June 2009 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Any RNs here?
Are there any Nurses on this board? I have a couple questions for anyone who is an RN or going to school to be an RN.
TIA!
Re: Any RNs here?
Kellybeth is in nursing school. I'm pretty sure Savvy is too. Maybe one of them will chime in...
I am going to start working on my pre-reqs this coming June as well! My questions are:
1. How difficult was the NCLEX exam (this is probably more for an RN)?
2. What was a typical day like in the BSN program (time wise)? I am trying to see whether it would be doable to go to school and have a todler.
3. What pre-reqs are you taking? When are you planning on starting nursing school? I am getting really frustrated because I have to have all of my pre-reqs fully completed before I can apply to the schools of my choice. grrr
I guess I am also really nervous about the competition getting into a program. :::deep breaths:::
I'm taking pre-reqs through the community college in my county and will probably get my ADN here too. I'm considering applying to Duke's ABSN program but cost wise, it's hard to beat the value of the community college. In my area, a lot of hospitals help pay for you to do the RN to BSN and those programs are available online through local universities. I'm not sure if the same would be true in another area but we have several huge teaching hospitals so demand for nurses is high here.
This is my first semester taking classes but here is my planned time line:
Spring '10 - Anatomy & Physiology I, Developmental Psychology
Summer '10 - Nutrition
Fall '10 - Anatomy & Physiology II, Microbiology
Spring '11 - Pathophysiology
Fall '11 - Begin nursing curriculum which is 4 semesters.
Yep that's what I am doing, Community College pre-req classes are so affordable!
I am taking:
Summer '10- Anatomy & Phys. I
Intro to Statistics (I was horrible at Stats in hs so I am hoping the class won't be too challenging)
Fall '10 - Anatomy & Phys. II
Microbiology
You'll have to let me know how you like the Anat & Phy I class and if you have any tips! How long is the Duke ABSN program? The two programs I plan on apply for are 12 and 21 months long...12 would be awesome but if DH and I plan on TTC soon I don't know how hectic of a schedule it would be.
Hi, I'm a RN & saw your post, but don't post here any more. Thought I'd answer the ? I can for you.
The NCLEX is hard, but it's common sense & practical really (at least it was when i took it). I know they've changed some things, but as long as you study & go into it w/confidence, you should be fine. Don't let yourself get all nervous & worked up about it. If you have test anxiety usually, ask your Dr for a low dose of Ativan to help relax you before you go. A lot of times docs will do that & just give you a few pills. Also, don't think too much into the questions. If you don't know the answer, choose one & move on. But if you make it through nursing school, I'm sure you'll do just fine on the NCLEX. Good luck w/your endeavor.
Kellybeth124 this is what I am afraid of...
I think I am most nervous for the Stats class actually, because I did horrible at it is high school. I was a business major and so I'm not sure how these science courses will play out. I am taking all of my pre-reqs online 
so I know there will be a lot of reading!
I guess I will have to clear my mindset of the "community college classes have got to be easier." It states that the book I will be using is by Kenneth Saldin titled "A Unity of Form & Function" but I will have to check out Marieb's book for study guides. Do you have the anatomy coloring book? I bought that book a few years ago, and it is so helpful!!
Good luck with the rest of the semester!!
Thank you so much for the response sweetie6609!!
How are you enjoying being an RN? I do have one other quick question for you since you have already graduated from nursing school. I know that nursing school is a very rigorous schedule. Do you think it is doable to complete if you have children? I have seen a lot of sites that don't recommend nursing school even if you have a significant other! DH and I are planning on TTC before I begin, (which would put our child around two years old when I would start) but I wasn't sure if that would be too much. Any thought on this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
I am also an RN, and I havent been out of school long so I think I can help you out with a few of your questions,
1. It's hard, you walk out feeling like you are a complete moron, wishing you had put more time into studying.. although after it is over you look back and think about it, it truly is common sense type things, they only want to make sure you arent going to kill anyone or let them die from your lack of knowledge. I felt horrible when I walked out but it turns out I had the minimal amount of questions and finished in under an hour.
2. It isn't as bad as you would think. I took a little longer to finish school because I made sure that all of my prerequisites were done prior to actually starting th nursing program. I wanted to make sure to put all of my effort into nursing instead of trying to focus on nursing, other classes, and not to mention planning a wedding. If at all possible I would try to get any difficult classes out of the way (especially with a little one) before starting the program.. The majority of my class were parents, mostly of young children.
It is definitely possible to do, it will take time and dedication to get through everything, your family will more than likely not get as much attention, and you wont have as much free time as you would have liked... but take the summers off like I did.. it gives you time to work more to save up money to get through school and also gives you a break from school.. my sister is also an RN and for only one summer did summer classes... she was miserable.. she switched and didnt do that anymore and made it through without difficulty. Nursing is an amazing career, like I said I havent been out long but I LOVE it! Good luck! and if you have any other questions let me know!
Thank you thank you thank you for the info Savy_05!!!
How was the 'entrance' competition at your school? Do you have any advice for someone applying soon? How many hours of volunteer experience did you have going into the program?
Since you have been an RN for a little while, I do have a question about scheduling. Do you know of many part-time RN's? I heard that at some places you can work two 12 hour shifts on the weekend, which I would LOVE!
Again, thank you!!!
Oh goodness! Okay, if she had 5 kids, than I can do it with 1! (this will be my new motivation to get me through each semester)
DH and I did the 2 hr drive while he was in grad school too, but I am SOO glad that is over!
Thanks again for the encouragement sweetie6609!
You are very welcome! Anything to help out.
Our entrance competition was what I would call pretty difficult, Im not exactly sure how it is everywhere else, but for my schools small size it was difficult. We typically had anywhere from 150-175 applicants apply for the program every semester, 50 got in, 10 were put on the waiting list (if someone from the original 50 didnt complete a prerequisite in time they couldnt be in the program, so 1st on the waiting list got bumped up) Our school had it's own acceptance selection program that it used. You had to go to a "nursing program conference" they explained everything to you about getting into the program, you filled out lots of info and sign lots of papers, once that was finished you made sure that they had a copy of your GPA, ACT, info etc. They made a point system say if you made a 25 of your ACT you got 20pts, while someone who made an 20 on thier ACT only got 15pts. and so one, they added up everyone's points and the top 50 got in. Volunteer hours werent part of the process so I didnt have any.
I would advise on a few separate things, obviously get the best grades you can to up your GPA, if it is part of your selection program get as many volunteer hours that you can, and try to do it at one place, that way your supervisor can vouch for you and your work ethics. If you didnt do as great as you would have liked, or think you can do better on the ACT, study and retake it, if they do the selection process like interviews, get a great list of references, Go and talk to a school advisor about the program and what they look for, and maybe you can get a jump start on preparing all of your info.
As for Jobs, places are ALWAYS looking for part-time and weekend nurses, anywhere from hospitals to nursing homes are looking for help on the weekend, since very few people are willing to work weekends, I have quite a few friends that are only weekend nurses (my previously mentioned sister used to be one of them) they typically work 12-16hours shifts on saturday and sunday, and then are done until the following weekend.. great schedule!
Oh phew, this is so good to hear!
:::crossing my fingers that I get work as a weekend nurse:::
I don't think that the programs I am applying for need my ACT scores since I already have a Bachelors...but I am definitely going to check!
I know I am a little impatient. I have meetings set up on the 13th of April for both programs. Hopefully the admissions advisors don't feel too bombarded by my numerous questions!