to start a riot here. Not all nurses/EMTs/Doctors pull this kind of stuff.

This is ridiculous. I am a female EMT and I would consider myself to have the personality traits you listed: silly, happy go lucky, etc. Now, I AM competitive but I don't think that is a male trait nor one required for EMS or medicine in general. I DO think that a sense of humor is critical in dealing with what EMS throws your way, they call it "gallows humor" in fact. Many of us start with it, almost everyone ends up with it. If you want to be an EMT do it. Are there more men in the field? Yes. Do they treat me less than or differently? No. I'm expected to know my stuff, pull my weight (sometimes literally) and do my job. Now there's always exceptions to the everything, but don't let a few naysayers put you off something you want to do.

Well....I got my acceptance e-mail yesterday!!! I start my nursing program in the fall! I'm thrilled, nervous, and relieved that the wait (at least for that part) is over! I'm so grateful for allnurses and you guys, it has made the process a lot easier! Onto nursing school! Fingers crossed for those still waiting!

Yes! Congrats to you as well, I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier my brain is in overdrive! I agree that we should try and meet up, maybe before bootcamp? For coffee or something? I also have no idea what bootcamp is! Lol. My name is Katrina, nice to officially "meet" you!

I got my acceptance e-mail as well!!!! Yay!! So excited to not only be going to nursing school but to be attending with you Parah!!!

I agree Parah that they probably let everyone know at the same time. I didn't even think og spring break but that might have had something to do with it. I actually called Thursday, and there is 1 lady that they refer you to and she's only in Mon - Thurs until 4 pm, so at best we'll hear something Monday. The wait is killer for all of us so hopefully something soon!!

Nope. I've heard nothing. I even emailed to make sure they got my application (they did). I've been nervous since I applied so....idk. I wish they'd get back to us! You heard back April 5th last year?! Hmmmm, I wonder why it's taking so much longer this year? Splitting hairs maybe?

I hear you! I am checking my email WAY too much lol. Expecting anything this first week was probably silly, but one can hope! I would like to think the scores we have are competitive enough, but we just won't know until the cohort info comes out. The wait is killer! Holy tuition Batman! I don't blame you for wanting to come back just for that!

Idk if my score makes me feel better or worse lol! Did whoever you were talking to happen to mention when we should hear back about acceptance/rejection? When are you guys moving out here?

I am taking A&PII now, I didn't think I could do the accelerated course with both 1 and 2 last semester since I was also taking micro and a math class and... gah I don't even remember what the other one wall! My teacher last semester was Wolfe, she was great. I'm online for A&PII. Have you taken both? Thanks for the encouragement, I think I'm just stressed. Yes I'm a resident so I think I got an extra point for that? Did they expedite your stuff?!

Wow! Great job on the HESI and your grades AND getting everything in on time! I really hope we both get in too! I don't feel like I did well enough on the HESI (87.5) bit hopefully! I'm really hoping they start sending letters out the first week of April.

Congrats to everyone who got into their programs! This is the last week my program has for people to turn in their applications, so....I'm still waiting. We should hear sometime in April í ½í¸“. My school does a point system too based on GPA, HESI, residency, etc. We only have 45 spots though! 12 alternates. Ugh! I'm freaking out.

Like previous posters have suggested letting us in on what exactly you are struggling with would be helpful: specific classes? Length of time it takes to complete pre-req work? Applying for nursing programs? Rejection/denials? I'll just say as a broad bit of advice: hang in there. Take your downtime seriously, it is hard work and it is time consuming but so is nursing school from what I understand; so it is unlikely to slow down. Watch a movie, drink a beer (if you're of age) and try and relax for a few hours. The schoolwork will still be there. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just walk away for a little bit, because the pressure of it all is too much; then when you come back to it, you can really tackle it and manage it again. Maybe take a look at your time management? Are you packing too much into too small of a time frame? Break it up over the week if possible. Things like that. If nothing else, know that you are not alone, it is tough for all of us hustling to get it done. I felt like that year it took me to finish up my pre-reqs would NEVER end...now I am waiting to hear if I got accepted into the programs I applied to so, it continues! HA!

