Nurses, Student Nurses, Pre-req takers - Page 72

[bluedaaria]

Hi, I posted a very long time ago on this thread, and have finally caught up again!
I just moved to a new city with DH and so I am in the process of looking for a new job (I was working in post-partum, and surgical oncology/gynecology/IBD prior to that).
I really had my fill of hospital, and had been looking foward to getting out of the hospital pretty much from the beginning (I've been working for almost two years). I feel really drawn to public and community health. I loved my community placements in school (I did high school nursing, well baby home visits, and some health promotion projects).

The hospital pace, and night shifts are just too much for me. I know that community is busy too, but somehow, I feel it will be different.

I've applied to a few jobs in the past few days, so now I wait and see.

If community does not pan out, I am considering psychiatry. I also had a great experience as a student in hospital psychiatry. It was pretty much the only hospital experience, along with maternity, that I enjoyed. (I am not a med/surg girl ) The pace felt reasonable, I really enjoyed developing therapeutic relationships with the clients, and the collaboration between the different disciplines was so much better then in med/surg environments. The physicians really respect the nurses there and everyone (RNs, DR, SW, PHARM...) do joint rounds/have a meeting to discuss client progress weekly. And overall, it just felt more laid back. I'm not a lazy person, or looking for an easy job, just something that does not bring me to tears, or work insane amounts of overtime! And I want to feel appreciated.

Does anyone here have some psychiatry experience? I think I remember there were one or two who mentioned something, about a dozen pages back? Do you think it is realistic for me to think that this is standard for psychiatry. Have you had good experiences?

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by bluedaaria

Hi, I posted a very long time ago on this thread, and have finally caught up again!
I just moved to a new city with DH and so I am in the process of looking for a new job (I was working in post-partum, and surgical oncology/gynecology/IBD prior to that).
I really had my fill of hospital, and had been looking foward to getting out of the hospital pretty much from the beginning (I've been working for almost two years). I feel really drawn to public and community health. I loved my community placements in school (I did high school nursing, well baby home visits, and some health promotion projects).

The hospital pace, and night shifts are just too much for me. I know that community is busy too, but somehow, I feel it will be different.

I've applied to a few jobs in the past few days, so now I wait and see.

If community does not pan out, I am considering psychiatry. I also had a great experience as a student in hospital psychiatry. It was pretty much the only hospital experience, along with maternity, that I enjoyed. (I am not a med/surg girl ) The pace felt reasonable, I really enjoyed developing therapeutic relationships with the clients, and the collaboration between the different disciplines was so much better then in med/surg environments. The physicians really respect the nurses there and everyone (RNs, DR, SW, PHARM...) do joint rounds/have a meeting to discuss client progress weekly. And overall, it just felt more laid back. I'm not a lazy person, or looking for an easy job, just something that does not bring me to tears, or work insane amounts of overtime! And I want to feel appreciated.

Does anyone here have some psychiatry experience? I think I remember there were one or two who mentioned something, about a dozen pages back? Do you think it is realistic for me to think that this is standard for psychiatry. Have you had good experiences?

I worked child and adolescent psych. I LOVED it. Dr.s and nurses got along really well. Dr.s routinely asked the nurses what they should diagnose patients as, what level of observation they required, asked us our opinion of what meds are/aren't working, etc. But the therapists and social workers were bitter towards nurses. A lot had to do with pay. They had masters degrees and years of experience and new grad ADN nurses would come in making $8 an hour more than they were. They only saw the nurses as "babysitters" who gave out medications. They didn't see what nurses actually do. I have no idea what they do, other than sit with each patient a few times a week and otherwise sit in an office doing I have no idea other than taking notes,finding placements, and getting setting up aftercare. I have no idea what else they do but wouldn't be bitter towards them b/c they get their nice comfy chairs and quiet offices and we don't, ya know? I only worked acute psych, so I don't know what state hospitals are like. I don't know what your thoughts are on violent patients but I did get hit a few times.

[bluedaaria]

Thanks for your input. My experience as a student was in a moderately sized hospital. The psychiatry unit was probably about 20-30 beds. I never had any experiences with violent patients in psych (interestingly enough, my few experiences with violent and verbaly abusive patients have been on a med/surg unit) but I feel if the unit has a concret policy on dealing with these situations, and we are well trained in how to manage them, I will feel comfortable. The hospital I have applied to is specifically a psychiatric hospital, and the largest in the region. It has a very good reputation. I am feeling more and more that this may be a really good opportunity for me. I hope I hear back from them! Oh, and I am in Canada...I'm not sure what therapists and social workers are paid here, but I am surprised to hear that they are so under paid in the US! A new grad nurse here in Ontario starts at $27/hour....if SW were paid $8 less, that would be $19/hour starting salary!! Not nearly enough for someone with a university degree.

