plphil4

I love that! Always willing to jump in.

Thanks for your input! It’s been YEARS since I’ve worked 8 hour days so I guess I forgot what it was like! LOL I know our ANM also helps with staffing but it’s not very common. I wouldn’t mind because that keeps my skills fresh.

Hi nurse friends! My name is Paige and I’m an ER nurse looking for advice/input/similar experiences. A little background about me: I am a full time ER nurse for the last 7 months and per diem in substance abuse/addiction. Prior to working in the ER, I was a stepdown IMC nurse for about 1 year and 8 months where I started as a new grad. In that year and a half I also worked as charge nurse and precepted multiple nurses including transfers, per diems and new grads. I was also completing my clinical ladder prior to transferring to the ER. Prior to that, I was a PCT for 4 years. All of these experiences took place in the same hospital. I don’t have any children and I’m not married, but I do have a boyfriend who works a “normal“ M-F job (although that doesn’t really make a difference on my decision, he’s supportive regardless.) Now here is my dilemma: I applied for and am interviewing for an Assistant Nurse Manager position on my old floor (IMC). While I love being an ER nurse, I feel that the ANM position (if I was offered it) would be something that would be silly to turn down as it is an upwards advancement. Realistically, I have no plans of going back to school (financial reasons and I don’t want student loan debt my whole life). I have made a list of pros and cons that I will share. I guess I’m afraid that I would miss the bedside and lose my skills, but at the same time I think I would be a good fit for the position as I enjoy leadership and have taken on different roles on that floor throughout my career. Anyway, sorry this is a long post. Just looking for some direction or guidance, experiences from current or former ANMs, or any shared experiences! Feel free to even add to the pros and cons if there’s something I may have overlooked. Thanks in advance. Bedside- Pros: working 3 days a week (except I usually work 5-6 days anyways because Florida doesn’t pay very well for nurses ?) Direct involvement in patient care Skills remain intact Cons: Pay Working 2 jobs to make money Physically/mentally exhausting Working holidays Working weekends No upwards movement opportunities Management- Pros: Higher pay (salaried) 8-5 type of job Holidays off Weekends off Easier to transition into higher management with ANM experience and not going back to school Cons: 5 days a week No opportunities for overtime

I plan on working as long as I can but also taking out loans regardless of which school I attend. If I don't get into UF, then I'm doing a BS-BSN program online, which gives me more flexibility. I work as a CNA so I can hopefully still manage 2 shifts a week and have some income, but it won't be enough to cover tuition so I'll be taking out a loan for that. I'm per diem at my job so I have the flexibility to pick and choose how many days and which days I want to work (if any) every week.

Yeah I thought that was weird, too jonas23x. I had an interview with the school I plan on going to if I don't get into UF and I also was scheduled for an interview at UNF. Even a phone interview at a program out of state.

I have applied for Summer 2017 as well! Anxiously awaiting to hear from UF. I have been offered a seat at my second choice school in WI but I have to put a deposit down by Feb 6 to hold my seat. I am going to put the deposit down just in case I don't get accepted to UF as UF is my first choice. I was also offered an interview at UNF but gave it up since I already have an acceptance somewhere.

Thanks so much hikeat96! :)

Hi HopefullNurse17! Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. So a little about my stats... I graduated from FAU in December 2015 with my BS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a minor in Health Administration. My undergrad GPA was not all that. I had around a 3.3-3.4 when I graduated. My prerequisite GPA was a 3.6-3.7 with all As and Bs in my prerequisite courses. I believe the program really does look at more than just your undergrad grades. I worked 60 hours a week during my undergrad while taking full time courses so my transcript definitely had its flaws. I have a few regrettable grades, but it's nice to know they consider more than that! Obviously it's important to do well in academics, but with my "average" GPA I truly did not think I would get in. I applied hopeful but still thinking I wouldn't get an interview. I had volunteered in a cancer center for about 4 months and 3 months in an ER prior to getting my CNA job. I have been a PCT (CNA but my hospital uses the title PCT) for almost 2 and a half years and have also obtained my Phlebotomy license but do not have much experience with that as we cannot draw blood at the hospital I work at. Just continue doing well with your prerequisite courses and gain a lot of healthcare experience and you'll be okay!

Hi everyone! So today I received my formal acceptance to the University of Wisconsin Osh Kosh Accelerated BS to BSN program for the May 2017 cohort. I was looking for other students that have been accepted to this cohort! I would also like any input from former or current students. How did you like the program? Was it worth the money? Pros and cons? Would you do it again if you could or go to a different program? Do they offer financial aid? I live in Florida and programs here would require me to relocate. Tuition is around $15-20,000 plus living expenses, bills, etc and possibly not having a job when I move. I know Osh Kosh is $41,000 but I would be living at home (free groceries, parents can help a little with bills, still keep my current per diem job, etc.). How were the arrangements for students living out of state as far as campus visits? I would love any and all insight and new students for the May 2017 cohort to join in! Thanks in advance :)

Hey there! So I recently decided to change careers. I am 23 and have a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I wanted to become a Physical Therapist but I realized I wasn't passionate about it. I decided nursing is for me. I am currently working as a PCT at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale. Since I already have my BS, I wanted to do an accelerated BSN program. My problem is- where? I have applied to a few state schools in FL where the tuition is approximately $13,000 a year but I would have to relocate so including living expenses, food, car payment, etc. I'm looking around $20,000-25,000 total if I move to attend a state school and I might not have any luck finding a per diem job for extra income. Now, I live right down the street from Keiser University and they have an Accelerated BSN program. I would be able to stay home and keep working my job maybe 1 day a week if school permits to have some extra income. My question is- how is Keiser's nursing program? How does the cost compare? (If it's close to the same I would rather stay home.) Honest reviews from past or current students? Will attending Kesier affect potential grad schools from accepting me to an NP program? How do hospitals view a degree from Keiser? Thanks in advance and I look forward to your replies!