I too am applying for Fall 2017. I've got 2 applications out: FRCC Larimer and DSoN. It's awful and stressful and I hate it and I would just like to know! LOL. How are you holding up? Katrina

Hi all! I just applied for the FRCC Fall 2017 cohort and am anxiously awaiting to hear if I was accepted or not. Deadline is March 31st so it's going to be awhile.... Anyone else apply for FRCC Larimer, or Westminster? I did also apply at DSoN so, we'll see. I think my odds are good, 4.0 gpa in pre-reqs, 87.5 on the HESI with a 92 in biology and 84 in chemistry, but man I am SO NERVOUS! Let's wait together!!

No unless the Baby Boomers lay off the Millennials....can you imagine the first special snowflake comment a Boomer makes to a Millennial nurse? Bwahahaha. In all seriousness, I think that the Boomers will get healthcare, even decent healthcare. I think it will not be what they are expecting or what they imagine(d) it to be though. Medicine, at least from my limited experience of it, is becoming such a business and customer service oriented field that it is more about "how can we please you?" so that profits can be made, than "how can we heal you?" I also think that the few truly invested healthcare workers coming up (cough cough millennials) really do have a different approach to doing things and I don't know that the generations before them understand that. It seems to be a bit....friction-y. So we shall see. This opinion is coming from a current EMT-B and hopeful nurse to be (applied for my local nursing program this week) so like I said my experience and viewpoint is biased/limited.

I finally get to apply on Monday (02/20) and they won't let us know until sometime in April as the deadline is March 31st. I feel you on the nerves....I made great grades, did pretty well on the HESI, but now I'm super, super nervous! Good luck and please let us know!

I did pretty good, 87.5 %. Chemistry kinda hurt me, I got an 84% in that. I hadn't taken a chemistry course since high school and the stuff in the review book and pocket prep app were a little off; at least for the bank of questions I got. So if you are rusty in chemistry I would recommend resources OTHER and in addition to the review book and pocket prep app. Other than that my only advice is to study the areas you're weakest in the most (obviously), eat breakfast, take your time, take the subjects that you're weakest in FIRST so that your brain is most fatigued during the subjects you're best at, and breathe, it really was easier than I thought. Although I wish I had done a bit better. Math and chemistry just aren't my strongest areas. I was saved by my 92% in biology! Lol. Goodluck!

Ok, first, calm down, trying to hear a heartbeat over the pounding of your own is counterproductive. Here's my advice: place the cuff, but don't inflate it. Then, place your stethoscope over the artery and listen: find the beat THEN inflate your cuff. Often I find that people just place the scope where they think the artery is and don't find the heartbeat first, then they can't take the pressure because their scope is placed wrong. Also, keep it simple stupid, make sure your earpiece is turned the right way. Lol. That's happened to us all plenty of times! Good luck!

Still waters run deep. I feel like that may describe you, I am similar in several ways. However, like others have said, there's a distinct difference between quiet and reserved and someone with low self esteem and lack of confidence. I think you may be the later. My advice? Trust yourself, if you know the skills/information, own it. Stop allowing others to walk all over you and tell you who and what you are. You will have to be able to instill confidence in your patients otherwise they will never let you treat them. Like others have done, fake it till you make it. And for goodness' sake, stand up for yourself and sit where you want! Best of luck!

So, as an EMT I've seen less poop then take average Joe but my share of death (and thus dead bodies), probably a higher percentage rate than say a person who works with peds or in the PACU. That being said you're going to have find some way to cope with both poop and death in the medical field. EMS workers often have "gallows humor" as a way to cope, which is why you see us making rude jokes at inappropriate times, it's a coping mechanism, a way to distance and disassociate from the death. You'll need to find your own way to deal...maybe try and remember that they are a person, still deserving of respect and care. Touch them and treat them, talk to them and move about the room as you would if they were still living. I think sometimes it's that difference in ourselves of how we act after a person has died that adds to the "weird/ick" factor. As for poop....well....poop is poop. It's gonna happen. Glove up. Good luck!

There are lots of online micro courses with labs....but they're going to cost money ( usually pretty pricey BECAUSE of the lab kit) AND I have yet to see any online bio course that includes the microscope. So, you're going to have to resign yourself to paying for the privilege of taking the course online, buying a microscope and accepting that any biology course is going to be a time suck. Possibly even more so when you do one online since you are, solely responsible for EVERYTHING. Sorry it's working out like this for you. Good luck!

30, I'll be 31 next month. I FINALLY finished my prereqs last semester and am, applying to ADN/BSN programs now for the fall. I'm married with 4 kids, 8 years old and under!