[henhao]

I'm considering nursing school and am puzzled by something.

I have a BA in English and took no science courses in college. I'll have to take every prereq.

Which prereqs do I take since each nursing program has different prereqs? One might want psych and one program might not.

Since I won't know which program I'll get into, what do I do to start knocking the prereqs out of the way?

Advice??

[CEG]

Originally Posted by henhao

I'm considering nursing school and am puzzled by something.

I have a BA in English and took no science courses in college. I'll have to take every prereq.

Which prereqs do I take since each nursing program has different prereqs? One might want psych and one program might not.

Since I won't know which program I'll get into, what do I do to start knocking the prereqs out of the way?

Advice??

As nerdy as it is, I actually made a list of all the schools I was considering applying to. Then I made a chart of the prereqs. Many of the schools have most of their prereqs in common and most schools allow you to finish prereqs after you are admitted but before you start classes. So I started with the most common classes and worked my way down. Since the programs had varying application deadlines I was able to stagger/eliminate programs that way. Good luck.

[henhao]

Originally Posted by CEG

As nerdy as it is, I actually made a list of all the schools I was considering applying to. Then I made a chart of the prereqs. Many of the schools have most of their prereqs in common and most schools allow you to finish prereqs after you are admitted but before you start classes. So I started with the most common classes and worked my way down. Since the programs had varying application deadlines I was able to stagger/eliminate programs that way. Good luck.

That does not sound nerdy. It sounds smart.

[lena1984]

woot i'm so glad i found this thread :

I'm applying to start a CNA class hopefully in september. I've always wanted to be a nurse or work in the medical field and i'm so excited. I must echo again how important it is to shop around and not just settle with one school. I found a city college here that had "medical assisting" which was a 9 month program for $13K...2 weeks before my appt. with a advisor i found out the American Red Cross offers CNA classes for $875 yeah so you can guess which program i'm going with! I feel so stupid too, because i totally bought school #1 whole plathora of BS : that would have costed me TWO student loans I have no idea what i want to do exactly so for now i'm just going to get my CNA (and hopefully pass) and then apply to a community college, i think i want to be a LPN though, still not sure

[KMK_Mama]

I am in my CNA courses now, which was required in order to apply to the nursing school I wanted. We start clinicals Saturday and I am SCARED to death. I don't feel like this little 6 week course (4 weeks down, 2 to go) has taught me what I need to know. Please tell me I will survive. :

[not now]

Originally Posted by KMK_Mama

I am in my CNA courses now, which was required in order to apply to the nursing school I wanted. We start clinicals Saturday and I am SCARED to death. I don't feel like this little 6 week course (4 weeks down, 2 to go) has taught me what I need to know. Please tell me I will survive. :

You'll never feel like your ready but you'll do fine. Once you start you'll hit your stride and it'll be ok. Same thing goes for nursing school. You graduate and feel like you're gonna die before starting your first shift. After my first three shifts as a new RN all I could think was "I don't know anything! How did they let me graduate?"

Feeling like you don't know everything is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It makes you careful and mindful of what you're doing. Those people that are out there thinking they know everything are the CNA's/LVN's/RN's that worry me the most.

[avalonfaith]

I used to be a CNA when i first started college the first time.

i didn't feel prepared and was scared also. but it was a great experienced. it turned out i was pretty well prepared and as long as you are a person that's not afraid to ask questions you're all good on the rest. you will do wonderful!

[crazy_eights]

RE: the ADN vs. BSN, I chose ADN (had previously studied for a BA though) and then let the hospital I work for pay for BSN completion even though I plan to pursue AP. Almost all hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs and AP requires experience - so why not get to work ASAP, get experience and let your employer pick up the tab for the BSN portion? That was my reasoning at least.

[avalonfaith]

ITA crazy-eights!

that is part of my plan too! I am actually looking for a admin type job at a hospital now so i can get tuition reimbursement for my ADN too.

[Jeanmom]

Hello, everyone,

I am new to the board and have a 11-months-old daughter. I will be starting nursing school in August. It's nice to know that there is a tribe for RNs and RNs-to-be.

[lorijds]

I'm taking my first class in my RN to BSN program.

Let me tell you how excited I am for it. Let me tell you what my required textbooks are: Publication Manual of the American Psychology Association, and Gregg's Reference Manual (grammar and writing style). Doesn't that sound like fun?

Urgh. Jump through the hoops, Lori. Just keep jumping through the hoops.

