Waitlist - PVCC

[TueyOliver]

Hi Friends!

I'm at the end of finishing up my pre-reqs this upcoming semester for the traditional program (non CEP). Plan on applying once the fall semester is over (looks like end of December, beginning of January depending on how motivated I'm feeling around the holidays).

I currently work full-time but eventually plan on quitting my job right before 1st semester starts so I can devote 100% of my efforts to NS. DH and I have been planning on this transition for a while now.

I have a BS already from ASU (will prob end up doing the RN-BSN program there eventually). I may end up applying to CEP if the waitlist is past the 12 month mark (I'm planning on taking Bio 202 and Micro in the spring/summer). Right now, I can only handle taking 1 class at a time with my current job.

A few questions:

1. How long is the current anticipated wait? I'm hearing ~2 semesters (depending on where you choose. My first choice is PVCC due to proximity and familiarity with the school, 2nd being PC, 3rd being Scottsdale or GWCC.

2. For those of you who worked or had a career prior to going back to school, what was the transition like?

3. I'm not finding many scholarships out there for late 20-somethings like me with degrees/careers going back to school fulltime. A lot of them seem to be geared towards single moms (who BTW totally 100% deserve it). I'm not eligible for a Pell anymore. Has anyone had any luck finding anything? Anything to help offset the ridic fed loans would be a savings for me in the long run.

Any additional info or insight would be fantastic. Thank you again for sharing your experiences!

Best,

[KittenEars]

Hi KittenEars,

Thank you for that suggestion! Working part time while doing NS has definitely been on my radar. I know you are eligible to work as a CNA (maybe even a PCT with a bit more training) after your 1st semester. Its not a lot of money but its enough to help cover gas and groceries. Finding work in a hospital has been tricky since I have 0 experience (aside from a little bit of volunteer work) in healthcare. Feel free to PM me to offer suggestions!

Do you have any work experience from other fields? A lot of the entry level positions at HH are customer service based such a patient admitting (you will learn a lot about insurance, but doesn't require and experience or degree), working in the cafeteria (serving food, being a cashier or working in the Peets coffee bar), working in Endoscopy (cleaning scopes), patient transport (literally wheeling patients, in beds or wheelchairs to procedures and picking them up and returning them to their rooms, or as a Diet Rep (a phone position where you take patients orders, and help run carts of food upstairs to the rooms).

The work, to me, is very easy. It is a lot of common sense stuff. It has been really great to get to know the nurses and techs, and to make those connections. I truly believe that these connections, and having been in the hospital system, will be a great assistance when it comes being offered a job as a RN!

[schoolforlife]

I've already stated the hospital I work at. MANY companies offer tuition benefits! You only need to be a part-time employee working 16 hours per week to be eligible. I know people are going to school to be nurses, teachers, some who are business majors. Companies invest in their people hoping they get to keep a great employee who is ambitious.. they don't walk around holding money and ridiculous terms and conditions over your head.

Maybe new employees will have different rules. as the benefits at a glance state a person needs to work at least 6 months to be eligible. Tueyoliver would need to start working their now to help with nursing school if she got in the spring.

Hopefully that the only term for new employee. Only covers 5,250 so not enough for the cep program, but great for the regular one.

https://www.honorhealth.com/sites/default/files/documents/employee-resources/benefits-at-a-glance.pdf

[schoolforlife]

Anyway, strings are not a bad thing if you like the hospital. IF you are a CNA and pass the Nclex you can no longer work as a CNA. So the hospital has to hire you or let you go with to another job without requiring repayment as they did not have a job for you. It is however a way to get into a hospital as a new grad. It also give you exposure to more nurses that could be running units you want to work on when you have your licenses, giving you those connections kittenears was talking about.

[TueyOliver]

Yup! I have loads of experience. Its good to know that there are jobs like that out there. Super good to know.