[ryleigh'smama]

Originally Posted by bluedaaria

Hi, I posted a very long time ago on this thread, and have finally caught up again!
I just moved to a new city with DH and so I am in the process of looking for a new job (I was working in post-partum, and surgical oncology/gynecology/IBD prior to that).
I really had my fill of hospital, and had been looking foward to getting out of the hospital pretty much from the beginning (I've been working for almost two years). I feel really drawn to public and community health. I loved my community placements in school (I did high school nursing, well baby home visits, and some health promotion projects).

The hospital pace, and night shifts are just too much for me. I know that community is busy too, but somehow, I feel it will be different.

I've applied to a few jobs in the past few days, so now I wait and see.

If community does not pan out, I am considering psychiatry. I also had a great experience as a student in hospital psychiatry. It was pretty much the only hospital experience, along with maternity, that I enjoyed. (I am not a med/surg girl ) The pace felt reasonable, I really enjoyed developing therapeutic relationships with the clients, and the collaboration between the different disciplines was so much better then in med/surg environments. The physicians really respect the nurses there and everyone (RNs, DR, SW, PHARM...) do joint rounds/have a meeting to discuss client progress weekly. And overall, it just felt more laid back. I'm not a lazy person, or looking for an easy job, just something that does not bring me to tears, or work insane amounts of overtime! And I want to feel appreciated.

Does anyone here have some psychiatry experience? I think I remember there were one or two who mentioned something, about a dozen pages back? Do you think it is realistic for me to think that this is standard for psychiatry. Have you had good experiences?

This thread is huge!! I haven't checked in in years I think. Anyway, I am currently a Clinical Nurse Educator for an acute adult psych unit. I love it. I love all aspects of psych. I have been a floor nurse on this unit, the charge nurse, and now the educator. I started my nursing career in med surg, very glad for that experience, and then came to psych after my dd was born looking for something that had shorter hours, and was a better fit for me. I had worked in psych as a student and loved it then as well. I think the pace is much more reasonable than med-surg.

[lillysmom]

Can anyone suggest a drug handbook that they liked the best?

Only 10 days until I start school. YEAH

[leosmommy]

questions about pda handhelds...

I am supposed to buy a palm tx handheld for school so I can download textbooks onto it.

But money is very tight and my little brother works at GoodWill and found me a palm m500 for $50 and got it for me. So it was free vs. the $300 or so I'd have to pay for a palm tx. $200 to buy one on ebay.

So my questions are: can I use my palm m500 in place of a palm tx for downloading books?

I am supposed to use a handheld with 21 MB of memory and palm m500 has only 8 MB. Can I buy a little memory card thing to stick in it (it has a slot for them) to boost its memory and just keep that card in all the time so my textbooks can be downloaded?

I don't know anything about electronics/computers, etc.

And I can't get the m500 to "sync" with my PC. I might call Palm today/tomorrow and ask them about it. But I just feel like an idiot because I don't know much and the tech guys try to explain it all but I never understand what they're saying.

Thanks for all the help in advance...oh yeah, and my clinicals start tomorrow. AHHH!

But I don't need the palm thing for a few weeks.

[lorijds]

I would call your instructors/nursing techies and put those questions to them.

Our school said we needed a computer with a certain amount of memory, etc. What we needed first of all was a PC, not any computer--we have macs, I literally had to go buy a computer two days into school. Secondly, we didn't need it to do anything they said it needed. There were no webcats (so we didn't need webcams), for example.

And when I called the school to ask about why I couldn't test, the nursing instructors had no idea, but the techies said, Well, none of our programs run on Macs. I was like, then why the hell does it say you need a computer, why doesn't it say you need a PC? My instructors NEVER got it, they actually weren't very technologically astute.

Call a nursing school instructor, and then call your tech department at your school. Your little handheld may work just fine for what they actually want it to do. They can help walk you through it.

[snuffles]

Anybody else in their first year?? I start nursing school tomorrow and I am incredibly, unbelievably nervous. I just got through reading some bad things about the nursing field in general in the student/working moms forum and I just hope all this that I'm putting myself (and my family) through will be worth it in the end. Isn't there a crazy woman smiley?

Yeah, I'm pretty much feeling like that right now.

[leosmommy]

my first year of clinicals starts tomorrow and I'm nervous about being able to get all the work done. I'm thinking about cutting back at work (right now I'll be working about 20 hours per week and I'd like to be down to about 10). We need the money but I also need my sanity. Thank God I have oversupply and more than enough milk, so my supply dipping because of stress is a non-issue.

I'm hoping my clinical site isn't too far from where we live...it will get assigned in the next few weeks.

And I really need my uniforms to come in the mail because I need my labcoat for Tuesday's clinical lab simulation.

And (this is basically a reminder to myself) I have to go shopping tomorrow night for a hemostat, scissors, and a penlight. And also dig out my watch with a second hand. Oh, my my my...no panic attacks. BREATHE.